Catt, Carrie Chapman GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Manus, Rosa 1922-29 s/s. Rochambeau Sailing Sept 14th To Rosa Manus September 13, 1922 Dear Dutchie Rosa:- Your letter arrived the day after mine went to you. Allright, I will try to do all the commissions you have given me. They are all very sensible ones. If I am not able to accomplish all of them, you will under- stand it is for lack of time. I have made up a partial list of the things that must be done before the Big Chief sails and it includes 79! Mrs. Catt has a list equally long. Now I want to tell you some things to put down as among the duties of an efficient secretary: (1) Mrs. Catt wants to get back to Europe or rather Rome as direct as possible from South America. We have learned here that there is a very good service from Cristobal (Republic of Panama) direct to Naples by the Italian Line. The last place you will visit on your circumnavigation of South America is Panama, and your sailing will be from there, or rather Cristobal, to Europe. Mrs. Catt has made a memorandum that she is to inquire in Naples on her arrival about booking passage from Cristobal. This is a reminder to put it down in your list also. (2) I am taking out for Mrs. Catt what is called a Floater Policy of Insurance. It covers her personal effects, that is clothes etc. in one policy, and jewelry in another policy. In case she has a loss by fire or theft etc. while she is traveling she will be able to recover the value under these policies. We will of course keep the policies here in her strong box. But the point I would like to have you keep in mind is this: as soon as such a loss occurs (which of course I hope will not happen) she must notify any one of these offices: - Chubb & Son, New York James Hartley Cooper & Co., London F. H. Louvet, Paris Bekouw, Mijnssen & Jung, P O Box 14, Rotterdam. giving the particulars of the loss. I mention these various agencies in case the loss occurs while you are in their neighborhood. Of course, if you happen to be elsewhere (for instance in South[xx] America) you will cable direct to Chubb & Co. New York, and also as a precaution to Mrs. Catt's cable address "Cattchap New York". Miss Hay or I will get the cable and also report the loss to Chubb & Son. All this is necessary because unless the loss is reported within three months, it is impossible to recover the money from the insurance company. ( 3) I am enclosing herewith a list of Laidlaw & Co.'s correspondents in South America etc. I have already sent you the list for Europe. Mrs. Catt will also carry these lists with her attached to her Letter of Credit, but I want you to have duplicates in your possession. Rosa #2 (4) Passage for you has been engaged on the s/s Almanzora of the Royal Mail Line, sailing from Southampton on December 1st. The passage covers from that point to Rio Janeiro only. The price in American money is $346.50 or 77 English pounds sterling at the American exchange rate of $4.50 to the pound. The agent through whom the reservation was made is Bence Tourist Co., Cunard Building, 25 Broadway, New York. Mrs. Catt and Mrs. Van Lennep are paying for their reservations here, and we have arranged with Bence that you may pay for your reservation in London. Your stateroom is No. 769 on "D" deck. Mrs. Catt's room is 770 directly adjoining yours and straight across from the bath room. Mrs. Van Lennep's is in the same corridor a few doors below yours, viz. No. 773. Perhaps it would be well for you to take up correspondence at once with the Royal Mail Line in London, and if all is found satisfactory as to your reservation, send them a remittance immediately, so that there may be no slip about it. (5) I enclose herewith the list of South American "regulations", from which it would seem that it is as difficult to enter that Continent as it is to enter heaven. Mrs. Catt was vaccinated yesterday. Mrs. Van Lennep is going to have it done to-day, much to her distaste. (6) I have still $23.75 of your money. If I have not spent it all by the time I buy out New York for you, I will keep the balance until an opportune time to return it. (7) About the History. Mrs. Harper is on the last leg of completing the long journey. I have ordered the two volumes for you. You will see by the enclosed pamphlet that they can be had in two qualities, viz. at $9. and at $7. Mrs. Shuler has this matter in change, and is putting away one set of each until she knows definitely which you would like. Let me know as soon as possible about this. Mrs. Shuler has also suggested that you might like to have the two volumes covering the period just prior to Volumes 5 and 6. These may be had at $2.00 each (Nos 3 & 4) to match the last two volumes. Mrs. Shuler is also putting Nos. 3 and 4 away in case you should wish them. In all Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 cover the last 46 years. There are no more volumes available of 1 and 2. I am rushing this off to catch the steamer sailing for Europe to-morrow and will have more time now to coach you in your duties as secretary. After all I don't think I can tell you anything which your own love and affection plus much common sense will not dictate. These have been your very efficient guides in your long and pleasant contacts with the great Chief and they have proved most trustworthy up to date. I suggest that you let them continue as such and you will be sure to hit the mark as nearly 100% as it is possible for a secretary with ordinary human failings to do. If there is anything special that occurs to my mind, such as some of the hints that I have already given you in this letter, you may be sure that I shall pass it on to you. Meantime, let me say that you do not know how comfortable it makes me feel to know that you are to be her traveling companion on this long and interesting tour. You will get a great deal out of it as well as bring a great deal to it. Now I must stop because I must get back to my "79 things to do", but I can't close without a message of greetings to Dr. Jacobs and to your sister and brother. You may get scrappy notes from me from time to time, as I think of things that you ought to know. Meantime, here's lots of love and a full understanding and sympathy in your excitement and joy at the big prospect. Lovingly, s/s Majestic Sailing Sept. 16th To Rosa Manus Sept. 15th, 1922 Dear Dutchie: - There is a fast mail going to-morrow and I am going to write you the first of the scrappy notes I promised. I am going to follow the rule as far as I can, of writing you as I think of things rather than wait until I have a lot piled up. First, I want to impress upon you most strongly to take up your reservation on the s/s Almanzora at the earliest opportunity. Lest something happens to the ship that carried my first letter on this subject, I will repeat here that I have arranged for three reservations on the Almanzora sailing Dec 1st from Southampton through the Bence Tourist Co., 25 Broadway, New York. The Nos. are 769, 770, and 773. Mrs. Catt has 770 and your cabin immediately adjoins her, viz. 769. Mrs. Van Lennep's is 773 and is a few doors away but in the same corridor. The price is $346.50 or 77 pounds sterling at the exchange rate [of$?] of $4.50 to the pound. Don't lose any time communicating with the Royal Mail Line about your cabin, as I understand that the Almanzora is one of their best ships and that December is a very heavy month. Bence has notified them about you. Second. Bertha Lutz - Brazil Will you please tuck away somewhere in your mind that Mrs. Catt is to pay Miss Lutz. $1.00. when she arrives in Rio Janeiro. Miss Lutz bought a "Pan American Group Photo" for which she paid me (Miss Hyde) $2.00. I bought the photo through the Woman Citizen who got a special rate of $1.00. Consequently Lutz overpaid me $1.00. I arrange with Mrs. Catt, at her suggestion, to get the $1. to [Mrs. Catt] her, [and] to pay it over to Miss Lutz when she sees her. Third Mrs. De Calvo, Panama What I have said about Miss Lutz applies also to Mrs. de Calvo. She also paid me $2.00 instead of $1.00. The Chief has the money in her case too. In great haste but with much love. P.S. Please note that Mrs. Catt has chosen for her mail address in Rio Janeiro, the British Bank of South America. This is Laidlaw & Co.'s correspondent there. Consult your list and check it. s/s [Noordam?] Sept 23 September 22, 1922 To Rosa Manus Dear Rosa: - We received your cable yesterday stating that the Hotel Quirinal had been selected for Rome. Mrs. McCormick also cabled this information. Well, the apartment was cleared out yesterday and all the household goods have been either stored or moved to the farm, which by the way has not been sold and now will not be sold at least until after the summer of 1923. You can aimagine, the Chief is very tired with the moving and all the other things combined. She is coming into town on September 30th and going to the McAlpin Hotel until it is time to sail. Her boat is going October 7th instead of the 5th, as originally scheduled. This does not change the date of her arrival in Naples. I hope by this time you have your sailing on the Almanzora, and are deep in the midst of the complications to enter that triple-armored continent South America. You have probably stumbled up against the unpleasant regulation for Argentine of having your finger prints taken. Some more addresses:- Mary G. Hay, Hotel McAlpin Clara Mr. Hyder, 317 West 45 St. The enclosed letter came about a week ago for you. In a few days I shall send you some of the things for which you asked. You are probably as busy as I am - so au revoir. I am planning to go to the Rome Congress, and hope to see you there if my plans turn out allright. Best regards to your sister and brother. Lovingly, Sept? 29th, 1922 Dear Rosa:- I just have time for a hasty line by the Sept 30 s/s Rotterdam leaving to-morrow. It is already five o'clock, and Mrs. Catt has just come into the office from the farm, which has finally been closed, good-byes said, tears shed and the last chapter there closed. We have to go over a lot of things late as it is, so as explained I can only just barely say a word. The principal thing I want to tell you is that I have sent off by parcel post by the Rotterdam a package containing the Corona typewriter ribbon (blue) also paper and envelops to fit the machine. Then I have sent you three dozen pencils - the kind Mrs. Catt likes best. Also I have enclosed as many press photographs as I could lay my hands on. I have not been able to get any press material at all, either French, German or English. If there is a moment which I can devote to it next week, I shall do it and send by the same steamer that takes Mrs. Catt to Italy, or by a later steamer to some other point where I know you will be. I am not bothering Mrs. Catt to take anything at all to you. She has so many packages already that she is most frantic. She and Mollie are now at the Hotel McAlpin, where the Chief will remain until she sails Saturday. Well, Rosa dear, I know you will enjoy being with your adored one and will take the best care of her. The Chief calls me - so a hasty good-bye. Lovingly, (Copy letter Rosa Manus to Clara Hyde) Rome, Italy, April 28, 1923 Dearest Clara:- At this moment CCC is rearranging her speech (Presidents Address at IWSA Congress) and an expert typist is getting it ready for her and I have a few minutes free. --- Well, we landed in Havre in due time and got into Paris. Then we raced round like anything to get our clothes into shape in a week. As I had splendid addresses from very good friends who live there, we really managed beautifully, altho everywhere we went they told us blue was not the fashion. We managed to have five hats with blue for the Chief, three blue dresses, and everything is very satisfactory. She is as proud as a peacock and can hardly wait to get on her new things. My mother and father, who could not wait any longer, came to spend a week with us in Paris. They came in the Pearce-Arrow, and that was a great delight. Father took us to the finest restaurants to lunch and dinner, and CCC loved it and enjoyed the delicious food so much, especially as she had a cavalier to pay the bills One evening we took her to the Casino de Paris, a most shocking real Paris Veau de ville with a quantity of naked women. She had never seen anything like that, and I think it was good for her education. In the meantime, we worked hard at the correspondence of the Alliance, which poured in. On Monday 23rd we arrived in a beautiful train de luxe here and have been very busy. The Headquarters have not done anything, nor for the program for the Amendments, so the Chief had to start from the beginning. She is working like Hell. However she is in very good health, looks very well and feels so happy at the idea she will soon be released from it, but in her heart I think she will feel it dreadfully, as after all the whole Alliance is Mrs. Catt, and no one else feels the spirit and knows all about it. Everybody is in despair, and they do not know who to have. Mme. Schlumberger wants to be it, but she is really impossible, too old, too slow, too French. Altho it was first planned Mrs. Catt should come home with me for a week and then sail from Holland, she now decided to take the Berengaria, (former Imperator) on the 26th and will be home the 1st of June. May 5. Altho I would have loved to cuddle her up for a week at our lovely country home in Holland, I can quite imagine the Chief is so longing to get home to her dear farm, her dear friends, that I try not to be disappointed. I have had her for 8 lovely months, and I ought to be grateful. Well, Clara, you know I am. Every moment has been a delight for me, and I think the Chief does not regret too much having had me. We really have had such a good time, have laughed - laughed sometimes dreadfully. She looks so happy and well, and I do hope she will return looking as she does now, - if the Congress wont take it all out again. She cant stand quite as much as formerly and gets sooner tired after a hard days work. However, then we have nice little dinners up in our sittingroom, and we are quite happy. 2 The Congress will be very well attended. Bertha Lutz is on her way as Govt. Delegate! Tonight the Chief and I are going to see Mussolini. Yesterday, historic pictures have been made of her with the Colloseum in the background, the Arc of Titus, etc. They are splendid. You shall have one, Clara, and so will Mary Peck. In Paris, I had ripping fotos made of her, and do hope you will like them. I ordered quite a good deal. This week I at last got your press pictures, you sent me in Sept., so I use them here. Thanks again for all your letters, dearest Clara, I enjoy every bit of them and so does CCC. We now talk about our next trip, she seems so full of pep and so do I. Do write to me when you have seen her, and tell me what you think of her. She bought heaps of paintings and fotos to be framed for the farm. I will send this letter off now, as otherwise it may never go. I am so busy, but love the work. Good bye, dear girl. I wish you were coming. My love for always, Your Dutchie January 11, 1924. Miss Rosa Manus, Pl. Parklaan 15, Amsterdam, Holland. My dear Rosa: You remember, we sent some money to Dr. Schisckins Yawein. Miss Furuhjelm now writes me an account of it. It is a little difficult to make out, but I think it is better to send the letter exactly as she has written it than to tell it in my own words. You will see that conditions in Russia do not include much liberty for the people. I am sure you will appreciate this account of the horrid conditions there. I am also enclosing a check of $100.00 for Dr. Jacob's birthday. I am sorry I cannot make it more, but at this time it is the best I can do. I am not quite sure where Dr. Jacobs is at this time. She wrote me a letter saying saying she was going to stay with the Palthes. As I do not have their address, I am sending the letter to her in your care. I am sure she will enjoy reading Miss Furuhjelm's letter. Miss Furuhjelm never wrote a very good hand and I am sure it is difficult even to those with whom English is the first language. We have not decided upon our winter's plan. It is very tame. On January 26th we are going to Cuba and there I shall do some Pan-American work. We will not be limited in our time there. We may stay two or three weeks. From there we will go direct to St. Petersburg, Florida, and will remain, if we find it agreeable, until about Apr. 1st. It will only be about six weeks and it will be the first time in my life that I have ever gone anyplace for the purpose of doing nothing. I have taken a lesson in knitting. Yesterday was my birthday and Mrs. Griesel, her mother, Mrs. Rogers, and Elsie Rogers sat with us at the same table in this hotel. I insisted that they should not know it was my birthday, but Miss Hay let it out at the dinner table; whereupon, they insisted that we should pay a call to their apartment after dinner. Mrs. Rogers presented me with two knitting needles, a crochet hook out of her box containing many and a ball of cotton yarn and Elsie produced a wash cloth, which is the thing upon which all little girls begin to knit. Then Elsie went out and came back with her hands full of gum and these were my birthday presents. I did not mean that anyone should know that I had a birthday, but I had your cable and one from Bertha and several cards and letters and bouquets. I am feeling in fine fettle. I am quite able to work, but I must go with Miss Hay who needs the rest. When I came back from my lecture trip the doctor, who had examined me before I went, examined me again and said he hated to admit it, but I was in much better condition than when I left. It will be a joke on him if, when I come back from a rest, I am not in as good condition as now, for he says I need a rest anyway. These doctors have the idea that when a lady reaches the age of sixty-five, she is not able to do the work of a woman of 2 forty. I am not sure they are right or not. We have not yet chosen our hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, and so I cannot give you our address there, but any letters you send to 171 Madison Avenue will be forwarded to us in any case and as soon as we know where we are to be, we will let you know. We do not like to choose a hotel and make up our minds to remain there, because in these Florida towns there are a great many hotels and we may find better accommodations in a hotel we had not chosen at the first. Perhaps, therefore, you will not know just where we are staying until we arrive. We are engaged in the business of getting our wardrobes in readiness. It is amazing how clothes disappear. I do not know that we are getting anything very interesting. I have not much left over from South America, but what I have, is going along. Well, I received another present from you, - the little blue purse with a poem in it. Whatever am I going to do with you? Well, there are no more holidays now until next Christmas and I shall hope to receive no presents for at least twelve months. I have some little things for you, but I want to make something in addition which I think I will have time to do in Florida. You haven't told me whether it is safe to send them by mail or not. If so, I will do it that way when I am ready. If not, you are to inform me when you know of someone going over and I will impose upon them. In the spring I am sure many of your friends will go to Europe and that will be after I return. As you know, I did not see much of Henny or Emil as I was just leaving and they had gone before I got back. My lecture trip was a very hard one in many ways and allowed little time for thinking of anything else but the work I was doing. I have already written you that the ladies of Argentina were not able to get their appropriation for the Congress and had to give it up. Of course I was greatly disappointed. Now Bertha is trying to see what she can do in Brazil. I doubt if she can get an appropriation for all governments at this time are trying to restrict their appropriations. If she fails to get it, I do not know what we will do next or whether we can hold our Congress. Perhaps it will never be held. It is our expectation to go back to the farm about the first of April. Miss Hay dreads it already and I am longing for the time. The fact is, the farm is for sale and I hope no one buys it at present. I am talking in my own mind a little about building a house on one point and selling some of the land with that house and thus reduce the price for the whole place which I think would make it more easily saleable. We have improved it in very many ways which would be observed even in the winter and you never saw it in the summer. My desire is to stay there all summer and do nothing but farming, but I have many invitations to do all kinds of things next summer, many of which are interesting. 3 I have been invited, for instance, to visit the two presidential conventions, one held on June 10th and the other about July 1st and to write my impressions of them for the papers. They are great occasions and in some ways I would like to do it. It is very kind of you to propose sending me a little German girl, but she would not fit into our household machinery. It would be very nice to have someone who could sew and help in that way, but after all, we do not have much work of that kind to do. I do not know how we shall come out next summer. We may have tragedies as we did last summer. I had a maid who stayed through the summer and during the last five weeks we had a cook who was about the best we ever had and she was sunny tempered. The maid and the cook became good friends and they are working together this winter. When they left, they said they wanted to come back and of course I will want them if they are still willing and that will mean that I will be supplied with my help for next year. If you want to send the German girl over here, I might find someone else who might take her. In that case, let me know. I hope the demonstration you make for Dr. Jacobs on her birthday will be all you desire it to be and I sincerely hope that her health will continue to improve, so she will be able to enjoy the demonstration. Lovingly yours, April 7, 1924. Miss Rosa Manus, Fl. Parklaan 15, Amsterdam, Holland My dear Rosa: Your two letters in answer to mine concerning the arrival of Aletta have just been received and I hasten to send you this little note in order that you may know what is going to be done with her. I am very glad the boat is delayed a bit because I shall be here when she arrives. I will have to be in Washington on the 11th and 12th and I expect the boat to arrive on the 12th. I shall, however, have returned from that trip. She will go away, you say, on the 20th, and we have to go to the Convention of the League of Women Voters on the 24th. We get back about the 1st of May. I have been able to secure the girls I had last summer, but they are not free to come before the 1st of May, so we will not open the farm before that time. I should do it without them if it were not for the fact that I had already promised to go to the National League Convention. The Convention in Washington is not over until the 7th of May and if Dr. Jacobs wishes to come to the farm then, I shall certainly be ready to receive her and she will find it quiet enough. According to the announcement I have seen of the Peace and Freedom Convention, there is a meeting in Philadelphia preceding the Convention and I think that one is about April 20th. Probably that is where Dr. Jacobs means to go. I note also that in Chicago there is to be a sort of school and most of the International delegates seem to be expected there. It begins May 17th and lasts about a week or ten days. I do not know whether Dr. Jacobs is going to that or not. We shall see. About the first of June I am going to California to speak at the Convention of the Federation of Women's Clubs. It is a conservative body, but it is the largest organization of women in the country and very desirable to reach. I hesitated a long time about it, but finally decided to go. Dr. Jacobs, during my absence, can remain at the farm or she can go somewhere 2 else if she desires. We shall make it comfortable for her in any event. The trip to California consumes about two weeks of time and after that I shall settle down quietly and shall eat peas. I thank you in advance for the seeds you are sending. It is not too late for corn because you cannot plant it yet in Holland, I am sure. I have a suggestion to make. I will send a fine kind of early corn. I am sure you must have what we call "hot beds" for the early plants. Now, if you will tell your gardener to plant some of the corn in these hot beds and to leave it there, not to transplant it but leave the beds open, I think you will find that you will get some very good corn. Holland is really too cold for corn ordinarily, but some people have managed to get some very early corn this way and I think it might do in Holland. The hot beds can be closed while the corn is young and thus it could get a good start. I will send you a package by mail. Mollie feels much better since she has come back from Florida and is under her old doctor's care. I think I shall soon be my old self again also. I shall write you within a few days as to whether there is any prospect of selling the farm. My orders have been that we will sell it before the 15th of April or not at all this year. We are taking Dr. Jacobs to Bretton Hall and will entertain her there. Lovingly yours, Rosa Manus Baarn Holland June 22nd 1926 My dearest Mother Catt, I am actually home again since a few days and my very first duty is to write you an explaining letter about the doings and the goings on of the congress. How I am to begin and how I am to end I don't dare to think of at present. My short little note which I gave to Miss Sherwin to hand to you with the watch sent to you with love and gratitude of the delegates from the Paris congress, as well as the Paris hat will have come into your hands I hope and will have given you some pleasure. Miss Sherwin will have told you much about the congress There were some very nice french women on the committee who were very charming indeed. They gave dinners and teas and lunches no end and I don't think that ever the delegates had so many invitations in private houses as this time. I am proud to say that never in all those weeks there was one quarrel or one struggle with them. We parted as the best of friends, both appreciating each other. I also managed never to loose my temper. I suppose now I grow older this is not so difficult for me. The eveningmeetings were an enormous success, crowded and crowded every evening. To think that in our Sorbonne we could have 5000 people and that large Trocadero peacemeeting was filled untill the very last seat! But oh Mother Catt, I never missed you so much in my whole life as that peace-evening. There was really not one speech worth mentioning. There was no impression made at all and instead of stirring up the people and feeling that we could get hold of somebody, I felt absolutely as if I was left in the cold. Your message who was really so wonderful and which I read and reread many times myself, was read by one of the american delegates who made nothing of it, sothat I felt ashamed and wished they would have let me read the message, as I felt positively that I could have given it in the way you sent it. However I am almost sorry to say that the meeting was an enormous success and that it was a kind of spectacular performance what the french liked. What made me more mad still was that at the table on the huge platform was seated Mrs. Ashby from the board only, as we had got the message from the french committee that there was no room to put all the other boardmembers on the platform and they gave us a seat in some box far away. But there was room to put at that very same table THE MARCHIONESS OF ABERDEEN AND TEMAIR, MADAME AVRIL DE ST. CROIX AND MISS LOUKY VAN EEGHEN!!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS! Can you understand my rage? Margery that evening made a very innocent little speech. [5] 2 Let me tell you a funny little thing that happened one afternoon in our congress meeting. The Marchioness was sitting on the platform behind the board wrigged out in one of her beautiful get-ups, a dress with chiffon, silver and lace, long white gloves and on the top of her lightcoloured wig was seated a tremendous black chiffon hat, the form of a pan-cake and in three corners a big blue plume sticking out. Unluckily after 10 minutes she dozed away and the plumes said "yes" to one side and "no" at the other side and allmost wig and hat dropped off. It was too funny to look at. This is not all however. At the end of the afternoon meeting we went out into the street and some lady came up to Mme Malaterre and asked her the address of her millner. A journalist who was just passing and who overheard the conversation said: "Madam do you also want the name of the millner of the lady who was asleep at the platform this afternoon?" In the middle of the afternoon messages were sent up by the pages asking the name of the lady who was sleep at the platform. Surely this was the most amusing accident of the congress. I am sure you will appreciate this and I can see the naughty twinkle in your eyes when you read it. Luckily for us the Marchioness called her boardmeeting for the council [simul] simultaneously with the congress, so the councilpeople could never be with us, which was rather fortunate, but I do think it was a mean trick of them to do it. The best joke of all was that the last afternoon Lady Aberdeen sent in a letter to Mrs. Ashby of about ten pages telling her that the Alliance had no right at all to call a peace meeting and to have an afternoon speaker for the League of Nations. When people get to that stage [that] they had better stay at home, I think! The official receptions were grander than anywhere else. Surely the french do know how to receive. It was absolutely in the South-American style. Ovations, flowers, etc., etc. And the buildings in Paris are all so beautiful that it is quite a treat to be shown through. Not only the "Maire" received us officially and gave out one thousand invitations for a teaparty, but also the Senat received officially and gave champaign and flowers. When going out Plaminkova in her witty way said to the president: "We thank you for your nice reception, we thank you for the flowers and the champaign and the postal cards, if only now you would give your women the vote, we should be perfectly satisfied." The congress proceedings in general went peacefully and happily. We were able to keep up to the program and there was no unfinished business. I am only afraid that at times the "chair" did not always know what was to be voted and I think sometimes a resolution was voted down one day and voted up another day. The British delegation behaved most uncourteous to their British president and did all they could to go against everything. Mac Millan was more in a position than ever and she and Mrs. Abbott were dreadful. [6] 3 I am afraid the Schuler-family was not very satisfied either with the American delegation. Mrs. Schuler wanted to have been in the delegation and she had much to say about the delegates. I suppose one day they will come and tell you something about it. Mrs. Paige was very sweet and charming. She even came to pay a short visit here in Baarn and I think she will tell you herself about it. I am so pleased that Ruth Morgan is actually elected on the board. I took a lot of trouble in telling the delegates what a wonderful woman she is. But of course it is always difficult to get someone elected who is not in the delegation. So therefore I am double proud we succeeded. She has also been made the president of the peace committee and I have been made secretary of her committee, as the board thought I could be of some use to her in Europe and always come in direct contact with her as soon as she comes. I do hope Mother Catt that you will give some direction to that essential committee, as your views on that point are the only right ones. It is our intention to go to Geneva in September to be present at the Assembly and we should hold the boardmeeting at that time. Mrs. Ashby and Miss Sterling were wondering if you could not come over. Surely that would not be half as fatiguing as a congress and I am sure that would be wellworth for yourself to do it. Think it over and let me know. Then I will see for rooms. The board of 21 consists of 17 countries. There are some wonderful elements in it. Miss Walin from Sweden seems a very good choice. I am one of the vice-presidents now and I wonder if you approve of it. Well, my dear I think I had better stop to-day as I am afraid there won't be even time in between your gardenduties to read this congress "story". Of course I worked very very hard all the weeks in Paris. I always got up at 6 o'clock and started work and as Paris meetings and parties never finish untill after midnight, I never was in bed till after one o'clock. However I managed to keep going and not to look or act tired. On the platform I missed you every minute and will never get used to have a congress without you. I found all the nice parcels you sent. The corsets are quite allright and so is everything else. The dear gloves with the frills are perfectly charming and I thank you very much. Now to business, please. Will you send me a bill for all you spent? The n I shall send you a cheque in return. Thank you again for all the trouble I gave you. The dogwood trees are really growing! Aletta was not able to come to the congress. She had been ill again. It was a great pity she was not there. Many of your old friends like Signe Bergman and Mrs. Coytt were so disappointed you were not there. Please send me a line in return and say if you are satisfied with your stepdaughter. who sends you love and lots of it. Rosa 6 August 1926 Rosa Manus Parkwijk Baarn. (Holland) Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue New York My dear Mother Catt, Your letter of July the 12th was a great joy to me and a great joy to see, that you were so pleased with the little gift. I am glad, you saw that I managed the job, which of course I willingly undertook, when I was asked to do so. But let me tell you that it were the delegates, who sugested it and the delegates, who paid for it and I only did my share of it. It gives me no end of pleasure to know you are actually wearing it and I hope it will work as exact and correct as its new master. Thank you for sending that picture it was taken in one of the beautiful rooms of the Sorbonne. I hope you will find time to send us the final word about the Woman's Party, as I do want to hear it. I have a long letter from Miss Morgan telling me, she is sailing August the 11th and I hope to see her quite soon. The suggestion you made for our committee seems very good indeed. It would be certainly a good plan to try and hold meetings in the different countries on some topics, as we have seen clearly during the last Congress that nothing can move the spirits like "Peace". In Europe it is really the one and only think [onee] to work for and if we had [the] a General like you, to lead us, we might finally do something. I live in hopes however that Miss Morgan will be able to stir the people, I have never heard her speak, yet, I cannot judge what impression she will make. I only wished you could come and make a speaking tour in Europe. I know I have sugested this once more to you, as to my mind you are the only one who makes an impression. I wish you would still decide to come over to the September Meeting. Think of it, it does not need much preperation and I am positive you would enjoy to meet several of the people of the League of Nations. Now I want to ask you something privately still I hope you will be so good and answer me upon my question. Has it been decided in the Leslie Committee, if they are going to send a contribution to the Alliance for the next three coming years, and if so, how much do you think it would be. We are having our Board Meeting in September in Geneva and there we shall have to discuss the financial Position of the Alliance and of course it will make all the differences of the ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 2 world if we can reckon upon the Leslie or not, perhaps it will not be possible for you to call the meeting of the Leslie Committe in the month of August, but still you might tell me privately what their intention is. Do please answer me? Again Mother Catt I have to ask you to send me a bill for all the things you so kindly bought for me as you and I always like to keep finances strait. Corsets Gloves Nosoins Hairnets I believe this is all, but I may have forgotten something, but I dare say Miss Wald will remember. So please, please let me know? It seems a shame you always have some trouble with your helpers. Poor Emily, she is unfortunate[d], I hope her wrist is quite better again. So the land accross is really sold and I wonder if you ever will sell the dear farm. Eight summers at the country place makes one so very attached to it and every part of the garden and every tree gets dearer to one each summer. I hope you will be able to spend many more summers there. The flowers and garden have here better speciman than last year, the blossoms are fuller and they are all wonderful. Father is so proud of his beautiful garden and enjoys it no end. We just celebrated his 75th birthday, the children and grand-children all stayed with us and early in the morning they all sang for him and finally presented him a new dog, an Irish Setter (a puppy of 4 month old), we were eighteen at breakfast and Father was very happy. Your plans for the future seem in one way very attractive, but on the other hand rather impossible, the great difficulty for you is always to find a nice soothable spot for Miss Hay in a mild climate which would improve her health. However in a quiet spot you are never satisfied, you and your "Wanderlust" is still there. The women of Austalia want you very badly, they have implored me to use my influence and make you go. You say, you can get some-one to go with you, do you mean some-one is me? You know Mother Dear at any time you call for me I am ready to go. I am free from all burdens and am absolutely independend,, I would simply love to wander off with you once more, do let's go. One of my dreams is also Egypt[e] and Greece and the women need some help there too. Do not for one minute think youare too old to travel, only you must not make your scedule that it means sleeping in an other bed every night, that is too fatiguing. There is so much to be seen yet and so much for you to be done and your influence with your speaking talents go further than any body else's. I am sure taken on the whole our South-American trip did you very well indeed and ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 3 if it had not been half a day in bed in Santiago, you have been splendid all the time. In fact the traveling in the hot climate seemed to suit both of us. Dear Mother Catt do not attempt to try out another traveling-companion, you have found out already all my faults and my bad habits and perhaps one or two good qualities, but to begin with a new companion of whom you don't know so much, that seems utterly wrong for you to do. Again I offer myself to you as companion, treasurer, secretary and loving daughter and what is more, one who will pay her own expenses. Than I know that Molly will trust you to me, as she knows I shall take good care of you. What is the Griesel family going to do? Could Molly not join them for the winter, those are the people she likes to be with. I am going to Geneva for the Board Meeting, which will be September the 11th till the 14th, and then I am free without any plans. If it would be Australia I would come to New-York first, otherwise we must meet some part of the world. Although I prefer to start out with you the same time. Emile and Henny are sailing for New-York on October the 11th, they are staying here with us now. We've good news from my brother Frans (not Bertrand as you call him), although it is difficult for him to find a job, he is doing his utmost. He lives now in some kind of pension and his address is 321 Riversidedrive 104th Street, perhaps one day when you go to town, you can make an arangement for a lunch with him, he would surely love to speak to some friendly person, as I am sure he feels very lonely at time and a talk with you may do him a world of good. We just have had here the Congress of the University Women in Amsterdam and although I am not an University graduate, I was offered a ticket. It was an interesting gathering, but I am sorry to say Dean Gildersleeve did not make a good President, she nor Dr. Spurgon presided well and really the best day was, when Mrs. Ashby took the chair. It was the day, when the Dutch women spoke about their carreers in Holland and in the Dutch-Indies. A great part of the women who had been at the Paris Congress came to Amsterdam and thus we were able to talk some of our matters over. The new elected President Dr. Gledithsch from Norway seems a very good President. Mrs. Ashby stayed with me out in Baarn, she seems very tired, overworked and nervous, she needs a good rest. ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 4 I had a note from Clara Hyde, to say she wants me to meet in Brussel but I am sorry I can not manage it. I asked her to come here, but she has no time. With my love to Miss Hay and remembrances to John and Emily, I remain with lots and lots of love for your dear self, always the same loving Stepdaughter Rosa The dogwood trees are about a yard high with green leaves. Ought they to become red? and when are the flowers due? ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 14 May 1927 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue NEW ) YORK U.S.A. Dear Mother Catt, Your letter from April the 30th just reached me today and as I am leaving for Germany tomorrow I am hasting to send you a few lines. Well my poor Mother I hate to hear your account, how dreadful that the nurites has come come on in such a vigorous way. I wish you would come to one of our famous bath-places, I am convinced they could do a lot for you. But as it is of course you [will] think America must do it. But I know how you must suffer and I do so wish something definately could be done to you. What a good plan to have your cousin Helen to stay with you for the sommer then at least Molly is more satisfied. I wonder with whom you are trotting off to Honolulu, I do hope you have a nice companion. Why did you not ask me to come? I am ready to go whenever you want a companion and as I have been saving money this year I am waiting to spend it on a trip with you. I wonder what is the matter with Bertha Lutz, if she has again some love-affaires that trouble her. Please remember me to my half-sister if you see her again. I wonder how she will preside over her Conference! Now of course it will be sad to think that there will not be a chance for your coming to the Conference in Holland but as it is I will not give up the hope entirely and if it were only that you could come over with one steamer and go back with the next, it would be well worth your journey. I am now going to tell you a little secret which I dare not say even to Miss Morgan, but there is just a chance that we may get the Peace Palace in the Hague for your Conference. But nothing is decided yet, I just happened to strike on the right person, who is a member of our Peace-Committee of Holland now. She is a charming young woman, Mrs. Bakker-van Bosse, a lawyer and real Expert in International co-operation. She is in close contact with the Board of Directors of the Peace-Palace and she and I are working hard at it. The Board of the Peace Palace wanted to know if we work in connection with the League of Nations and of course I could give them the Paris' Report in which it said that Princess Radzivill was an official deligate to the Paris' Congress and gave her Report of the League ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 2 on the Sunday-afternoon Peace-session, as well as Mademoiselle Mundt from the Labor-Office. And we could also tell them that Mademoiselle Gourd is in contact with the League constantly and gives her report at all of our Congresses. Mrs. Bakker van Bosse wondered if we could have one day's Conference social economic and the 2nd day more political syciologie and of course for our country the ratification of treaties would be the best note of strike. I do hope Miss Morgan will have time to discuss the Call and the Programm with you soon, as it will be important to have it send out soon to the countries. I wonder if it would be better not to have the Conference open to the public, but only by invitation, if we have the Peace Palace they would not allow an open meeting and if the Conference is two days the evening in between might be used for a huge open meeting with a great many International speakers. Miss Sterling is staying with me here for a week and will go on to Germany with me. It was a great joy to be able to talk matters over with her, she is such a real clever and clear-headed person and I do not quite see how to do all the preparatory work for such a Conference all by myself. I have not heard from Miss Morgan at all when she intends coming and Mother Catt you know better than anybody in the world that as far as the inner-organisation goes I can with a lot of pains see that, but about the Programm and speakers I am no good at all! I know how burdened and over burdened you are & that it will be impossible for you to send me an article for the paper etc. and still you are the only one who could give it clearly. Of course I was very glad to receive Miss Morgan's cable saying I could have one thousand dollars for the Conference, I think in Holland this would be enough, more over if the Peace Palace is given us they will offer it to us, where as the Colonial Institute we shall have to pay for. But you know I never spend more money than will be stricktly necessary, although I shall need for the time being a competant Secretary, and an Office. Dr. Jacobs is so, so, she has ups and downs but her head is alright still, only she seems to be rather difficult at meetings. She has her hair cut since one of her last illnesses; when she was in a meeting in Belgian she fell down and broke her arm. But that has recovered again. I don't dare to make this letter any longer. I will just tell you that I am going to Berlin and speak there, then in Dresden and then go on to Prague for the Board meeting. From there to Geneva for an International Counsil-meeting where I am now instead of Dr. Jacobs as the International member of the Suffrage Committee. Of course every where I will announce our Conference in autumn and in Berlin I am having a special tea to talk over the preparations of the Berlin Congress in 1929. ROSA MANUS PARKWIJK BAARN. (Holland) 3 Miss Sterling will also speak, but she cannot speak in German, so that bit is left to me. We are going to have a lunch at the Reichstag. Of course my thoughts will wander when you and I were in Berlin last and the anxiety we had there. Dear Mother Catt, you wonderful dear, of course I know I have your abiding affection, but it is good to hear it you say again! I am terribly longing to be with you again if it were only for a week's holliday. I am very, very tired just now and need to get away from home and the work. It is my intention to stay in Switzerland an extra week or so with Mia. Our garden is wonderful just now and I hope yours is doing well also. My love to you and my blessings, remember me to Molly and Helen Jones, although to John. always your loving Stepdaughter Rosa P.S. I wish you could consent to signe the Call. May 4, 1929. Dear Rosa: I have just cabled to Mrs. Ashby that I cannot come to Berlin. I do not think that you will be much surprised. Two or three days ago I went to see Dr. Morrison and I told him that some months ago he had said he thought I could go to Berlin the first of June and perhaps it would be a good thing for me. I said: "It is now time for me to pay for my ticket. What do you think of my going." He said very quickly: "I do not think you should go." I did not tell him so, but I would not have asked the question if I had not felt quite certain myself that it would be much better for me not to go. Clara and Mary Peck were going to go with me to Berlin and home again, I believe, so I would be cared for, but I have concluded that the best I can do is to give myself as much rest as I can during the summer, so I may be prepared for the winter. I am very much better, but I am able to do very little. I am trying to bring some things to a conclusion and when I have a meeting, it takes all the rest of the week to recover from it. I do not think I need to say more than this. You will understand, being a nurse. Just at present we are hunting for the receipt from the Holland American Line for the money I paid on the ticket, but we cannot find it. I can remember seeing you at my bed with an envelope in your hand and telling me that all the correspondence was in that envelope together with the receipt. Then I asked you to put the maps of the decks in it too and I told you where to put it, so I could find it on May 1st, but when I went to the place I thought I told you, it was not there. I shall write to the Company and explain and try to get my money back, but in the event you happen to remember the place it was put, you may write me and perhaps that will help in case I have any trouble getting the money back. The Leslie Commission had a meeting last week and we voted the same amount of money to the Alliance for the next three years that we have been paying for several years and we voted to give $1,000 toward the expenses of the Berlin Congress and another $1,000 for the next Congress. We voted also to present the Alliance with a set of flags if Mrs. Ashby thinks they will not be too much trouble to take care of between Congresses. I am very much disappointed not to be able to go to Berlin. I had a little demonstration all arranged for the meeting which would have been pretty and useful. Further, I had ordered some new dresses, so that you would not be ashamed of me. You will be greatly surprised when I tell you that two of them are blue. Page 2 We have had a very cold and rainy spring - just as we did last year. The garden, therefore, is coming on very slowly and I can hardly say just how it looks. As we are on a hill, it is a little slower than in the valley. The tulips are coming up and one kind is in full bloom. We have eighty of that variety in bloom at this moment. They must be earlier ones than the others. The buds on the others are coming along, so that we may expect flowers soon. That was a great gift and I thank you most cordially for it over and over again. I am very slow in getting along with my thank-you letters, but they are at the printers now and we will have them soon. Do you know that I am very confused on what I got for my birthday and what I got all the days between from Rosa. I think I shall just send you one of the formal letters and let it go at that. I shall excuse you from writing me until after the Congress is over, for I know you will be very busy; then, some day you may write me how it came off. The American delegation is a very good one and Mrs. Slade is one of them. I have suggested to Mrs. Ashby that Mrs. Slade might present the gift of the flags for the Leslie Woman Suffrage Commission, since she has long been a member of it and has now been made the Vice-president in Miss Hay's place. The golden wedding is a thing of long ago, but I am sure I shall get a letter telling me about it some day. I am sure it was grand in every respect and I hope the good father and mother were not too tired after it. Very lovingly yours, CCC:HW. July 19, 1929 Miss Rosa Manus Baarn, Holland My dear Rosa: I have a dim recollection of having started a long letter to you by hand and that I never completed it. I, therefore, do not quite remember where my end of the correspondence ought to begin. I do know that I thought while you were in Berlin I would not bother you with letters about things that would only turn your mind from the duties at hand. I, therefore, do not know whether I have thanked you in proper terms for the beautiful little coat you sent me and for my cheese long ago devoured. The little coat will last me for a long time and is a most useful garment in a climate so changeable as ours. I have also received a book-rack by mail and then yesterday Mrs. Slade handed to me the big package of night gowns, kimono and bed shoes. It is a perfect trousseau. I am now prepared to have a long spell of sickness or to get married and go away on a honeymoon. I noticed with great pleasure the especial arrangements on the night gowns for permitting the doctor to examine a badly behaving heart. Now, Rosa dear, I am provided with night gowns to the very end of my life so check that off your list. You have provided your step-mother with that necessity of life and you need think of it no more. The bed shoes are delightful and my cousin who is now here is about to knit some like them for all her friends at Christmas. I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful gift. It would be foolish for me to say that I do not like it for it just fits into my needs. Now, however, being supplied, I want to tell you that I have not another need in the whole world. This must be the last present you ever send me because I have no need for anything more. I have a good many things I do not need. I do not want any more things that I cannot use so please be guided by this instruction. You are a most generous and dear girl but now you must turn your attention to somebody else who is in need of presents because I am not. In nearly every direction I turn in the house I see something that you have given me and my cousin asks concerning each new thing, "Did Rosa give you that?" I have this morning received the bill for the flags and we hasten to send you an international draught for $47.32. I will make this $4. bigger and that extra $4. is to pay for the waffle pitcher. It was quite right to pay for the yellow dresses and everybody says the picture was most beautiful. I have seen several of the persons who were present in Berlin and I have heard from others and everyone tells me how wonderful you were and how splendidly the Congress was arranged. I think by and by you will forget the disagreeable moments and only remember what a fine Congress it has been. They all tell me that it was the best Congress ever held and that the Alliance shows a permanence never manifest before. I am very, very glad. Now, concerning myself, let me say to my step-daughter that I am very much better for not having gone to Berlin. They all say it was a fatiguing experience whereas I had a fairly restful time at home. More, I have accomplished a great deal of work in clearing up my accumulated work which would have piled still higher had I gone to Berlin. I am feeling pretty well now and am taking no medicine and am not going to see the doctor. I do not know how long this good record will last. I do not mean to say that I am quite as well and able to do things as I was a few years ago but I am certainly better than I was last summer and a great deal better than I was last winter. My cousin, Helen, is here now. Miss Wilson is going to take a little business trip to Iowa for three or four weeks. Mary Peck now lives in New Rochelle and pays us a call every day. We, therefore, have a very good time reading in the evenings and that is a good preparation for sleep at night. Very lovingly, and with love to all the family, I am Yours, CCC/EM -3- I received your Christmas telegram and, actually, I could not stay at the telephone long enough to send a reply which I very much wished to do. I do not know why it is that an old lady is driven so hard. Thank you very much for your good wishes. Now, dear Rosa, whenever you want to come for a visit, the latch string is out and you will be very welcome. There are only two things I ask of you. (1) Do not come in the middle of the winter, because I do not intend to be here at that time. (2) Come in the summer. I am always here in the summer, spring and fall, but there is little going on in the way of meetings, conventions, etc. Please give my love to your good Mother. I know how hard a blow it was to lose her son-in-law and, especially, since he was helpful to you. I am very sorry, indeed, for the little sister. That always happens when there is no life outside of the home. You must try to get her interested in doing something outside now. I suppose the refugee work has about come to an end. Something that stirs her pity and sympathy would help her. Give her my love and tell her there is plenty in this world for her to do yet. Very lovingly, dear Rosa, CCC:HW Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.