Bigelow, Anna Barton & Lucy Barton Mar, 1883 - Dec. 1903any expense you may be at in sending the same to me here? my address is simply Newport R.I. I hope you are well + that your heart is cheered + strengthened by the co-operation of friends + patrons in your noble work your loving cousin Anna B. Bigelow /202383 Newport , March 13th 83. Dear Cousin Clara Marie + I were sorry enough to miss seeing you in Boston I arrived on Saturday + called on you ^with in at Dr. Talbot's the next day but you were already gone- I wish now to ask you to send some of the Red Cross papers to me here- all that I have received from you have been sent away- The ladies of our Channing Memorial Church have been working very steadily for the reliefof the Western Sufferers– & I enclose a newspaper acknowledgment which tells how acceptable these contributions have been– The relief was sent by one pastor, Rev C.W. [Minetti?], (formerly of Cincinnati), through the Chamber of Commerce Relief Committee of Cincinnati.– Now, it is proposed to establish a society here, in order to meet just such emergencies as this last– It occurred to me that it was just the time to organize a "Red Cross League" here & in order to do that Mr Minetti must be well informed upon the modus operondi of the organization, so that he may put it into proper shape. Will you send me what you think will help most in bringing about this desired result? & will you kindly inform me of you speak of the possibility of your being in Boston again & of the possibility of your going to Providence In case you do or even if you do not go to P. Why not run down to Newport to see us if only for a few hours? If your time is limited, you could take the 3.40 train from Boston, which arrives here about six & I will meet you or you can drive to my house I should like to receive you in our own beautiful home on the Bay, but, we do not move from the winter house until the last week in April & you will find us up town, unless your visit is delayed.– You can take a through ticket– on the Fall River Line– stop over & then take the boat at 8.30 the same evening– that is if you cannot give us more time– I need not assure you that it would [20 23 '83] Newport, March 28, 1883. Dear Cousin Clara, I have delayed answering your welcome letter of the 19th & acknowledging the valuable documents received at the same time, that I might at the same time thank you & report what success I have had in the direction desired.–Pardon that long sentence & I will continue my discourse! Mr Wendte - the pastor of our Channing Memorial Church, was my cheif [sic] reliance in an effort looking to the establishment of a Red Cross Society here. He is personally much interested & thinks it a gloriouswork – but – he says it would be impossible to start the movement here - The winter residents are mostly Episcopalians and Congregation- alists + anything started by a liberal minister or Layman would not be popular. Mr. Wendte, who was formerly settled in Cincinnati, says that in C. or in Chicago there would be no difficulty in organizing + there would be plenty of willing hands.— He says, he has looked for some public notice of the work of the Red Cross Ass. in this last national disaster, but, so far had seen none + he suggests that a wider circulation be given to the good work as it is done. He + others seem very much interested in the work + are ready to co-operate with any leading spirit who will initiate the movement. We all think it would be of great service to the cause to distribute the new edition of the little Red Cross book before making any further effort here. When they are ready, will you kindly send me a doz or more copies for such distribution? All the documents are most interesting + will be in- valuable in the way of interesting people in the modus operandi of the Ass.give us all real pleasure to see you once more. If you go to Providence I should like to have you go to see my friend, Mrs Caleb Seagrove– She is too much of an invalid to go to you, but, would I am sure be interested in your work. If you are in P. under the auspices of the Woman's Club you would there meet Miss Bucklin, the sister of my friend. I wish there was more encouragement of co-operation here, but, the seed is sown & after many days, it may bear fruit– even on Conservative Newport ground. With cordial greetings from all of us. I am, Your loving Cousin, Anna Barton Bigelow. was quite sure that you would have given me a letter of introduction to her + her sister. Truth is oftentimes stranger than fiction + we may be glad together that fate or fortune or whatever it is brought me so near your two faithful + good friends in Germany. La Baronne spoke English with me very well indeed but, when she found I spoke French she would speak no more English, saying she had lost the habit from want of practice. She hopes you will come to the Conference in Geneva which she thinks is to be held another year – whenever you come to Europe she is sure you will find her, wherever she may be. Now in a few days we shall leave this lovely place + go first to Lucerne - thence by the St. Gothard R. R. to Hotel Baeren, Lichtenthal [?] Baden Baden Aug.15/90 [*Cousin Anna Barton Bigelow. + ?*] My dear Cousin Clara, I have today paid a visit to your dear friend La Baronne Marie de Mentzingen + I went with her sister, Freifrau von Freystedt! How do you think it came about? Almost in storybook fashion I do assure you. We have been here now about a month, at this pleasant Hotel on the Lichtenthaler Allee– opposite us at table every day for these weeks there sat an interesting old lady whom everyone addressed as "Excellenza."– One day I found that she spoke both French + English + then we began to talk to each other more+ more every day, mostly in French. One evening we began talking of the Red Cross Society; in which she seemed very much interested. I said a cousin of mine who was President of the R. C. Society in America had an interview or rather audience with the Grand Duke here in Baden Baden two summers ago– whereupon she said– Why I know - Clara Barton Is she your cousin? Then such a questioning & hand shaking and questions about her +c +c She said I must see her sister La Baronne de Mentzingen who lived close by + who would be overjoyed to see me – So this morning I went – with the Excellenza von Freystedt to see her – She received me with great cordiality + we talked for an hour about you + your work here + in America. – She sends all kinds of loving messages to you – says I cannot say too much – She hopes to see you again before she goes, as she expressed it – Her health is delicate – + she seems nervous – Her sister says that she can hear very little – After the visit I had a charming walk into Baden with her Excellenza– Now isn't this a remarkable case of attraction + sympathy. I told La Baronne that you expressed a wish to make me acquainted with some of your friends on this side of the water + that you would have done so gladly had you known of my whereabouts. – She replied that sheItaly, then to spend the winter in Florence – In the spring we come up to Venice, Vienna Dresden + Berlin + home in June — If you have time do write to me, always addressing me– care of Baring Bros. + Co. London England – I have sent to a neighboring garden for some lovely Roses + shall leave them with my p. p. c. card on La Baronne, for your sake + for the love I bear you– Ever lovingly Your cousin Anna Barton Bigelow.Miss Clara Barton.Wish I could see you or be in Washington with you sometime How charming that Anna should accident- ally meet your friends La Baronne Marie de Mentzingen + her sister Freifrau von Freystadt Oh! for the chance to go to Europe again – will if ever be? Anna is having a glorious time and doing much good– happily she has the money to do. the good with– Let me hear from you + remember I always think of you with affection- Your loving cousin Lucy B. Bigelow. Royalton Vermont. August 25 '90 My dear cousin Clara, Are you at home again? If not, where? I have a delightful letter for you from my sister Anna. She sends to me as I am not sure your address is still [?] Street N.W. Washington.because it is cheap and because I needed a change – I love the country. + here are cultivated people + I live in the woods. Much of the time. I have had a lame arm + hand for some months and have strained a nerve. And have not been able to write sew or knit. Now I begin to write again – and am more content - I often think of you + as soon as I hear from you. I shall forward the letter – I have followed you in the news- papers – and know how pleasantly you have been welcomed everywhere - How proud you must be - yet that is not a composition in our family not enough I think! I am here in the depths of VermontRoyalton Vermont Aug. 30. 1890 My dear cousin Clara– I wrote to you the 25th– as I do not wish to hold your letter any longer, I shall send on a venture– I think you must have left some directions for letters– Dont you ever have a decent photo? I want one sometime– Anna Bigelow has just sent one to me of herself and Marie–Please let me hear that you have my letters. Also Anna's very nice one. which she told me to read and send to you. Love from your aff. cousin. Lucy. B. Bigelow With a poor hand to write with– but improving. Glen Echo, Md. April 20, 1901 My Dearly Beloved Cousins Anna and Lucy, Among the contents of the last batch of mail not yet attended to since Galveston, I find your letters. You will never think they were not appreciated; there is no limit to love but their [sic] is to time. The days were very full and the strength not very great just then and I pick up this letter to tell you how much I thank you and that you will be glad to know that I am in excellent health, after a very busy autumn and winter. I have in preparation the report of Galveston, which I hope to soon be able to publish; that will close up one of the busiest and most important fields of relief I have ever known and which I conducted mainly alone. I am glad to know that I was able to and that the people we served feel that they were well served. I hope to send you a report one day which will tell you what I need not say now; neither do I need to say how dear my cousins are to me, for they know it, and yet if it gratifies me to say it, they will pardon me. I hope to see you both some day. It is always a pleasure to hear. Hoping you are in the best of health, I am, Your affectionate Cousin, [*space left blank for personal signature from Clara possibly*] [*Anna & Lucy Bigelow*] Address-Glen Echo, Md. present one, heading my letter– It will prevent delay, in case you should ever find time to write to your devoted friend + cousin Anna Barton Bigelow. [*34 cousin*] 95 Avon Hill Cambridge, Sept. 19th 1901. Dear Sister-Cousin Clara. Your most interesting Report of Red Cross Relief, at Galveston, was waiting for me on my return home. Thank you for remembering me– Lucy had told me of seeing you + some what of your talk together. It made me wish more than everthat we might meet face to face once more. If my son, William gets a "job", in Washington, as he thinks possible, I may possibly see you there this winter. Will is an architect & lives in N.Y. as perhaps you do not know. He is making plans for a house or houses to be built opposite the new French Legation, for Mrs Barney. I have not been in Washington since Lincoln's second inauguration. -next page- We are all united in sympathy & sorrow today– all speaking & thinking in praise of our martyred President. My deepest sympathy goes out to the living martyr– the lonely one, who will so miss & need the devotion of the one "gone before." Dear Clara, you are a marvel to me! Such courage, such endurance! I am proud & happy to be your sister cousin. Please have my address changed from 11. Chauncy St.– to the[*ansd from N.Y. Nov 29 1902*] My dear Cousin Clara Barton, I love to write. The honored name & to know mine comes from the same stock! I have read with intense interest your report of the International Conference held at St. Petersburg. Let me thank you for remembering me so kindly. It seemed almost like having a visit from your own dear self.Is there not a chance of a real visit the coming December? It was so pleasant to see you here & with such good friends. If I were not so far from town I should beg you to accept the hospitality of my home– You will surely let me know if you are ever any where in this vicinity. Just now I have my son, Will with me– (2) He spent the whole summer in New York superintending the alterations for the New Belasco Theatre. It was opened the last of Sept.- Then Will came home quite used up & is rapidly recovering under Mother's care & home comfort.- He is an architect & most of the real work must be done in summer. Lucy is now in Worcester, but, will be with me later in the season. At Christmas time perhaps.I have or shall have a little parcel to send you later– Is it better to express to your Country home– "Glen Echo," Md. or send to your Headquarters in Washington? Again thanking you dear Clara, I am, Always Lovingly, Your "Sister-Cousin" Anna Barton Bigelow 95 Avon Hill. Cambridge, Mass. Nov. 18th 1902– [*Ansd– Dec. 31. 1902*] Again dear Sister-Cousin, for I like to write that dear and honored name, Clara Barton– And this is to tell you that the Cushions are from your two sisters Anna & Lucy. The Red Cross hemp Lucy brought from Paris, a year & more ago– Anna made it into a Pillow for you. Lucy got the Balsam Fir in Vermont & Anna has made it into a pillow for your head, when you lie down to rest on Couch or Bed.So dear you will be with us and we with you - a fragrant Presense and Sweet memory now and always - with most [?] greetings for Christmas and the New Year, we are Your Loving, Sister - Cousins. Anna Barton Bigelow Lucy Barton Bigelow. 95 Avon Hill. Cambridge. Dec. 17th 1902. 34 Anna and Lucy Barton Pawall Bigalaw relatives Glen Echo, Washington, D.C. December 31st., 1902. My precious sister cousins, Anna and Lucy:- The fragrant cushions are here and the mementoes of Paris as well, but best of all the love that sent them. I shall never lay a tired head on either that it will not rest the more sweetly for the memory that hovers around it. Isn't it a beautiful thing in life, that the longer we live the closer and dearer its friendships grow. We are not to each other to day what we were forty years ago, or even thirty, or twenty. We have grown from cousins, seldom seen, little known, to sisters, never out of loving thought: that is one of the treasures of life, is it not: I am coming a little nearer to you, a contemplated removal of our headquarters to New York, will hold me very much there; I shall tell you more about it later. We have done some active, official work lately, and I trust for the better. I hope the winter is not too cold for you, if has been wonderfully gracious to me, giving me perfect health and excellent strength. Let us hope to see each other soon; till then hold me close in your hearts, with a sister's love. ClaraI want very much your report of the Russian trip. Will you send me one? I have a little Swede to help me- She says,"Why have you such a grand person for a Relative" took your reports. read all in her room + came for more- How nice you are well- and that you are to be nearer us in N.Y. Bless you dear Clara + may you be well + strong all this trying winter. Shall you give up Glen Echo? 34 Bigelow [?] Elm St Ansd Jan 22 1903 -sent report Worcester Jan 20. 1903 My dear, dear Clara I am glad you were pleased with Anna's + my combin- ation gift. Your letter dear Clara was worth more than forty pillows Anna sent it to me. You are a dear + noble woman- and I wish your mantle had A heart full of love from your "Sister Cousin" Lucy Barton Bigelow Mr Wm E, Stone who married Mrs Bacon's sister Pomelia? He has just died over 91 & has been to & from his home in Pleasant St to his office on Main daily on foot for years only gone up a few weeks ago– he [?] "actuary" in the Insurance office of Mr George Bullock. (son of Ex Gov. Bullock) who is President. or would fall on my shoulders– How I wish my noble father knew of all your good deeds– perhaps he does. Who knows? How proud he was of you and seems to me– I can remember a bit of envy I had towards you when he used to talk to Mother about cousin Clara! Did you knowTo give him more elegant words. "a brief statement of facts about Miss Barton. Something that would serve for a skeleton on which to drape a eulogy" There – now I have told you the truth! I have been mad lately over what are some untruthful statements of you + look like envy + jealousy of women. We know you are at the top always! – Now please dear Clara do not let my request bother you. I hope you are in N.Y. nearer us. Will Barton Sum- ner's son is there in business – so you want to see him sometime. – Just a postal to tell me you are well and do not think me officious but your loving "Sister Cousin" Lucy Barton Bigelow [*34 cousins Bigelow*] 97. Elm St. Feb. 6 1903 Worcester Mass Thank you my dear "Sister Cousin" for the Russian Report. and 'A World-Wide Humanity" I have enjoyed both Now having conferred this favor upon me, I want to ask you if it is right or possible to do me one more favor? A friend of mine in Cali- fornia – a teacher hasasked for some facts about you + the work. to be used as an essay in school - I might write from now until I die. then I should not have told 1/2 of your good deeds. I know he would be delighted to have this report + the "paper". I am not willing to risk mine. Are you willing to lend them to Mr. C. H. Ward. Casa de Piedra Ojai Valley, Nordhoff California Mr Ward is a relative of Gen'l Artemas Ward who was one of Gen'l Washington's aides + the old family homestead is now alive in Shrewsbury where I fre- quently go in summer - Is there not some article of you in some magazine you can tell me about? I have all your interesting report. and may lend one, I think a sister of Mr Ward wants them for an essay or thesis -and roomy, so I have my own room & can have all the quiet advancing years require. With these few words of congratulations let me add the best wishes of the season from the combined Marsh & Bigelow family and know that I am always lovingly you sister-cousin Anna Barton Bigelow Dec. 16th 1903 -next page- Answered Dec. 20, 1903 34 Bartons 53 53 Garden Street. Cambridge Dear Cousin Clara Barton I know you were kind enough to think of giving me the great joy "The Evening Star" on Dec. 9th brought to my door a few days ago. That eloquent heading, "President for Life" "Miss (Clara Barton at Head of Red Cross"! That was enough without reading on, I did read on though & your Annual address satisfied me through & through. You must let me add my heartiest congratulations to those of all you friends. Of the insurgents we will say nothing. It is a case where your silence has proved golden. Long may you live to bless us, your family and the world. If you are again in or near Boston please let me know that I may go to you. Since you were here Maria & I have given up our two homes on Avon Hill & resolved ourselves into one co-operative family. Maria taking all the care of house - keeping & giving me much freedom & comfort– Our home is very large, old-fashioned