Payne correspondence

[written] 34

[typed] September 5 - 1897

day - it was yesterday afternoon, and after we had gossiped about the different professors and their courses we talked over my work, but I haven't come to any very definite conclusions except that I am going to take one or two seminary couses courses with Prof. Hudson & Dr. Flugel but I don't think I shall take his seminary as it is too technical to be practical with regard to my teaching. He wants me very much to stay another term but that is something I know more about than he does & of course I don't want to. I must write to all the dear people whom I have been with this summer and I don't seem to have much news. I have been absorbed mounting my little sketches & things and making my corner room so pretty. Auntie Sue seemed well & was ver much improved after her trip camping at Capitola. Mrs. Gates asked me to luncheon with her and I enjoyed it so much, she sent a great deal of love to you as did Auntie Sue & Auntie Carrie & Mrs. Start & especially Mrs. Schneider who loves you very much, like everybody else. Gertrude and I went out to the cemetary taking quantities of astors - pale pink & lavender ones - that Auntie Carrie gave me and making Mama's resting place beautiful with them, with roses & other flowers on Papa's & Grandma's & the other two places; it was so peaceful & full of rest there where it didn't matter whether the house were rented or not & nobody had to teach school. Everyone is so cordial & it seems so good to see everybody, though Helen & Muriam & Alice Colt I miss dreadfully. I saw Gilbert & enjoyed the dear boy so much he took me out driving & played whist frequently while I was at Mrs. Schneiders. I have mislayed your last long letter & know that there were ever so many things in it to answer that I probably am not thinking of. I am glad, you are having a free & happy time for a while in Canovia & hope that you will enjoy it to the utmost. The house isn't rented yet but I hope that it will be soon. Gertrude seemed quite rested after her vacation. I am feeling so well & am as brown as a berry yet; have not seen many of the faculty people yet, except Dr. Jordan who was showing a friend over the Hall & came to look at my room - I am going to wo mark with chalk the place where he stood, bless him -

Yours Toodles

I see I have another half a page & so will take it up in telling you that I am so well clothed this year, I seem to have a plenty of everything I need, & shall get me only a new everyday hat for winter. Laura is tutoring one pupil in English & Muriam is beginning her work in the Washburn school. How I wish you could see my room. Theodora is well & happy.

R.

[written] Sept 6 '97 35

[typed] Monday morning

This is simply a perfect day and I can't help adding a line to tell you about it. I wonder if you have beautiful views from Aunt Tad's windows. You would be in extacy over the snow capped hills I see from all three of my windows with the green fields between and the sunshine every where not to mention the larks and budding oak trees. Buttercups and wild flowers already

This is vacation and nothing to do but rest in the beauty of the day.

Haven't anything more to say so bye bye again with heaps of love

Toodles

[written] 36

[typed] Sunday Oct. 4, 1897

My dearest Nannie-

I am most afraid to write a word, in fact I got so bad that I have been afraid for a whole week, because I am sure Nannie has been worried to death about me, and I have simply been busy as could be, with good times to take up my spare letter-writing moments. This semester augurs a term of faculty good times, that is among the young faculty people. Miss Snow, daughter of President Snow of Kansas University is in the Hall this term and she has a brother whom I knew last year who is one of the assistant professors in entomology, so all of the bachelor profs with Mr. and Mrs. Hudson and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce make things very lively over here at Roble and at their homes. So you see that, together with two seminary courses, two history courses geology, and evolution have kept me more than busy. I have 18th century poetry in Prof. Hudson's seminary Tuesday afternoons, and the history of old English and AngloSaxon literature in Dr. Flügels seminary ( a course especially adapted to teachers), then the elementary, one term, geology course, and the history of England since 1485 and England in Tudor and Stuart reigns. I love my course, but I have had all kinds of sieges of being blue and wanting to do impossible things.

The boys seem to be making a special effort to be polite - to make up for the end of last semester, I suppose. This afternoon Kittie Haskell Edith Snow and I spent a few hourse over at Mrs. Dunnes withProf. and Mrs. Pierce, Prof. Allardice, and Mr. Snow. Mr. Pierce brewed coffee and we had a jolly time. How I do wish I could see you and describe all of the people and tell you in detail all the funny little things. You will think that I have not been thinking about my serious work after Christmas, but I anticipate little difficulty. I have a letter from Prof. Barnes to Mr. Brynton of the Fiske's teachers agency and letters of recommendations from Miss Darrah, Miss Shellenk..., Mrs. George, Mrs. Washburn and, besides Prof. Anderson, I expect to be able to get recommendations from others of the English faculty. Prof. Anderson and Dr. Jordan are not the people to go to in educational matters. All positions are obtained through the education department. Gertrude supplies me with ample funds and I am as well as well can be. I take the borowine het and like it immensely.

Kittie Haskell has sold her wheele to Theodora for what the repairs on it cost and so Lolie has the prospect of a glorious old time cycling - She is very well, and happy as a King, with a raise of salary and high praise. Next Saturday a number of the girls and I are going to the city - I need scarcely anything this winter- just shoes and a quadrangle hat - with an errand or two for Theodora so expect to have time to accept Mr. and Miss Snow's invitation for the theater in the afternoon. Marguerite Stabler is in the city and I am going to spend Sunday with her and Sunday night with Lolie. Howard Veeder is coming down to the university before long to visit Fred Schneider. Oh you will be interested to know that I had the best paper in English History a couple of weeks ago, that was read before the class and complimented for its English !

I am worried to death because I know you will be worried - if I only could plaster this letter with special delivery stamps - I never never never will be so bad abouyt writing again. I am simply head over heels

[written] Oct 4 '97 37

[typed] delighted with the Thanksgiving day treat you have promised me - you don't know what an added zest it gives to the football practice every afternoon at 4:30. Out of the money you said you were going to send I think I can save enough for a Stanford photograph or two. With the birthday money, I am going to either get Mama's picture framed or get me a little Stanford pin (1.25) so you see I am as happy as a king with the dear pleasure my Nannie has promised. me. All the girls have been laughing and talking at such a rate that it has been most difficult to write down the words I wa nt to use and there are such millions of things that come flitting through my head to talk about.

Phil Abbott called last evening but it was rather of a bore, The girls all josh me as being the only person that can"jolly up" with Dr. Jordan - it. seems too easy for anything to have the wittiest kind of talks with him and he has done me the great honor of showing off my room to his distinguished guests. Gertrude made me a flying little visit a couple of weeks ago and was too lovely for anything - she told me about your letter to her and you know I am sure what a heartfull of gratitude I have. Kittie and I are hoping to get schools together though she is constantly talking about taking me home with her in Pennsylvania, as is also Miss Snow who plans to go to her home at Christmas, too. I must write to Trude and Lolie so

Bye bye Rose

I promise a better letter soon - before next Sunday

[written] 38

[typed] November 27, '997 Sunday night

My dearest Nannie

Am just home from my "Thanksgiving jag" as the football song goes and such a good time I never did have before! In the morning of Thanksgiving day Edith Snow, Kittie Haskell, Mr. and Mrs Pierce (pronounced purse) Prof. Allardice, Prof. Young, Prof. Campbell and Mr. Snow took the special to the city. The coaches were all bedecked with red bunting and after the engine had tooted the Stanford yell, the fourteen cars set off. When we reached the city I found Theodora waiting for me and when the regular Flyer came in we met Helen looking more like a queen than ever. Mr. and Miss Snow,Helen, Theodora and I took luncheon at the University club and then proceded to the game. We had seats in the yelling section which was the most loyal Stanford place. It was certainly a "red" day and the poor Berkeley men could scarcely keep their feet before our invincible line. The brilliant colouring of the cardinal mingling with the blue and gold makes a never to be forgotten scene, with trumpeting, shouting and waving of ribbons and flags. No one was hurt and the score quickly mounted up though the U.C. men did well and they had one good player and runner but our team is the heaviest of any of the Universities in the east, and Brook our coach was sure that it could have defeated Cornell this year.

After the game Helen, Tedora, Mary Brunton, Fred Haskell and I had dinner at the Palace and then went to the vaudeville that is given each year. It was very poor but was redeemed by the speeches of the football team, of Dr. Jordan and the rest of the prominent men. I could have hugged Stuart Cotton our captain, and in fact I am not sure but what I did exchange embraces after the game with Mr. Searles and some of the old men whom I hadn't seen for sometime, not excluding Dr. Jordan who returned from Washington that day. Theodora and I stayed all night at the Myricks and early in the morning Lolie slipped out to catch the seven oclock train for San Jose where she had to see Mr. Gorbey. I found Mr. Young at breakfast and accepted an invitation from him to go thru chinatown with Mr. and Miss Snow and Mrs. Myrick and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce. It was such fun to go thru all the merchants shops and finally up stairs to a swell resturaunt. Tea was served in a long hall very oriental in its black ebony, settes and taberets. The tables were large and Round with tea set for the party and pickled fruits - oranges and plums, ginger and chinese salted almonds that were delicious. The tea was the best I ever had.

Mr. and Miss Snow came home with us to dinner and afterward we went to the theater to see the "Geisha" - a new Japanese opera that has been having a great run. The next morning Mr. Young took us all down to the water front to see the fishing boats and that was indeed a most picturesque sight, with such refreshing drafts of sea air. We all dined at the University club and in the afternoon Mr. Allardice took us to the Loan exhibit at the Hopkin's House. It was of the local artists and we saw many of Keiths and Jorgenson's that we liked. Edith Snow and her brother said goodbye to us there and I do not know when I shall ever see her again. It left me with a very lonely feeling for in her short stay here I have grown very fond of her. Mrs. Myrick soon went home too and Mr. Allardice and I visited Shreves, Vanderdices, etc enjoying the Xmas things so much, especially those with the Stanford seal on them. I went out to the Myricks very weary indeed and had a good nights sleep beginning immediately after