CLARA BARTON  GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE  Dollfus, Ida
1871 - Apr 1888[*Lines by C. B
written in Mrs.
Dolphus book 1871*]

My precious friend

In the holy 
charge assigned you never be discouraged
by the apparent smallness
or insignificance of your task,
nor dismayed by its greatness
and difficulties.

Educate your friends up to
the full measure of truth, love
and principle - make their knowledge
as comprehensive, and their 
ideas as broad, as possible, withhold
from them no real truth, there
is no virtue in ignorance, givethem a knowledge of facts
and strengthen their minds by
earnest principle, love and charity
to work and conquer this knowledge
never instill in a human mind
the least taint of hatred to any
living being. God is love, and
Christ died for Man, even his
enemies.

Never fear to grant
some liberty to your children,
The good honest principles you
instill will bring them to the
right path if sometimes later
they even seem to wander a little.

And above all leave them
at last free to form their own
religious and political opinions - 
they must believe according to
the dictates of their own consciences,
and they must live their own
lives, you cannot live it for 
them.

As a last prayer: keep the love
of your children if you would
possess the Talisman whichshall always hold them
from danger.

Clara Barton.

1871.

Mulhouse 27 Mars 7[7/8?]

My dear Miss Barton

May I send you this very
old letter which I have written
months ago. After having
written it, I was uncertain
if you would ever receive it,
because I could only guess
your address.

But as I shall not knowin future your abode better
than I do now, I will no longer
keep back my letter, hoping
that it will perhaps reach you.

May it find you in better health
than you were last year that
is the sincere wish of my
heart.

Believe me, dear Miss Barton;
very sincerely yours
Ida Dollfus.

1876
Lola Dalyphus

My dear Miss Barton

Already six month
are passed since the newspaper which
brought me news of you, is in my
hands and I have not yet expressed
to you the sincere joy I felt on receiving
it.  Your Dear memory still lives
on in my heart and many a time my
thoughts go back to the hours I passed
with you, and I like to recollect what
you taught me by your words and
your example. Twice since you left
Europe, I heard of you throughMiss Margot, but for some years ago
she has not written to me, and I
am anxious to know the reason of 
her long silence.

You can easily imagine how glad I was
when I had tidings of you in such an
unexpected manner, but how much I
regret the state of your health.

May God help you to recover to be
the blessing of so many hearts who 
need your sympathy and your help.

The years which have passed since the
terrible war which brought you to
Mulhouse, have been very serious
ones and our town has gone through
many trials and lost much of its
former life. The only consolation
my husband could find after the 
annexation was to save his town
as best he could and therefore we
did not have the country and
have not yet parted with our boys
who carry on their studies at the 
college of Mulhouse.  A great affliction
befell our family two years ago, when
my dear mother died.  God sent thistrial but in his great mercy bestowed
on us a new blessng in the birth of
a dear little girl that was given to us
in the beginning of this year.

The parting words which you were so 
kind as to write down in a book of
mine are a precious encouragement in
the persuance of the holy task God has
confided to me and I thank you again
for this kind parting gift.

My husband wishes to be remembered
to you.  With my very best love, I am,
dear Miss Barton

Your's sincerely
Ida Dollfus.
Mulhouse  July 1876.

Mulhouse 22 March 1871.

[*35B*]

My dear, dear Miss Barton

When I received your kind
letter I was led to answer it immediately
and to tell you without delay how happy
I was to hear from you.  How could I remain
so long without doing it?

It makes me so happy to know that you 
have never forgotten me through these eight
years. I cannot tell you how often my
thoughts are with you and how dear is to
my memory every moment I passed with
you many, many years ago. I have always
considered it a great blessing to have met
you in my life and your words, your
example are engraved in my heart.

Do you remember, my dear Miss Barton, that
you have left us some precious lines in
which you gave me your counsels about
the education of my children?  These lineshave often enlightend my road and 
when I felt some perplexity, I repeated
them to me and you were my good friend
who showed me the right way.

The news of your health gave me a great
satisfaction.  I knew your long illness and
am so very glad that you feel stronger now.
How have you endured these long years of
inactivity?  It must have been a great trial
to you to renounce to all activity and to feel
so dependent on others. Your kind and loving
heart could do nothing for others, except
to set before them an example of peaceful
endurance. I know that a Christian
glorifies God in the days of illness as
well as in the most astral life and I
am sure dear Miss Barton, that your
long illness must have been full of
blessings to all those who approached
you.

I would have been so glad to hear more
about your life and your health through
Mr. Doerflinger, but I have never met
him. He brought your letter to my husband
and when I inquired after him, he had
already left Mulhouse. He lives near[?]
at Colmar, as I am told. I think an
American citizen he has many deceptions
in coming back in his native country.
He does not find men and things as
he expected them, because he got accustomed
to a broader and freer life.

I had the pleasure to hear from you
last autumn through Mr. Bergmann
whom we met in a lovely country-place
near Mulhouse.

You wrote me so finally some news of my
family. We have since getting[?] last letter gone
through good and bad days. In 1877 appearedour dear little August, the joy of our heart
and miss him of the house. Just four months
after his birth our sweet Helen was taken
from us after a short illness. She suffered
of the hooping cough and when she died
our little baby and elder girl Margaret
were both very ill of the same disease
God has spared them in his mercy.
Our house which has been full of life and
noise some years ago has become calm and
quiet, for our two sons have left us already,
the eldest studies at Paris, the second at
Yale. God has taken their education
out of their parents hands, may He prepare
them himself to a pure, noble
and useful life. My eldest daughter
is fifteen years old and will celebrate
her confirmation at Easter.

I have never thanked you for the
newspapers you had the kindness to
send to me. I read your speech at the
memorial day of Dansville with emotion
and with the just pride which
the merits and the honour of a
dearly beloved friend awake in our
hearts.

Will you be so kind as to permit
me to take a share in your future
life, in the events which mark it
and in the noble interests to which
you devote yourself? I cannot tell
you how glad I would feel in receiving
once more a word from you.

Pray, my dear, dear Miss Barton, keep 
me a little place in your heart andlet me hope that you will not forget
me. My husband wishes me to present
you his best compliments.

I am, my dear friend, with the
sincerely love and gratitude

Your's most affectionately

Ida Dollfus.

Mulhouse 23 June 1884.

[*13*]

Dear Miss Barton

I have been silent for many years
and yet your dear remembrance lives
in my heart and I often long to have
news from you.

My wish has been fulfilled when the
Journal d'Alsace informed me of your 
present life and the help you have
recently brought to people in distress.
God bless your loving heart!  Your
life so fully devoted to all who suffer
is a beautiful example for everyone who
is happy enough to know you.

I consider it as a great favour of Godthat I met you once in my life and
it would rejoice me so much to think
that you have not quite forgotten me.
Do you still remember the few hours
you have spent at Mulhouse with me
at the beginning and the end of the war?

The young Lady whith whom you came
is now in a convent as I am told. I
have quite lost sight of her.

Dear Miss Barton how can your friends
of Alsace ever be grateful enough for
all you did for the [our] poor during
the sad year of the war? It is long ago
since you have shared with us the 
misfortunes of our country, but many
thankful hearts wish still to repeat
to you how they love and reverence 

their benefactor, and I, dear Miss Barton
whom you treated as a friend and
honoured with that endearing name am
permitted to express you once again the
warmest feelings of our love and gratitude.
You will perhaps like to hear something
about myself and my family. My
three eldest children, you have seen, are
now quite grown up. My two sons are
finishing their studies at Paris and will
perhaps go one day to American before
settling again at Mulhouse. My
daughter is pursuing her studies at home,
and has become her mothers' dearest
companion. Margaret my second
daughter is thirteen years old and
her rather feeble health begins to getstronger these last years.  Did I tell
you that God gave us a third dear
little daughter, whom he recalled again
after two years?  Our youngest boy is
a tall and merry child of six  who
begins to go to school.

Do you remember the words you have
written into a little book of mine
at the moment of your departure? They
contained precious morsels for a young
mother. Many, many a time did I read
them and I have ever since fully
experienced the truth and strength
of the noble principles you have not
only written on paper, but also into
my heart, as a precious farewell.

I dare not expect ever a letter from
you, dear Miss Barton, but permit
me to write to you again some day
and if the newspapers record your
life and occupations, pray, let me
have them, I would be so happy
to have news from you in that way.
But if once you have a little moment
to spare for your distant friend, only
write me a word and tell me:
"I have not forgotten you."  It would
be enough to make me exceedingly
happy. My husband wishesto be remembered to you.

Yours very truly

Ida Dollfus.

MULHOUSE (Alsace), le 4 Dec.  1884

Ida Dophus

ID

[*33 B*]

My dear Miss Barton

You are now back again
in your own dear home and I
hope these lines will meet you in
good health after a happy journey.
My best wishes have followed you
on your way homeward.  Thanks,
many thanks for your two cards which
brought us such welcome news from
you.  It was so kind of you to find
time to write to me before you left
Europe.  You surely felt how glad
I should be in hearing from you

after the happy moments I had
spent with you. Let me thank you
once more for your dear visit which,
though so short, has left me the
happiest remembrances. It gave me 
a tender proof of your friendship
and I wish I could express to you
how precious that gift of God and
of your own warm and noble heart
is to me. I feel so happy that my
children and especially my sons have
made your acquaintance: They will
never forget your conversations and
the noble ideas you placed before 
their young minds will be more
and more understood by them

as time goes on. They are now
busy with their studies, but hope
to spend their New-year's holy-days
with us. My husband has so much
regretted to have been absent during
your visit and sends you his best 
compliments.

What news have you received from
Miss Margot?  Will she follow your
invitation and share your life and
labour?

I think the exhibition of New-
Orleans is very interesting. One of
your invitations has been given
to a young cousin of mine, Mr
Daniel Dollfus who is spendingsome months in the United States.
His father is one of the partners of
the manufacturing we visited together
and which has sent some of their
goods to the exhibition.

Are - you satisfied with the results
of the election and with your new
president?

I imagine you are again as active
as ever and would I could sometimes
cast a glance into your study when
you are sitting at your writing-desk,
surrounded with papers and working
unwearied for the relief of your suffering
brethern.

May I ask you a favour for my
sons?  Pray, dear Miss Barton, do

write a line for each of them.
I want them to have a souvenir[
of you, a word, a thought which
would recall to them in after-time
the hours they have spent with you.

[*staked it would reassure[?] attention*]

Our life, since my sons have left,
is a quiet life of study. I enjoy so
much the society of my dear
daughters, theirs homes, and their
studies and would I could prevent
the beautiful time, when my children
are still at home with me, from
passing away so quickly.

Now the joyous Christmas-timeis coming. My children are
working in secret many surprises
for Christmas - Eve and little
August counts the days till the
Christmas tree will be lighted up.
Could we but always rejoice in such
a hearty simple way as children do.
Elisabeth and Margaret wish
to be remembered to you.

Believe me, dear Miss Barton,
with my best love

Yours truly
Ida Dollfus.

Mulhouse 20 Avril 1888.

ID

My dear Miss Barton

Months have passed since your
dear visit and I have never
told you how happy I was to
see you again.  You found the
time to visit to me during your
journey and as often as my eyes met
your dear lines amongst my letters 
they were a new reproach to my
heart. How would I not findtill now a moment to answer your
letter and say you a word of tenderness?
I hope you arrived happily in
America and would be so glad to
hear that you are in good health
and have not been overworked
since your return. Since I had
the pleasure of making the acquaintance
of M: Hubbell I can understand
the share he takes in your work and
the joy it must give you to be helped
and thoroughly understood by such
a friend as he is.

We had such a long and hard
winter that much help must
have been needed as well in

America as here.

My dear husband has been pretty
well this winter, but he longed
for sunshine and spring-time, so
we went some weeks ago with
our daughter Margaret to the south
of France. We were near San Remo
when the Emperor died and his
poor son went back to Germany
to fulfil with heroic courage the
duty which God placed before him.
Poor dear Grand duchess has suffered
so much since you saw her. How
many tears the poor eyes, which
ought not to weep, have shed
these last weeks. She is admirablein this meek acceptance of the will
of God. As often as I think of her,
you, dear Miss Barton, are also
before my eyes, for I know how
much you will have suffered and
prayed with her.

This winter has brought us much
occupation, great blessings, and hours
of pain. Elisabeth married the 14th
of January and came back from 
her journey to the South the 11th
of February. Soon afterwards my
dear daughter-in-law got her little
baby, but only to loose it again.
The dear little boy was dead when
he was born. The poor young
mother recovered slowly and

2./

mourns in pious and silent
submission for lost child.
My husband enjoyed our journey
very much and feels more happy 
again in our calm and peaceful
family life, which is a quiet
retreat for us both.

I beg you, dear Miss Barton, to
remember me kindly to Dr. Hubbell
and to give him this copy of the
lines you have written in my
little book in 1871. He expressed
the wish to possess them.
And now let me tell you how 
often my thoughts are wandering
far away beyond the sea toa dear dear friend, whom
God has given me and whose
memory lives deep in my
heart.  I wish you knew 
the blessing you have been
in my life; all the help, joy
and courage which you have
given me since we first
met in life. God bless you,
dear Miss Barton, and preserve
your health, strength and life
for the sake of all those
who love and want you,
to whom you devote yourself.
Believe me always,
Your's affectionately
Ida Dollfus

WELTPOSTVEREIN. (UNION POST VERSELLE.)
POSTKARTE AUS DEUTSCHLAND.
(ALLEMAGNE)

[*R [?] 26  Dollfuss-*]
[?]

An Miss Clara Barton
Jr. [A M Wolfmer]

Genève.
Hotel de la Poste

AMBULANT[?]
26 IX 84 5
43Mulhouse 25. Sept. 1884.

Dear Miss Barton, I have just received your
letter and cannot tell you how impatiently I expect
your arrival. Pray let me know when you will
arrive at [Dale?].  I would be so glad to meet you
there for some hours before your visit at Mulhouse.
One day is such a short time; I must try and
see you longer. My husband and my children
are so happy to see you here.

Believe me your sincere and devoted friend
I. Dollfus.Friburg near Alsen 29 August 
  1884.

My dear Miss Barton

You may imagine my joyous surprise
in receiving your letter, announcing
me your arrival in Europe. I never thought
that I might see you again and am
so very happy and grateful that this
great joy will be granted to me.
These lines are to express you my best
welcome wishes at your arrival at
Geneva. I hope your health will nothave suffered during your journey.
How long will you remain at Geneva?
Pray, be so kind as to give me information
of what you intend to do when you
have it. I am in Switzerland since
several weeks and shall return to
Mulhouse about the tenth of September.
I expect some visits during the month
of September and may perhaps not be
able to offer you a room in my house,
but you must promise me [to] be my
dear guest during the day and to
spend at our house all the time you
will be able to spare for us. -

My husband wishes you a hearty
welcome and my children are exceedingly
glad to make the acquaintance of a
dear friend of mine who has taken
interest in them when they were still
little children.

I feel so very happy that their
life will be enriched through your
acquaintance and I daresay your 
friendship.

Please remember me most kindly
to Miss Margot if she meets you
at Geneva. How happy she will
be to see you again.

Believe me, dear Miss Barton
your's sincerely
Ida Dollfus.