In 1943 in the women-only Roble Hall dorm, two large dining rooms opened from the lobby, and we had all our meals there. The wartime food was reasonably good, considering that our ration books had to stretch for meat, butter, sugar, canned goods and I forget what else. At breakfast, the powdered eggs were just passable, but I particularly enjoyed the biscuits served with delicious honey-butter. There were some complainers to be sure, and they were the same ones who complained about everything else.
Seating and hostess schedules were posted weekly and were so configured that by the end of the year, we had met almost every other Roble resident. (Two years later, when I returned to Roble in the resident-assistant-like role of “sponsor,” I had the onerous job of typing those endless lists of tables and diners—every week.)
I had occasion recently to go through a box of Stanford memorabilia and came upon a mimeographed list of dining regulations that was given to each of us freshmen. A selection from it:
FOR DINING ROOM HOSTESSES
When you are a hostess in the dining room you can do much to add to the comfort of the girls at your table. We suggest, therefore, that you have everyone introduce herself, and that you keep the conversation general and pleasant.
In order to facilitate service, please:
- Fill out the drink slip, totaling the orders of each drink.
- About half way through the main course, the hasher will ask for “refill” orders. If you anticipate his arrival by asking each girl for her wishes before he comes, it will help very much. Give your order clearly, such as “May we have 2 milks, 3 potatoes and 1 vegetable.” He will also ask for dessert orders.
- In order to make the hasher’s work easier, please give all the orders yourself.
- There are some items on which it is impossible to give refills: Meats, individual salads, orange juice and desserts.
As you know, we wait for the head table (Number 2 in each dining room) to be seated before we sit down at lunch and dinner. We also wait for the head table to leave the dining room at dinner. At lunch we leave as soon as everyone at our table has finished. At breakfast you may sit wherever you wish—the hasher takes individual orders. .
Not listed in the dining regular regulations was that late arrivals were expected to stop at the head table to apologize before taking their assigned places. As for dress, campus clothes were always acceptable except on Wednesday night when faculty guests were present. On that evening, Roble women—treated like ladies and expected to act as such—wore heels and stockings. Pants? Never.
Marie Wagner Krenz, ’47, MA ’48, lives in Orinda, Calif.
