CLARA BARTON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Wells, Charlotte F. July 1879-Oct. 1888If not delivered within 10 days, to be returned to Ama [?] Aug. 3 1879 Charlotte Wells 34 [obscured] New York, July 28th, 1879 My Dear Miss Benton, Are you surprised at receiving a letter from a strange correspondent? It has seemed to me something more than an accident which brought us together last month, and has been my intention ever since then to let you hear from me as soon as sufficient time could be commanded. Oh how I wanted to go to Cape [unclear] to see you, but waited for a ticket, till it was too late to go. Had I known in season that none would come I would not have grudged paying the fare. A ticket was sent for me to my cousin, in Prattsburgh, but being in New York instead of Prattsburgh I did not receive it. It is not my custom to [obscured] at what occurs after due effort has been made to have things different but in this case I felt as if I could not have it so - and yet, it was probably all ordered for the best, and I can hardly see how I could have been spared from here. Brother [unclear] & Loretta came on the 28th June. I met them at the steamer. July 3rd they went to Boston & that region to visit Lydia's friends and will not return here till some time in August - on the 16th of which they take steamer again for London, & my visit with them has been very brief. I told them about you, but they said nothing about going to Dansville. Something was said about going to Cohaelon [?] - our native place - but I don't know whether they will go there or, if so, when.feelings about that time, or within twenty four hours after and please tell me whether you experienced any peculiarly beneficial influence or feeling. He thought it reached you, and when I found that you were able to go to Cape May, 8 to speak, there, I hoped he was right about it. Please write me a line, soon. Lovingly, Your sister (as I feel we are sisters), Charlotte Fowler Wells[obscured] Jan. 20 1880 Charlotte Wells New York Sept. 7th 1879 At home, Sun, evening My Dear Sister Clara Barton, Were I to abide by my feelings I should not writ to you now, for it seems as if I had written and had need no reply, but when I look at your letter I see no mark indicating that it has been answered, and as I want to hear from you I must write, and I want to too, for I have ever so much to say, and if we would be together again for an hour or two or a week or two there would probably be a good deal of fast talking for once in our lives. First & foremost then please tell me if you were ever published in our [unclear] Journal & if so when? We thought you had but can't find it. Can you give me any more data about that league of the Red Cross? For I've want to disseminate a knowledge of it in the Journal. Oh how nice it would be to have you here, helping in my work. Seems to me it could be no detriment to what you wish to accomplish. Now think about it. Won't you, & [?] hurry & [?] get right well again. Brother Lich [?} & daughter started fromNew York two weeks yesterday A. M. having been delayed a week[s] for the steamer - which received repairs. They are probably at home by now. They were much benefitted by the jaunts &c. while here. Etta gained 12 pounds in flesh & seemed like another person, S. L. Jr. improved much. Do you expect to remain in Dansville indefinitely? If so it will give me pleasure to send you the Journal if it would be acceptable to you. Could you not make it a medicine for your thought - the work of your life? At all events please give us a concise statement of your plan or desire respecting whatever you have in view for whatever is humanitarian finds an echo in the Journal when we understand it fully. (The we & us that I use refer to my helpers - Editors &c.) The Editor, Mr. Drayton has been to Europe this summer just returned last Mon. having been away two months. Mr. Soner - the assistant Editor - filled the place during his absence, & he was very much pleased with your letter to me & the speech at Cape May, & pigeon held it at once for a future use, so if you have additional matter to go with that please send it along. Have you a good photograph of yourself. Ladies sometimes ask for mine, & perhaps it would not be very naughty for me to send you mine & ask for yours in return - would it? I want yours. My health has been good all summer & let me hope the same has been your experience. Will you please to write, soon, to your loving sister Charlotte Fowler Wellssent card March 15, 80 Answered July 24, 1880 Mrs. Charlotte Fowler Wells - [*Clara*] [*D*]4 Do you get the Journal? I sent the last two with my own hand, but hereafter probably they will be sent by some one else. Between now and May 1st I am to move my store from 737 to 753 Broadway, - the same block. The building is not yet finished. Think of me. I like to put in the Journal representative women and therefore hope some day to have you there, so please have a likeness made and give me some data for a biography. I want it from your self, and as if given by another who knew you as well as you do. Tell the things in which you are interested and for which you have labored, and the toil with which you achieved those - not yours but God's - successes. In my lone room 233 West 51st Street New York March 9th 1880 My dear Sister Clara Barton Your good letter of Jan 20th with that beautiful 'New Year' card and the more beautiful spirit came to me just when I needed just such an one, and was like nourishment to my hungry soul. I can not express to you how much good your letter did me. I feel as if I want to say much to you, to talk with you 'now and forever', and yet, were you here in my room with me it would not be unlike me to sit beside you on the lounge or you reclining and I in front of you holding your hand in silence. When soul meets soul few words3 its tenement unless surrounded by loving and loved and strong souls in unison with your own soul. Never has any other person so come into my life as you did, and when we had met and communed I felt satisfied that that was what I went to Rochester for. That louie was just what I needed and I keep it yet. You can never leave me. No matter how far separated our bodies may be nor how seldom we may hear from each other we are, and ever will be together. I love you I love you, and what God has joined together no human can separate. You must get well and strong and work much more before you leave this world. Remember that, we will help each other and be strong. 2 are needed to give expression to that recognition. I'm sure you and I could counsel and help each other daily. I once had such an one always at my hand. Perhaps he is still closer now than he used to be, but my eyes are not sufficiently opened for me to see and hear him as I feel to need him. But it is perhaps, all right, and it may be that he is helping my labors more efficiently than when he was here in the body. My work is not done. I have much yet to accomplish, and am reaching out after your spirit and the spirits of others (if there be any) just like yours to mingle with and strengthen mine. Your body may be weak and small but your spirit is almost to large and strong for5 And now dear one don't worry to answer this for I do not wish to add a straw's weight to your spirit's load, and remember that I shall never doubt your love and will ever rejoice to hear from you unless with the message comes the feeling that you had to strive to write to me. That would make me sorry. I am glad you were so good to tell me the little you did about your own dear little self, and hope you will keep doing so, for although we have always lived together and know all about each other, yet we know but little of that which has come6 out of each others lives, except, as it were, in a lump. I hear from L. N. + daughters every few days. They are well, and he intends, some day, not more than two or three years distant, to come + join me. Would it not be nice if he and Od. would both come? "So mote it be." L. N. + his daughters urge me to visit them next summer, but I do not see how I can go. especially now that I have that great job - moving - on hand. I trust that "the angels are whispering to thee" at this hour. (half past ten) so I kiss you good night and go to my rest. Yours, ever. Charlotte10th - at the office. After going to bed last night something occurred to me to add to my letter but I cannot recal it to day, so we'll start it forward, hoping it will find you in comfortable health. I have been wonderfully well all winter, and presume when I go it will be suddenly, for my organization is similar to Holmes's 'one [hoss? shay?]'. + must collapse with slight warning. Lovingly C. Fowler Wells 753 Broadway N.Y. July 30th 1880 - Sweet sister Your loving letter came to my worried and drooping spirits like a soothing balm. Accept my thanks. How did you know I needed it? My business is very dull and expenses heavy, and I feel anxious for the future, and yet, I don't feel like giving up the ship, but must draw in sail - or something. Am sorry to write such a letter in response to such an one as yours, but I feel blue - an unusual thing for me.Mrs Fowler Wells Answered with another at Holidays - - Aug. 3rd "What's writ is writ", therefore I'll send it, notwithstanding I'm rather ashamed of it, but, are not you my sister? & ought to know my failings & faults. How I need you with me, all the time, so I could have some one with whom to talk up new projects. Now I have to be strength for myself, which is sometimes only weakness. I have a bit of news for my sweet heart sister. It is as follows. Brother O.S. has been in a measure alienated from the rest of us ever since his second marriage; was made to believe we all hated him & we supposed he hated us, but this year has bro't a change, & now he has left them for good & come to us, & gone into partnership with me, & is expecting to spend most of his time traveling and lecturing. He will also be a contributor to the Journal - in fact will have his department. Last week, when I began this letter, I had been worried about the arrangements, & needed just the love your letter brought. That you may ever come to me as appropriately is the wish of The one who loves you Charlotte F. Wells.This is not half I want to say, but can say no more to day. If I can take the time I'll write again soon. My health is good & my spirits are usually good. This time is an exceptional occurrence, [?ll] was dark. Business poor, expenses heavy.Answered Dec 12/1880 Retained for Christmas to be sent with Photo and addresses - [*Charlotte Wells*] Mrs Wells Mrs. Charlotte Fowler Wells. Phrenological Journal and Science of Health, Two Dollars a Year Single Nos. 30 Cents. S.R. Wells& Co., Publishers. 737 Broadway, All letters should be addressed to S. R. Wells & Co. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. Fowler & Wells, 753 Broadway. [New York,] October 6th [18]80 Will my Dear Sister Clara Barton ever forgive me for neglecting her so long. Had any one told me I had not answered yours of July 24th I would not believe it, and even now when I come across it in the bundle of letters accumulated in my bag - + which I've carried with me every day - I think I have written to you and have failed to so mark it as to indicate the fact. At all events I want to hear from you and of your welfare, + must write. O how much I have needed you by me the past summer, not only as an advisor but also for the quieting spiritual equalizinginfluence you would exert over me when I have so needed wisdom - I can't express it. I have sisters, two of them, and greatly do we esteem and love each other & advise one another, but, since we met I feel (almost or quite) as if you are my counterpart and I would love to have you know all about my life so that you could know my needs, & I feel that then you could help me, often, to a right solution of matters when I'm in doubt. Now don't think I want to be a burden, but somehow I feel that every thing that interests me would also interest you. By reading the Oct. No. of the Journal you will see something of that which has been in my mind the past summer. O.S. came to us on the night of July 3rd & tho' I had not expected, intended, nor desired to make him a partner he had not been here a week 2 MRS. CHARLOTTE FOWLER WELLS. Phrenological Journal} and Science of Health,} S. R. WELLS & CO., TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.} Publishers, Single Nos. 20 Cents.} 737 BROADWAY, FOWLER & WELLS. 753 BROADWAY. All letters should be addressed to S. R. WELLS & CO. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. New York, . . . . 18 when it was accomplished, but he had no financial help for me, but bo't a share with a promise to pay within three years. Time will tell whether it will be accomplished. I shall not worry about it at all events. If my heavenly Father sees best that it should be done it will be, if not not.[?] & by that I shall know His will. And now Sister Clara I want you to tell me, in some manner, whenever and in what manner I can help you let it be "ever so little" or "ever so much." You are mine & I am yours, & there is no possibility of our hiding from each other our inmost selves. I wish you could see my new place. It is new, nice, clean, bright, airy, cheerful.And here Phrenology has a better location than it ever had before, & I feel that it was right for me to move, and since it was accomplished without making me seriously ill I think Mr. Wells would approve if he could be advised with concerning it. I am glad you did not move this year. You do not need - yet - outside influences, and you do need quiet while recuperating & getting ready for your future work, & it seems to me that, according to your description of your home it is a desirable place in which to acquire what you require. Yes, there is malaria in some parts of New York, but thus far I have escaped except what I took in helping Mr. Wells to move. It took six months for me to get over its effects I have been all over your house, mentally, ate with you, talked with you, & was happy. Did you feel me? Well, I was there, but I did not want to see any one but Clara. But, sister, when you feel as if you must go don't stay there any longer. 3d MRS. CHARLOTTE FOWLER WELLS. Phrenological Journal } S. R. WELLS & CO., and Science of Health, } TWO DOLLARS A YEAR } Publishers, Single Nos, 20 Cents. } 737 BROADWAY, All letters should be addressed to S. R. WELLS & CO. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. New York, ........................ 18, I am selfish enough to wish we could live with each other. If that is best it will come about. We need not be anxious about it. Often there are things which we could enjoy if you were living here with me but which neither of us can enjoy as we are, but it is all right as it is till the night time comes. It is dark & I must finish tomorrow Have I told you that L. N. is coming home in [1881] 1883. He is longing to come now, but as his daughters want to remain there he is staying and helping them to build up a phrenological bookstore business & thinks that by then he can be spared. Then it willbe Fowlers & Wells. You give a correct tribute to Phrenology in your letter - it softens the truth or in other words it so accounts for peculiarities as to make one see reasons for them. Hurry up & get on your best look and have that likeness taken, so that when I want it I can have it. I have been in the City all summer excepting the three days I was in Troy at the Convention. During the last month I have been to Orange & spent my Sundays with my sister - the physician. I called myself well all summer, yet was aware that I was running down, but am coming up again now. My house is a 4 story brown stone, and mine are the sunny rooms on the top floor. There I am above & it is so far from the street, & all shut in, 4 MRS. CHARLOTTE FOWLER WELLS. Phrenological Journal } S. R. WELLS & CO., and Science of Health, } TWO DOLLARS A YEAR } Publishers, Single Nos, 20 Cents. } 737 BROADWAY, All letters should be addressed to S. R. WELLS & CO. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. New York, ........................ 18 that it is the quietest part of the house. In the summer I rise at 4 to 4,30, in the winter between 5 & 6, and often eat my breakfast alone, and reach the office about 8. sometimes - not often - 8-30. I eat nothing from then till night when I reach home, say between 7,30 and 9. Till this year I have kept the office open till 8, but now close it between 6-30 & 7, & sometimes make a call upon an invalid friend on my way home, & then I'm home about 9. Once in a great while I eat an apple at noon or other kinds of fruit but not generally. Sometimes I see the family & at other timesI have something to do in my room, or am too weary to talk, & then I go directly to my room & loosen or remove my clothing, & if very tired go directly to bed. Two years ago I got my niece, Mrs. Austin, with her family, to come & keep my house, for I wanted somebody there that belonged to me. Previously the house had been kept by Miss [Bogert?] - who had kept it several years previous to Mr. Wells's death. Mrs. Austin is O.S;s youngest daughter & has one son 9 years of age & one 4. Her husband has been my cashier for nearly five years, & is now traveling & lecturing with O.S., & with O.S. bo't a share of my business, & they hope to make money enough in that way to pay those two shares, (one third each) in three years. We have had one or more ministers in the house since Mrs. Charlotte Fowler Wells. Phrenological Journal and Science of Health, Two Dollars a Year Single Nos. 30 Cents. S.R. Wells& Co., Publishers. 737 Broadway, All letters should be addressed to S. R. Wells & Co. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. the autumn of 1868. The Rev. J. F. Steen, Episcopalian, came in March, 1869, with his wife, & they have been there ever since, and his sister has been there 3 or 4 years, first while a student in Normal College, & since her graduation is teacher in a public school. Rev. J. M. Duryee - Reformed Dutch - has been with us but about a year. & expects to stay indefinitely. Mrs. Austin's Mother's brother's wife, (her Aunt, you see) took charge of things for her. [She] Mrs. A. contemplates going with her children to travel with her husband and her father, and so her aunt, Mrs. [Breew] Brevoort took the house in Sept., & if her healthis sufficient will continue to keep it. The boarders pay me the rent of their rooms, & pay Mrs. Brevoort $5. a week for their board, and I get my board for the use of the house and furniture. That is all I now think of that would interest you. Excuse minuteness, for I wanted you to know just how I am situated. There are two nice rooms - the back parlor & the 3rd floor back room - waiting for occupants. We are not stylish, but have things comfortable and somewhat attractive, and to greet you in my own home would give much pleasure to Your counterpart Charlotte F. Wells. (Right side) [*Charlotte Wells 37*] My Dear Sister, Miss [?] was in My office last evening and From her I learned that you have returned to Dansville I heard of you in Washington And was going to write there If she had not happened in. Did you lose a scarf-pin In my office? I found one That day, and think it is yours, & I have worn it since then Hoping you would come in and recognise and claim it Your nephew told me where You went — to your friends, & I wrote that address on a Slip of paper, on my desk, Thinking to go there that evening but when ready or go it could not (Left side) And thereby lost you entirely. were it not that I know our Hearts are one, & that we are - both of us — about our Master’s business I should Grieve every much over that loss, but my faith in my Heavenly Father believes He doeth all things well, and for some good reason He has ordered what has been quite a trial to me. I now think I have had it foreshadowed in a dream Do you believe in preculiar dreams? Have they any meaning? I try to feel resigned to the Inevitable, but am fearful that I am almost rebellious, Though your loving sister Charlotte. Sunday evening . Nov. 6th 1881 -be found and has not made its appearance since, & therefore I did not go, for I was not sure where you were. I rec'd a postal from you from New Heaven, but you failed to tell where in New Haven you were, or when you would be back, or where you could be found when you should come. Seems to me some one came to inquire where you were & I couldn't tell them. but I can't now recall who it was. When Susan came she said she must see you, & I suppose she found you. I could only tell her you were in New Haven when I last heard & she tho't she knew who you were with, there. What a comet you are to be sure. I reckon you must have written or telegraphed me when I did not get it, for you wrote from Syracuse that you might be here the next Thurs., but would telegraph me when you were sure of it, but I rec'd no telegram, + was thinking of you when you came, & was hurrying with all my might to get to a stopping place so as to devote my time to you, for I thought you would spend the day with me. Then you + your nephew seemed to have some arrangements to make + I felt as if you would like a quiet place for a few minutes where you could talk by yourselves, & proposed that quiet nook for you.Mrs. Charlotte Fowler Wells. Phrenological Journal and Science of Health, Two Dollars a Year Single Nos. 30 Cents. [S.R. Wells& Co., Publishers.] 753 Broadway, All letters should be addressed to S. R. Wells & Co. Those requiring answers should contain stamp for return postage. [New York], March 21st [18]82 Yes, Dear Sister, I love you, and am well and happy. Yes, I was aware of the correspondence between Mr. Drayton and Miss Barton, and quietly enjoyed the fact. Long time ago I gave him some of those published speeches of yours and endeavored to get him and his associate - Mr. [L?iser?] - interested to write you up for the Jour., but being like Moses slow of speech I could not inspire them as I wished, + so the matter dropped, and I do not know what it was that started Mr. Drayton in that direction just now but was rejoiced at seeing the matter progress. I placed that little pamphlet in his hands as soon as it was rec'd. Did you know there is a new Soc. here in N.Y. which has the red cross for its signal? I think the name is something like this. 'First Help to the Injured.' I had one of their Circulars, but gave it away. If I can get another I will send it to you, though it wont perhaps be, like sending coals to New Castle, for probably you know more than I about it. Thanks for your letter, & I am thankful that you live & are able to work in our Father's vineyard. That your days may be many and your efforts successful is the sinceere wish of one who hopes for you every thing that may lead to your happiness and to the benefit of others. Lovingly. Charlotte F. WellsCharlotte Fowler Wells, President. 775 Broadway. Office of Fowler & Wells Co., Publishers. - Established 1835. Incorporated 1884. New York, Oct. 26th 1888 Mrs. Wells sends love & good wishes to Miss Barton, and thanks to Drs. Hall and Slasher and Mrs. Pettengill for the polite invitation to the reception given to Miss Barton. Mrs. Wells regrets that it will not be convenient for her to be present, and has no doubt but what the evening will be very enjoyable. I would very much like to meet Miss Barton again, and, hoping she is well, remain, Very truly yours Charlotte Fowler Wells