Anna Dickinson Family Correspondence [March 11, 1879-July 31, 1879]New York 3.11.79 Dear little Dick. -- Betty & I came over this morning, & found thy note. -- She has "Men of the Bay" & will lend it thee & send it thee to once. I had a splendid house in Phila. Pugh was as "good as pie" - however good that may be. & the "Times" had a glowing report of me & my splendor on the whole the best that has been done for the speech. If thee has not seen it I will try to get thee a copy. I saw the Loughlins, Crowells, & Everetts - the night of the book - & they all sent much love to thee & mother. Expected to stay in Phila for some days, but had to skip over here, instead; the next morning, on business, & went back to Elizabeth the same night for his 71st birthday dinner. He seemed to enjoy it very much. Thy "open letter" I have just succeeded in writing, & hope to see it in print Thursday - Tis too late now for tomorrow's paper. I have re-signed acontact for California for October instead of June. - &, for a longer time of work. - So that will console Maumee. - She was troubled about my being there through the summer - this will be far better Will tell thee all about it when I see thee - & the dear little Maumee, in about two weeks or so. Lou Steele Mackaye's new price & lanqwidtch fails - Yes! "mexico" "Through the Dark" Ivaquin! Mackay These be two columns of hideosity that should stand over against one another - pretty nearly equall! Be a good little child. Keep pretty well. - give my dear love to Maumee & tell her I will come to Phila while she is there since I am not to go to California nor to the moon yet. - & know me to be always thine — Anna Dickey. Remember me to MaryNew York 3.12.79 Dear little Dick, - I thought thee might care to see what my good friend Lowe Keane - of the Buffalo Courier has to say of my present style of talk. so I chop off this heading from the report. - I wishthere were some law to prevent people from making what is called "a report" for. even in the last of casie it is no better than a travesty. It is given to precious few of even the "selected few" to know how to abbreviate & hold sinke & sound & where fore average newspaper man attempts it! I wonder if it has been as cookingly warm at Pittston as here - if so I'm afraid there will be some colds presently. Dear love to both from Anna West Pittston. Pa. April 8. 1879 My dearie, I've mourned for thee over thy letters, and the bad time thee had after leaving here. On Sunday I sent a telegram to Hornellsville, merely because a word of sympathy might be of some tiny degree of comfort, - but the operator returned word thee was not at any hotel in the place - so I supposed thee must have gone through to N.Y. after all. I could not get to see Dr. Mayer till yesterday, & came home so absolutely tired out I couldn't even write & get thy letter off. He says thee is to discontinue the iron, & take these two instead. "The great medicine," as he called the second, he says he finds often very efficacious, taken in connection with the other, in kidney troubles - especially when complicated with any kind of uterinedifficulty as thine is. The "constitution water" has iron enough in it without any more. If it should make thee [constituted] constipated thee is to get a bottle of Hunyadi - water, & take a wineglassful in the morning. the first pres.. - thee is to begin with ten drops, & if the kidney trouble does not speedily begin to yield, increase to 15, or even to twenty. If it disturb the bowels too much, it may be decreased to five drops. The brandy he advises thy discontinuing wholly - take as much lemon as thee pleases; that will be good for thee - but he does not think well of any stimulant in thy present condition. He evidently regretted that thee had not been able to report in person. He also says thee must still take the viburnum for the full straightening out of the mo'ly. the Conference is not over yet as we see by the Tribune - & of course we have not heard from John yet. I will send that Michigan letter to him as soon as I can. The probabilities are that we shall go over to Phila next Tuesday P.M. if a suitable day, - although we have not heard from Mary again. I shall send her a line this ev'g. I have not forgotten Eng. and have started a very quiet prospecting over the ground as to probabilities of interested people. will report further in time. Meantime I hope thee is going to get better, & rested, & gt at yr work. Richard Davis has been home for a very brief visit - he is in a very hurt frame of mind because thee will not permit him to call on thee; says thee was to send him word when & where he might call on thee, & thee never did it. I wish thee'd do so - if it was Rob. it would be anotherthing - but Dick certainly thee might let come. His office is at 110 B'way - (Lehigh & W.B. Coal Co.) Let me know where thee is, & how thee is, before we go off to Phila - & give out love to Betty & Libbie L. - & to "Pa" Chatfield. Dear, dear love from mamma & me. Thy sister, faithfully, S.E. DickinsonPhila [5 - 5" – 77] Dearest daughter Thee neither writes, nor comes, E Chatfield spent an hour with me last week. She has been very kind to me the past winter) she said she had been to see thee, and thee had lunchd once with her, that thee was arranging thy affairs, to come to Philaa and I had much hoped to have seen thee before now. I know thee has much to care about, and worry thee, and may be not much of a very pleasant nature to communicate, nevertheless a line of remembrance from thee now and then would be gladly received, thee is often inquired after and thy friends wish to see thee, so do my dear put in an appearance very soon or give us some reason why it may not be done.I have been feeling very feeble for a considerable time past nor do I gather strength since beginning to go out, and shall begin very soon to arrange for going to the [Nutts] hoping to gain a little more strength from breathing their air, She moved into the new home provided for us this summer last Friday Laura helping her and says it is very nice, term twenty five [doll's] per mo cash an item much more suitable to present emergences, intend to leave here in about three weeks, and spend a week with Mary and get to Pittston toward the close of this month. We are now in arrears to Charlotte about $100 and yet no remitence from her, Julia and Ellen were here a few mornings since, and we are all looking for and much hoping to see thee. Our old friend Burtram Snyder suddenly left this life, and was buried last seventh day, another instance of lifes uncertainty, and warning to be also ready I sympathise with his bereaved parents, intend soon to call to see them, also Ellinor [Dilzlee] that was consigned his two eldest children, a son and daughter age respectively 23 and 21 years, Lifes trials are very many, and [into our grave] enough to more, tho- roughly wean us from so much inordinate pursuit from its unsatisfying and fleeting pleasures Johns new home is at Ridding Con't not far from Danbury a quiet rural place, a [proli???] one in which they will have better [??] with [???] they have a prospect of 10 or 20 miles, would like to have the glasses you had to view the distan- ces in Colorado, does thee know anything of them – Edie is puny and nervous, will probably go with me to Pittston and tarry a few days, and so on to his home at Johns Wish thee could arrange to spend at least a part of the summer at Pittston, my little featherbed is I suppose with thy things, in NY, also a little rocking chair not the dainty oldest oneMy original nurse one, but one not upholstered, will thee please send them on to me as soon as can [be sent] I intend to send my bed and a few things to Pittston, the rest H Flanagan will call for during the summer or as long as I wish won't make any change but would like to have the dressing table, which if thee is willing I would like to make a present to her if I get to Pittston shall probably remain there most of my short time, and if so shall want all of the things I now use there and yet a little additional room for a sitting and hoping to see and embrace thee very soon. I am dearly, Mother Edies dear love so what of Bertram and thy maid New York 5.9.79 Dear little Dick - I have been direfully sick with sciatica - a general misery - that's the truth. I'm afraid the nudge has thought I treated her very badly. if she is still a forlorn small nudge. but i have not had the energy to write to any one.I am going over to [Sit'r] for a day or so before going to Phila. – Send me a line there (I mean to Betty @?) if thee is well enough to send anything. Here is a "pome" that I think would make a [bore] laugh – so I send it. It made me grin when I was sick as sick could be – It is so unutterably preposterous. – Betty is here & sends dear love. Mine always, [H??] *Good thing for next public reading – eh? Like the [??] ? Phila [?] 10-79 Dearest daughter Thy welcome note received this morning relieved me from much anxiety at neither seeing or hearing from thee, but am truly sorry at the almost constant physical suffering of some kind to which thee seem to experience of late years, constitutionaly originally strong and healthy but broken down by too hard work, the effect of which will I fear attend thee more or less to the end of life's pilgrimage my precious child may they prove blessing in disguise to thee, gradually loosen thy affictions from this sinful and uncertain world and [lay?] durable rest and happiness in heaven.I am feeble and can walk but little, the weather continues very cool, and I take cold so easily. I have to be so careful in going out I have paid but few visits, but to the three last doing of Y Mt and to qr mtg, with two or three others, expect to take tea this evening at cousin Hawkins, the day I call'd on S Loyd did not see her, in consequence of her being by her dying sister E Bayleys bedside, she was be- reaved yesterday. Lee and Julia called last evening to see me next week with all their Y mtg so it will be better to defer thy coming until that is over which I hope this will do as soon as they can after, I expect to leave early next mo, I hope Lilibie will come on before I leave, I want to see her, but age and weakness forbids my accepting her kind invitation., love affectionately to her and regards to her husband Mary and Mother Moon send love to thee, dearly Mother Eliz: 6.3.79 Dear little Dick, See I recivd thy Phila last evening, & the last one this morning. All here goes well. Pa is friskey, & Jean is a wonderfully improved Jean from her western experience & Betty flourished with Lorenzo's work, & her washing done away. - She concluded not to get a girl in Mary's place for the summer I didn't send the letter to Harper's after all, but sent inPhila last [?] one this morning. All here goes well. Pa is friskey, & Jean is a wonderfully improved Jean from her western experience & Betty flourished with Lorenzo's work, & her washing done away. - She concluded not to get a girl in Mary's place for the summer I didn't send the letter to Harper's after all, but sent in the manuscript after coming over & am to hear from them on Saturday "A Ragged Keg" I have decided it to be Lou had gone to the Country before I left looking - ! She's not a raving beauty at any time & now - My Malaria has gone & roosted in my face, & I'm hanging on a hook for hear my teeth will grous - tho' they have stood the soreness very well. so far there is no question about the poisonous conditions of Phila,specially at 1326 .- I have been getting better of my aches & miseries ever since I came home. About the things: - I would get rid of what I want to get rid of there of all the rougher things matting &c. - &, if the others are not in the way, & can use as well for a month or six weeks, I would let them use, & decide their fate a little later, I am afraid thee is worried & sick & over weighted, but hope for the best for thee. Betty sends best love, always AnnaNo. 1326 6.15.79 Dear little Dick, --I bethink me of another name "A long talk by Anna Dickinson" Ralph writes me one of his queer screeds & says people dontcare anything about experiences, & Lyceums & things, but do care about a book by Anna Dickinson. How would it do to call it "A Book by Anna Dickinson." Here is a pretty bit of paper - So will do perhaps, for its short message. All goes well here. I am busy spite of my rampantlegs (otherwise sciatic legs) Julie has actually gone to New York for a few days, & Lou is spreading apace. I did not know Louise had been with you all this time, or I would have sent her a word, give her my love when thee sees her. - Lou to Mrs Davis, - be a good small child." always - AnnaNo. 1326 6.15.79 Dearest Maumee, No, I have not been to Mary's not yet to the Hawkin's - but will go before quitting Phila. I have been & am too busy to make visitations. Also it has been hot, hot, hot, & Ihave been too lame ot want to prance a great deal. All here are well, & Julie would return Maumee's message of love if she were here, but she has been actually besought into going to New York to stay on First Day. I shall be amazed if she is not summoned home tomorrow. Chan went his way yesterday, & I should think it would make a serious difference in the marketing bills, as he weighs well over 200 pounds, & beats Dr. Peck, - & Pete too - as an eater. I hope my Maum is well, & happy, & is a good little lion generallyand I send her my heart. Anna No. 1326 Arch St. Phila. 6.24.79 Dear little, bad little Skeeter, - I've got to go to New York (or to Lib's, - same thing) soon, to have a tooth doctored, & for divers & sundry, & so I think I'll try a New York publisher. I son't want to go to Boston, & I have no money to make a New England trip jolly & I want to push the book when its fairly in the p's hands. - So I've written to Harper's they tell me at Dr Mac's & in divers directions, they are the best. - Osgood is of course out of the question, & Lu & Shepard aside from being in Bostin are given to printing juvenile books chiefly. However if Harper's dont want the book I may still go to S. & S. I havent straightened on a name yet, - What does thee think of A Ragged Register.? They all like it here What is thee busy about? & how is life serving thee? I'm afraid thee is a poor forlorn little cat, - but hope that the summer is treating thee pretty kindly. - At least the weather must be good up in that region which is more than can be said in its behalf here be a good child, — always thine. A.D.Eliz. 7.3.79 Dearest little Maumee, —'pretty nearly the "4th." This will do in place of a fire-cracker! How is my dear little, bad little Maum? Is she eating & drinking & sleeping like a good little lion? or is she letting the summer serve her ill? All here goes well.& all send a great deal of love to Maumee & "Pa" complains of the non-appearance of the promised visotir. I had a nice confab with Mary, She says the Dr. is getting through with her torments & she feels that he will really cure her. She was very much amiss tho' on account of a direful neuralgia she had in her head the day before - Morten Moore waas lively, - & the old gentleman — well — I piad quite a visitation to Coz Wm & Sallie. - Coz R was away & did not come home, & I took my departure at last without seeing her. Coz Wm I thought was looking very well. Be a good little Maum says - with her heart - AnnaWednesday 7.16.74 Dear little Dick, - I have been so driven by the Harper's & the [Senate? Small?] book as to prevent a line to any one - to my great disgust, as I have been afraid that Dick, & the dear little Ma, would think I had forgotten them in their uproar & flitting. Did I writethat J. W. Harper took the book at once, & is putting on all & have to hurry it through It will make a pretty looking book, - smaller than I wish it were - (I mean in what is in it, not from its "make up") Still that will let it be sold for a dollar & that will be so much the better for it. I have made up my mind that I can never write a big book. I think I am putting an awful lot on paper but when it comes to be printed it is small enough! I am afraid you are too poor little willed mortals from the direful heat - & the worst of days for your transit, - but hope for a good report. All goes well here. Pa & Betty send love. - Betty cols, & says she has not written to Ma because her house keeping wears her so closely. More anon. Dear loveto both from AnnaEliz. N.Y. 7.1[?].79 Dear little Mammie, -here is the "proof" title page of the little book. of course it is larger that it will be in its bound shape. - I thought my mamma would like to see it. The book, I take for granted, will be out in a fortnight. How is my maumey, - & how is the small Dick? & what sort of a place s Honesdale: & the hotel? - & is there any pretty scenery A RAGGED REGISTER (OF PEOPLE PLACES AND OPINIONS) BY ANNA E. DICKINSON NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS FRANKLIN SQUARE 1879for mamma to look at? & how did the two small beings bear their journey. Mamma must write me word of herself & news. Betty sends her best love to both. Mine to Dick. I send mamma my heart. AnnaEliz. NJ. 7.25.79 Dear little Dick, I am more than glad to hear such a report of Honsdale - My own plans at present are a little hazy - I mean about movements for August, - but I hope to come up for a little stay. - Meanwhileplease to let me have an answer to Sit Lansing's question at once. I have often thought Mother would be more comfortable at a hotel rather than anywhere else. - You can do & order there as you like - that being the regulation pattern of things. Fortunately there is no need of coming to a decision for the winter for some time to come. If the "things" are not to be called into your use, I may take the carpets & one or two bits for Lib. - (or Betty) - I think she would like them - & she has more than "earned them" (!) The book, I suppose will be out next week. I have two or three other irons in the fire about which I will write when they are hotter. With dear love A.Eliz 7.25.79 Dearest little Ma, All goes well here, & everybody sends much love to the blessed being "wot" I call my Maumee. Betty says she will write so soon as she gets her hands free of work. She is to have a good girl next month.Eliz 7.25.79 Dearest little Ma, All goes well here, & everybody sends much love to the blessed being "wot" I call my Maumee. Betty says she will write so soon as she gets her hands free of work. She is to have a good girl next month.I can't get away from the neighborhood of New York just at present, but hope to before long. Meanwhile Lib. Lansing wishes to know what is the board per week at your hotel? she thinks she would like it for a little vacation "if it dont cost too much" - & she sends her love. I am very glad all is so nice there, & that my Maum is so well content, - & I send her my heart. AnnaMother Eliz. NJ. 7.31.79 Dear little Dick - I don't know whether you see the Herald or not, - so I send this clipping. I know nothing beyond what it says concerning the "publication this week" but take for granted it is authorized. I suppose Janette Tilder wrote the article, - it is well enough as such rubbishing newspaper things go, but I smiled at two items in the last paragraph - her "anecdotes quoted from other sources than her own experience" being exactly two, & one of them a very brief one. As to the other that "the book makes no claim beyond that of entertaining an hour or so" I think a book critic (!?) must be well up in his or her business if she can find nothing more than this in this bit of work without the claim. Certainly there is plenty of fun in it, & also certainly I have not put on a wig & gown to impress people but just as certainly the small volume is the boiled down though & experience of a dozen crammed in the life ofa not commonplace woman. Ellen Everest wrote me that thee had a very jolly letter in the [?] the other day that she was glad thee was evidently have so good a time. Thee all go Atlantic City for one month, to day. I am not quite sure in my mind for when I shall migrate for a little while to Honesdale, but rather think I will [next?] week. Julie sent me a line yesterday announcing the birth of a little girl & telling me that Lou was doing well. Dearest love to [?] - & Dick Anna