Blackwell Family Alice Stone Blackwell 1880-84 Blackwell, Lucy (Mother)Wednesday evening, March 10, 1880. My dear little Mother: Aunt Ellen’s welcome card reporting you are as steadily improving, talking in your natural voice (but don’t talk much; I’m afraid you will set yourself off again!) and eating with a relish, was received today. Miss Wilde says a great many people come in + ask about you, + reports that Mrs. Howe said - “If we should lose Mrs. Stone, Mr. Blackwell’s loss would be nothing to ours.” (Here I interjected a grunt of indignation). “She is simply invaluable. I can’t put it anymore strongly than that,” said Mrs. H. - “+ I don’t see how she could,” added Miss Wilde. I was told up at college today that if you keep on improving, my mouth will presently extend from ear to ear. You see I come in + grin cheerfully upon my friends yourself. No news from Papa since he went to Maine. Goodbyes Mamma dear - Remember me to all the relatives - Your loving Cubafter getting Aunt E’s cards. Mrs. Howe read her paper on Greece before the Gamma Delta last Friday. Today I called at 91 Newbury St to invite Florence Spofford to come out here with Charlie tomorrow night. I thought I would have the Providence girls out too, + Lulie could entertain Charlie + have a good time. But Florence was out; + now I hardly see my way clear to inviting them, the examinations are Coming so near. Oh, by the by - little Mrs. Stanley Grianke has a daughter. Marion Talbot brought the news to college. Miss Fogg made up a lot of cookies today, as the last batch had almost disappeared. Her cookies are good. The house seems to be kept in very Neat order, + the kitchen clean. Did I tell you the awful yarn one of my class-mates told when he was over here, not long after you went away? There was a minister who didn’t like his congregation, + whose congregation didn’t like him. He got a chance to leave them + go to be chaplain at The States Prison; + he preached his congregation a farewell service from the text: “I go to prepare a place for you.” There was more wit than grace in that, I fancy! There was another story I read, not like this one except in both are rather profane. A certain clergyman started to cross the ocean, + soon after they left port he grew alarmed + asked the captain if there was any danger. The captain took him to the forecastle + bade him listen to the conversation of the sailors. The clergyman was greatly shocked by Alice 1880 it. “Now,” said the captain, “do you think those men would swear so if they thought there was any serious danger?” A few days afterward there was a serious storm; + in the midst of it the clergyman was seen laboriously making his way toward the forecastle. Soon he came staggering back, murmuring - “Thank Heaven, they are swearing still!” I hope I didn’t tell you that story before; I have told it to several people lately. The time passes quietly here. I am busy with college work, but have dropped social dissipation’s for the present. Dear Mamma, I hope you are not having a very wearisome time of it. Getting well is apt To be a tiresome business. Mind Aunt Emily, + don’t over-exert Alice Aug. 30, 1880 Gardner, Mass. Dear little Mother: Yours of Aug. 28 just received. As you say nothing about coming home + do speak of writing again, I conclude that it will be best to forward you the enclosed letter. I’m afraid of what this troublesome easterly storm may be doing to your throat. Do be a prudent little woman + come away from the sea if you find yourself worse. Never mind the peaches + plums! Is not the body more than meat? Friday morning after you left, Mr. Taylor came to invite me out rowing. He + Mr. Black + Hattie Hedrick + I went. The gentlemen rowed, Hattie steered, + I sat in the bow + looked out for the flag. This was a crimson silk handkerchief pinned to an oar. It made quite a gay appearance. Mr. Taylor felt uproarious, + kept letting off Short sharp howls to relieve his feelings. He also stretched himself over the side + put his mouth Into the water to drink; + Hattie + I wickedly tipped the boat + ducked his face. me to start for Providence the latter part of this week. What do you say? I have had a letter, a droll one, from Mr. Corson, one of the shyest + most solemn young ministers in my class. He felt lonesome in his role of “Country Parson” up in N.H., + conceived the idea of writing me a letter. We landed at the picnic grove, which for once was quite deserted; so we had songs + speeches at our own sweet will. Mr. Black invited Hattie to have a ride in an old wheelbarrow + when she indignantly refused, he ran it under the swing in which she was standing + tried to get her into it by strategy. Mr Taylor broke away from the party every now + then To walk on his hands, with his feet in the air. It is one of his accomplishments, + I’m told that he has been photographed in an Inverted position, boots upward. That afternoon + evening I went to the convention. I don’t think I appreciate oratorio music. The baby was well enough for Emma to be there in the evening. Aunt Sarah took her turn in the afternoon. Next morning Mr. Taylor + Mr. Black went away, Mr. Taylor going home I suppose, or at least starting for home, + Mr. Black meditating a tour Which should take in Poughkeepsie. So there is no likelihood of my being led into dissipation. Saturday I called on Hattie Herrick, + Sunday went to church + to meeting. Today I have written letters + sewed on my blue dress, which Emma kindly Basted for me. Am well, + not particularly homesick. Have been down to Uncle Henry’s several times. I think it would be well for He apologizes for taking such a liberty, + signs himself “Yours classically.” I’m heartily glad you are having such a good time with your old class-mate. Love to Papa, + remember Me to Miss Fogg. Good[?]. Your loving Kubbe. Annisquam Mass. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 1881 Dear little Mother:- The note I scratch this A.M. must be brief, for I’m a little Late. Sunday morning Eliza Putnam + I went off to a pine wood, spread cloaks on the needles, + read to each other. In the P.M. we walked over to the Methodist church at Bay View, I heard what seemed to me a dry sermon, containing some objectionable doctrine; but I wasn’t prepared for the Wrath it excited in Eliza. She’s a Universalist, you know; + she had heard only one Methodist sermon before this. Her indignation boiled over all the way home, to my amusement and delight. We were all to have gone up to see Laura’s cousin’s on the hill in the evening + sing hymns, but it rained. Yesterday we did nothing noteworthy, that I remember. I have eaten something I should not, + have a little touch of diarrhoea; but I think judicious dieting Will set all straight again. The weather has become cooler, which is a comfort. Hattie Pierce is expected tomorrow. Little Miss Durfee is very nice, + all goes well. Now I must devote myself to the breakfast. In haste, with much love, Alice S. B. (H.B.B. to A.S.B.) Kama, Neb. Oct. 2, 1882 .....We are holding meetings every evening, and yesterday (Sunday) we had one at 11 O’clock. The Nationals have had an excellent meeting. The Editor of the Omaha Republican, Mr. Brooks, (who had not returned from Europe where we were there, and besides, the State Fair was in progress so we had not space for our reports) has given great space for their reports, and the speeches in full, and they are excellent. It was a mercy that Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Gage did not come so far, they have done well. They have attracted a great deal more attention then we did. They know her better than we do how to make a noise. But our good, steady, sensible work is good seed-sowing, and the leaflets of which we have distributed thousands will bring forth fruit. But we do not think the Amendment can be carried. The foreign host are “ag’in it.” It is too bad! But me only bide our time, and are sure sooner or later...... The letter of Mr. Phillips says Mr. Bacon has withdrawn his suit, and we are to come in possession of Mrs. Eddy’s money, so we may stop here enough longer to consult about the use of some of it here..... L.S. MANITOU HOUSE A.W. Bailey, PROPRIETOR Manitou Springs Colo. April 16 1883 My dear little Mother: Your card of April 10 came yesterday afternoon. I am sorry enough to hear that your cold still hangs on, but glad it gets no worse. You are the apple of my eye, Mamma dear, & you must take the very choicest care of yourself. It makes me feel desperate when I think how many temptations there are in the spring for you to go out without a shawl to give Michael directions about the garden &c, & Maggie about the house-cleaning; & how perfectly sure you are to do it, & I not there to chase after you with a shawl. My cold seems to be nearly gone this morning - probably because I drank too much mineral wateryesterday, and it acted as a purgative, + sent me out once or twice in the night. That too seems nearly to have worked off its effects this morning. Otherwise I am well. Mrs. H., Rose + I all took baths in the mineral water yesterday, + it was very nice - like bathing in champagne or soda water. You can’t use soap with it. And this place is full of electricity. It crackles in all our clothes; my hair crackles as I comb it; the man who owns the hotel can light the gas by snapping his fingers, + the children amuse themselves by scuffling their feet on the carpet a little, + then drawing sparks from the noses of the unwary. Mrs. H. Is very friendly, + wants to pay little expenses for me, + some big ones; but of course I don’t let her. She + Rose are going to make a little excursion to the geysers on their own account (the regular trip doesn’t take us to the geysers) + she invited me to go with them at her expense. But I shall MANITOU HOUSE A.W. BAILEY, PROPRIETOR Manitou Springs, Colo. __________188__ find how much it costs, + go at my own expense (or yours, rather) if I can afford it, + if not, go without. Miss Wilde will have to send me the balance of my money as fast as it becomes due, for I foresee I shall it. While we travel with the excursion, we have hardly anything to pay out; but our tickets to Yosemite only take us there + back, + board us there for two days or three, I forget which. If we stay a week we have to pay board for the extra time ourselves, + I believe it is nine dollars a day. There is $15. due me May 1, + Miss W. may then send it. However, I’ll write her myself. Rose is friendly too. Poor Mrs. H. has a misplacement of the womb in consequence of which she can’t go More than two hours without making water, + sometimes she is in distress for a chance. Yesterday when we were out riding she had to “see a specimen” she wanted by the roadside, + get out + go back some distance. She will have tribulation during our sixty mile stage ride. She is a good woman. I enclose, or shall send, a Concerning Women about the wife of the hotel keeper here. She has collected + painted over 200 of the native Colorado flowers + grasses, + very pretty the pictures are. She went east seven years ago, but got homesick for Colorado, and came back. She says she is perfectly well here, but miserably ill anywhere else; so no wonder she prefers this. I must go to breakfast. Kiss Papa for me. With ever so much love, Alice.(Letter from Lucy Stone to A S B) Boston May 9, 1883 Dearest Beloved My only child My little ewe I feel as though I should like to brood you! Your letter descriptive of the desert for the Journal came yesterday, and today two cards written en route to the Yosemite. We are glad you found it not hard on the stage. Here there is not much news. The peas are back up in our garden and so are the lettuce and radishes. The rest of the garden is being planted today. The blue and white violets are a joy to see- so many of them! - - Papa and I are both pretty well i.e. we are mending. I get letters from all around on congratulations on your letters and on the help you give. Elizabeth thinks you are too young to be set as Editors! Ever and Ever so much love. MammaPALACE HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO, MAY 14 1883 Dear little Mother: We start today for Monterey, which everyone says is a beautiful place. We can stay five days or less according as we like it. I hope to go in bathing in the Pacific. We are all well. I got on nicely with Rose, for she has an unlimited appetite for stories, as I rather like to spin yarns when anybody likes to listen, we had a session almost daily. And Mrs. H. is About as good a substitute for one’s own mother as could be provided. But no substitute comes near the real thing. Saturday we went shopping. me about some of Papa’s early iniquities - robbing of water melon patches + such - so as to be able to tease him when I got home. He grinned + intimated that no doubt Papa had robbed no end of watermelon patches Mrs. H. wanted to get little presents for ever so many friends at home, + some of the other excursionists recommended her to go to a certain Chinese store on Dupont St. She didn’t know that that is the street in San Francisco especially devoted to scarlet women. I did because I happened to read about it in Mrs. Dull’s book, + I felt rather uncomfortable as Mrs. H. asked one man + another whom we met the way to this unsavory locality. I couldn’t say anything very well for Rose is uncommonly innocent + you have to be careful what you say before her. When we reached the street, Mrs. H. soon perceived it’s character, which was evident enough in all consequence. The houses were most of them little one-story ones with green blinds, + all the door-plates said “Miss Maria,” “Miss Louise,” with him, but that he was in honor bound not to PALACE HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO, 188 “Mlle. Antonia”, “Mlle. Loretta” etc., etc. Sometimes the Miss was omitted. It seemed so queer to see a nice silver-gilt door plate with just “Julia” or “Janet” on it. Behind the shutters of each window sat or stood a woman, painted + powdered, + Most of them anything but pretty, poor things. Some were reading, some embroidering, but all keeping a sharp look-out. Lots of liquor stores + an occasional laundry were scattered in, + on A corner stood a Catholic Church with dark evergreens before it + a clock-tower on which was carved ‘Son, observe the time + fly from evil.” Our Chinese store was further on, + seemed a respectable place enough. We tell him. I am so glad you are both getting over those colds. With ever so much love, Alice. were served by the first Chinese I ever met who struck me as intelligent + a gentleman. Mrs. H. bought about $15. worth of things. By the way, before I forget - of course the store’s I tell Rose are not made up out of my own head, but merely things I have read. So don’t be troubled by any idea that I am “pulling away at my brain”. I’ve hardly touched a book since leaving home, + haven’t made any more verses since I wrote you before. Mrs. H. has presented me with a red crape handkerchief, a very handsome color. Don’t like to have her give me things, but she was getting one for Rose + insisted on my having one too. Mr. Moore had all + sundry questions to ask about Papa. I tried to get him to tell HOTEL DEL MONTE MONTEREY, CAL. May 17 1883 My dear little Mother: - Your card of May 8 came yesterday, forwarded from San Francisco. In spite of Papa’s consolatory marginal P.S., it worried me sadly. My darling dee, don’t go into town except on great occasions. Don’t wear yourself out talking to + being talked to by all sorts of people. Save yourself up for meetings - + me! I expect to do no end of talking to you when I get home. I wish you could learn to take care of yourself, but I’m Afraid you never will. Did Balance for April, so I am rolling in wealth. It was welcome, for I was beginning to see the bottom of my pocket-book. Don’t you wish you were to go through Chinatown with us next week? The you have the little syringe mended + use it during bronchial attack? I am well. Yesterday Rose + I took a bath in the Pacific, or strictly speaking, in the Gulf of California, I suppose. It Was pretty cold. I had Mrs. H. hold my watch & time me, a same out at the end of five minutes. Rose stayed longer. [I d] we don't think we shall go in again. We wouldn't on any account have missed doing it once, so as to say we had bathed in the Pacific but it is not warm enough to keep on doing it for pleasure. Miss Wilde has sent me a check for $40 my pay for May & the unpaid Celestials swarm a end here, [&] in queer shoes & long tails. I regard them with a certain affec-tion because of your mis-placed attach-ment [for] to them. Love to Papa, & a million kisses to my poor little bronchial Mamma. With love, Kubbe. HOTEL DEL MONTE, MONTEREY, CAL. May 18 1883 My precious little Mamma: Yours of May 9 was a relief, since it said that you & Papa were mending. Every time you speak of wanting to brood me, feel broided. But the country is full of little colts with their mothers; we have seen dozens & dozens, think. Yesterday we took a beautiful ride, to Mose Beach & Cypress Grove, & picked up those big shells, saucer-shaped & lined with mother- of - Sorry poor Put is not well. I forgot to kiss him goodbye when I came away. Much love to you & Papakin. A.S.B. pearl, which you see on mantel pieces in seafaring places. I have got one beauty, which I am bringing home to you and Papa. We are all well. Tomorrow we return to San Francisco for a few days, & then start for home. I think we all relish the prospect of getting back to our own folks & our own comfortable quarters. The weather yesterday & to day has been lovely. I do wish you & Papa could see all this lovely scenery. However, it will keep. I must stop, & go off with Rose to visit a church. There are sea-anemones on the shore here as big as tea plates(Letter from Lucy Stone to A.S.B) Chardon, Ohio June 24, 1883 Dear Alice It is a week last night since we left home, but we have not had a word directly or indirectly from you. We fully expected letters here. No. we shall hardly hope to get any before we reach Oberlin which will be five days hence. Papa says "no news is good news". But I feel anxious to hear, and hope it is all right with you, and that some one has been with you all the nights, and to-day Emily may go to you before we return if it get very hot in N.Y. In that case you will have company. I hope you have had the peas. There were plenty of them. I send you an article for the next Journal which will get in time and I will send another for the next week. I asked Emily about Maggie as anurse, as I know Maggie does not mean to do housework again. If Emily reaches then before we get back, Maggie had better talk with her about it or go into the city to see Dr. Lucy Sewall. If she can get nursing she will make more money and have rest for her knees. We expect to start home on July 5th after nearly a week in Oberlin. We have had good meetings. Papa speaks very well. Nettie not very well, but her sweet pleasant way wins many people. She is to preach here tonight for the Congregational minister, and we speak on the Bible and women in the Church of the Disciples this evening. We are both well and taking such rest as we can. We find hereabout many families who heat their houses and who cook by gas that comes up from wells sunk in the ground. It is an immense saving. Maggie could do housework if she had no fires to make. I feel anxious about the hay, and all the weeding that was necessary. Hope you got the strawberries. Michail is to look out for the cherries. But the best ones near the strawberries are to be put up in hard. All that you do not eat or give away, and none of them sold. I hope the poor little beets that were starving for hoeing are taken care of now. But I am too far off to see to it. Hoping that the quiet house and the freedom will be good for you and restful. I am dearest little cubke, ever the same to you Mamma Papa is reading "Progress and Poverty," and I am reading the letters of Mrs. Carlyle. I advise Alice to hire the Killian boys to gather all the currants and stem them. Then scald all that are not used for jelly -- with enough sugar to make them pleasant and put them into jars. We never tire of currants. 9Letter from Luch Stone to ASB) Bozhn, Sep. 6, 1883 My Darling Alice This morning I wrote you in the hurry of the office callers. This P.M. it is quiet and now I write to say that Mr. Phillip and Mr. Ransom(?) have been in to say that they have induced Mr. Butler to put the 'Eddy mill' case into the State courts, and that expedites matters. We are trying to arrange for an exhibit of our suffrage things at the Institute Fair, and I have written to Miss Turner's sister to ask her if she can take charge of a table. To have the Woman's Journal, our tracts, Dr. Elizabeth's books, Miss Cobbe's book, etc., etc., and a petition. Miss Turner will take two more weeks vacation. I hope your out-door climbs and walks are steadying your nerves and giving you strength.--- It is now 10:45. Papa has been at the sorghum since 5 o'clock. Of course the printers aer in a torment. He will get to them about 11 o'clock! Just at this moment Mr. and Mrs. Severance have come, having been invited by papa who forgot to tell me, and besides it is our first Committee meeting and I have to be in the city at one o'clock. They will go in with me. So will Emily who lost her umbrella on the way here. She is to ask at the depots. Your telling of the eating things by thieves is just here. Don't be in the least scared by it. It is some hungry man and all he wants is something to eat. Aff MammaLetter form Lucy Stone to A. S. B. Boston, July 16, 1884 Dear Alice We are still having cool weather. The thermometer is at 56 every morning. The pinks are out in great profusion. The perennial pea is red as to blossom and very pretty. The row of caudeptuff around the oval bed is white with blossoms, and the escholtzer blooms with the lovely shades of yellow. there has been so much rain that every growing thing thrives. There was a great Blaine meeting last night that papa meant to attend, but when he came home he did not want to go back. But he means to send you a Herald with the report and especially desires you to read Mr. Hoar's speech. I should like to see the old attick. No doubt I should know every one of its articles ---- rescued the dried beef. Lezzie is sewing for me today, and Edith is picking currants for the jelly. Young Browning came out and took tea with us on Monday evening. He was a classmate of Ediths. Emily writes that she goes to Vermont today and will be here early next week. The franchise bill is still in limbo with the Lords. Yours of the 14th telling us of the rain storm and the drenched victims has just this moment come. Poor Emma! She will all the more not care for a house so far from the beach. We have sent you a good many papers. The New York World & several others. Shall mail some more today. We are all well. The paper is coming on well. Do see you do not stay in the house and nod and be sure to find from Emma just what may you can be of most use to her. She has a large family and it is a great deal of care, as you would know if you had ever tried it. I think you had better stay part of the time with Ellen. We have heard nothing from E. O. All well. Aff. Mamma.CHICAGO NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL AGENCY REAPER BLOCK Chicago, November 1, 1881 Dear Sir: We are requested by THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE to forward to you their display card of short rate subscription, which please find enclosed, and to give notice that THE CHICAGO WEEKLY TRIBUNE will be mailed to your order, postage paid, three months, or thirteen weeks, for 20 cents. Please charge your customers 25 cents for each subscription for the time mentioned. Sample copies will be furnished on application to us. Yours very truly, CHICAGO NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL AGENCY, P. S. - This being a special arrangement with The Tribune Co., all orders must be sent to us direct Orders will be filled on the day of their receipt. We are pleased to announce that our ANNUAL CATALOGUE will be published November 15. A copy will be mailed to you as soon as possible. came back into be & childhood sobbed herself to sleep. She was afraid of him as early as she can remember. Used to hunger for some petting, but got none. The mother was always tender to them, but was too overwhelmed with work to pet much. Grandpa didn't seem to care for his children, but mother remembers that he often trotted Aunt Sarah, [saying] singing 'doddle te doddle te' doddle te dee" & mother wished she was a baby to be trotted & sung to. Perhaps he did it to them all when they were babies.Mother has just been out (Nov. 15, '81, eve) I brought in a big armful of wood. "why did you?" I wanted to . It always used to be my chore. Luther & I used to bring in the wood at night, to last all the evening - big armfuls as we could carry - sticks as long as that & we banged them down - the paper was worn all off the wall where we had thrown the wood down. They learned their hymns while bringing wood - "When I can read my title clear" & others. Their mother had the hymn book, & each time they came in with wood they read the verse over, & went out reciting it over, as much of it as they could remember. "And I could always learn my verse twice as soon as my brother. I beat him lip & thigh! When she was being weaned, her mother went off one night to a sick woman, a neighbor; & Mother woke & cried. Grandpa scolded her, & threatened. Mother took her little blanket about her, & slipped off the edge of the bed, & went & sat on the hearth & cried. Grandpa said, " If you don't come back to bed & stop crying, I'll lay on the slaps!" She knew his slaps even then, &