Payne correspondence

to it on the ground of its narrow, spying foundation but we were in the minority. The vote was also cast for some Glee[?] & Mandolin[?] tour[?]. it was a mere dispute between the two clubs and about the funniest thing I ever listened to. Since then the only thing of very tremendous importance was a report I had to give on Pyra[?] in the Milton class, in which I did writing more than [illegible] on my head a quite chiding for not talking louder etc. Friday night the chemical laboratory was burned out owing to some one leaving the gas lighted and the carelessness of the night watch. Of course the building is not in the least damaged but the loss of apparatus was quite discouraging. The weather has been enchanting, so bracing[?] and cold. till last night we had a sudden storm. It was the Roble girls sunday to decorate the alter at church so Alice Hays and I started early this morning and got some red fresh washed berries and got them arranged in time for service. Theodora and I got such a lovely invitation from Marguerite to spend the holidays at Rancho Sutter, and one from Mrs Myrick[?], also from Gertrude. The first we have decided not to accept on

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[handwritten] account of expense; it would be about $20. the second we are not[?] in favour of because I have to go to the city to shop. My black dress has quite given out and [illegible] get me something to wear through the long semester - another black outing suit I think would be most satisfactory I think [illegible] We got the proofs at last from Prof. [illegible] and such frights! perfect characte caricature (!) perfectly horrible: Theodora and I haven't done a thing for Christmas having neither time nor funds - I have finished up the bit of embroidery for Marguerite and that is all, as soon as we can have our pictures taken without going into debt we are going to but so far it hasn't seemed [illegible]. [illegible] I have spent my precious V. a dozen times, you know it have always been my ideal gift to have some money to do just as [illegible] with, and it is especially ideal now. I am just waiting till I g o t the city and see [illegible]thing that I [illegible] of parting from my fiver for. Don't think I don't crying being poor and going without strings, it swells me

so with a feeling of virtue that I never was so good natured in my life - you know if I were entrapped in a sluice box. I should be comfortable and [illegible] the vain pretty. In Milton we are studying the whole puritan revolution so as to [illegible] Milton, and in French Rev. we are just beginniing [illegible] Mirabeau[?] I havent found out about Victor Hugo's poem yet but shall soon. I shall [illegible] the rest of this for extra ideas so - Good night

Your loving[?] Toodles[?]

Tuesday - Dec. 17 - '95

I didn't realize this would be a Christmas letter or I should have begun on more Christmasy paper. [illegible] tell you about "Napoleon's Retreat from [illegible]". I asked Prof. Anderson about it and he said he had never published it but that he would copy it for me - providing I would never let it get into print as sometime he intended to publish it. Of course I would not believe to his going to so much trouble and he supplied me with pen paper and the required[?] to copy it myself. As I did so he glanced over my shoulder and read the whole thing through. He said that he wrote it one night when he was preparing a lecture on Victor Hugo - he wanted some extract of his works to illustrate with and the volume of translations was so poor that he turned to this passage and translated it himself -a, he said, he thought he could

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[handwritten] do better than "those fellows" - (the volume of translations) the result was the best work he ever did. He said the passage in the original had always been a favorite of his and he had translated it into the heroic [illegible] as that best gave the idea of the rugged system of the French verse. He went on to say that this was only a part of the series of Victors Hugo's portrayel of Napoleons eventful life, and that the Expiation at last came when Napoleon rose from his gorgeous tomb and beheld the debauched reign of his successor according to Hugo's thought. We had a delightful talk, and he took my copy and put his signature to it and date. Wasn't it lovely of him, I was so happy I wanted to hug him. In Browing he read "Strafford" to us and when he came to the last scene, there wasn't a dry eye his own included. Of ourse it just tallied into Milton's time so I particularly enjoyed it. The lights are going out so I must say Good-night Wishing you the happiest of Christmas's and just a heart full of llove. - Your Toodles -

Oh - I had a letter from Helen Lathrop asking me to spend the second week of vacation with her at her aunt's lovely home at San Quenton and I have accepted, isn't that lovely - Christmas week we are going to be with the Meyrides[?]. and I am going to have a new dress. Theodora is loaded with excuses and can't write just now she is asleep - your A.

I send too, the French Revolutions syllabi and include also my notes. I am beginning to realize & appreciate all my good advise about hand writing - I realy hope the translation will be legible - The notes aren't worth much - I merely include them for what they may be good for. Will send the next semesters work later. Ever so much love to Aunt Tad and a merry Xmas to her.