Payne correspondence

[written] 4

[typed] Saturday [written] Jan 16 '97

[typed] My dearest Nannie,

Your dear letter just received and read and I'd like to squeeze you to pieces. Do hope you won't have a very bad time in Cazenovia. Last evening was astonished by the breathless appearance of Mr. Royce Stroker who wanted me to go to a Glee club concert on the spur of the moment. Of course I went, and had such a good time. He is a dear fine fellow and the concert was splendid. The two clubs - the glee and mandolin - have just been and had a very jolly tour but of course are deep in debt so this concert was to help defray expenses. To-day Mr. Abbott asked me to go for a walk back into the hills but as it is cloudy and damp I thought we better postpone so we are going to Palo Alto to do some errands instead. Have you read "King N-" by Stimson yet? It is called the Lorna Doone of America and promises to be a splendid historical novel of the time of Cromwell & Charles and the settling of Massachusetts and Virginia colonies. Mr. Workman lent it to me and I have just begun it. Did I tell you he adked me to drive down to San Mateo some day to see Theodora? We are going some field day.

Am so glad you like the pictures - I was afraid you wouldn't but I had them taken just for you.

Our glle club I think is finer than the Berkeley Glee club a good deal, and has the additional attraction of a very good mandolin club. Mr. Abbott has just resigned his leadership of the glee club. His voice is magnificent. To-morrow Bishop Nichols preaches in the chapel. I am so anxious to hear him. I think in the afternoon I'll go and see the Andersons.

Bye-the-way did Mama get the Shelly set? We take Shelly up just as soon as we finish Byron, and if you have his works and could spare them could you send them on to me? Next Tuesday evening the Jordan's give a reception in honor of Mr. Washington Lee Capp. His chief claim to distinction is to his ancestors I believe, as he is a lineal descendent from the Washingtons & Lees. He does not believe in co-education so Mrs. Jordan has selected a very few of the students beside the faculty to him the falacy of his views. I have the honor to be among the number. Mrs. Jordan is lovely to me oving to her recollection of beautiful Mama. This week I have come into possession of a book case that is very much more substantial & keeps the books very much better than the little bamboo ones. In itself it is not elegant by any means - red wood and with a sort of top as it was made for one of the ex-Roble girls who read and wrote standing on account of her health. It has an open book in the (lectarn) an umbrella plant, my little old lamp, Mama's work basket and Papa's & Mama's pictue so the whole makes a very pretty addition to my room. I have lent my bamboo shelves to Marylyn & Alice Colt for safe keeping. Am going to get some carbolic acid & glycerine this afternoon for throat gargle. There is such an epidemic of colds & grip that I think it will do to have some on hand. Mirian's home now with grip, and Laura has just recovered. Mrs. Baker is lovely. She wears dear little dresses made with surplice fronts like Mama's, and is about her height. Not pretty with a heart full of goodness and sweetness. Can't think of another thing today except that Maggie Scott is here off and on now, just exactly as she used to look.

If I can get hold of the Palo Alto that had the glee club tour in it, I'll sent it to you. The picture of Mr. Abbott is not at all good.

Bye bye Roodles

January 16'97 Roble

[written] Jan 17 '97 5

[typed] My dearest precious Nannie -

The handkerchiefs are lovely, and just exactly what I want and never have enough of. Thank you so much. The "change" I shall use in going down to see Theodora as soon as possible, so that it will do for her as much as for me. I appreciate so much having the marked so daintily. You are the dearest most precious Nannie that ever lived. Bishop Nichols preached an excellent sermon but a very long one in chapel this morning. Mr. Pecto assisted and there was only afternoon service in Palo Alto.

Last evening Mr. Holbrook called. Mr. Abbott and I didn't go to Palo Alto as it rained. I believe I am to have one of the Sigma Rho Eta pictures which I shall send to you for inspection whenever I get it. A dear letter from Theodora came to-night.

Must drop - a line to Mr. Ross, assistant librarian - who presented me with an "ascot" tie. My last two letters have been full of "boys" lately but there has been a series of them; they come by fits and starts so don't be alarmed. Mr. Ross is a stayed highly respectable '97 man who will some day be a substantial Judge in some town, and always very much looked up to.

Forgive the brevity of this note it is to thank you so much for the interesting and exciting package this night's mail brought. The Wesleyn club picture and program interested me.

Bye-bye, Toodles.

Sunday Evening January 17 - '97

[written] 6

[typed] Sunday Morning - Jan. 23 - '97

My dearest Nannie -

There is just a few minutes before the Episcopal Sunday morning bus come and I will have time to begin my letter to my Nannie. After church I am to dine with Mrs. Gilman, Mrs. Cullin's sister in Palo Alto, and afterward Helen and I are going to call at the Anderson's in Menlo Park and then at Mrs. Stanfords. Mrs. Anderson has her paralyzed bedridden mother with her, also Prof. Anderson's mother and uncle. Prof. A. says she gets lonely with so many old people and far away in Menlo.

Oh' the Jordan birthday party was perfectly lovely. Dr. Jordan's 46th birthday. He did look so grand and handsome and for the first time actually appeared in a dress suit. He was a great big courtly gallant. Mrs. Jordan was very sweet and pretty in a becoming dark Washington gown with a good deal of crimson about it. Mrs. Stanford was there, Prof. & Mrs. Anderson, Dr. & Mrs. Brauner, Prof. & Mrs. Hudson, Prof, & Mrs. Murray, Prof & Mrs Smith, Prof. & Mrs. Lenox -the four bachelor profs--Mr. Allardice, Kellog, Campbell & Young. Mrs. Baker and few of the girls & boys - with some of the musical people to play, the Dully family particularly who have wonderful talent - two brothers play on the violin, accompanied by their sister. I felt wonderfully honored to have Dr. Stillman come up to me when I was talking with Prof. Allardice and one or two others and tell me Mrs. Stanford wished to speak with me. She was very lovely & gracious and was very appreciative of the call we made. In the middle of the evening Dr. Jordan ushered Mrs. Stanford into the dining room where there were three immense birthday cakes with forty-six candles ablaze around them. Edith managed the whole affair, and asked me to cut the icecream. Prof. Allardice escorted me home and ended an evening I shall never forget. One of the girls in the Hall had very seriously hurt her eye so I spent the rest of the night till almost three o'clock taking care of her, as her roommate was tired. The next night b was a screeching Pasmore invitation concert, and the evening after Mrs. Baker had the Zete boys & Prof. & Mrs. Hudson to dinner. In the evening we danced and made candy in Helen's chafing dish. Saturday morning there was a meeting of the executive committee of St. Agnes guild at Mrs. Faircloughs, and it was decided to have an informal meeting and tea for all the members there next Saturday. I have forgotten to say that the bus came for me yesterday when I was writing and that now it is Monday immediately after luncheon. After church Mrs. Gilman took me home and such a good dinner as we had! Just a roast beef dinner with best plum pudding I ever at. afterwards wine jelly, fruit, nuts etc - with claret that this Roble chicken greatly enjoyed. Mrs. Gilman has two splendid sons in their teens and soon to enter college - one is 6 4in. tall the other 6. 2+. The girl Mary is a healthy fourteen year old little beef eater. Mrs. Gilman's mother was also there. All are fine looking English people & Mrs. Gilman is lovely. Afterwards I met Helen in Palo Alto & we took a bus to Prof. Andersons. He has a lovely home just entering Menlo Park - a very large green house in the midst of a great field of oak trees and the most beautiful view of both ranges of hills. Mrs. Anderson could not leave her mother so we did not see her. But Prof. Anderson was so lovely. His mother helped him entertain us. She is a very old lady with a wonderfully sweet face & cultured voice and

[written] 7

[typed] Jan. 23 - '97

manner, just the kind of an old lady you would love. Prof. Anderson and she are so mutually proud of each other. Prof. A. told us stories and recollections of his three European tours. We had glimpses of an always busy scholarly & sometime poverty stricken life with stories old Mrs. Anderson inserted about her husband who was a clergyman & & his courtship of her. Prof. A. showed his books and took us into his study - a very cosy little room with a beautiful view and large fire-place and lined with books with some picture of Cavel one of Mrs. Comstock's beautiful butterfly studies and a picture of his little girl. He afterward walked to the Tuculo Road with us, and I think enjoyed the call as much as we. We walked home through the Stanford grounds, left our cards at the Stanford door as Mrs. S. was in San Francisco. We reached home in time for dinner and I went to bed early.

Helen has had such a beautiful Christmas present of a white satin party gown. The corner of the front breadth of the skirt her mother has beautifully embroidered also the long sleeves. The neck has a frill of beautiful real lace and the bodice is of spangled accordian pleated chiffon. She has another figured chiffon waist besides.

Don't worry about my money. Thirty dollars is plenty as room and board cost 22.00 and the washing in winter is not much.

Mrs. Hudson inquired about you the other evening and she longs to go east.

Next Sunday shall probably go to see Theodora.

My handkerchiefs are so useful and so much admired. Have you ever read Sweet clover in the Rromance of the white city.

Bye-byeToodles

Jan. 25 - '97

[written] 8

[typed] Saturday after luncheon Feb. 6 - 917

My dear darling, Nannie

Have just read your letters and of course must talk back right straight off. I wish to goodness I had made a record but the only reason people are so lovely to me is because they all have such a lovely recollection of Mamma, even Mrs. Baker who never knew her.

Yesterday afternoon Marylya Main and I went to call on the Judsons Jordans - Mrs. Jordan did look so pretty and Edith always appears well in her own home. Dr. Jordan came in before we left and he told us all about his writing the poem that I send you in the Sequoia, it is a beautiful thing, and he wrote it in the dreary little cabin of a British man o' war. He said it had been a dark cloudy day and just before night, a rift came in the clouds and snt a ray of light with into his little cabin. it fell on the picture of Mrs. Jordan on his wall and inspired himm with the poem he wrote a couple of days after. He said he thought it was a "good poem and he guessed he liked it better than anyone else would." He is so in love with Mrs. Jordan and her with him that no wonder all the world loves such two lovers.

In the evening we met them again at the Roble Faculty reception and Dr. Jordan is such an old dear when he wants to be, after he has made the prettiest kind of a complement he says "I can't do any better then that".

Today Helen and Alice Colt have gone into the city to do a little shopping and to see N.....in Marie Stuart. Next Saturday Theodora wants me to go with her which I am more than tickled to do tho' I don't know what she is going to get. This some evening some of the Sigma Rho Eta are coming here and we are going to have a little dance. Yesterday Mrs. Anderson was up in the quadrangele she was looking quite I thought, but her mothers life is really a question of days. she feels more resigned I think as her mother looked very philosophically upon death which is a great comfort to Mrs. Anderson. Theodora I think is very well and very busy - full of golf and making plans for making shirtwaists. I was glad to hear from Mrs. Start. Our week of rain is over as today is a lovely one. Am so delighted with the Shelley and the ribbon and the envelops and the four dollars.

Bye Bye your Toodles.