Payne correspondence

quite forgotten the exact day of my birthday, thinking I would forget it until the day was past! but Rose this morning tumbled the box of delicious nuts into my bed with your good letter and I was made very happy. And the sweet little points - just what I have wanted and prettier than any of the girls wear.

O! I have had just the loveliest most unexpected kind of a birthday! In the first place all my lectures were perfectly enjoyable. But in Fr. Revolution, I missed Rose, & wondered where she was, but when I went to our room at noon, I knew the reason. It was sweet with flowers - two exquisite bunches of violets - & ferns - one from Rose and another from Alice Colt another dear girl. The pictures were decorated [illegible] the loveliest two grape leaves - beautifully autumned. Large white chrysanthemums in [illegible] pretty vase & a most artistic sprangly bunch of small sun flowers in the reading room. I was [illegible] over come - it was so unexpected and so like Rose. In the afternoon Mrs. Ballington-Booth the Salvation army woman spoke in the Chapel to an immense audience. I was duly inspired, but I always knew their work was a grand one. That was the 3rd treat. Afterwards I went to the library determined to study but my mind was too full of other things and I tho't by the time I had had the walk over to the hall I could settle down to work there - but what was my

[typed] Stanford University, Cal. 189

[written] delight to find Gertrude there. Wasn't it lovely of her! And she had made up into the landromat bag - just as rich as Mrs. Mc[illegible]) the canvas she worked for me. The silk is a beautiful quality of heavvy black corded silk and the change from the satin is a pleasant one. I was totally happy with it for I have wondered how I was ever to get it made, & I needed it so much. Rose had gotten in Palo Alto a birthday cake & after dinner 8 of the girls came in & enjoyed it with me. And Mrs. Foote had sent each of us a delicious glass of [illegible] so I dedicated mine to the occasion. When the girls had all gone except Miriam & a Helen Younger - (one of the most attractive girls I have ever met) + lingered & we were discussing one another's birthdays when in her calm, reserved way she let fall that it was her birthday too. Later she went to the library to study & Rose, Alice Colt and I set our minds to work to get up a sort of mock birthday for her. We made a paste board cake - round - & Rose spent much time making cocoanut [illegible] of tissue paper - 18 20 colored candles were resurrected & we stuck them in & had it lighted on her table when she came back. We hid behind her screen & enjoyed her appreciation immensely. Altogether it was a most happy day & one I shall always remember, there were so many sweet little thoughtfulnesses that we are so much more truly acceptable than costly gifts.

I wore the dainty points to dinner on my black silk waist - and they looked so pretty. I am writing this before breakfast & the second bill has rung which means II must stop short with a heart full of love to our dear Nannie, and a thousand thanks

from Theodora.

[written] Sunday Evening [typed] Stanford University, Cal. [written] October 13 - [typed] 189 [written] 5.

My dearest Nannie -

Theodora tells me she has written her second letter to you this week & reminds me I am lacking in my record. No doubt she has told you all important events of the week so I shall act as Bulletin Supplement. We are all excited over Examination I in French Revolution next Tuesday and my mind is densely befogged in Feudal Rights & Incidents not to mention direct & indirect Taxation. Last Monday was rather a gay day for me. A [illegible] Colton & Howard [illegible] - two of Grace Clark's friends were down from the city visiting "[illegible]" Cotton, & they succeeded in taking up the 2nd & 3rd hours Monday morning by "treating" at Rices - the ice-cream center, & in squandering time generally. I had gone to French the 3rd hour, when there was a [illegible] & Prof. Davidson said some one instead Miss Payne where-upon I walked out to find Grace, Laura, & the three boys, plotting an impromptu water-melon feast to which I immediately went regardless of French. We are reading, by-the-way, "Le Mars an Diable" by George Sand - a very pretty little story. Monday after-noon Alice Corner asked me to go riding with her in her pretty dog car, & of course I went as I missed two rides with her before. We had

[page turned] Theodora & I are howing[?] scrolls[?] in our last winter dresses & new hats. I'm in a fixx about her birthday & we have our money & she keeps accounts So I can't surprise but we called the matinee her birthday treat.

a lovely ride to Mardo Park, and around the university. Tuesday, I think it was, that Theodora Laura, Miriam & I went to an [illegible] class football game. Don't be too shocked to hear that we are all enthusiastic, for the first time in my life I found myself madly applauding the joke of it is I don't more than half understand the game, and always cheer for any but my own class. I don't remember much about Wednesday so guess I studied Thursday, & squandered most of my money with Jam, who had just heard from his father. he felt very flush so we went down to "Rice's". I took the noon train for San Jose, as I wanted to go to the bank for money for my silk waist & fare & the city. I took luncheon with Gertrude & then we both went out to Allis Ballin's[?] - to see Allis who got back from her trip Monday, & to get some millinery [illegible] done for a winter [illegible] day hat. Allis looks thin but appears better - more composed & rational, than I have seen her for a long time. Mrs. B. was as sweet & dear as ever sending much love to you. I took the 6 P.M. train home & got here in time for a late dinner. Friday I studied & had an examination with Miss. Mosher the head of the gymnasium. It was the "ancestory" ex. and I passed all right. Not having to go back farther than Mama & Papa. Saturday