BLACKWELL FAMILY                From Oliphant, R
ELIZABETH BLACKWELLYork House Twickenham
Nov 22d
Dear Dr Blackwell
  My husband is unable
as yet to put pen to paper
Therefore he desires me to
introduce myself to you
as his wife & to answer
your note.
  It gave him great
pleasure, he says that
he has rarely received a letter
which seemed to bring withit -- a more cheering forse[?].
  Truly we are coming to
an age when words will
tell precisely in proportion
to the power behind them,
& that power can be
carried only by continuous,
unflinching effort
in right -- doing, in the
face of misunderstanding,
possible ridicule. 
  We receive many letters 
 
some of them carrying much 
weight -- & hence very cheering.
But we also receive others
which protest against the
life of struggle which
my husband voluntarily
entered upon twenty-three
years ago, just when 
the world held out every
fair promise to him. 
But I am sure that
the great power which
he now possesses overindividuals, affecting them
sometimes in spite of
themselves is due to
that effort, & his force
sent out is precisely
in proportion to his effort
used in strengthening the
muscularity of his soul,
if they use such an
expression.
Thanking you very much
on his behalf for your
encouraging appreciation
I am yrs sincerely
Rosamond OliphantYork House Twickenham
Dec 29th
Dear Dr Blackwell.
I should be very glad
if you could come to
me on Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday afternoons.
Up to that time I am
engaged & often that I 
go to see some of his disciples
in Glasgow.  But I shallprobably be back in London
in two or three weeks.  I
hope to go to Syria in
about six weeks with
fourteen or fifteen young 
people, all energetic, with
fine moral foundations &
each with a peculiar 
gift.  These have nearly all
made some serious sacrifice
to go.  We realize that my
husband will guide us
now with a wider wisdom
& a more unhampered

energy than before,
& so none of them have
withdrawn, although he is
not with us in the flesh.
     I feel with you that we
should clasp hands, &
my husband felt so also.
Your former letter was a
great satisfaction to him I
 should offer to come
to you but I am so 
overwhelmed with letters
telegrams & business connected
with gathering my little
family from America,Scotland & England,  & I
am so tired after my [from ]
four months of walking
day & night, that I feel
I must harbor my strength
a little, but if you
cannot come, then I might 
be able to see you on my
return from Glasgow.  Although
I should prefer to see you 
here, where he & I had such
joy together even in his physical
sufferings & where he could come
more easily perhaps to guide
us.  Will you let me know what 
you can arrange.
Yours very sincerely
Rosamond Oliphant.