Payne correspondence

the cloud fall on all. It came sooner than expected in the form of 7 girls becoming intoxicated on the 4th floor and making night hideous by their yells and screams. Two of the prof. were promptly summoned as the culprits defied Mrs. Clement and a few days after all the offending girls were requested to leave the Hall own & were permantently suspended. Later Mrs. Clements received her notice that her place was declared vacant and she left the next morning on an early train saying good bye to no one. And now Dr. Jordon with his usual aptness has chosen Mrs. Baker, chaparone of the Zeta Psi Frat. to mother the girls and if she will only consent to it will simply revolutionize Roble and give it an atmosphere of culture that it has never enjoyed even under Miss Thompson. You see Dr. Jordon was absent at the time and those were days of suspense but he is so prompt and decisive in everything he does. One feels so protected, just to see him swing along to and from the quadrangle.

I came back from San Jose Thursday morning on the 8 train having made calls on the Allens, [illegible], Lewises and Dr. Wakefield since he did so much for me about securing my school for me. I previously had planned to go to S. F. with Rose as Mrs. Myrick wrote such a cordial note of welcome to us to make that our home during the holidays - but I decided to economize here and give Rose the money to get her a new suit, stockings and petticoat she needed. I expect her back tomorrow, for the boys give the girls an informal party at Palo Alto in the evening and I know Rose will not want to miss it.

&: I am perfectly delighted at the prospect of a liberty scarf for me - I admired Rose so much as I always did think them the prettiest things but did not in the least covet one for myself until now I am to have one it makes me want one very much. Thankyou so much - I will write as soon as they come. Your letter came just in time before Rose started

so she will get you gloves probably tomorrow, if not yesterday. I am so glad you have one of the unique calendars - Gertrude gave me one and I expect to learn a great deal from it. She also gave me three dollars for a new purse. I am curious to know your opinion of Prof. [Brrn's?] book - The Vales of Languedae. I liked his little introductory remarks and tho't perhaps they might interest you. San Miss Scott in San Jose - Gertrude and I called on her one rainy evening Everyone inquired about you and sent love. Miss Scott is going to visit St. [Mathew?] school for she wants points on the machinary of boarding school life.

This morning I walked to Palo Alto and back through the Stanford grounds - it was beautiful.

I am writing in my little pink wrapper which everyone says is the most becoming thing I wear and which certainly has given me the most solid comfort of anything you could have sent me. It is still such a lovely pink and does not need washing badly, for the wear I have given it.

Many wishes for a glad New Year from Theodora.

[page turned] The [illegible] I go back to San Mateo.

[written] 1

[typed] January 1st 1897

My dear Nannie - -

It seems very natural to write - 1897 - I think it will seem strange only when 1900 comes. This whole winter so far has been like a beautiful spring season with a few exceptions when it poured but seemed to get through when it stopped and the atmosphere became so clear and warm and bright between times. Monday last I went down to San Jose' and enjoyed the Institute discussions very much - but all the Stanford profs were there' What a thing for Cal this University is and will be can not be estimated. I suppose Rose did not write you of the scrape a fortnight ago at the Hall. You see Mrs. Stanford put a matron in who was thoroughly incompetant and when at the beginning of my vacation I came here Rose and Helen together with many other girls were most desirious of leaving the hall fearing something dreadful would happen and the cloud fall on all. It came sooner than expected in the form of 7 girls becoming intoxicated on the 4th floor and making the night hideous by their yells and screams. Two of the prof. were promptly summoned as the culprits defied Mrs. Clements and a few days after all the offending girls were requested to leave the Hall and were permanently suspended. Later Mrs. Clements received her notice that her place was declared vacant and she left the next morning on an early train saying Good-bye to no one. And now Dr. Jordan with his usual aptness has chosen Mrs. Baker, chaparone of the Zeta Psi frat. to mother the girls and if she will only consent to it - will simply revolutionize Roble and give it an atmosphere of culture that it has never enjoyed even under Miss Thompson. You see Dr. Jordan was absent at the time and those were days of suspense but he is so prompt and decisive in everything he does. One feels so protected just to see him swing along to and from the quadrangle. I came back from San Jose Thursday morning on the 8 train having made calls on the Allens, M-----, L------, and Dr. Wakefield since he did so much for me about securing my school for me. I previously had planned to go to S.F. with Rose as Mrs. Mynick wrote such a cordial note of welcome to us to make that our home during the holidays - but I decided to economize here and give Rose the money to get her a new suit, stockings and petticoat she needed. I expect her back tomorrow, for the boys give the girls an informal party at Palo Alto in the evening and I know Rose will not want to miss it. I, I am perfectly delighted at the prospect of a liberty scarf for me. I admired Rose's so much as I always did think them the prettiest things but did not in the least covet one for myself until now I am to have one it makes me want one very much. Thank you so much - I will write as soon as they come. Your letter came just in time before Rose started so she will get your gloves probably tomorrow, if not yesterday. I am so glad you have one of the unique calendars. Gertrude gave me one and I expect to learn a great deal from it. She also gave me three dollars for a new purse. I am curious to know your opinion of Prof. Brown's book - The Tales of Languedoc. I liked his little introductory remarks and tho't perhaps they might interest you. Saw Miss Scott in San Jose. Gertrude and I called on her one rainy evening. Everyone inquired about you and sent love. Miss Scott is going to visit St. Mary Mathew's School for she wants points on the machinary of boarding school life.

This morning I walked to Palo Alto and back through the Stanford grounds - it was beautiful.

[written] 2

[typed] January 1st 1897

I am writing in my little pink wrapper which everyone says is the most becoming thing I wear and which certainly has given me the most solid comfort of anything you could have sent me. It is still such a lovely pink and does not need washing badly, for the wear I have given it. Many wishes for a glad New Year from

Theodora

The sixth I go back to San Mateo. I forgot to say anything about Christmas day so Rose will tell you that. It was my very quiet happy one however.

[written] 3

[typed] Saturday Jan 9-'97

My dearest Nannie -

My dearest Nannie - I forgot I called you that once and absent mindedly have written it over again but I mean it a whole page full. Your letter came just about an hour ago and I have been grinning over it since and reading parts of it about the pictures to the girls. Helen Younger has been moving down from the 4th to the 2nd floor so we are near neighbors. She has been fixing up her room and I have been helping her. Her room-mate - Mary Caldwell a freshman & relative of Marguerite Sabler - has almost as many pretty things as Helen has, & their room has assumed already a very Bohemian & artistic air, it has been great fun, & we have fixed pretty studies by burning the edges into rich brown odd shapes - a trick I picked up from one of the boys at the Rho Eta House. This is such a glorious day. We certainly are having a heavenly winter! Last Monday I started out to make calls in Palo Alto in my new suit that I like immensely. I found Mr. Teggart was sick in bed, I suspect she is on the verge of enlarging her family. Mrs. Angel, Dr. Angel told me was in Boston and as he said had gone shortly after the ("Opera" or card party they gave. Mrs. Gilman - Mrs. Cullen's sister - was not at home neither was Miss Darrah the excellent Education teacher. In the evening Alice Colt and I called on Dr. & Mrs. Stillman & of all my list they were the only ones home. Tuesday we registered & made out our programs for this next semester and Wednesday lectures began again. We are beginning Hamlet. It is so far now most difficult & thorough Shakespere study. I am not going on with Hudson's class as it makes too many hours and though it is deserted devoted to Tennyson I think I can make a study of it myself some time. Otherwise my course is almost the same except that I take Renaissance Art History under Prof. Krieber instead of 18th cent. Hist. We begin with Giotto. The girls feel very sad at the thought of leaving this semester and I am happy in the thought that It is not my last quite yet. Mrs. Baker our new matron is lovely she knows so many people we know - the Cullens & the Lathrops & knew of Mama thru some of the faculty ladies here. Did I tell you of the lovely call I had on Mrs. Jordan. She inquired about you, & wished to be most warmly . Did I tell you about Mr. Delamater's death just before Christmas. It was the end of quite a long illness & feebleness. What do you think Theodora is doing! She wants & must have the 400 paid Louise as soon as possible and in order to do so we couldn't draw on our allowance. So Theodora is sending me 30.00 out of the 40.00 she earns each month, of course when I earn or get the money I shall repay her, but think of my sister sending me thro' college! My last letter from her said she was having a happy time with her little "tads" coming back. She is really fond of her work and got some useful hints from Miss Darrah & the teacher's institute. Oh the Sohrab & Rustum paper is not worth sending. It was written at the end of the term in a great rush & my main ideas was to get off my hands. Helen took more pains with hers, and if I can persuade her to let me send it I shall. Am going to call on Mrs. Fairclough this afternoon.

Bye-bye Your loving Toodles.