Blackwell Family Alice Stone Blackwell General Correspondence Sanford, Cadge 1880, 1881Attleboro Apr 4, 1880 My Dear Alice. Although I owe you no letter I will write for you must be hourly caring for your Mother & you have more correspondence at present than I have. April has done her duty & justified her reputation so far. We had a heavy thundershower last evening & it has rained ever since. Last Monday morning Prof. Bourne sprung a quiz in Logic on me. He called first on a Theologue who did well. Next he lit on me.-who, after vainly feeling around for the but ever since you have been away. Ellen & I eat our lunch cosily around the register which is much better than visiting Copeland in stately & solitary dignity. This term has been short & quiet. On the train coming & going Icorrect reply said "Well, Prof I guess you'd better call on some one else. They may know more about it than I do." "It is to be hoped so," answered Prof. B. I was the next victim. By pure chance I had studied up the lectures just because I hadn't had any thing else to do. Didn't I bless my stars! We had a visitor that morning. An oldish, tall, lank gentleman, of keen eyes & some what foxy face. It was Dr. Noah Porter of Yale. Prof. B. said afterwards that he quized me because he didn't feel like dictating an hour. (Pure C.) All our boys are back. There has been no rowdyism since you left. Prof. B. has said nothing about the brute element. Last week at Brown University was a meeting of the B I [Pi] society. Our college was represented by Mr. R Hackell, Flack, Pringer, Foster, Brace, Tilton, Lindsey (W) plus various Sophs & Freshies. Flack & Hackell were portioned off to my brother. The society supper was at 2 A.M. The boys sat up all night playing whist. Our boys & John each gave me an amount of ing "Never mind; soon I will give you some roast Theologues who are just as juicy & twice as green." Also, the sorceress was changed into a cat stripped with purple bands. She is seated on the back of a crocodile whose eye she is picking to piece that she may view herself more plainly in its retina. I will tell you no more for you will want to read it. Mr. Chase, a junior from Brown & old of our former Providence class mate was present. He enjoyed the story particularly. May & John are both at home for a vacation & the house is not so still as usual, as you may imagine. I visited the office of your reprobation. I sent the pamphlets according to request, price 10 cents, postage 2 cents. I owe you 4 cents which I will return when opportunity offers. Father & Mother are having anthe affair. Our boys were greatly pleased with their reception at Brown. Botany begins to fulfil the prophecies of the Seniors. Greek is delightful. It has consisted of a kind of troubadour-war image so far. English Literature is one lump of dates. Latin & Roman Law are highly satisfactory, Logic is a continuation of Psychology. Friday was the first Philomathean of the year. Mr. Goodridge concluded the serial story. You can't imagine how good it was. In one place Geraldine loses a bottle of pickles whereupon her conductor consoled her by say- have so much talking to do that I haven't studied there at all, which is good perhaps. Mrs. James objects to calling her son [Delta. Gamma.] where upon I decided not to give him a silver spoon but we will sent him a native Monday. He will be present for tomorrow. This absence has made our studies very easy. One day Lulie didn't come to the college at all. Neither she nor Hattie have been there much this term so Ella & I have represented the class. Whenever I do anything of which she disapproves she threatens to tell you. That threat always brings me 'round. Sila was at the college Thursday morning but I was the only girl of my class who saw her. Mr. Holman called on her at Newtonville last week. He told me, not she. She was on her way to the dentist's to have her teeth out. (Mother is now under dog in the collar discussion & Father is trying to gloat!) You will be pleased to hear that I haven't been out to dinnercompanion & I landed sent later from Australia. What more could any boy want. I hope Delaware agrees with your Mother & she can come home soon. Write when you can. For his exultation Father has pulled a knob off the bureau & Mother consoled him generously by saying its smaller! animated discussion as to whether 1 or 2 collars of a certain description came home in the last laundry package. At present Father is "under dog" & mother is gloating over him. I asked Father if he didn't want to see you and he said "yes" so I feel justified in saying that he said he would like to see you. Laura has not been to college yet but probably will tomorrow. Lulie is president of Delta Gamma and Ella is vice-president. Prof. Bowrne has been absent since Lulie & Hattie will probably go in my train tomorrow. No one but you could interpret this scrawl but you have nothing better to do & your Mother will be glad to get rid of you for a few minutes. I suppose your Attleboro, March 28 1880 Dear Alice I received your letter & was much interested in one one particular statement contained in it - the kiss you blew towards the Providence depot. As I was entering it I distinctly felt some malignant influence staring me out of countenance - an influence so intense that in fear of possible consequences I went around to the side door at imminent risk of losing my train. Mrs. Blackwell is fortunate in being out of New England. In Attleboro it has snowed and rained for twenty four hours. Has your Mother begunto improve in health yet? If you go further south & happen on a bog or swamp just hunt me up a good specimen of a Drosera. Botany promises wonders. Prof. K. is quite coherent in Literature & tolerably so in Roman Law. Wednesday morning we met at 20 Beacon St. Laura was at home with a cold, Hattie still at Providence. At noon time a bunch of us started for Shönhoffs' to obtain the instruments for our own torture. We lingered to consult the horarium when a voice within the registrar's office ejaculated "Here come a troop of them" & Prof Bowne appeared on the scene & inquiring if we could each of us manage a double team distributed tickets for two lectures on German Philosophy. We thanked him. The outer door opens & in steps Prof. Niles with his own hearty "Good morning", he grasps the Dean's hand as if he loved him & the closing door hides him from view. The "troop of them" now descend Park St. Suddenly a cry is raised "Here comes Laura's mother". At this foot of the street a horse car engulfs Leslie. After more equally fearful ventures we reach Shönhoffs' in safety. When I was left alone to meet Lee Shepards & return alone to the college, I missed my dear No. I. So did Mr. Holman. He groaned piteously, grimaced, slapped is leg & declared there was no fun in anything if this Blackwell weren't there. However Ella & I between us managed to divert his mind. Ella endowed Mr. Goodridge & Mr. Bailywick her lecture tickets. I have one of mine to Leslie & offered the other to Brother Jordan but as his church had a social that evening I transferred it to Mr. Curtiz. Mr. Pingter & Mr. French 81 have not returned yet. Friday there was no session (Good) connubial tenderness will expect an letter written to you every Sunday. My connubial tenderness but requires corresponding replies & a full description of all gentlemen at your hotel, Irish & affrican included. (Dutch men don't count.) Friday. Prof. Bowne will be absent most of next week. You will be delighted to know that he refers to animals as "who" & speaks of their souls. Brother Holman is a two sided fraud. When Prof. K. said that Theodosia abused her server, Mr. H. said to me "of course she did. Women always do when they have an opportunity. I mentally & vocally recalled a certain evening in Wesleyan hall & compared the gentleman's remarks on the two occasions. I promised to report him to your Mother so won't you please inform her of the apostasy of her acquaintance & tell her to make him feel the thunder of the inquisition. You see, my Dear, that his belief in the question is but skin deep. After all, the truest friends of women may be those who serve them in deed rather than in word. Have you read "a fool's Errand" by Tourgee a Southern judge? The Republican convention talk of bringing out a cheap edition for general distribution as the best of campaign documents. Have you seen "The Colonels Opera Clock," one of the No Name series? We have had such fun over it at home. Do you know that Miss Dame went to the theatre to hear Booth with Mr. Odell? Mr. French was going, with Laura, I presume, unless her cold prevented. Miss Dame has a little brother. We have named him Delta Gamma Dame. We had a Beacon board meeting Thursday & elected Ella Abbott in place of Alice Blackwell absent & Mr. Nesmith in place of Mr. Bates backed out. Our class is well represented in officer this term. Do you believe in "laying on of hands Do you remember Mr. Dunnells who took Geology with us? He is in our Botany & Eng. Lit. classes. He is an Amherst student who wishes to pace this writer in Boston & return to Amherst next year unless co-education finds him with indissoluble fetters. Good bye Dear Cadge E. Sanford.since our afternoon at Miss Talbots. I felt the influence strong enough but as I prophecied could (or did) not yield. I don't think it would be a possible thing for me to surrender my will to others. I don't belief much in such experiments. They might work mischief to imaginative persons, such as you. I shall surely follow your injunction to keep with Lulie & no surer way could be found for making me go straight for she is too "weak a sister" to experiment upon or lead into slums - she is a porcelain pitcher. Your little dictionary shall be protected & woe be to any Soph. who more than glances at it. As for your drawer we could easily oust them even if they should take penicillin. Don't you long to see me? Don't you wish you had treated me better in the past? Six long weeks of separation! Oh!! Oh!!! Oh!!! [*Ink drawing*] +This is a tear. (Editor.) Attleboro, Apr. 11 1880 Dear Alice. You are a nice little correspondent. I received a letter from you Monday & another Friday. They are a comfort for you don't know how unhomelike the college seems without you. Mrs. Haskell & Flack!! Mr. Flack, John tells me, on the night of the society supper at Brown went to bed about five in the morning. For a joke the boys set the clock at 8:45 & waked him up. He intended to take the 9:15 train for Boston & looked the picture of blank astonishment. "Oh think of the home over there." Would you were sitting here with me. The fire is roaring within & the wind without & Father is putting on more wood. Father sat down on my bed the other night & it gave way under his weight & let him & me down onto the floor. Do you study much & what? Mr. Jordan says he supposes you can make all your lessons up in one evening. Good bye, Dear. No 1. Your affectionate Husband C.E.S.He flew into his clothes & was dashing to the station when a glance at his watch revealed that it was really only a few minutes after seven. Mr. Hackell sat up all night playing cards. He had on a tight fitting skull cap & was continually angry at his partner's exploits. He used some strong language but no approach to vulgarity, still less to profanity. Hattie asked the Pingru why he didn't call & see her in Providence. She said he was too busy on the first day & too dirty on the second. Mr. P is a little shirk. He has been about two days. Went home to "shoot" someone said. He cuts recitation with the utmost nonchalance. Did I tell you Lila called at Beacon St. the other day on her way to the dentist? Mr. Holman has been to Newtonville to call on her. She, sly child, said nothing about it but Mr. H. told me. Mrs. Almy died a week ago Saturday. Miss Almy will return but it is uncertain when. Perhaps not until September. Mr. Holman says she is almost the only girl he Two of his character have had such an education but one of them has no moral "culture" 1 lets the supper spoil while she reads science & drives her husband to the beer salon by her scolding. The other cares for nothing but conventions for charitable purposes & for the improvement of "woman". (Dont you hate to hear women spoken of like natural curiosities?) These two women are taken as necessary results of college training & the moral drain accordingly. The mother says - through one of his characters - that womens' brains cannot do the work & stand the strain that mens' can. That by nature they are weaker. It is a low class Sunday School book. The narrowest book I ever read. We are studying Chaucer as part of our Literature. Part of the Canterbury Tales are beautiful & pare more slummy than my deepestdeepest imagination. We tried some more [?"Mesmeriming]" C?) at college last week. Miss Dame walked straight up to the mirror & took down a notice. By not remaining passive but by trying to find out their decision I moved in the correct direction but no more. The impulse was so very faint that I thought it was imagination. I think, as you do, on the subject. I would defy all Massachusetts to move me against my will. If I choose to go, why not? But it is doubtful sport & may have dangerous efforts except in puked audience. You, Miss Dame Y I, perhaps, would not be hurt. Very likely I have repeated what you have heard before from msyelf or the other girls but no matter. I have just returned from evening meeting, all day the pretty little rhyme "Where ale incessant flows From the hollow skulls of faces" has been galloping through my brains but now it has been replaced by every wholly respected me on slight acquaintance. Mr. Bristol's father is also dead. It is doubtful if he returns at all; not this year any way. When I learn particulars I will tell you. B. U. seems by some reflux influence to be using up the parents of its students. as I told you some time ago, Miss Cotton's father is dead. Mr. Flunt's sister accompanied him to college Friday. She is the image of him, about his age & exceedingly pretty; great brown eyes, brown hair, pink & white complexion, modest & shy as he is. She seems amused in Literature class as only three or four knew where the lesson was & they had not prepared it & finally Prof. K said he didn't know how far it extended Mr. French appeared Friday for the local his reply to the unfortunate when I mentioned last week but doubted the expediency. Γ. Δ. Friday was Emersonian. Miss Talbot described Emerson's old age. Ella read prose & poetical selections from his writtings & Miss Joy read a selection from his essay on Friendship. an interestting meeting. Mr. Holman & I are on opposite sides next Philomathean. He says he is going to annihilate me utterly. I defy him! Mr. Endicott inquires after your mother's health. He heard her speak once & admired her manner of doing it although he utterly disbelieves in the principles she advocates. Et moi aussi: I am glad we can flour you physically. Do you pinch her calves when she so does? I have been reading a book which would make your hair stand on end & your teeth grind & your fists clench. The title is "True to his colors" written by an English clergyman. He is down on university education for girls. Attleboro. Apr. 18. 1880 My Dear Alice. I received your letter Thursday morning. It is almost a compensation for your absence to be able to get letters from you. Yet your presence is a constant epistle. When you find any particularly atrocious spelling of mine lay it to profound ignorance or a desire to imitate Mr. Joshua Billings. I advocate the or a spelling reform for myself at least. Please thank Mrs. Blackwell on my behalf for the pet name which she has bestowed upon me. I will try to deserve sented. Mr. Goodrich engineered the matter in society. Have we told you about Mr. Grozier? He is a good scholar. always has his lessons. Is as neat & nice as a pin. I do so long to trip the dapper little youngster down stairs, "a feminine art" Father comments. When do you intend to come back? C.S.2 the admiration which she evidently feels for me. I hope she is gaining health rapidly for her own sake & for yours & for mine. I long to be hugged by you but want to prepare for it beforehand as the boy did when father told him to prepare for a licking. Hattie intends writing to you about Mr. Fields' lecture which we attended Friday. She perhaps will tell you about Philomathean at the same time. Mr. Ingersoll lectured in Boston last week & is doing the same thing at this moment, in Music Hall. The air seems full of him. A number of my friends (none of our boys, as far as I know) were present, sympathizer & non-sympathizers. The report from opposite parties & also varying with the characters of the reporters have interested & amused me. The man has a bitter, sharp & vulgar tongue. He must do much harm to a certain class of people who incline that way but are not intelligent enough to do their own talking or to analyze an- 6 Mead, a Theist but not a Christian which view he made prominent. This afternoon I took a dose of Hans Andersen, the "Mud King's Daughter." He is a charming writer but most of the afternoon I have been asleep & you must attribute the frequent scratches to my half awake state. I am glad you have found a gray "lock" among your tresses. I hold out hopes of your developing some time an approach to a heart. I agree with you in thinking that some of Chaucer's Tales should be omitted in modern editions. The nastiness of them haunts me. They make me feel like a sneak. For such a disease a chaper of Revelations is the best mental chloride of of Time I know of. Perhaps I spoke to you of 'My Daughter Elinor' for I particularly like it. I have another by the same au-7 author "Miss Van Courtland" which is fully as good. I told you, didn't I, how the literature recitation fared the day which Mr. Hunt's sister was present? After it she asked Mr. Hunt, so he tells me, if the girls always recited as well as that. Ella is a great comfort to me this term. We translate Greek together. The Greek is delightful and difficult. Ella is moving to Newtonville rapidly. I suppose she will be settled there in a week or so. Lulie and Hattie are not at the college much, Lulie particularly. Hattie if possible, is better than ever. The Seniors make themselves scarce. Isn't May Haven as good a girl as ever lived. I admire her more and more every day. In my opinion she is without exception the finest girl at the college, but then they are all so nice it is hard to draw distinctions Mr. Hayden is at the college almost daily. He intends to stay in Boston un- 3 other's. A level headed man would laugh at some of his hits but be disgusted with his views for which be condescended to give no reasons. A clear thinking Unitarian said to me "no one but an insane man could follow Mr. Ingersoll throughout." His lecture last week was an "What shall I do to be saved". You may imagine he did not treat it in the customary, orthodox, "proper" manner. A lady whose belief (religion) is to negative for her to be even an Unitarian told me she would be mortified and grieved if her husband were to hear him. One of the college papers, The Michigan University organ proposed the following query - " What would be a fitting inscription for Col. Robert Ingersoll's tombstone? Ans. Robert Burns"!! Mr Pingree exploded when he saw it. In his lecture in "cheerfulness"4 while describing the morbid effects of drinking coffee, Mr. Fields quietly remarked "Perhaps Mr. Ingersoll has been drinking too much coffee." But as Mr. Ingersoll ap[p]ologized for mentioning Mr. Joseph Cook before a decent audience, I apologize for inflicting so much of Mr. Ingersoll on you, poor innocent. Mr. Pingres wished to be remembered to you. He is fun. In Chaucer we read the Prologue & part of the Knight's Tale. Next Monday, tomorrow we begin Spenser's "Fairy Queen". I have bought me "Roseve & Sharlemmer's chemistry, three large volumes illustrated copiously. Solid reading for many a month. I also bought May Church's "Stories from Homer". They are indescribably beautiful. I can't help believing that nothing in any language equals the old Greek romances in purity & complicity. The illustrations are copies of Flaxman's designs. May had read most of it aloud to me. She thoroughly enjoyed 5 it. I thought of Longfellow's line "add to the rhyme of the poet The beauty of thy voice," for she is a fine reader. She returned to Newton yesterday. I went with her to Mansfield & saw her in the right train. I had an hour & a half to wait & I read the "Clerk's Tale." You are correct in thinking Griselda my model theoretically &, I hope, practically. She wasn't at all an idiot. I didn't long to shake her at all. The air of the waiting room was so unendurable that most of the time I walked up & down the platform reading under shelter of the Piazza while it was raining briefly. Why is it that generally persons who wait in a depot are of the certain class which abound in bad smells & babies & leather bags? Let me ask Prof. Bowne as coming under the head of his studies? The lectures for which he gave me tickets were not by himself but by Dr.8 til commencement. He is studying medicine by himself & intends (so I hear) to practice it in Fitchburg. The engagement is broken, through his own act or acts. I carelessly forgot to write in this page & so write on it last. I hope you will be able to arrange the different pages in order. I will number them. The Beacon will be out about the 20th. Last week the Beacon Board decided to have two soliciting agents. That department is a very important one & has been neglected with unfortunate pecuniary results, nothing alarming however. We decided, if possible, to induce a girl to take one place & Miss Carlotta Krehbiel kindly consented to do so. It was good in her as the office is neither pleasant nor a sinecure. The Philomarthians decided to give a dramatic entertainment for the benefit of a reading room. The Dean & President have cor- Attleboro. Aug. 3, 1880. Dear Alice. A postal from Laura says that you have received the information you desired from me. I should have sent it to you but I had to write to Laura for it and only got her reply this morning. She is to spend with me the week previous to our reunion in Providence and the week following that happy reunion. I heartily invite you to pass with me [*trip to the Croft. Mrs. Eddy (the loon) did not appear until late Monday [Saturday] evening, so Miss Blanding sent her away with only 1.50. When I see the loon I shall exper-*]although I have just been with you two weeks, having you in a crowd was not like what having you alone will be. I am going to invite Hattie to be here part of the time while Laura is with me. What do you think of that? I have just written to May Haven urging her to make me the visit she partially promised last summer. What do you think of that? I suppose Laura gave you her address- Care Wm. M. Ingraham 44 Court St. Brooklyn N.Y. I finished our [Thirem?] yesterday and was sorry there was no more to it. The last three chapters in are troubling her seriously. "Oh pity, pity me" for I am reading "Herman and Dorothea & have frequent occasion to obsecrate my limited German vocabulary. The play is pretty & nice. Did you leave a skirt, bluish in color, at Bear Croft or a table cloth? Such articles have been found there. After our camp broke up, Laura spent three days with with me & Miss Joy & Miss Price me. We hoped you were not lonesome going [*I could. Next to the girls I miss that tree. Remember me, please, to Mrs. Blackwell. Goodbye, Dear & write soon. Your etc. CES*]home alone. Do you hear from Ella? She has not written to me this vacation. Last Wednesday, Laura, May, Misses Joy & Price, Dr. Mackie & Sammy went botanizing. They found some Maidenhair ferns & some flowers. Porter came to see me & nearly crushed me by his affectionate greeting. Where are you going? & when? Have you recovered from your dissipated nights at Bear Croft? How does it seem to sleep with out a pistol under your pilow & a "shilalley" near at hand? I notice that now the bicicles stay in town, omitting their evening particulars are interesting. Can't you imagine Prof. Bowne saying every word of it and pinkening & twinkling in his own peculiar fashion? It is the most pointed & spicy book I have ever seen for a long while but it will be a tough study-worse than Psychology. What do you mean by asking if I am still venomous? Of course I am. Every four minutes I have a worse attack that usual and retire into privacy to-in sound English-scratch. But [*tulate with her on the duty of keeping one's mind. Don't you miss the big elm tree? But you can be down in your yard, without being seen. How I wish*]it is nearly gone. I have got through being red as our College color, scaling, blistering, peeling, can wear clothes, without torture & use both hands. Don't you wish you had been obliging & gone to walk with me Sunday & kept me out of mischief? Father's first argument was "How ever could you do it?" His second I shall never let you do it again which never he would not change to "hardly ever." I lay all the blame on your selfishness in not being with me. I had a letter from Marion Talbot a few days ago. She says Edith's eyes Aug. 28, 1880. My Dearest Girl, Of all absurd letters ever written your last was the absurdest. To plunge in media res-Miss P.'s unorthodoxy. If she is Universalist can Congregationalists conscientiously engage her in a position of influence over their children? If you think of your young school days you will remember that your teachers had-or might have had if they had so chosen-almost unbounded influence over you. Granting this, wh. is not true of you is true of a vast [*separation? I have no notion of not seeing you for so long. Mr. H's letter you shall see if you wish although he did spell Providence with a small "p." Did Hattie tell you about our Mother. since the articles? We must *]majority of children, can a sincere Congregationalist place his children under the influence of one who had a grand opportunity of teaching them what their parents consider will bring them everlasting misery? If it were a question of any thing but religion you would immediately answer- "no." Please reverse the case & see how slow you would be to expose a child of yours to the remotest chance of being indoctrinated with orthodox beliefs. It is, also, by no means to the point to say that Miss P. was not hired to teach Theology. She is a girl who believes heartily in her side & who is moreover bitter against her opponents. I don't suppose any one has yet written to you about our trip to Newport so I will give you an outline of it. Annie & Alice Budlong, Lizzie Little, Hattie Lulie, Laura, my brother & sister, Louis Snow & myself left P. by the two o'clock boat reaching N. at noon. On the P. wharf we saw Miss Blanding & we Bear Crofters saluted. At N, we visited the old Mill, Redmond library & Forty Steps where we stayed about 3 hours-high cliffs were hanging the ocean & the tide coming in. At five o'clock F. Bates joined us & we took the ocean drive-9 miles. We left by the 7:30 boat sailed to Rocky Point where Frank [*Croft crowd in particular. It makes me blue to go past the house it looks so "proper." Write & come soon. Yours etc. C.E.S.*]Simmens, Chase & Glanding met us. At (Newport) Rocky Point we heard the Sorcerer played, then sailed to P. on the hurricane deck of the steamer (I climed up side of the walking beam & sat) and reached the city at just midnight, then some distance from our houses. We made a long & particularly pleasant day & have not yet recovered from its effects. It was so cold we were almost numb. To night Laura & I returned to A. She has gone to bed & I am sitting in the parlor alone writting to you. We rode to Bear Croft this evening & called on Miss Blanding. Although I had a wholly delightful visit, it seem good to be at home again My only reason for wishing college to open is that I might have a chance to get rested. One day I think that this year I will study just as hard as I possibly can & the next that I will have all the fun possible. To night I am neutral. Wh. do you vote for? a mixture? I had a letter this week from Mr. French of '80. He is at Block Island. How strange college will seem with out that set. My dear I did not notice until just this minute that [*them some day in Philo mathian Have you heard from or of Georgie Townsend this summer? What larks our girls have had this vacation in various parts of New England & our Bear---*]nor writing on a sheet of paper torn from another half. Please excuse it. Did you ever read Kenelm Chillingly? Do if you have not, I am in the middle of it & think it fine. Miss Dame will probably come here the 10th of September. I should enjoy having you here at the same time, so if you can arrange it, do. We were sorry you would not be with us at P. though on some accounts you would not have enjoyed it much. For one thing the latest house would have finished you, poor lady. Come to Attleboro before or after P. as you chuse if will not matter to me. I am glad your Mother is better. What do you mean by her meeting after 40 years Attleboro Sept 5, 1880 Dear Old Alice, I received your postal yesterday afternoon & gather from its somewhat incoherent contents that Hattie wishes me to pass Wednesday if pleasant otherwise Thursday in Providence wh. I shall be happy to do & she may expect to see me at Susan St about ten o'clock A. M. Laura went home yesterday. I have written to Mr. Holman. Hope the boys will be there. [*I'm glad you recommend a mixture of farm work this year. It is our last & we must make the most of it in every way. Laura seems rather blue on account of not going back. Don't blame her for it. So would me & shall me in a year.*]Wasn't your last letter rather more interpretative than com- mon and also more illogical. You reply to my general statements by reference to Miss Putnam an entirely fem- inine mode of warfare but if you wish to make her an illustration, very well. Her remark was that "Semina- ries etc. would not accept unorthodox teachers. Your comment is that she would not be engaged to teach the- ology but, my Dear, all teach- ers in Seminaries etc. must be prepared to give instruc- tion on Bible & Christian topics, to conduct doctrine etc. Imagine Miss P at Norten. Could she teach my sister about the life & teachings of Christ in a way wh. would be ac- ceptible to my Father? Again, the money for the founding of Wheaton Seminary (& the same applies to all seminaries & colleges) was given by a Con- gregationalist to be used for what the giver considered to be a fitting of girls for edu- cated & Christian women & if he considers the best type of Christianity to be congrega- tional who shall hinder his giving his money for the pro- motion of that type among the girls who receive the benefits of his directive? A Congregationalist might as well complain of not receiving an appointment from a Metho- dist conference as a Univer- salist of not receiving an ap- pointment from a congrega- tional board of Trustee. Noticealso that Miss P. makes this complaint only against private schools in wh. the trustees are at as full liberty to chose teachers to their liking as I am to chose where I will buy my boot buttons. In public schools teachers are selected irrespective of sect. When you say Father does not hesitate to send me to a school where woman suffrage principles are rampant you are mistaken. Common sense--although he knows I posses little of it-- prevails finally. You are very ridiculous, Alice. You might think it rather peculiar, perhaps, but nothing very vicious if Father should take a fancy to hire none but colored hostlers but you would call him bigoted if he chose to pay for orthodox teachers for his children. Finally, my Dear, you taunt about my not very aggressive belief in everlasting punishment was entirely uncalled for & foreign to the subject. I am well aware that I am not a good model of orthodoxy or of any thing else desirable yet if I am not a commendable Christian, I know that many such do exist. Sometimes I almost wish I had never known you I have given you such untrue views of what a sincere conscientious Congregationalist may be & often is. I don't wonder you were astonished to receive a letter from Mr. Corsen. Such a freak on the part of that young minister is really alarming.What magical spells have you been casting over him? You of all girls who pretend to lecture me! Mirabile dictu! I am going to elect chemistry next term. Won't you take it too? Remember how well you stood in it & think of the fun of working again it that smelling old hole of a laboratory & walking over the Common & Gardens together. If you don't take it I am afraid we shall not see much of each other this winter. Please think of it. Tell Hattie, please, that if Mr. Holman comes & can go to A. with me & if she wishes it for any reasons, Mr. H. & I can spend the evening in P. Remember me to all. Good bye you old Darling until Wednesday. You don't know how I love you C. E. S.Attleboro Sept. 15. 1880 My Dear Alice. I received you letter this morning and thank you heartily for your kind invitation wh. I shall gladly accept. I never received an invitation which pleased me more. Then you may expect to see me at the college next Monday morning at either 11 o'clock or 1.30, I am not sure which & will leave my trunk (a small one) at the station as you suggest. Won't we raise Cain & Abel, Grace & Jock, Ned & all the other bad boys! My mother suggests that the last sentence will not be very encouraging to your mother but Mrs. Blackwell is prepared to find me [*ment them just as there breath of relief has been fairly inhaled-- excepting Prof. Curry: he need not look for me until the Dean begins to feel anxious about my silent voice. Good bye until Mon day. Your, C.E.S.*]"a little demon". How did she have the moral courage to let you invite such a character into her house? Unless I knew your Father's fondness for young ladies I should not venture any where near the precincts of Dorchester. I have skipped all day like a lamb at the prospect. A short time after you left here Saturday Mr. David Holman & Lucie Balcom called on you & were sorry not to see you. Also my sister with three other girls rode over from Norten & with other callers I passed a busy afternoon, particularly as I had to watch Roy with one eye & 3/4 to keep him out of mischief. Sunday I wrote to you & Monday threw the letter into the rag bag in disgust. John went to Providence yesterday & the house is preternaturally quiet after the racket of this summer. What a continual rampage we girls have had. If we study this winter with half the vim with which we have played this summer won't the Dean's book show some astonishing figures? Nothing, below 98. Did you ever read Humphrey Clinker. If not you have missed some fun & not very much coarseness. It is purity itself compared to Chaucer. Every day since you went away I have had long rides into the country with Father--places where we would not pass a house for miles; I call that happiness.I hear your Father was at the convention to day & introduced a resolution which of course I consider heretical. Sunday I read another book written by Fancy. It was very much to the point --What to do & the time to do it. Doesn't it seem wonderful that the time has come again to go to college? The the vacation wh. seemed so endless last Commencement Day has ended. I am getting anxious to see the old "rhop" again & also the "hands" Tomorrow morning at exactly 9.15 I shall imagine the bell clanging & frequent Methodistical "right-hand-of-fellowships" exchanged throughout the day. Would that I were to be there but the Profs need not think they have got rid of me. I shall rise up to them.C E Sanford Attleboro. Mass. Feb 12. 1881 My Dear Alice You are a most delightful correspondent--two communications in as many days. I am very glad your Mother is better. Your first letter saying she was worst made me really anxious & I was about writing for further information when your second arrived, containing better news. As to the book you wrote about it is entitled "Readings in Nature's Book", is edited by Wm. Livingston & George Bathcart & published by Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co of New York & Chicago. I am glad you enjoyed the reception Thursday evening. The Boston Journal said your Mother was present wh. I doubted. On that same evening I attended my first sewing meeting. It was a really social & pleasant affair without the hideous type of gossip usually ascribed to it in S. S. literature. On those occasions & since I have received about 28invitations to join the Literary Society but I hardened my heart & said no. Yesterday I met Hattie & her mother in the street & later Frank Bates. In the afternoon I hear a German lecture by Herr Seligmann on the 30 years war. It was interesting & instructive. Have you seen the initial volumne of "Our Continent"? It contains a fine portrait of the editor--Albion Tourgee--& if the future numbers are equal to the first, it bids fair to rank among the finest magazine published. I suppose you have seen "The Captain's Room" by W. Besant & J. Rice. I have just finished it. It is a pathetic little story. I wish you were here, my Dear, i.e. if your Mother did not need you. My Mother once wrote an essay entitled "An Apostrophe to Venus". It opened thus-- "One glimpse of paradisaical bliss is wonderful to mortals". Now if I were in a sentimental mode I might compare your short visit to that glimpse. I have thought of various things I might have done to entertain you but did not think of until too late. I am sorry I had to leave you so much--however I enjoyed your visit exceedingly, it seemed so much like old times to have some one to tease who was willing & able to pay me back ten fold. I suppose you have received your Feb. Beacon. It is the best number of the year, it contains more college news than usual. I gathered from one of the articles that Dr. Lindsay had resigned merely his position as dean but would retain his office as Prof in the Theo. department. I have as B. U. won't be the B U. of our day when 20 Beam St. & Dean Lindsay have departed. I had a letter fr. Laura the day you went away. She is considering the camping out place for the Bearhofe party next summer. Like myself she is afraid we cannot obtain a house so far away as N. New Hampshire. Our respective parents would probably set it down as a wild goose chase & we as wild geese. What do you way to seeing ifwe can get the cottage on Denison Hill wh. the Eliots had last summer? If (y) we could manage to get it for 3, 4 or 5 weeks would you be willing to join us? We ought to be considering our plans it takes so long to settle such things by letter & summer will be here before we know it. I should be delighted to go to Squam again. Mrs. Holman was very sorry not to see you. She was intending to call & learned with surprise that you had gone. Mother is much obliged for your recipe & intends to try it immediately. Did you understand her method for making apple sauce? If you did not I will send it to you. Please remember me to your Father & Mother & give her my sincerest hopes for her speedy recovery. Wouldn't I like to pinch your c----s! Yours C. E. S.Attleboro July 7. 1881. Dear Alice. How are you in these exciting times? Don't you long to do something. No doubt even you have read the papers this week--but I won't write you a political novel this morning. As I sit here in my room, I have a view of three bouquets of pink & white roses from Nora Beir's garden. When I got home from your house last week I found a pile of letters & among them one from Mr. Jordan saying he should be in Attelboro on the following Wednesday but last Tuesday as I got on the train (*find you an my relief? If say strikes you know my written devotion to your happiness & wellfare & than my life would be a small sacrifice by which to obtain)to go to Providence Mr. Jordan stopped off & so I returned home with him. In the evening we took a long ride through Ridge Hill road & Chartley where you & Father went last summer. The next morning we rode around the town & in the afternoon he returned to Acushnet sorry not to see the Providence girls. He was sorry also not to to be able to accept your invitation but he did not receive your card until after the day set as you addressed it to Beacon So. instead of Acushnet. We discovered college news & people etc. I hope nothing has happened to prevent you & your cousin from going to Amigreen[?]. I have not seen Hattie yet so do not know whether she is going or not. Mr. Jordan thinks he will call on us there. Did you get get Dr. Shivel as agreed upon? I left him with Miss Wild & she from used[?] to deliver him to your mother. I should like to have heard your Father read the ending. What a touch of art to make Lord C. occupy Kittie's old rooms in this Liberties. What do you suppose Prof B. would say to the shooting of Garfield from a Providential stand point? That God was disgusted with the spoil system & saw that nothing but a sharp cut would arouse us to the iniquity of the whole business & induce us to make the neededreforms? Perhaps. Don't you think it shows a commendable spirit on the part of the people that so few almost none--expressions of vengeance against Guitean are heard. Will you please do some errands for me when you go to Boston? I don't like to trouble you but cannot well go myself. 1. Will you please when you go near the college see if any letters for me are in the letter box? 2 Will you go to Schonhoff's & buy & send to me by mail Wilhelm Hanff's "Lichtenstein". The price I am told is 30 cents. Any way please get it I want a cheap paper covered edition. I can't very well send you such an inconvenient sum of money in a letter & I don't want to send it in stamps as I know you have an over supply at present so may I wait & pay you for books & postage in August? If you could do me these errands you would greatly oblige me. Have you seen Prof. & Mrs. B. since their return from N. Y. You girls who live near Boston have good opportunities for sociability. I have succeeded in forming a German Club for conversation here. It includes [*for you a moment's exemption from such agony. etc. Have you yet found your fundamental concepts?*]our minister & his wife Dr. Mary Wolfenden & several other nice people but it amuses me to see how afraid they all are of studying much, in the summer, you would think they were afraid it might lead to brain fever to work an hour or so a week. Where is Miss Barry at present? Wherever she is please remember me to her & say I hope nothing will prevent our meeting next month. Dear Alice does she write to you often? Please accept my sincere sympathy for your deep[?] afflictions. Would the wringing of my neck af- (*Are you not something of a monomania? Please remember me to your Father & give my very kindest regards to your Mother. & good by my dear. Yours, Cadge L.)Attleboro, Mass. Oct. 30. 1881. Dear Alice. I received a "Beacon" this week which from the direction of the wrapper I concluded to be from you. Thank you for it. It contained some interesting news but it makes me feel rather anxious now to understand all the hits in the Locale. I think I shall subscribe from a sort of old time feeling mingled with benevolence. Did you attend May's wedding? If so, please write me all about it-- including her dress which your trained habit of observation must have impressed on your mind. I did want you to visit me in Oct. but, as I explained to you, I did not want to invite you until Mother got a good servant for she (Mother) (* & how you nearly renounced me forever because I did not agree with you on some point & now the college have set it all aside just--as it had been put into working order! Imagine my saramin[?] grin. "The fashion of this ever passeth away"-- fortunately--my does in stuffed with saw dust etc. would be sure to work harder than she ought & you would not enjoy it-- so much yourself, particularly as, when you do come, I (who) want to invite the Providence girls to spend the day with us, a thing I could not do if the work of it would fall on Mother. Do you know of a good servant who would come to Attleboro? At present we have none & don't know where to obtain one. I have had one fight with an intelligence (!!!) office man & had to bring him to term by threatening him with a prosecution for fraud. And you know how I hate dishwater. I had a fine laugh a week or so ago & must share it with you. The "Providence Journal" one day contained a somewhat uncomplimentary allusion to Mass. politics. In my wrath I replied, signing my note to the editor "C. E. Sanford". The next morning my protest appeared headed "A. Mass. Man"s View"! You can guess how amused I was. Probably the poor benighted editor never supposed that a girl could take any interest in a political article. Father recognized the article instantly & enjoyed the joke. My reply was copied with the Wm. Bulletin & the "Attleboro Chronicle" with a complimentary introduction. I don't care to have you repeat this story to the girls. Emma Durfer is going into partnership in Prov. with a woman who has carried on a private school for 20 yrs. & who will shortly withdraw leaving Emma sole proprietor. It is a fine opportunity. Does not Squam seem like a dream strongly scented with chloride of lime? I never wanted to revisit a place more. Such a happy-go-lucky existence for nearly five weeks seem unimaginable. Such open defiance of Marm Grundy and all the proprieties. If a party of un Duen [*Has Prof. Browne's Metaphysics appeared yet? Do you know how Prof. Kimpton is succeeding this year & how many of the Senior & Juniors have elected under him? How is Emma Atkinson? I don't see how she got typhoid fever at Squam. Not at Locust Lodge, she was not there enough. Please remember me to your Father & Mother & write when you have anything to say. C.E.S.*]nad girls should come to Attleboro & act in such a reckless, Devil-take- the-hindmost (excuse me) way, I should regard them as nothing less than disrepectable. May I soon have a chance of doing it again. I wonder if you are half as busy as I. Sunday is my only unoccupied evening. I am reading German with a friend, attending a lecture corner, aching to see my B. U. friends & various other things all at the same time. It is so long since I have seen a talk-withable man less than 50 yrs. old that if one of our boys should suddenly appear I might astonish him with the warmth of my greeting. Do you ever see any of our boys- I here hug them mentally. How did your dress modeled after mine result & what did your Mother say when she discovered your attempt to free yourself from maternal bondage? Did it turn out a rebellion or a revolution? i have made me a dress since returning from Squam & it is very pretty wicked & new. I am undertaking a black cashmere waist embroidered with blue silk - embroidery bought ready made - & it promises to be successful. Don't you envy my skill? When we go to house keeping together you shall wash the dishes & I will do the sewing. Has your admirable cousin returned to England? By the way do you remember if I offered to marry her? It was a great oversight if I didn't but really one can not remember everything particularly when it get to number - was in the number? I have indeed forgotten. I read Mr. Savage's article which so disturbed you & cannot see anything soalarmingly atrocious. & seemed indeed quite pointless, a motly mixture of truth & falsehood quite unworthy that one's mental dignity should be upset by it. What in the world do you care for his maudlin ravings? They don't hurt any body. I must remind you again of the bull and the red flag. Save your energy for something worth while. How is Ella Abbot & what is her address? I have owed her a letter since last July. Have you any news from Lila? How is Eliza? I wish she would get married. Why don't you who makes a business of interfering with other people's affairs under pretense of Reform, write to Mr. Leland Fleton & tell him his darling is working herself into Heaven & advise him to rush to the rescue i.e. marry her instantly? My dear, do you remember how the Beacon brand fought last year & ruined their digestions trying to frame & institution