CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Gage, Sarah M. Dec. 1888 - Apr. 1903[*Mary Sarah Gage-daughter of*] Vineland Dec 20th 1888 Dear Clara Barton And mothers best friend; it seemed like a benediction (given mother who has been gone so long) the letter you sent to the Cincinnatti Convention & my eyes dropped a tear, when I read the Journal & the kindly tribute given to the mute sleeper; who was always to the last interested in the cause of woman heart & soul, & hoped while she lived that she might be able to vote. before she rested but it did not come & she left it for others who are now working & waiting, forthe same great end I hope Mary Safford did not make you as short a visit as she did us.,? I thought of a thousand question I wanted to ask after she left. Uncle John & Aunt Portia Gage are cheerful & well for old people And sister Mary is still in New York is a very busy in her occupation as an M. D. I do not receive letters from her, often I have been thinking a good deal lately, why I with head & hands, could not find something to do in your Red Cross work. Do I dare ask you who are so busy to write me, [?] if only a few lines in rememberace of what I have asked you as your friend, & daughter of your friend & Yours sincerely Sarah M. Gage P.S. I have lost your address S.[*37*] Vineland N.J. Jan 31st 1889 Dear Clara Pardon me if I ask to much of one as busy as you. As a member of the Vineland Suffrage Leauge I wish to know whether women in the government employ at (Washington D.C.) are paid the same as the men; if they do the work as skillfully, & well,? The question was asked at the society, & no one could answer. If you could reply, before the second Tuesday in Feb. (for that is the time of our next meeting) it would be a favor. & if youhave any information in regard to women we would gladly receive it. I received your postal & glad to know that my letter found you & dissapointed that you had nothing in your department, that I could do as helper. & friend, in the good work, yours affectionately Sarah M. Gage [*33 Gage*] Vineland Mar 25th 1889 Dear Clara One does not always write when, they think most of friends, else: you would have had an answer long ago to your letter so promptly answering my questions. Your letter was read with acceptance before the league & your statement suggested the essay read by Mrs. Anna M. Warden, Womman & her Mission in the Red Cross. The essay will be published in one of the V. paper. Since I received your letter a great manymany things have been done the inauguration of the President. The presence of sister Mary at the Capitol & her pleasant visit with you & her enjoyment of all, spite of wind, & rain, I am glad she was there, & would liked to have been there also but the fates were against me, & I contented myself that some day my time would come, Thanks to you for the Wash paper marked, when my time comes to read I will read, the statement. Sooner or later Woman will right the wage earners question, by the vote & equality before the law, it is only justice & right, for it is the true thing to do. [*Sarah Gage Ansd April 14.1903*] [*N.W.R.C. Home*] Madison Lake Co. Ohio April 10th 1903 Miss Clara Barton president Red Cross Federation U.S. Washington D.C. Dear Miss Barton Is it true that you have to resgn your office as president as presiden of the Red Cross of U.S. & I regret that your health requires it, I have always felt an interest in your great work thought not able to help because of ill health & no money, it needs both in such a cause, I was interested 1st because you & my mother (Mrs. Frances Dana Gage were frends & were well known to each other in war times, 2ond because of the helpfulness given to those in distress & you were always ready with heart, hand, & money. at all times It must be with some regret that you give the work up that has been so near your heart these many years. In the meentime I hope your health will be better as the years go by. The last time I met youSo thinks your friend & sister ever. Sarah M. Gage If ever a liesure hour should come to you, will you write to me, just to let me know you are living? S. (2) was at Greenwich Conn at our home, mother was living then (Mrs Fances Dana Gage) she enjoyed the visit so much & spoke of it after you were gone Mother was buried in the old Congregational burying ground she has been gone 19 years & many changes have come to sister Mary & I have been an invalid in this NWR.C Home for nearly seven years have a pleasant comfortable room both summer & winter, for which I am thankful Now I must close this crude letter only writing that you are not forgotten by yours truly Sarah M. Gage[*25 1/?*] April 14th, 1903 Dear Sarah Gage: I have your letter of the 10th, with the cherished memories of your glorious mother, for all of which I render sincere thanks. Her memory is never absent from me for a day and her name is always a part of my household. I have often wondered, my dear Sarah, where you were and am glad to know that you are so pleasantly and comfortably situated. If the life of an invalid must be yours I am thankful that its comforts are not denied you. Replying to your question: No, it is not true that I have to resign my office as President of the Red Cross. No person in the slightest authority has ever requested this. A body of people who p prederred to control it have made efforts in that direction. My health does not require it as I am glad to say that it is excellent. I should be very glad if some one capable of controlling the Red Cross and possessing the right feeling of regard for its welfare, outside of their own ambitions, could take it from my hands; I have long desired this - it has long been a heavy and tiresome burden to carry. You may take for granted, dear Sister Sarah, [is] that what you see in the newspapers is largely the work of correspondents striving for information to satisfy the demands of the papers and not 2-- the Editorial of the paper itself. I have said nothing and shall not. Let me thank you again for your kind thought to write to me and the love that I know is in your heart. With the best of sisterly wishes, I am, Yours as always,