Perry letters

The place is all lighted up and looks very fascinating with the groups of students in their white dresses, and the palm decorations scattered everywhere and the picturesque booths. If you come down I shall walk with you and so will Claude and perhaps some of the boys in the Fraternity. But I shall be well occupied looking up partners for Mae & Mabel that I shall not be able to give you all my attention. And, you know, I want to walk with some of my girl friends here also.

Wear your swellest black dress with the white fringe about the neck for the evening and anything else for the morning Commencement exercises, you may consider appropriate to a staid and august occasion.

Mae & Mabel are coming down on the train leaving S.F. at 4.15. If you come on that train you will have company and I will meet you all at the train.

[left side]

On Sunday the Seniors attend the baccalaureate sermon. We all march into church together and a visiting minister gives us a little fatherly theological advice. You will be able to attend this ceremony on Sunday if you come. Sunday afternoon we will have time to take a bike ride out in to the country.

The Prom. will come high, Doc. The tickets by rail are $1.90 (no return tickets are sold)

[right side]

Postscript. Have invited Mae & Mabel down for Prom. Have not rec'd w'd from them yet, though.

Stanford, May 25, 1900

My dear Doc

We shall have a very full house here for the Prom, but you are welcome to come. We expect to have something like ten guests, but there will be room for you somewhere or other. If you come down Tuesday evening you may as well stay for Commencement Wednesday morning when the Seniors graduate.

My professors all told me to day I had passed in everything & my major

professor assured me that I should graduate.

I am not sure, Doctor, that you will enjoy the Prom. I'll tell you what it is: Programs are given out as at a dance and you walk around the Quadrangle in the open air with a young lady as partner. You fill out your program as at a dance. Music as played as you walk by a band in the center of the Quad.

I think I should prefer to see the Senior Farce if I were a stranger.

An outside fellow can't have as much fun as a stranger-girl at the Prom, because the visiting girls want to "prom" with college fellows and college girls claim the college men. The non-college man is neglected.

The Farce will be attended by all the students. It is a college play, full of jokes on the profs. & students and is acted only by College men & women.

[left side]

you wear your patent leather ties - if they're still in good condition and the patent hasn't expired. But for the sake of respectability, I beg of you, Doctor, not to wear those fierce red socks of yours. Wear a delicate lavander shade of blue. That's a nice, lovely color and will match your shoes and your hair. Part hair on side. Wash neck. Manicure nails and bathe freely before using clean under clothing. Write at once.

Yours Fred. J. Perry.

Kappa Sigma House

Stanford

[right side]

It may be necessary also for you to take one or two of your meals outside of the house which will cost 25c a piece.

Tell Mamma that I shall expect to see her and whom ever she may bring with her after Commencement exercises Wednesday. Reserved seats are held until 10.30 and so she will probably be sure of a reserved seat on the ground floor.

Now suit yourself about the promenade concert. If you wish to come, why come along. You will be rather crowded when it comes to eating and sleeping because there will be something like eighteen people in the house when it is built to accomodate only twelve. But you won't mind that. The young lady visitors, of course, will have the best of the house, and if there's not room for us all in the house, why then, some of us will go to the hotel for the night.

As for the appropriate clothing! By all means wear your doctorial Van dyke and beaver and Prince Albert, but in default of these your light suit will be suitable. Or if you have a swell suit wear that. Don't wear a cutaway. And the shoes! Be sure