Extracts from Certain Personal Letters of 

 Mrs. Jane Lathrop Stanford 



After the decision of Judge Ross (July 6, 1895), Mrs. 

 Stanford wrote: 



I dare not let my soul rejoice over the future. It must be 

 more sure than it is now. I hope and pray that the final de- 

 cision will be as sure as the first. It means more to me than 

 you or the world have dreamed. It means an unsullied, un- 

 tarnished name as a blessed heritage to the university. My 

 husband often used to say: "A good name is better than 

 riches." God cannot but be touched by my constant pleading, 

 and this first decision by Judge Ross makes me humble that I 

 so unworthy should have received the smallest attention. 



On July 29, 1895, she wrote: 



I send a precious letter from Mr. Andrew White for you to 

 read. I read it with a heart running over with various emo- 

 tions. Mr. Stanford esteemed him so highly I could not but 

 feel like asking God to let my loved ones in heaven know the 

 contents of this letter. I prize this letter beyond my ability 

 to express. It lifted my soul from its heaviness. My heart 

 is one unceasing prayer to the All Wise, All Merciful one, that 

 all will be well for the future of the good work under your care. 

 When the end of our troubles is over, all [these letters] will 

 be placed in your hands for future reading by our students, 

 a story for them when I have passed into peace. 



Soon after, she wrote: 



I return herewith Mr. Choate's kind letter. God bless him, 

 for he was a friend indeed. 



Again, on August 15, 1895: 



It gives me great satisfaction to read Professor Stillman's 

 letter. I perceive, besides loyalty to the university, the noble, 

 tender loyalty to my husband's memory. ... I prize him as 

 a professor, for he was the only selection made by Mr. Stanford. 

 He knew him well and judged his character rightly, as this act 



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