CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Golay, Abraham June 1876-Oct. 1894Abram Golay Ansd 21 June 1876 Dear Sister Elisa ought to have advertised you of my departure of Geneva & told to you, I was in America; Indeed from 6 weeks ago I live in New York looking for a situation as for a clerk or a jeweller but my bad english language & few references in town make it was impossible to me founding to do any thing here I would have been at once to you if my money should allowed it but it was not in my power to loose my time & spend my money Now I wrote to Jules & did not receive any word from him Could you think I would obtain employment in any of your friend's & tell it to me as soon as possible then I am very poor here & allmost without any chanceto get situation in New York I will in another letter tell you all about my family and my self but to-day I have my strength nor courage Pray send me news from you here to Mes: Vallin & Thorn 10 South 5th Avenue New York Yours respectfully A Golay New York 9th June 1876 New York the 1st Nov: 1876 Beloved Sister I would I have written to you a long time ago if my situation have been better, and I am sure yo would have been pleased to receive news from me, but indeed it is not so, and thought Mr Willox fabe me letter to introduce me to jewellers this trade is so dull & bussiness so bad here that is was impossible to me to get work in any shop and I am always without employment. For the present a friend of mine, a french wine dealer, is kind enough to give me a [dinner] for the work I am able to do in his store but I do not know how long it will be long, though, I am thankful to him, not to starve. Mr Willox was kind for me but was not succesfull in getting a situation for me. I 'disembarked] for him, home bills, during one or two days and he gave me 3 dollars I spent for lodging. I heard with very much pleasure you are better than last year and I wish from all my parts your health will improve for you are good and all your friends would be glad of your recovery. I have nothing else to write you for [the] monents, my situation is allways very low, not knowing every nights if my housekeeper will not send me sleep in the streets, but I think God will be good for sure and will provide for I did not hear from [Fulas] for two or three months since. I do not think well of his business, he would have wrote me if it be good Beleave me dear sister Your most affectionate A Golay Do you write me I am [andrepe] Vallin & Phoux 10 South 5th Avenue or Mr F Vincent 626 3rd Avenue NY cityAbram Golay - care F. Vincent . Esq 626 3d Avenue N.Y Nov. 1. 1876 Ansd. " 6. " New York the 13th of January 1877 Dear Sister I received your kind letter from november and would have written to you sooner, at least for the holy days, but a severe sickness keep me in bed for four weeks past I get a bad rheumatism in my left leg and was obliged to discontinue my work, I am better now thought keeping the room & unable to walk I cannot tell you how sorry is sickness without means or money for the doctor or the druggist, but I found kind peopel who gave my eating and were not too hard for the payment of my loging, but that kind gentleman begins to be tired with me, I feel it, and I cannot take yet my work again What Shall I do? You tell me in your letter to have patience and you "will find" some situation for me, Indeed it is time, forI am in a very bad condition Dear Sister do not believe I am not willing to work, indeed I will do every thing to get my living but for sometimes I am unable to work in a cellar as I have done it for the three last months, and I am without a shilling, owing three weeks for my room, and a fortnight, boarding I do not know how to do, can you help me if you can Pray do it and be sure I will remember it and send your money back as soon as possible. Here I receive a letter from Louise she is well and says about you - I copy her own words in french - "Cher père quand tu écrives a Clara parle lui de moi, je l'aime tant par mieux que toute autre elle savait si bien me comprendre et m'aimer & j'aimerai tant à la revoir. dis lui que j'aurai grande envie de lui ecrire si elle m'y autorise et envoie lui mille baisers de ma part" I think you can understand that and a translation would destroy the simplicity of the words - They do not know my sickness in Geneva and am afraid to write it because you know, how badly look these thing at so great a distance Do not be angry with Jules I know he is not happy neither his business is broken and he has a hard living and much trouble to support his large family I think you will write to me as soon as possible, and hope your health is still improving though the bad winter must be painful to you Believe me Dear Sister Your most affectn Ab Golay 183 Wooster Street care [St.?] Gros -[*Abram Golay Jan. 13, 1877 An Feb 2 sent $5.00*] [*(16 V struggles - Rx)*] [*E Golay*] [The rest is illegible]as yourself that your work was rather compromised by the first trying of France to get the United States' agreement to the Conv. at G. but I think that in your hands and with a strong will to succeed as you have it, you can yet gain your cause, and it will be a greater honour to you to have succeeded where men and Diplomatats have failed. I hope there you shall be able to convince Mr President and Congressmen of the usefullness for your people at home and abroad of not being out or aside of this human and beautiful Essay of making war to the War itself Should you like to have that news send to Geneva you need only to send me what you want to be written and I will take great pleasure in writing to Mr. G [N?ymer?]. Dear Sister what shall I tell you about our Snowing here? We are shut in door by the winter, the days seem long because we have little or nothing to do, for my own part I read the most I can and try to learn your language as much as possible in order to be enabled to get a situation anywhere as soon as the opportunity shall present itself. Miss [Abur?] is very busy since her returning home in cleaning floors and walls and every thing, she took possession of the kitchen and seems pleased with it. Your house is almost finished. The carpenters will leave it this week and we have two painters. I think the inside will be ready for the end of the month, as for the outside we must wait untill the Spring. Mr Hall says he will have the fronts and the backyard cleaned and levelled for that time This week I made a hotbed in the woodhouse and Planted seeds of Cauliflower and artichokes this way they will be strong and large enough I think to be planted in the garden in April I take a great pleasure in the thought of rising fine flowers and nice vegetables for you this summer then if I be not at your home at that time you will remember of me in looking at the flowers and in Eating vegetables: but I talk as if all that was to be ready soon and it is snowing fast just nownevermind I hope Spring will come for us all and you will see when you come back again how many nice things we will do - Since my last letter I received a note from Jules, he is always without news about the promised office nevertheless he hopes he will get it. He is writing regularly to his friends at Wash: on the subjects: he [is?] well and sends you his love This was written when yesterday on a call at Miss Kupfers I was almost [ashamed?] you a surprise from you, Miss K has given me, 2 big, warm pair of gloves, for the winter. 2 Shirts and necktie, tobacco etc in short, [all?] that I wanted to make me comfortable - So much kindness from you I am not astonished with, but a thing troubles me - How shall I [Help?], to prove you I am not ungratefull. [...?] I will tell you, and try to show you [that?] Thy dear Sister is much beloved by her brother Abraham [?1878] My new Address will be - 947 T Street N. W. Dear brother Abram Let me thank you for you kind letter - it was so cheering - there is no more trouble for you now - You have found the right way which will never fail your true independence of all the world you have turned to the only sure patron, good Mother Nature, the earth, it will not fail you - I am so glad you could see your way clear to this course & I congratulate you with all my heart - this will be a good winter for you & I trust for Minnie al[so?]I will try to make it one for me also, but mine is more varied and uncertain. it has more contingencies. - Minnie will let you hear her letter I think so I will not rewrite in this instant - I have said then We open our good to day in the new house - I wish you could do it for me - I am wishing you well with the business - shall publish more this winter I have last and shall get the signature! if I can keep my strength - Bless you love to [....?] ones at home and believe me as always Your affectionate sister Clara [*Ansd 2-27-84*] Parkhurst & Wilkinson IRON MERCHANTS. 184 to 190 Lake Street, CORNER FIFTH AVENUE. Chicago, 2/20 1884. Dear Sister Minnie received yesterday your two letters, the first was delayed on accounts of the postage and came by the same mail with the second one, thanks for your good remembrance. We hope to see you soon here, and will talk over your proposition of taking Minnie down east I am pretty sure she will go and I believe it will prove beneficial to her health then will let her go for the time She and you think best She is slowly taking more strength and though very ill yet, her will aiding,, she will be able to make the journey She told me this morning she intended to write herself . but thought better to let me write also in order you may do what circumstances dictate Love from both Abraham [*Golay*]Milwaukee July 4. 1886 A. Golay. Esq. Chicago. Dear Sir! By a Letter wich i received from Washington D. C. to day i was informed that Miss Clara Barton would visit Milwaukee early this month. and that you could you give me the date of her arrival at this City. And as i am very anxious to learn the exat time of her arrival at Milwaukee, i would beg you, to oblige me to give me the time and date when she arrives in Milwaukee. And also the place wher she will stop here. As the Number and Street are not given in the Letter i only can adress my Letter to you as direckted Hopping that you will notify me in time I remain Yours Truly F. L. Krieger 1523 State Street Milwaukee Wis Parkhurst & Wilkinson IRON MERCHANTS. 148 to 164 Kinzie Street, BETWEEN N. CLARK ST. AND LA SALLE AVE. Chicago, Sept. 2d 1887 Dear Sister, Minnie sent you today a small box containing a pebble Bracelet which she wishes you would give to Helen with the little letter enclosed, when you go to Geneva, it is not necessary I think to tell you to give our love home and kiss Louise + Helen for both of us Minnie is very busy at home just now, she has Mrs. Hedges and her sister with child visiting her and she thought I could do as well as herself in sending this little box with love for all For Yourself dear sister, our best regards and affection Brother Abraham[*China & Corea 14 Moynier A. Golay*] Geneva Oct: 6th 1894 Dear Sister Clara Your kind letter Sept 20th with enclosures is received; the same day I tried to see Mr Moynier but he is at his country house yet and was obliged to mail to him your letters he wrote me to meet him yesterday afternoon at 3 PM in the Red Cross office; there I went and the following is my report of the Interview I found Mr M very pleasant and after a long talk upon the S Carna affairs for which he had not enough praise and admiration to give we talked about China & Corea, first I asked what was his opinion about your answers and Mr M told me he was entirely satisfied with the point of view you had taken and the manner you answered the inquiries of your correspondants; that he would himself write them confirming your letters and explaining to them the impossibility for him to urge any Red Cross Society to go or send any member that way the two Countries bring out of the "International" and even if China was a member of the Society of the Red Cross, he thought it was or rather would be dangerous; the agreements of the different States, not been entirely sufficient to secure the Safety of Red X members, it is necessary that a State of advanced Civilization and of Instruction among the people make it possible for the government to fulfill their engagements.Of course China and Korea are not yet in such a Situation and Mr M told me that even if a demand was made by one or both of the above governments, he would greatly hesitate in receiving them among the "Confederation" and probably would refuse to run the chances of Violation of neutrality. Here he gave me the Example of Turkey . she was admited in the Society; but during the last war with Russia the Rules of the "Convention de Genève" were forgotten to the great disadvantage & suffering of Russia: When called to order by the Central the Turquesh Government made very poor Excuses saying they could not keep their soldiers; you see the point - I asked him what he thought of individual efforts to organize societies among American or European people; he would not discourage them but he thinks they would be of little use among populations so vastly disseminated as are the foreigners in China and as they would not be respected by the Chinese it would only exasperate them a little more and mark for their ire the agents and buildings of said societies Of sending from America or Europe any agents he would not think as I told you above This is about all he would say upon the situation now, he expects news pretty soon and he promised to advise me of any thing he would think interesting to you or myself; of course I would communiquate any thing I may learn Upon a hint to his former reproach of Egotism he defended himself of any such Idea and added that for the last years he has been very much satisfied with your reports and the course you had taken he asked me also news from the Doctor and was very agreeable in all points I introduced to him Mr Pullman and seemed very glad to know you had secured so good a help he asked me his full name in oder to recognise him if he had to read from or about Mr P: will you be kind enough and give me Mr P's full name (I have forgotten it), and I will send it to Mr M Dear sister Minnie is as well as can be expected after her long illness she sends her love to all, we are almost entirely settled and as soon as we have got our Stove we will be able to pass the winter with comfort Louise and Helène are well and send their respects so Amelie do, she is with us here and keeps our house Write to me for any thing you may need this side of the water and believe that I will allways be glad in doing any of your errands My best regards to Dr Hubbell together with our dolences for his loss, our Respects to Mr Pullman and for you dear the Love of your Brother A G