The Days of a Man 1896 



the University had come to be fully recognized as 

 belonging to "the children of California." 



In the amendment partial relief from very burden- 

 some state taxation was also provided, the legis- 

 lature being authorized to exempt the university 

 buildings and all personal property outside of real 

 estate. As to the latter limitation, it was necessary 

 as a concession to Tehama and Butte counties, in 

 which the institution held 76,000 acres of farm land. 



Mrs. Stanford meanwhile made many and various 

 attempts to dispose of property and cancel obliga- 

 A valuable tions. In the summer of 1897 she went to the 

 Queen's Jubilee, carrying in a suitcase * jewels 

 worth nearly half a million, which she hoped to 

 sell advantageously because the social leaders of 

 the world would then be gathered in London. But 

 finding no adequate market, she was obliged to 

 bring back the bulk of the collection. 



While upon the subject, I may as well explain 

 the final disposition of this romantic asset. In 

 1905, only a week before her death, Mrs. Stanford 

 turned the collection over to the permanent board 

 of trustees already functioning with instructions 

 to sell it, the proceeds "to be known and designated 

 The as the Jewel Fund," the earnings to be used solely 

 for the purchase of books. In 1908 the sale was finally 

 made, thus establishing a fund of $500,000, yielding 

 a guaranteed yearly income of $25,000. 



During the continuance of our difficult situation 



1 It was simply to save the large cost of transportation with insurance that 

 Mrs. Stanford and Miss Berner took upon themselves the delicate responsi- 

 bility of personally caring for the treasure. Knowing their determination, I 

 asked Professor Kellogg, then about to leave for Leipzig, to go by the same 

 boat and act as special guardian on the way over. This role he generously 

 accepted, much to Mrs. Stanford's relief. 



