CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Gage, Joseph B. & Mary E. June 1874-Jan. 1890[*Mary E. Gage June 7, 1874*] [33 in circle] remembering for the moment that it - contains anything especial. Gen'l Gilmore inquired of Miss Boyon about you the other day, where you were gone and made some remarks about what he said I did when you were in Morris Id - wh- she didn't reply to because she didn't know yr. side well enough. She said, I believe, to the effect that learning there was a woman there & not seeing what business you had there he orders you off - "no sick even there". I told her she sh'd have answered he soon made some sick even on you. if somebody c'd send me just a word how you are, [?c] I've decided to study medicine take nervous disorders as a specialty & go study with Dr. Chapman. Will that do? Believe me ever lovingly yrs. Mary G. June 4 1874 My dear Clara- It does not seem possible that so much time has actually passed since you turned your weary steps homeward. going so impatiently when I was too late for all but the very last of comforts. the sight of the dear, dead face- I felt more grieved than I can tell when I read the telegramannouncing your sisters death. I hope my telegram to Stevie went through all right -& made every thing easy for you on your arrival. I dispatched your book according to directions rec'd from Mrs. Westfall and hope it is safely received ere this. Mrs. Julian has gone & rec'd no encouragement in regard to here hearing. She feels feeble, too. it is evident & while all her heart called her back to her home where there is trouble on acc't of her housekeeper having left then suddenly - her body certainly felt unequal to the duties that awaited her there. She was sad too, about losing her hearing, as who would not be? I sent mother the address Mrs. Westfall gave & have no doubt she will write unless she loses the letter, wh- she is so apt to do, destroying without[*Mary Gage. 1874*] Mother had worsened so much at not hearing from you. & been rather grieved. I think. she w'd rather the failure came of neglect though, than from so much suffering to you. I write hoping you may receive this in addition to the telegram, to know the condition of affairs. I have an excellent housekeeper & am more free from care than for a long time. I do hope the will not be an objection. & I shall look for you. Lovingly, M. E. Gage My dear Miss Barton, I am so vexed that I did not sit up & write to you last night in spite of everybody - so that my letter might have been mailed before yrs. came to prove to you that I was thinking of you. I only learned through a newspaper, from wh- the wrapper was torn when I rec'd it that you were so ill - or illat all & I wanted to write to you. Last night Addie Williams called, just off ship-board from Europe, & that stayed my hand.. Also, I have stairs a large one on 3rd. floor, & a small one on second--You know how I mean, up two flights from the hall-- the first--& up one flight--the last. I do wish they were reversed & that the large one was second floor, for I want you to come here--of course--If you will be carried up & down the floor need make no difference & I can get two strong men on very short notice from the livery stable close at hand. The 18th St. house is closed. My lease expired the 1st. May. Mother & Sarah are in St. Louis. They went west to see James, who has been gone from us over two weeks. He died of Consumption, & had been ill over a year. I am so sorrowful to hear of this renewed, or rather--new suffering.But she din't help me any. When you can't sleep, do you suffer pain, or do your thoughts seem to be on a rampage? If, the latter, let me prescribe for you. Do you sometimes want to cry & sob & almost shriek--almost from sheer discouragement? For that, too. I have a remedy. Do you still see mice on the corners of yr. table? I feel sure I could cure you, if I were a learned doctor, tho' I may not touch any of yr. present symptoms in the above questions. Nov. 28--1874. Dear Clara Barton, I will not try to tell you how glad I was to hear from you. It added to my Thanksgiving wonderfully. But tho' you think you have said enough about yourself it seemed very scant quantity to me. A long letter from another came by same mail--& she is just now recovered from an acute pain in her hip & back--& feeling unusually well--& well & happily located with a neice, whom she brot-up & married from her house, now living in Iowa. So she is a long way from you, albeit not just S.C. Expects to go I sh'd have written long ago; but during the summer yr. address got mislaid.there in about a month, to remain till Spring. Sarah is with her-- they have been visiting all around thro' the West I began writing close thinking I had so much to say But I know I must make reading easy work--if you read at all. There are so many things I want to know about you, whether you see friends at all--whether you can read a long letter, whether you have any one to rub you--whether you could be moved, if it were best for you to come to New York. You ask what helped Mother most. Dr. Taylor's Movement Cure--& Swiss [?] & I hope it might help you, since it supplies all the good effect derived from muscular exercise, without the drain upon the nerves which voluntary exercise requires. Movement Cure by hand would perhaps be all you could bear at present., & may be you could not bear it at all--I have taken a few treatments from a magnetic physician lately who has done great good to various celebrities in Washington & elsewhere.2 I had almost forgotten that you asked about myself. I am better far than last year; but I am conscious of shattered nerves, which only time & rest the most absolute will ever quite restore. I do not always feel quite able to control my emotions now--& I weary--so easily Life darkens with a touch; for because strength is lacking for any effort least of all a struggle. But days when affairs go smoothly I am hopeful & give thanks.for Hope--a visitor long wholly absent from me. May you be able to read this. I think my writing grows worse & worse. And may you be able to send me just a line of greeting--often--with a word as to yourself. Yours, lovingly-- Mary E. Gage 28 West 45th St. New York City Oct. 13-83. Dear Clara Baron I am just told that you are to be in the city next week--I read the papers so little that I had not seen the notice-- Now, will you come & make our house your house? Miss Kupfer unites with me in the invitation--there is but one reasonthat I know of against it - (tho' you may have many.) That is - that we have no elevator & I know you are not strong. You shall not be called upon to visit when you are there. We will be content with chance glimpses of you. We are but four in family - all women & we think we are the specimen family of the city - I hope you have not previous engagements - If you can come to me, let me know when to meet you at the Dipot. We are very near it. & have a livery stable on call. Yours in haste; because I want this letter to catch the first mail - & ever lovingly Mary E. Gage. 1218 B'dway - Mon. Oct. 28-83 - Dear Miss Barton - Next to having had you with us, is the promise that you would have come; for now I shall expect you to make it good when you do come. Will you not? I was so afraid the stairs would be impossible to you without an elevator - I am glad you did not have last week for your trip to Chicago - [we?]this, if today is a specimen day - Miss Nixon joins with me in thanks for your kind invitation, & we feel as tho' there were a sealed jar of sweetmeats in store of the rarest kind, if ever our time, wh. has a way of getting overloaded (like our stomachs) permits us to open it. We feel that we sh'd enjoy a visit with you immensely; but can scarcely hope for it. Miss N- is exceedingly busy, & is immensely successful & her patients cling to her daily visits as to life -while I have no one to leave in charge of my office - my lady customers not liking to meet a man here & no other woman that I know of, having any special knowledge of the business. For two years I have not been away, except to see Mother, & now I go to her out of hours - Sometime, though, I must have a vacation - I am writing at the office before ten a.m. & now the "ticker" starts & I must see how the market opens - Lovingly - Mary E. Gage [*33 Gage*] Greenwich, Conn. Nov. 11th, 1884 Dear Clara, After seventeen years of helpless suffering, mother found the longed for rest last night at 10 05. She was about as usual last Thurs. morning and wrote letters to Mary + Aunt Catharine; about eleven o'clk. she became unconscious or nearly so + was very weak and helpless to the end. - Towards the last she suffered a great deal + had to be moved often. "Oh! I'm so tired" she gasped a short time before she passed away; but the rest and sleep came soon; + O! we are so glad she will not waken again to suffer, and wait - - How often she has prayed to go asleep and not waken in this life again.Sarah, who [ha] was on her feet almost constantly for more than two days, is very tired, though otherwise well. Mary came from a sick bed and I hope will not be returned to it. the funeral is set for Thurs. Nov. 13h, at 3 o'clk. - she will be buried in the church yard of the Episcopal church at the eastern end of town. With heavy hearts, yet with gratitude for her release we remain very sincerely + lovingly Sarah M. - Mary E. and Joseph B. Gage - [*G A R*] Baileys H. - Mch 3d/86. Dear Mary Your prompt reply to my letter is recd this eve. I yesterday received through Henry the following from the Pension Dept. - written Feby. 20" + mailed the 24" Feby. "Sir: - "In reply to your recent inquiry as to the present status of the above entitled claim, I would state that a call has this day been made on the Adjt. Genl U.S.A. for an additioonal report relative to your service + disability. Upon receipt of said report the claim will be further considered." 1st I gave my address as 95 Washington St, Chicago, because I expected to go there in the fall if my health was good. + to go there this year if I get well enough. - see? - 2d - At Lambertville I was strong + active. - But whenever I played cricket, the piles would bleed the following day or so. I thought it not serious + went once or twice to Dr Studdiford (the physician, not the D.D.) He told me he could do nothing for piles, + they were seldom cured - This was in 1866 the year after I was discharged. I did not tell any one outside the family of my trouble for I thought it would correct itself as better living +c began to build up my general health [?] 3d At Carbondale, where I went into active work, I bled almost constantly. - Yet kept going when I should have kept still. - I broke down + came to Brooklyn - 1869 - 4th In Brooklyn, I had a rest. + became better; but when I undertook to keep books + stand at a desk, I began to bleed again + had to resign from the place in April, 1872 5th- Jany. 2d-73 I was well enough again to try a place in the foundry in St Louis. - Broke down again in the summer of '75 - (I have never told the Dept that I was working for my brother Charles) 6th - Tried a few short jobs at intervals + though not yet very strong got work at book-keeping in July '76 & was able to keep up a long time by the utmost care But in Feby. '81 broke down the worst of any time. When I first went to St Louis, I tried Dr Comstock, but he would not help me - Standing or walking set me bleeding - I did a great deal of walking in the foundry - I had to for the bookkeeping took but a small part of my time. - - The time you want to cover most particularly is the time I was in Lambertville & Brooklyn the first time, see my Nos. 2 & 4. - Also you were in Columbus before I enlisted + know I was not afflicted in any [such] way - Nor did I write home of any trouble of sickness, disease or malady till we were camped in Vicksburg in 1863, after the surrender - & since that time, you have never known me to be safe from bleeding piles. - I send you a copy of the affidavit you made for me, now on file in the Dept. By all means put your time upon your studies until the diploma is in your hands. - In the meantime, the Dept. may move in the matter. But it certainly moves slowly when it takes 4 days to mail a letter after it is written. All well here as usual except Myra who is recovering from a bad cold. - I am gaining. I think. Betsy is forming a bag & the calf is looked for in a week or ten days. - "Oh! that will be joyful". Weather perfectly lovely & the snow is slowly going. The teamsters have had pretty good sleighing this winter & have hauled a lot of wood to town. Oh! we got 3 big eggs today - two frozen. We propose to have some one stand at the nest to capture the next one before it gets cold. With love from Sarah & your bro. Joe I will close & go to bed. I cannot afford to waste this envelope.P.S. – Just previous to discharge, I was acting Ordnance officer at Nashville, & had to handle & count all goods myself as I had no one to do it for me– My men were all returned to their commands for muster-out– Therefore I was weak from work & bleeding. – Then I went to a commercial college several months & recuperated – returned to Lambertville, & when I exercised would bleed. – Joe has made affidavit – as you will see – that he told few of his companions of his trouble How can we now send in testimony, in face of that? Mary. Let me know if testimony of any other than eye witnesses will do: – I mean of the actual effects of the piles as bleeding on his clothes; or actual examination of his personal condition. M. [*Gage*] Copy – That the said Joseph B. Gage came from the army to their mother's home in Lambertville, Hunterdon Co., N.J., about Augt. 1st/65, that he was then suffering from bleeding piles & great weakness consequent on his sufferings while in the Army (see my P.S to letter–) His attacks of bleeding came on whenever he walked or stood, even for a few hours– This disability almost compelled him to become book-keeper for Mr. Wm Cowan, proprietor of the Lambertville Iron Works & yet the confinement proved very detrimental to his general health, & did not prevent recurrence of his troubles & loss of blood to such an extent as to finally make a rest & change necessary– In 1867 he engaged with his Bro. Jas. D. Gage, at Carbondale Ills. who had a grist mill hoping he might bear a little more activity. In this he was disappointed & by the summer of 1869 he was again obliged to stop work. After resting a few months, during which time he was with me in my house in Brooklyn, & certainly in most miserable condition physically & utterly discouraged, he again took a book-keeper's position in the Brooklyn office of the Weed Sewing machine Co. He was still followed by his old trouble & could not earn money enough nor get time to call upon Doctors, even though he had not been discouraged from doing so by the opinion of Dr. Studdiford of Lambertville who had told him that he could not be cured.– Again in 1872, after becoming completely run down, he resigned & did nothing for nearly ayear, when feeling somewhat better, he accepted a position combining book-keeping with some active work, in a stove manufactory in St Louis, Mo. - It is needless to continue to tell the changes. - It has been the same ever since, to work & break down. constantly. When my brother entered the 10th Ohio Battery, he had the usual elastic health of young manhood. He has ability, perseverance, faithfulness in discharge of duty, but all are rendered unavailable by the constant loss of blood and subsequent weakness. + this was I know the result of his army life, as I knew his condition when he enlisted + when he returned from the army. Affiant further declares she has no interest &c & that she makes the above statement from personal knowledge. - I have studied medicine & I believe that there is in addition to actual piles, a hemorrhagic condition of the rectum which would preclude any permanent cure. - He was young, ambitious & bore his diarrhea in the army without application to hospital & broke down his nervous force which he has never had opportunity to recover May 2nd 1886 My dear Clara, What a power you are! In the days of black intrigue, if you had given yourself to the righting of great wrongs, who could have matched you in subtlety and success? Your letter was both a great comfort and a great discouragement. A comfort in knowing what is the cause of delay, since now we can calculate our chances; & a discourage- I hope to be able to earn some money - I am pretty well - but my future seems very illy-defined - Do tell me how you are & of your hopes & work if you can without taxing yourself by too much writing - Lovingly - Sister Marydiscouragement ; because I fear those two witnesses, for all those years cannot be found. I don't think you can be made to remember anything except by heresay from another. When you visited us in Lambertville with Jules and your other protégé whose & ( I was going to say I had forgotten; but I have not.) Clarence; was Joe at home ? He spent the first winter after the war at Poughkeepsie, studying book-keeping, He told few of his trouble, most unfortunately. The physician in Lambertville to whom he applied, has been dead for years & told Joe he thought be c'd not be cured. Then Joe went to Southern Ill – to brother James & I think there is some evidence in from Benj heal; who knew of his sufferings while there from 67 to 69. In the fall of /69, he came to me in Brooklyn & there also you might recall if you had ever been told; that he was still suffering. Ben heal can cover the time from 67 to 69– I can get, I think, a lady friend who boarded with me to remember concerning Joe's health from what she heard another & myself say from 69 to 72; but will such testimony have any weight. I do not know where to find one of the youngmen who then boarded with me but of course I shall try to find some [one] two – to cover the time till 1872 - when he went to St. Louis. I am quite sure we can get a witness from 1883 to 86– But never mind all these scraps you cannot spare time for these details. I will write to Joe today; & tell him whom I can find here. & he must think up the rest. How much time and labor you have already given to the matter! I need not try to express thanks; for I cannot. And I am more than ever convinced that I should have accomplished nothing, unless thru' you. Now I am beginning to get to work here & Bailey's Harbor, Door Co., Wis.; May 6th,/86, Dear Clara. Day before yesterday came the following from Mr. Geo. E. Lemon, my Agt. in Washington. "Washington, D.C. April 28th, 1886 Dear Sir: Your claim requires the affidavits of two or more neighbors showing to what extent you have been disabled each year from the date of your discharge to 1872. and from 1875 to 1880, and the testimony of one more neighbor from 1880 to the present time. Affiants should state their means of knowledge of all facts alleged, and give names and character of diseases from which you have suffered. I enclose two blanks. Miss Clara Barton called at my office to see about your claim & I gave her status as above. Very Respectfully, George E. Lemon, ____S J.B. Gage 95 Washington St, Chicago, Ill." - - - I am very much obliged to you for the call, & hope you can give me a little more time before the summer if it is necessary– It would seem2/ that Lemon knew what was required, yet did not send me word till you had called. - I feel that the management of my case in Washington is in poor if not bad hands. - He has never written me as much as the above before: has simply sent blanks + left me to guess at the facts wanted from the reading of the blanks. - Again, from the reading of the letter, one might infer that the Dept. is ready to allow my claim, but only lack data on which to base the proportion of allowance - It will be a difficult matter for me to prove this. I have moved about a great deal; + few people knew at the time how much I was suffering. How can they "guess" at it now after the lapse of many years? - They 1st - Were never taken into my confidence - The bleeding was not a subject of conversation with people, if it could possibly be avoided. 2d - I always worked + had to work - till I broke down. then I went to another place if possible - In 1869 I went from Southern Ills to Brooklyn. In 1872 - I remained in Brooklyn. - In 1875-76 I moved in St Louis + broke from my brother + his circle of acquaintances- In 1881 + '82 I left St Louis to return to Brooklyn again - + again last year I came here - 3d How can a neighbor know from personal knowledge my ailment? - + yet there are some who do know + I think will remember - But they do not know how much time I've lost. - That is something perfectly unreasonable to expect them to know or guess at. - 4th My impression is that Lemon is a fraud as a pension agent. - + that he has trumped up this excuse for delay - I shall write him today, for I cannot believe the Dept. has made such a demand. There, enough of what has become to me a most gloomy + forlorn subject - Like the soldier who participates in a charge, knowing it is simply + only a divertisment to protect some other more important point, I keep on in this matter hoping that justice may eventually be done me, though I have not been careful to advertise my trouble to every one I have known in the past, + so be prepaired to furnish promptly all data on notice - Sarah + her neice Clara began teaching again last Monday - All are away now. - the two4) younger girls going to school to Sarah.– Clara has walked to & from school & is resolved to continue it. that she may save her board– It is 4 1/2 or 5 miles to her school– & once she was caught in a rain– But we need money so badly, that she is trying to help "carry" the girls, – her sisters.– The four have made garden – spading &c – & have loaded 30 or 40 wagon=loads of stones & helped unload them, this spring– I have planned the garden, & planted the seeds, which are doing well so far as heard from. I have also seen to the setting out of some cherry trees, Concord grapes, [2] 3 varieties of gooseberries & 50 Sharpless Strawberries– I am much better than for many months past, but not able yet to do any real work.– By avoiding labor I do not bleed.– The last bleeding occurred some 6 weeks ago– Absolute rest stopped it in a few days— Have 8 chicks 3 days old – two hens setting on hens eggs & one on 10 duck eggs.– Shall give some turkey eggs to the next Biddy that wants some steady, easy work to do for a few weeks.— Hoping you are stronger & better able to work than you have been of late. I am your affectionate brother. Joe. — [*Nov. 19. 86 Mary Gage*] (?) West 45th St Nov. 18th. 86 Sister Clara, I have tried to write to you ever since your previous note telling me the effort you were making for Joe. But I have rather more all the time than my hand can well bear; & there is no doubt that my eyes & my general nervous system still feel the worse for the shock sustained. I have not the energy & ambition that I had before. I feel more as I with best love & thanks– yours Marydid five years ago; but I am not hopeless of soon overcoming these bad results. I should be much depressed if they were likely to continue long. Is it not too bad that Joe can get such a meagre sum. He will feel cut up - or down, I fear. Though he has tried so hard not to expect any thing. But a little is better than nothing & I feel sorry for you, too, to have had such a hard case to work up - I am certain that Mr. Lemon is much to blame to have taken charge of his case & left him so utterly ignorant of the things he ought to do, even of the amount of testimony needed. He deserves no pay. As to the examination made here in /84 - I think, it was an utter farce - If they decide on that, I do not wonder they give $4.00 a month. Joe was put on a table + looked at - no internal examination was made at all, + we both felt that like other republican office holders, the doctors composing it, felt it their chief duty to draw salaries– If Mr. Lamont's name would serve you in any way I can have it to any paper you may send to me– but I do not see how it can be made useful. I am glad Joe's case is off your hands. I have no hope for him; he has held up so bravely always, working at all times, fit – or unfit, that he will not get the testimony needed. I have felt & so said in my affidavit - that I tho't his condition was one of general hemorrhagic tendency of rectum rather than very large, or many hemorrhoids; & that will not be recognized by country doctors, probably– So that hope for him is over– [*33 Gage*] 28 W. 45th. New York. Jan. 10th, 1889. Dear Clara. Miss Nixon has been invited by Mr. & Mrs. Elkins to go to the inauguration with them. But they have rather scant accommodation and she wants Mrs. Butler & me to go, & much prefers to be crowded with us, than with others whom she knows less well. I felt that you could tell me better than any one what chance there is for us. to get a room or rooms, a place to see all that is to be seen up to the interesting part of the performances of the day & evening. Miss Nixon can go with the Elkins – tho' she will not room with them, so if it will bemore easy to do for two than three as to the day's work she need not be looked out for. We all know the Elkins & could attach ourselves to their party, I suppose, if we can get our credentials from some one else. I hope this will not seem like almost an impertinence to ask you to think as much & write as much as this will require in our behalf. Being all so unacquainted with Washington localities we could tell nothing for ourselves if we engaged rooms as to our chances of getting inside the line of vision & sound– & we scarcely care to brave the fatigues of the day without some fair chance to participate in its pleasures. But I know you do not need so much as this. You know what we want and I only ask you to let us know what you can do for us, or what & how we can do for ourselves. The room, I suppose is the great thing. Then the aid of some senator, or other dignitary for admittance to whatever is to be done in the senate chamber – and [a] tickets for some point of vantage to view the procession.I may be quite out in my ideas of the matter, if so please set me right. And receive my thanks for your intimation as to yourself and habitation; but I am sure there will be more than you can receive comfortably who have a first claim upon you. Thanks for the postal - Yours most lovingly - Mary E. G. [*33 Gage*] New York Feb. 20th, '89. Dear Clara, Have I ever thanked you for your response to my letter of inquiry about rooms? Following your suggestions we have obtained them at 447 G. St. N.W. Mrs. Minster's. We, of course, know nothing about them - except that the location seems within reach - A shelter somewhere is the imperative thing - It is now proposedfeel almost that it is foolish to try to enjoy such exhausting junketing: but Miss Nixon, I think, quite depends upon me as a sort of courier – and I shall try not to disappoint her. Have you knowledge of any gentlemanly person - unattached, who would accept a ticket & the charge of three females to the ball? It will be a crush of course. of the utmost density, and only a man who knows how – and will push, will be able that I go to Washington on Friday, in order to have become somewhat familiarized with the ground, etc. If I do so, have you time or space to take me for a visit of perhaps two days – or are you near enough, or in direct communication by car; with the above location – for me to house myself there? I am not quite up to my present usual standard of good health, andto do anything for us. Would we do just as well alone? However, these matters can be settled after my arrival - I shall be be so glad if you are not absorbed beyond reach of outside friendship by the time I go - Yours most sincerely – Mary G. We have no place for procession. Pub. Com. seemed to think there wil be time enough for that when stagings are up. [*33 Gage*] Sat. Mar. 16th,'89 Dear Clara, George sends the enclosed. Is it time for me to do anything and what can I do? The point is to reach the [the] consciousness of Sec'y Windom, is it not? To make him really understand that is reason why George should have the office over and above any friendly influence? Or must it all be pure influence from outside? Should you think anything could be done by Miss Nixon through Mrs. Harrison?She will do; but she wants to be sure she is not making herself ridiculous, and losing ground with them by trying to get them to do what they have no power to do. Since poor Joe's fiasco, I see how essential it is to begin right and to walk straight in the very narrow path that leads to official position. When it is time and there is anything I can do, please pull the wires. I feel ashamed to seem so dependent upon you but must acknowledge my utter inadequacy to work alone. Lovingly Mary. Mar. 22nd./89. Dear Clara - Pray do not get weary of me. As George did not discriminate which applicant he most feared in his last note & has now done so, I forward the names - Mr. Collins he does not so much fear - Mr. Smalls he does fear - The congressman elect is greatly in his favor - Should he have present members? Should he have letters from as many men of position & repute as he can get; or would the names on a petition be as well? It seems to me he would be the better for all the letters he can send in. But to whom shall he send them, or by whom shall they be presented? By the congressman elect; or by mail, or by private individual? Do I seem very stupid Never mind. I can't help it; but I do so want George to get the place – Goodbye with love Mary– [*33 Gage*] New York– March 27th. '89. Dear Clara, I enclose a letter just received from George, which will post you as to the status of his affair as far as he is managing it. As I have said before I am very willing, very anxious to do personally all that I can; but feel utterly incompetent to decide upon what I could do and more than doubtful[doubt]ful that I should do anything well unless directed by a superior intelligence. I have forwarded George's letter as the only means of informing you as to what might be done for him, hoping you understand fully my willingness to do whatever you may suggest. I do not see how anything can be done thro' Miss Nixon since the appointment will not be brought to the notice of the President in any probability – unless he should be induced by Smalls to speak a word in his behalf on account of the old patriotism shown in running the "Planter" out of Charleston harbor. But if you see that a letter from Miss Nixon to Mrs. Harrison, (who vows she will not work for office seekers) could do any good, Mary will write. Could Mr. Wm. Lawrence say a word likely to help – or Col. Elwell, having known George? Please give kindest regards toDr. Hubbell, and remembrance to Mrs. Hines whom I would like to know better. Yours lovingly, Mary G - 28 West 45th St - New York City Nov. 5th./'89. My dear Sister Clara, I shall send this to Washington because you ought to be there though I fear you are not. My last word from Johnstown was about the 6th. Oct. and no date was then fixed for your departure - while loads of furniture were still arriving. I cannot keep up with the changes in that unfortunate place, though Mrs. Yard + I have had letters from various persons All speak of you and what you have done with the deepest gratitude.But all that you know, for there will be no failure in expression of so active a sentiment. For my part, I wish you had a stenographer for then I should I hope sometimes hear a word from you. I have been trying to be constant in looking over the Tribune & Mail & Express our only daily papers – except Sunday – and I have asked Mrs. Butler & Miss Nixon to tell me if they see notices of yourself or your work; but I have not learned whether you have returned to your home. Of course I would like to ask a thousand questions – (not a great exaggeration!) and some of them would be indiscreet ones I have no doubt, but of what use to load up my page with interrogation points! I shall never have answers till I meet you face to face – and then I shall not ask for answers. You always seem to me too busy, or tired to be interviewed, and the result is that I know you less than most people. I used so to wish I had some – not all – of Dr. Elliott's audacity to break in with my interests and get my explanations then and there. Well, enough – of this. As for me, I have been feeling unusually well this fall – till a dreadful cold caught me; but even thatsevere & long continued as it was and is, has not reduced me to quite the level of inertness of past years. My work opens well. There is illness consequent on the unusual weather– Electricity grows in favor, and I find the greatest amount of medical literature regarding it and its powers & results – to say nothing of the weird romances that are built up on its real and supposed power and possibilities. Joe and Sarah, his wife, are tired; but physically well. They had to move again because their landlord would not attend to the water supply & Joe had all the 2 water used for every purpose to carry a considerable distance– The move however, is a most advantageous one as to size of house and location, and also that there are kitchen, dining room, parlor, & three bedrooms on one floor – with various other equally charming attributes. The views are of the lake & the nearness to water makes the letting of rooms next summer an absolute certainty as hay fever sufferers want to be on the water. Joe writes me of receiving the bundle of clothing, express charges paid, and that all fit very well and are most acceptable. Poor fellow! It fills his heart with gratitude to be remem-by friends in such practical and helpful ways; but there is a bitter sting in the thought of needing such remembrance. Well there, can there ever be compensation for so much enduring, such long repression? When will you come to New York? Do let me know and do give me a part of your spare time. What can I do for you that a sister should do? Bear me in mind when there is service that I can perform - and be sure always of my pleasure in doing all that I can. Lovingly - Sister Mary. [*33 Gage*] New York, Nov. 15th-/89. Dear sister Clara - My letter was scarcely well deposited in the letter box before I learned of your return and the "brilliant reception." I am always so delighted with everything that shows appreciation of you & your work. I had had a long letter from Miss Chase telling me considerably in detail of your last arrangements, at Johnstown and surely if not satisfied, nothing would satisfy that people. But they are satisfied & as you know wildly grateful. But I am glad that I wrote to you in ignorance for that gave me this note from you, and the assurance of your continued interest in me and mine. I take it there is a stenographer, for which I am very glad. I hope to learn of one elected to fill the position permanently. Miss Nixon is just off to Springfield, Ohio to a patient - probably to be brought back to New York. It will be a very tiresome trip & one that money does not requite because it exhausts her so physically. Mrs. Harrison was here last week. She really has some weakness of the right arm which makes it undesirable, if not impossible to do much hand-shaking. It is a great pity it is so. since it causes prejudice, & seems in such marked contrast to the winning cordiality of Mrs. Cleveland. Is Mrs. Hines with you? Give her kindest regards also to Dr. Hubbell - and to yourself - much love - from sister - Mary G - J.B. GAGE, [*34*] REAL ESTATE AND GENERAL AGENT. LOCK BOX, 222. Petoskey, Mich., Jany. 27 1890 Sister Clara: I am very desirous of a copy of the latest issue of the Pension Laws. – The old soldiers are coming to me to do their business for them. – I have applied for a copy 1st direct to the Pension Bureau, & 2nd to our [M.C.?] - The latter writes that the Dept is out of the latest copies, & has secured & sent me a copy of the 1887. – The laws I want to know about have passed since then, in the winters of 1887-8, & of 1888-9. – Can you – Do you know any way of falling upon a single copy of the 1889 issue, & getting it to me? – I do not want you to take any trouble about it, but sometimes there is a way to get a single copy, even where the general supply is exhausted. Sarah (wife) is pretty well. She had a fearful attack of La Grippe a month ago, which covered two or three days. Is all right now. – Sister Sarah had a cold when she came to Petoskey, & added to it when we moved last Oct. – She improved however in Nov., & now is fairly well. – Had some light attacks of the grippe; but Sarah "Joe" gave her baths & packs & now she goes out almost every day when it don't blow or snow too hard. – Eben grows in stature (not much in weight, though,) linguistic ability, & lovingness every day. – He is as good as a 33 months old boy can be who has the training of such stupid old folks. – And his affection is almost too satisfactory. – As when he kisses his papa in church. – Anyhow, he's a general favorite; he does not cry, tease or destroy to any annoying extent. – My health is not as good as it was before coming here, – but so far I havebeen out every day. - Suffered acutely from La Grippe one night; but thanks to the hot-water-bottle, I escaped with very little additional trouble. Last Oct. we moved to a house (16 rooms) that overlooks little Traverse Bay. - To-day the west wind is driving in snow laden cakes of ice, & the shore is lined 100 to 200 yds. out with almost a solid pack of white; out in the Bay the cakes of ice float upon the dark blue of the water, like "white caps" only they are whiter & more handsome. – Beyond is Harbor Point & Light house & the hills & bluffs of the North side of the "American Bay of Naples." – No boats of course are running now, though there are many coming & going during the resort season. – There has been about 2 ft. of snow fallen here but the warm weather of the past two days has put it down to about 8 in. on places not drifted. The sledding is splendid – Boys coast from the top of Mitchell street hill, to the bridge below our house a run of nearly 3/4 of a mile. Hoping you are well & well rested I remain, sincerely yours J.B. Gage –