Payne correspondence

[written] 14

[typed] Sunday afternoon March 7-'97

My dearest Nannie -

I am pretty sleepy, but will try and make myself coherent long enough for my Sunday letter to my precious Nannie. Last Wednesday, Helen Lathrop and Edith Cullen took dinner with me and stayed all nkght - we heard the Glee club practice and Mrs. Baker took a number of us over to the Zeta Psi house for a romp: so they had a pleasant time I am quite sure. They made quite a stay at Mrs. Gilman's and enjoyed every minute of it and are in love with Stanford. Edith Cullen is to marry Nelson Phelps sometime before the year is over; she has been engaged to him for six years since she was sixteen. Friday all of Epsilon Chi went to San Jose where Laura Mann, Charlotte Philips, Florence Park and Mary Brunton were formally initiated. I stayed with Gertrude and the rest, nearly all, at the Maclarens where we had such a lovely evening.

Was interupted by Mr. Pitcher calling - we spent the afternoon walking about the aboretum. To continue with the San Jose story. The Maclarens did everything imaginable to make the evening delightful and the next day, I took my silk waist and linen skirt to be made at Miss Smeads together with a black taffeta waist for Theodora.

It simply poured all day so I spent the afternoon indoors with Gertrude and took the 5 train home. She was perfectly lovely - mended my petticote for me that isn't wearing at all well and was such a trump. She gave me one of her framed Rome photos. The last communion of St. Jerone. I have it already hung. This morning I went to church and heard such an excellent sermon from Bishop Nichols - it was confirmation service and a dozen or so were presented. Last Wednesday I cut Shelley and went to church which I very much enjoyed. Helen just brought me your letter which is always so much fun to get. I think Theodora is better and happier this term as she has taken more liberty and gotten away from her boys oftener.

Did I tell you I am reading Benveneuto Cellini's autobiography by J.A. Symonds. It is wonderfully interesting.

Bye bye Toodles.

[written] 15

[typed] Monday evening,March 15,'97

My very dearest Nannie -

I can't quite remember where to begin but last Wednesday is a good place as I went to afternoon service; it was not so very well conducted as a very scared student is left in charge by Dr. Peet for the Wednesday and Friday service. Thursday Mr. Oliver Pitcher and John Daggett both of Pasadena called for Mary Brunton and me to go up to Frenchman's lake for a little walk. We did and found it full of water and wonderfully pretty. The views from the hills were beautiful - for the weather is growing warm. Saturday morning Helen, Marylyn and I took the 7:40 train for the city as Helen and I had shopping to do and Marylyn was going to see a friend. I had my new organdie waist to get and pay for and shoes (patent leather) also some errands for Theodora; you see the conductor forgot to take my ticket the last time I went, which makes the trips cheap as I am very lucky in being overlooked. The New Orleans French grand opera company is at the California and that afternoon were giving Faust. I had never heard grand opera nor seen Faust on the stage so thought it, in spite of Lent, to be too good an opportunity to lose.

We got the best seats in the house by having resold ones presented to us in exchange - the first row in the gallery. I never enjoyed anything so much in my life; every work of it was in French but of course having just been studying it very carefully I knew every scene and it was so grand. I never heard such music. Of course it is not the finest company in the world but the voices were fine and the parts well interpreted besides having very good stage setting. We had a libretto and I am sure the dollar was well spent - the music still rings out in my memory. In the scene where Valentine dies and curses Margaret I found my face wet with tears, the traces of which gave me a grotesque appearance the rest of the play. We had time afterwards to have a sherbet at Maskeys and catch the 5:30 train. I got off at San Mateo and stayed all night with dear Lolie and it was the crowning treat of such a happy day. She looked very well and we had such a jolly talk. You can't imagine how much more human and sensible that dear child is and I am proud to say we have grown very companionable.

The next day Dr. Breuner called and offered us the carriage to ride to San Mateo to church [illegible] and hear arch-bishop Weber. Dr. Brener also officiated but I did not like the service so much even if it was a wonderfully pretty little church for there was something affected about it an air lent by the rather fresh divinity students who also assisted. The whole Brener school marched in in full uniform and white gloves though they were quite overheated by their march from the school. Theodora and I slipped out in time to catch the 12:30 train to Palo Alto where I found myself in time fo dinner.

After dinner Mrs. Baker wanted the girls to go into the parlor and meet Dr. & Adn Mrs Wendt who had preached in the chapel. Prof and Mrs. Hudson were also there. Dr. Wendt impressed me as being a very egotistical kind of a man and I didn't like him at all. Afterward I slept the rest of the afternoon and last night Miriam, Helen and I simply dug with all our might for an examination in Shakespeare this morning. The ex proved the most severe one I ever had in the university The whole class is groaning over it. Twenty two questions on the text of Hamlet - lines or portions of lines being given and we were to tell everything about them that we knew - quote the passage, tell where it came from and explain the words and annotate as if for an edition of our own. Last night your dear letter came. I am so glad you are going to have a change.

[written] Mar 15 '97 16

[typed] Speaking of the art questions, Mr. Vickery sent down an exhibit of photogravures of the Hermitage collection in St. Petersburg - mostly Van Dykes, Rembrandts, and Murillos. The exhibit was in Roble Parlors Friday and was very fine with two of his most ladylike men to explain things. What fun the book party was. I am completely mystifyed by the puzzle you sent me as are all the girls. I have not read the .......and think your idea was so cute for it. Don't worry about the board. LI only realize it isn't good when I really have something good to eat out.

In the midst of my sentence one of the girls called for me to go to a feed in her room - cocoa and cake and crackers and jelly. I left them singing to finish my letter. This Lent I am making an effort to do all those things which I ought to do rather than going without for it seems to me everything in this last college year is too valuable to miss though I don't think I shall indulge in any very large function.

Bishop Nichols sermon was so good a week ago very much finer than Arch bishop Weber's last Sunday. It was a very good antidote for any such feelingas as some old sailor is quoted as expressing in his dying prayer "Oh God if there be a god, save my soul if I have a soul".

Next week is vacation which I expect to spend here doing at my leisure some back German and some Chaucer. We are reading the Canterbury Tales now - the most interesting of anything yet, and Dr. Flugel brings such quaint illustrations to class. In Shelley we have had read Queen Mab and now are reading Prometheus Unbound. I have not done much of the assigned work yet but shall get at it now that this Hamlet ex. is over.

Wednesday we begin another Othello in the Shakespeare class. Did I tell you we are on the second part of Faust? Dr. Gretel is such a wonderful interpreter. I wonder if when you are in New York you could get me an inexpensive ready made shirt waist - no. 34. and tell me how much and I can enclose the paper money. I have liked my pink shirt waist best and it hasn't faded much either, though one of my blue ones is getting very shabby. My blue serge skirt I got this Xmas is cut the bell shape and though I didn't like it at first I am getting used to it. The editor of the Sequoia has promised to mail me the number we want but hasn't done so yet. Don't youl like the new small sleeves? Oh my pink organdie waist is lovely - just a baby waist but darling.

The lights are going out so must say bye bye hoping the shirt waist will not trouble you as that is what I am most in need of -

Lovingly Toodles

[written] 17

[typed] Tuesday afternoon Feb. 16, '97

My dearest Nannie -

Am every so sorry I have been so late this week. Saturday I went to San Francisco with Theodora, she meting me at San Mateo. She had Intended getting Miss Ostrander to make her an everyday skirt, and I to make the high necked organdie waist but she was out of town as so we spent our time just running around looking at things. Such pretty spring suits in the window - beautifully made and so cheap & Theodora got her some shoes, and I showed Rosenthal how badly my winter boots had worn and he begged to send them to the manufacturer that he might replace them or else mend them. I agreed as I intended having them patched anyway, and got me a heavy pair of calf skins for three dollars. Did you ever hear of such a bargain.

I also bought me a lovely white petticoat for 2.50 very well made and good material. This was about all my shopping. Theodora came back with me and stayed over till early Monday morning, she looked very well and it was so good to see her. This term has been harder for her because she has stayed there so incessantly, but now she is going to arrange to have her Saturday afternoons to go where she pleases.

Thursday evening, Helen, Miriam, Mary Caldwell and I called at the Poners and had a jolly time. Oh I must tell you such a funny thing we girls are going to do. Next Friday evening is the Sophmore Cotilion and very few of the boys have asked girls to go. At the Zete house one of the boys, Mr Chester Thomas was especially rebuked by his frat. brothers for not going especially as they wanted certain of us girls to go, as the thing boded a failure, So Mr. Thomas said he would take four girls if they wanted him too, if they , his frat brothers, would pay the expenses. It was agreed and today he asked Helen and Alice Colt, Jessie Haskel and I and to his utter astonishment we said we g would go. It is very lovely of the boys to be so anxious for us to go and I have a great deal of sympathy for boys like him who stay away because they can't afford to go; we girls think it a great lark and are having great fun mystifying people by each of us saying we are going with Mr. Thomas. It is an especially good joke on the Rho Eta Boys who are so slow about asking the girls. It is a much better predicament than last year when I had to refuse four invitations for it because I didn't want to go with the first person who asked me.

There sir; I haven't told yout that Mrs. Van Kleck Mrs. Anderson's mother died a week ago Sunday. I didn't know about it till some days afterwards when I immediately wrote to Mrs. Anderson.

I haven't gotten the Sequoia yet that had Dr. Jordan's poem in it but as soon as I can will send it to you. Your letter was such a good one, but you praise me all together too highly for that paper, I should say it was original as I made it all up out of my own head not knowing enough to do otherwise. I admit I like the flattery tho as I am all out of conceit with myself.

Mary Calwell freshman, just had a big box of oranges, mince pies, wafers, etc, also a bottle of port. I am glad she is rooming with Helen. Bye bye

Toodles

I love my neck ribbon - have it on now.

[written] 18

[typed] Saturday morning - March 20 '97

My dearest darling Nannie -

Your note has just come, and this in return must be a short letter just to wish you a thousand birthday happinesses and best wishes. I am so glad you are going to be where you will have such a pleasant time.

There has been little of importance this week. Nothing at all aout of the usual routine. Indeed it isn't the least trouble in the world to write to my dear Nannie - it is the happiest habit I have - it is more fun than a box of monkeys to get your letters and all of Epsilon Chi loves you most as much as I do. Its heaps of fun to tell you about every thing too. I only wish all the jokes and chaffing didn't sound so silly on paper or I would write more of them.

Oh last Wednesday Commander Booth-Tucker and staff of the Salvation army lectured here and lunched at Roble. Mrs. Baker asked Alice Colt and me to help entertain them at luncheon - which we did with much interest and amusement. Captain Booth-Tucker was an assistant governor of some Indian province when he read a War Cry and became a Salvationist. He speaks three different languages and quite out-quoted Prof. Miller and Prof. Murray who were also at luncheon. His lecture wasn't half as pleasing as Mrs. Booth's when she was here last year.

I send today Dr. Jordan's new volume "The Innumberable company and other sketches" I am not sure whether I sent the Innumberable company before or not. At any rate I hope the other sketches will be interesting I am very disappointed in the volume as California publishers certainly haven't mastered their art, but I hope it will carry to you some of your Toodles hearts love.

This a is a day hesitating between clouds and sunshine - just three years ago when the day was so glorious and full of sunshine and the cherokee roses had their first buds that Mamma found and picked - in a way it is a century ago and in another way but yesterday. The anniversary of those days makes a very holy week.

I half expect Theodora to stay all night with me tonight but of that I will write next time. Many of the girls have gone home for the spring vacation, but there is too much to do to be loneseome. Wishing the best of times in New York and the happiest of birthdays.

Your very loving Rose.