BLACKWELL FAMILY EMMA Blackwell Blackwell, Alice Stone 1900’s (1901 - 11)Gardner Mass March 29th 1901 Dear Alice I have been asking mother about the planting. She thinks you have quite too young an idea of the children’s work. She remembers dropping five kernels of corn and one pumpkin seed in a hill, and being delighted to be in the field and to be trusted with the great responsibility, when she was a child of five or six, and she does not think there was ever any compulsory planting, or infant labor in the family. A tiny child might have been permitted to drop seed. Aunt Lucy went to Quabog Seminary in Warren, and also to Wilbraham where she and mother were together and boarded themselves. She does not remember howlong they were there, but it was while aunt Lucy was studying to fit herself for college. The first day’s menu of the vegetarian place was not sent to me, I think. I am sure I did not destroy anything pertaining to it and have only two printed things. The one that sets forth their principles and the one that contains their bill of fare. Sometime I should like to go into it. I hope it is conducted by an ardent advocate, for otherwise it will surely deteriorate. I have heard of Mrs. Piper in various ways. I dont know whether it would or not, be undesirable to go to her. I dont see why it should not be all right to speak with those who have passed on if we can. It is almost postman time so goodbye. With much love Emma P. S. Did you get the six dollars? Note Emma’s mother was Lucy Stone’s sister.[*Emma Lawrence Blackwell [?] Oct of 1901*] East Orange Oct 6th 1901 Dear Alice I have just been rummaging over old "Club Woman's" (what is the plural for The Club Woman?) to see if I could find the address of welcome given by the Mayor of Milwaukee to the Gen. Fed. because I am supposed to welcome the State Fed here on the 31st but I can find nothing at all helpful in my general stock of club remains, except the address given at Louisville in 1896 Yours always affectionately, Emma. as a new hat can bestow, and I am enjoying Howard's little visit. I do think that it was better for him go to Cambridge Than to stay here.and that is not exactly appropriate -I suppose that I shall have to put my own brain into the tread mill and make it manufacture some enlargement of the expression “we are pleased to see you, and hope you will have a good time.” The program com. allows forty minutes for the address and the response ! Maybe I can think of enough for ten minutes on my part; but it will be a struggle. The Sanitary committee had meeting, and we all kept good tempered. (but one lady got very red) and we were all very much in earnest; The upshot was that we agreed not to spend The club money till the report had been presented . Am I not thankful that I dont have to present The report! But it may not be easy to preside at that meeting either. You see, there will certainly be people to say that the use of The money under present conditions is a misappropriation of funds, and those of the committee who are quite sure that it is not so,still dont want the matter resubmitted, because it may be voted not to use the money, and they say the thing is settled and legally settled and why cater to a disgruntled minority? So the poor President, who is standing for the disgruntled, feels hard bestead. Mrs Bailey has gone to Boston, and there is a lull, while we are all to consider what report ought to be made. One of the other committee people is mortally offended because she thinks she has been slighted, and I doubt if I am ever forgiven. But I have taken such comfort East Orange Tuesday - April 4th 1905 Dear Alice, I dont think I want to order any syrup. But if you have not already sent your own order you may add to it for me ten pounds of sugar. We have no very sweet tooths here and ten pounds will last us a good while. You can keep it at your house until we take it to M. V. We are sorry to hear of Fluffy’s departure. Let us hope that he suffered no more from the dogs than Livingstone from the lion who lived to tell the taleWe are glad of Walter’s improvement. I wonder whether the tube of oxygen just made the difference? A week ago Sunday your uncle, Anna and I went in [Sunday] the afternoon to see Aunt Emily and had a nice call. She was just going to Nannie’s but we all staid a while at her house and then all went to see Nannie. The baby was nine days old and she had sat up a little while. Gale approves of the little brother, who was asleep on his small bed beside the mamma, rolled in a blue shawl and looking like a large chrysalis. Perhaps you have read the New Jersey News enough to know that the Reformation Bill was not allowed to get out of committee so we are not as far along as we hoped to be. I spent last Tuesday in Trenton and wondered how the committee could have Dear Alice Emma had to hurry off to her club and asked me to send this to you. We are all well - no family letters nor news, except a line from Clara Barlow to day that she is again in West Brookfield. Afy G.N.B. —[*Emma L. Blackwell*]Emma L. Blackwell Gardner, Mass. Wednesday, July 5th Rec 11/905 n/a Dear Alice I came home from Lake Placid yesterday. Howard & I had a very good time. It is a lovely spot, with two lakes, Mirror & Placid, that are used by the club. and mountains all around. The club has forty dwellings of various kinds, large & small houses, cottages and tents. They have boats, canoes, row boats, & a steam launch, saddle & carriage horses for the use of the members - also auto mobiles. And the establishment comprises 5000 acres of ground. It is cooperative membership is ten dollars a year, and when the members stay there they pay for what they use - rooms from .50 cents to 5.00 a day - meals 2.00 a day at the club house, but you[*2*] can cook & housekeep in your private cottage if you prefer- I had a large grand room with five windows and two beds (that was in case George visits) and the charge was three dollars a day- The cooking was the nicest - the most to my liking of any public place where I ever staid - everything that I tried was simple, dainty, and nicely served. it was an object lesson in home economics Then there were a lot of nice intelligent people. Mrs. Richards of Fach. Mrs. Mary Heinman Abel, Miss Sarloa, Miss Peterson of a Domestic Science school in Chicago (perhaps I should say the school) Your old school mate, Marian Talbot, sat beside me at Table once and there were a good many others. I do not think we saw much of the real Club people. First, because the season had hardly opened, and second because they did not especially care for Domestic Science - those who were there, I mean. Howard did his little part very well, and gave and received [*3*] much information in private conversation. We had a beautiful drive to Wilmington High Falls, and Mrs. Dewey took us a long drive on Sunday afternoon. Howard climbed White Face with a group of men and one woman. We arrived Thursday P.M. and left Monday morning by way of Ausable Chasm, in which wonderful cleft we spent two hours, and then went to Port Kent on Lake Champlain where we took boat for Westport - this gave us half a day on the lake, and a beautiful sunset. We spent the night at Westport, and came home next day through Albany, Troy, and North Adams, reaching Gardner about 6:30 p.m. after an absence of just a week - during which Anna & George and father had kept house together with success. Your little donkey card came yesterday, also two previous postals. We are glad to know that all4 is so pleasant for Aunt Nettie and Uncle Harry. I hope they will both feel fully repaid for the long and rather tiresome journey out; and that my dear cousin Alice will get some pleasure out of the experience, too- Cultivate the art of enjoying things- It is very useful. Howard spent yesterday with us and went this morning (Thursday) to Cambridge to prepare for a week at Waterville, New Hampshire, with Mr Blood and some of the Auburndale young people. It is of no use to ask you any questions, such as when you are coming back, but we expect to hear that you will arrive somewhere near August 1st. I should like to take the trip of the Great Lakes, Buffalo to Duluth, before we return to E.O. but that is not decided. Francis & Mary Merriam are staying with Lavina at M.V. Clara went home on the 28th of June. Goodbye-always with love- Emma. Emma L. Blackwell Chilmark Wednesday-July 19th. 1905 Dear Alice It is very hot for the Vineyard- though we have our usual breeze, but the hills are dim & blue and the "children" who have been clamming are all pink and brown, largely pink, showing how the sun has shone upon them- I hope you and Uncle Harry are not baked in a parlor-car, as I sit writing between two windows with a stream of air flowing through. We came here last Saturday, to be in time to meet Howard and Eldridge Thomas on Tuesday- at which time they duly appeared, coming at midday with Fred Mayhew instead of with the stage at night. Cousin Reynold entertained us very hospitably Thursday & Friday nights **Goodbye- much love from Emma**at your house. Beth was gone on vacation, and Reynold and Marian & Isobel were sole occupants. We sat on the house top enjoying the lovely moonlight and about half past nine all went down. I then went to the bathroom, and while I had a fine hot bath the voices of a man and woman in animated conversation came to my ears and I presently found that they were in Marian's bed room. After making quite sure that the kitchen was all dark, your uncle spoke to cousin Reynold who had already gone to bed. He said he supposed the man was Marian's cousin, who had been coming a great deal, and had spent the night in her room before and that Beth said that in Armenia they did not mind having the men & women in the same sleeping room. He said he had tried to stop the cousin from coming, but had not succeeded. I felt sure you would not wish to hear Isobel and Marian have their men relatives sleep in their room, so I explained to Isobel in the morning that it was not the custom in this country; and that while the cousin might call, Miss Blackwell would be displeased to have him spend the night with them and I hoped he would not do so again. Marian came to me later in the day and tried to tell me something about a letter that she wished to write to you but I could not make out what this sum of her remarks was beyond the fact that she wanted to write and that the cousin came to tell her about her son who has gone to St. Louis. I thought she seemed to want to go there, too, but maybe she did not say so. Isobel was nearly as silent as her mother.but I suppose she does understand English better- At any rate, she said she understood me. Your proposal that the Gardner calf should go to West Brookfield was received just as Phebe was making me a tiny visit- She staid one afternoon and to tea, then went by trolley to Westminster where she spent the night with a friend, and home the next day- She did not think they wanted the calf, but has since written that they will take it- I at once telegraphed the joyful fact to Gardner, lest the calf might be veal before a letter would reach them, and thank you very heartily for the suggestion- We have read your letters in the Journal and such others as have come to us with much pleasure- I hope you & my dear uncle feel repaid for the journey to the other edge of the continentEmma L. Blackwell 76 Sparks Street Cambridge Mass. May 3rd 1906 Dear Alice- Just a week since we saw you set off and your card of April 29th mailed at Sidney Nebraska has just come, by the noon mail. I do hope you will get some enjoyment out of the trip as well as labor. There will certainly be some beautiful scenery to look at- The world has begun to be beautiful here. Last Sunday I went with Howard and Anna to the Church of the Disciples to hear Mr. Charles G. Ames- mostly for your mother's sake, because he was her friend. He looked much older **writes that perhaps she will come to America this summer- I want to go and furbish up the Vineyard a little, but it is very hard to harmonize dates. With much love for you dear Alice, Emma**then I remembered him, but his thoughts were not hoary and though as usual I went to sleep for a part of the discourse, I was awake long enough to know that I approved of some of it at any rate. It was on "the Glory of the church," and he told us that the church, like the general government had weak spots, but that notwithstanding all the improvements that could be made in our form of government we did enjoy a certain comfortable amount of peace, protection and security from devastation and molestation; similarly the church, (not the Unitarian church in particular, but the church in general) was carrying on the faith and aspiration of mankind- not that all the faith and aspiration were to be found in the church, but that it was one great vehicle for their transmission, and a shelter for the religious life. To which I assented, and then we walked to the corner of Baylston street and saw golden glory of forsythia all along the way. In the afternoon we had a nice walk with your father, as he has undoubtedly written you, and I felt the better for it. Clara Barlow went to Gardner on Saturday and meant to go to her home on Monday. Yesterday I sent her some yellow and white daisies, which are to make cuttings besides being a nice bouquet. She especially coveted some "slips" of these daisies and the [?] English daisy that grows close to the ground so one of these, rooted, was to betucked in. Our Cousin Clara has a good heart, and I love her for our two mothers' sake as well as her own, though, like the church and the state, one sees room for growth. This week is rather quiet. On Friday Anna and Howard will go to the entertainment of the Cambridge Dramatic Club - no, Howard will go on Friday and Anna on Saturday. Next Tuesday there will be an extra dance with the money left over, and I suppose all the children and myself will go to that. I have bought fine tickets for your festival, so that is to be anticipated. We are not wildly festive, but give more or less time to the study of mankind. Your uncle is in East Orange, and your aunt ElizabethWest-Fisbury. Masss. Tuesday, October 11th, 1910 Dear Alice, You must make up a Budget-like the British House of Commons. Classifying the expenses that you know you will incur - as Housekeeping service. food / raw materials Fuel Gas Telephone Water tax &c Taxes Clothing Household replenishments Travel Benevolence & Philanthropy Gifts to friends, Xmas & otherwise Extras not - able to be thought of in advance and then each week -- or each Your Armenian friend, the ex-minister, is to repair three of our rugs. The temp. here today ar - 5 p.m. was 58 [degree] We have had fine weather this autumn 2 month, see how the Budget is getting along on its pre-imagined course- then you will not be taken by surprise at the end of the year. Your uncle attends to our Budget and he says it does not matter how much a person has to spend - unless he is a terribly multi - he will exceed his income unless he watches his out go. I dont think you ought to do without a platform dress - separate waists & skirts that do not match each other are informal, and the lace waist will come in for times when you are not making a speech or presiding - or somebody's quest of honor. And you should have at least one good gown with the waist matching the skirt - ask Mrs. Bourne what she thinks would be pretty or Esther & Evely. 3 They do not any of them dress very expensively, but they manage generally to get a good effect. I wish I could help you more in the way of clothes than I do, but I feel myself a feeble folk in that line. So was your mother. She could go and buy a costly article but she could not plan trimmings and combinations of things as many a small person will do. There are "diversities of gifts." How nice that you did not feel as tired the 2nd and 3rd days in town as the first! That shows that you have made real gain. Your uncle is still aching and I suppose rheumatical - a sort of muscular rheumatism accompanied by lassitude. I wish I could take him to some pleasant southern place - but how could we leave Elizabeth? She has marked this day by nearly4 climbing into our smallest rocking chair - a little help from Frances established her in her chair to her pleasure. I have sent to Cousin Clara a book that she will like a sort of Bible picture book by Rev. William Worcester. I think he is a Sweden- Gorgian, but it wont hurt the book for her, if he is - the pictures are abundant and very good and the text is good, too - Lavina liked it exceedingly when she found it in Mr. Parry's collection, and I bought one to have here. Then I thought the birthday demanded it and that I could get another by and by. Your second note has just been brought in. Of course I will do as you wish me about any news items. Goodnight, dear. Emma- I had a strawberry out of the garden today and several fragrant sweet peas. West Tisbury. Mass. Thursday Sept. 14th 1911 Dear Alice We are remembering your birthday today and wishing that we could make a nice celebration of it. As Aunt Elizabeth and Kitty used to do on birthdays, we shall drink to your health, and wish you a very great deal of happiness! Lindenberg did not begin the work for which he is best remembered until the age of 55, after doing a lot of other things that seemed worth while. If your new departure should mark the beginning of one of your best successes, your uncle and I shall rejoice that you did not accept our uninspired advice, which was given solely with the hope of promoting your happiness.I don't know what it is in Boston, but at the Vineyard it is as glorious a day as one caned have for a birthday. Anna and I have been to the beach with Elizabeth, who was given a short air bath on the sunny and sheltered ocean side, and, at her earnest wish, a small dip in the pond where the wind blew fresh and suggested autumn there was a wonderful difference between the pond beach and the ocean beach in the way that the air felt the low bank of land was a wind-break from the breeze that blew across the pond straight from the hills. When we came home your uncle had two small baskets of beautiful apples to share as the fruit of his mornings work out of doors. They are Pig Noses from the old garden and were really fine enough to have been sent to the fair as show apples. We now begin to have hearth fires, to Elizabeth is great edification who looks and shouts "fire! fire!" yesterday morning I asked Mr. Stephen Flanders to go with me to have the cemetery lot-marked off. He came with his buggy and Elizabeth "went-ridey," and rambled in a new country to her while he drove the corner stakes and measured. It is 15 feet on the side that looks to the pine grove and 26 feet on the side toward the ocean, parallell with the road. Then I walked to Florence's or rather to the store, where I met Elon and Nannie & Gale. Elon brought me home while Nannie staid to get warm at Florence's house. They had been to West- Fisbury and she was very chilly.They leave the island today and Ethel Brown tomorrow and then me alone remains of the "outlanders" -- Charles is coming once more for Sunday - that is next Sunday. Howard starts tonight from Holderness for East-Orange. He says that George is very well indeed and that Helen is surely benefitted by the summer. I do not think they will come here again, but go to Cambridge when they feel that they must leave the Country. (Goodbye Alice, darling You are always my dear own cousin! [two circles with dots] from Emma ( I do not think I have any more of your letters, but will send them if I find any.) West Fisbury, Mass. Thursday - Sept. 28, 1911 Dear Alice. Your description sounds as if you had secured a very good place. If the distance from your city haunts is not too great I should think it might do. Our mutual friend Mrs. Adams, a good suffragist, lives in an apartment-house on Brattle street - Washington Chambers - near the Harvard Square end of Brattle street. If I had thought of it soon enough, I would have suggested it. She, too, is high up in the house with a pleasant out-look. Well, dear, I hope you will realize all the good that has been expected to result from the change, and that the bonds, such as commercial foods, etc, may be reduced to lowest terms. If you are going to sell any of your 2 furniture, pictures, or other household belongings please give me a chance to see if there is anything amongst it that I want to buy, to keep in the family. Phebe has a little flock of grandchildren who ought to remember that they had an Aunt Lucy and Uncle Harry and Cousin Alice, and something from the house might be a very pleasant keepsake. Anna & I went to the beach today with Elizabeth and she had a little sun and air bath on the ocean side- Coming back the wind was "contrary" and pretty strong, and just off the little green point beyond which was quieter water one of the oars broke and we were promptly blown back to the sea beach. Anna had brought a towel in case she should dip Elizabeth, so she put it up for a signal on the bath house door. It was seen from the house almost immediately and Howard came for us 3 in the other boat, so we reached home with but a short delay, and no fright at all. I have canned a few beach plums today and got some wild grape juice dripping in a jelly bag, and put up two pint cans of water-melon rind sweet pickle. Yesterday, like a good citizen I bought the History of Martha's Vineyard by Doctor Banks, of the Naval Hospital at Vineyard Haven and Mr. Rotch, who sold it to me, presented with it a framed autograph, of the year 1710, written by Benjamin Skiffe- the original owner of this house. It will be very appropriately hung somewhere in plain sight as a notable relic- Frances says that they have six inches of snow at Wood Rock, and are laying in provisions for seven months of winter- I supposed they would go to Dayton for the winter, but it appears not.4 Goodnight, dear, Your always loving cousin Emma- Yours of yesterday just came- what is the use of moving part way over to Cambridge unless you come to dinner oftener than usual? I think my invitation ought to be much more fully accepted than that. Never mind, you may be glad to change to Sparks street next year! Howard says "why was such a desirable apartment vacant?" and suggests that maybe the top floor is cold in winter. When do you expect to be in the new abode? Not until after Louisville? Emma L. Blackwell Tuesday Evening. West Fisbury Mass- Sept. 26. 1911 Dear Alice By all means stay up in your aeroplane until you are sure you have found a good place to alight. It seems to me that Doctor Smith is quite right in thinking that Upham's Corner is too far out of town- The point that she has emphasized is the gain it is to be to your health to avoid the fatigue of the trip from Popes Hill to the city- and a long street car ride is more tiresome than the other was- I dont know whether you have to take Dudley street transfer from Upham's Corner to town, to 585,2 but if you do, a daily dose of Dudley street would be sickening- They fairly fight for places there- Howard says that he has often been from the head of Sparks street to Copley Square in 25 minutes- I wish you would look at that block- Our house is not a cafe, but it would be glad to help out with food; and a three story house is better in many ways that a big thing such as I imagine the Monadnock to be. You could get out of it easier in case of fire, for instance- I dont remember any eating places around Upham's Corner- I mean clean, refined looking ones- Are you possibly thinking of having a kitchen and maid, after all? Cant you go into Newbury street close to Doctor Smith, 3 or get close to the 585? That is the thing that you need to do most of all- to be near your business, if you must suffer the discomforts of the city and the flats with their noises and smells, will be the greatest mitigation that you can give yourself- and you ought not to grudge 62, or a hundred dollars, to give yourself the very best possible conditions in town- The best will be none too good, since the semi-civilized of the human race do mostly live in cities- You must remember that you cant do as good suffrage work if you are uncomfortable in your surroundings, so you owe it to The Cause to get a very goodand convenient place. You seem to have a tendency to economize more than is justifiable. Good night, dear. Anna is earning a hundred dollars in Life's contest for the best-title to a picture of a lady and a dog listening to the telephone at half past one A.M. and Howard is waiting for my mail. If I think of something else very important to say I will say it tomorrow. In the mean time the most important is don't be rash - don't get-tired of hunting and reckless by a watch at the last thing that seems possible. Take your time, and come to Cambridge!! Emma