CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Gates, Susa Young Nov. 1901-Mar. 1903[Susa Young Gates Ansd March 18, 1901 C. B. Sent two large pictures] 619 F. St. N W. Washington. March 8th 1901. Miss Clara Barton. Pres. N. R. C. Dear Miss Barton- Do you remember Mrs. Gates, one of the party of ladies who visited you on Saturday morning, March 2nd? I have taken the liberty of writing up the beautiful occasions for a magazine. And I am very anxious to get a photograph of yourself and one of your home. Will it be possible for me to do so? I will be here until Sunday morning, when Mrs. Wells and I leave for New York. We will be there for several days as the guests of Major J. B. Pond. His address is Everett House, New York City, N. Y. After about March 13th, my address will be at Provo City, Utah. Dear Miss Barton, I cannot express in words the pleasure and joy which came to me through the visit to your home. I am yours most truly Susa Young Gates.Glen Echo, Md. March 18, [1901] Mrs. Susan Young Gates, Provo City, Utah My Dear Mrs. Gates, I have just addressed to you such a picture as I Have of myself, never anything good, nothing that over suits my friends but it is the best I can do. I have no picture of my house. It has never been considered worthy. The memory of the beautiful morning visit you made me is photographed in my mind where I wish it to remain. Your charming pen will show it to others and will you not, my dear, send me a copy or two when completed. I think you must be home by this time and I address you there. With charming memories and certainty of hearing from you sometimes, I remain, Affectionately yours, [Ansd, April 1st 1901] Susa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah, March 25th 1901. Miss Clara Barton. Glen Echo. Md. Dear Miss Barton- After a somewhat protracted stay in New York, I returned yesterday to my home to find your beautiful letter awaiting me. I had hoped to hear from you at New York; but not doing so, I thought perhaps you would not care to have me publish anything of our visit in Eastern papers, so I just sent the article home to our largest Utah paper. It came out only last Saturday, and I enclose the clipping. I have written them to send you a dozen copies. I am so sorry I did not have or did not wait for the picture to illustrate the article. Another time I will be more prudent. And then, when I thought sadly, that perhaps you were displease with my boldness in asking for a picture, you were writingLusa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah,_________________ me, and on my birthday too, such a lovely, personal letter! I cannot tell you how pleased and happy I was! There is a matter which has pressed on my heart ever since I was at your home: will you not permit your life to be written, not solely because of the history of that wonderful evolution of the modern life, the Red Cross, which would be embodied in it, that surely is stupendous reason enough. And yet there is another far deeper reason: is there not an implied debt owing to American and Civilized girlhood in the details of such a life and history as yours? The Red Cross has done much for society; but has not the modest, simple unselfish and grand life of Clara Barton done now? What has made Clara Barton? Was she devout? Was she proud? Was she reckless? Was she gay? Prudent, selfish, or purse-proud? All these questions will Lusa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah,________________ be asked by future generations. What made Miss Barton what she was, and what was her life and character? This many a woman has asked and will ask. Can I be in any way like her? Is the next question in some way, I [?] at all tell how, I got an impression that "Miss Barton", was a stern, cold and proud woman. My article will show you how completely that notion was dissipated in the warmth of your genial smile. It seemed to me that the same qualities which make men rules would necessarily be a a part of your character. I am now trying to readjust and classify my ideas on these subjects. That the week, gently all-womanly could go into battle and win everywhere is a new and a divine thought to me. Has not every dweller in hamlet and tenement a right to the inspiration and joy which I received in my one brief but keen glance into your very soul? Therefore, ILusa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah,_________________ say, dear, dear Miss Barton, let your work, your friends, your correspondents all stand aside and wait while some bright and loving pen transcribes for us [and the] "multitude", the beginnings, the incidents and the struggles which made your environment; and then out through it all let shine the glorious spirit which God gave you, the gifts of patience, the strength and the power, with the sweetness and grace, which are all a special blessing from that Parent who sent you here to do a great and mighty work. You belong to all humanity - you have soothed and helped the suffering. But is there not still a duty left upon you, to let your life so shine upon us that one and all men may glorify God that there are women? Let me not hurry you, for I know your heavy burdens. And now, let me remain forever Your loving friend and admirer Susa Young Gates. COPY. Glen Echo, Maryland. April 1, 1901 Mrs. Susie Young-Gates. Editor Young Women's Journal, Provo, Utah. My dear Mrs. Gates.- Can you excuse this informal line, not accounting it a reply to your magnificent letter; but simply to say that I have received it and also the package of twelve papers containing your excellent letter, so kindly sent to me. It was thoughtful of you to send your letter where you did in preference to the East where I must be more or less a hackneyed subject. I could well understand our surprise on meeting me, as I am always confronted with that opinion and often detect the eyes of the new visitor wandering over me from head to foot in astonishment that I am not a giantess, six and a half feet tall, stout in proportion and able to lay any common man at my feet with a blow. Referring by a word only to the subject that is pressing upon your convictions, it is more than twenty years since this appeal has been coming to me from over our country and from over the sea. While I, of course, cannot see the great necessity, I believe it according to faith and would be as glad, nay, more glad than any one else could be to comply with the suggestions. This struggle of my life is to reach a point where I can turn my own pen in upon myself, my own life in its past. The environments which surround me delaying and preventing are greater and stronger than you can realize. You will ask- Why not let someone else do it? They could not do it without all of my time to give them the facts of history and the knowledge without which their work would be useless. You have seen the mother overburdened with the cares of her household who failed to teach her little daughters how to work, simply because she had not time; she could do it more quickly herself than she could teach them. That is all wrong I know, the children should be taught and my dear, dear Mrs. Gates, pray for me only that in some way the line shall break and the time shall come when not only my own had, but those of the dear children who wait and want to help can take up the work and do what you so tenderly ask. I was not unmindful of the very closing word of your letter- Forever, let it be so between us, FOREVER.[Susa Young Gates ans Jan. 14 -1902] Susa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah, Oct. 12th. 1901 Miss Clara Barton. Dear and honored Lady. What words can I choose with which to thank you for your lovely and gracious tribute, written in my little book! Your words about my father and my unworthy self are more precious to me than gifts of gold and gems. I do know my father, his honest purpose, and his grand endeavor. But is it so rare to find one of the world who could see this as we who knew him saw it. Is it not Carlyle who says that only great souls can see truly the magnitude of genius in others? And therefore, while I am deeply grateful for your kind words, I can see that it is your own grandeur of soul which opens your eyes to see what small spirits and narrow comprehensions can never grasp. Your lovely picture shall be framed and hung where the sweet influence beaming even on lifeless paper shall unite with the story of your consecrated life to form in my young boys an ideal of high womanhood that [Gates] 172 W. 81st St. New York City, March 23 - 1903. Miss Clara Barton. Pres. Red Cross Society. Glen Echo, Md. Dear Miss Barton. - Are you worn out with your Washington winter? Or have you been out to your beautiful home and rested up from all the strain we put upon you while we were all there, each trying to get a little glimpse, a short visit and a dear hand clasp? Every day since leaving Washington there comes to me a beautiful picture, brief and fleeting, but very precious to me: a picture of a lovely and loving woman at whose door I knocked to say a fond goodby before leaving the hotel and city, and that lovely lady's kind eyes beaming upon me as she accompanied me along the hall, my own quick impulsive steps quieted and measured to the gently dignified step beside me; the long, lingering hall at the elevator door, and at last as the heavy machine came and took me within, there, behind the glass door stood my lady, and as I moved upward, she threw to me a loving kiss, and I could scarcely see, my eyes were wet! But I got my parcel and hurried back and she, my friend, had divined I was gone upstairs but for a momentLusa Young Gates, Editor P.O. Box 200, Provo City, Utah. Business Address: Constitution Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Young Woman's Journal Provo City, Utah,_________________ will tax the world to reproduce for them a woman approaching their model. You have done much to mitigate the suffering of the world, you have done more in raising the ideals of your sex and of your country. We are all grieving over the death of our revered Pres. William McKinley. The world will never see his life again. I have written to Mrs. Foster thanking her for the service she has rendered me in securing your picture and autograph for me. And now let me thank you once more and let me forever remain Your devoted friend and admirer Susa Young Gates. and as we came down, there stood that lady, known and love and blessed in every clime and every nation, there she stood waiting in the dim shadows of the hall to waft me yet another kiss from those dear lips and finger tips as I passed outward and downward! What had I done to merit such a token of friendship and love? And here in my trunk lies her picture and the verses written by her own gifted hand! What a treasure! Well, I have asked myself many times how it is that I could have gained such a priceless gift? And my only answer is, first, that I asked my Father in Heaven for it, and that the human reason may be that my own love for my dear Miss Barton is true and sincere, and was given years before I had any hope for even an acquaintance with her. It is another proof to me that love is always worth the while. I am still lingering in New York. We may be here till the 1st of May; my little girl sang in Philadelphia last week, also in Lakewood. But the [?] trip has had to be abandoned. We may not be able to go down to Washington this spring, but hope to do so next winter. Oh, Miss Barton, is there any hope that you will come out this summer to Salt Lake City? We would try to make you so comfortable. My sister, who wants to entertain you and Dr. Hubble, has a very pretty home right opposite the SaltLake Temple. She has every modern convenience, and you would have just what diet and other service you might desire. Then after a good rub, you would let us make a little noise over you, would you not? How is Dr. Hubble? And will you kindly give him my regards? I send you a photograph of myself, and one of my little daughter, recently taken. I hope you will like them. My sisters have all left for home, last week. And I am trying to settle down to my press work and other duties. May I hope to hear from you once in a while, when you can take the time to write to one of Your devoted friends Susa Young Gates.