Anna Dickinson General Correspondence Hanaford, Phebe A. [1868-94, Undated]Reading - Nov. 13 - 1868. Dear Miss Dickinson, Lest I may not have time to say much to you tonight, I write a few words which I may hand to you after your lecture, together with a number of the Repository in which I have noticed your book. I thank you personally, for writing it, and my best wishes go with you in the work you are doing for humanity, and the good, especially, that you are doing in the woman's cause. I am trying to do what I can in the same good cause. As a preacher and pastor and editor I have had "plain sailing" till now I am counted worthy to suffer for being a woman (vide "Liberal Christian" of Nov. 7.) whereat I rejoice and am exceeding glad. I am also givento understand that the publisher of my magazine prefer that I should give them all my time, or relinquish my position - in other words cease to preach and lecture - to which I have replied that they have not money enough to hire me to be dumb, or to edit a magazine in which I may not plead for woman's rights, and thus I'd rather have 1/2 a loaf and preach than a whole one and not preach. So I cease to edit the "Repository" after this year. I shall be able to rest from the drudgery of proofreading, and go to bed at decent hours without fear of the devil. (calling for copy) Have you seen Harriet Honner? She came to my church in summer, and spoke many encouraging words to me. She said she thought women who chiseled marble and women who preached sermons ought to know each other. I regard her as a noble specimen of true womanhood, and the thoughts of... "Sunbeams and Shadows" "Historic Surges On The Sea Of Time" "The Round World" and Other lectures and poems Mrs. P. S. Hanaford, Editor of the "Ladies' Repository," Author of "Life of Abraham Lincoln," "Field, Gunboat, Hospital and Prison," etc., etc., respectfully announces a new Lecture-poem - "Sunbeams and Shadows;" - and that she will continue to lecture, in prose or verse, before Lyceums, Literary, Temperance and Benevolent Societies, on reasonable terms. The following notices of the press will indicate the favor with which some of these lecture-poems have been received: - "'The Round World' is the title of a sacred poem read on a recent Sunday evening , in the Universalist Church in South Reading, be Mrs. P.A. Hanaford of Reading. It is a poem of rare beauty and interest, and was read in a manner which quite delighted the audience that listened to it. We understand that she has been invited to repeat it in the same place. Mrs Hanaford is both a true poet and a fine reader. Her voice and manner are pleasing, and with the advantage she has in rendering her own productions, make her reading especially enjoyable." - The Universalist - (Boston.) "Beverly. Mrs. P.A. Hanaford read an admirable Poem, entitled "Historic Surges on the Sea of Time," at the Town Hall, on Monday evening, in aid of the Freedman's Aid Society. Mrs. H. advocates the freedman's voting, and believes Jeff Davis ought to be "dealt with," as a Quaker would express it. The Poem was well received by an attentive and appreciative audience composed of the most intelligent people of the place." - Salem Register The Beverly Citizen says that "it was a production of great merit, containing some very fine passages, and received, as it deserved, a high meed of praise from those who were present. We would commend Mrs. Hanaford to any Lyceum or Society which may desire a Poem adapted to the times, and delivered with a clear voice and in a lively, pleasant manner." Mrs. Hanaford may be addressed at Reading, Mass., care of Dr. J.H. Hanaford, or at the office of the "Ladies' Repository," 37 Cornhill, Boston, Mass. ... her example is inspiration to me. I wish you could and would lecture for me in my church at Hingham- only 6 miles on the same railroad, from Olympia's church, where you lectured. But then I could not pay you what she offered, for ours is a smaller and poorer church than that in Weymouth. We are having a course this winter for the benefit of our Sabbath School and Church. If ever the time comes when you are not pressed with other engagements, and can lecture for us, and appoint a time and price, I will send out a committee and see what we can do, for I should like to have you stand in my pulpit, and preach your gospel of righteousness in regard to woman, whether we make a single cent or not. I'm going to take my children too - and my sister to hear you tonight, and hope you will wholly convert my son (who expects to be a minister) to woman's rights. He believes in women's preaching but not in their voting. I must go to work on my sermon or I shall not have time to go and hear you tonight. Hastily P.A.H.All send love - even Lucy who was intending to hear you lecture. She is not -- any except in soul. New Haven, Conn. Sabbath morning, Feb. 9 - 1873 Anna darling, You don't know. I wonder if you can guess how sorry we were not to hear your lecture, and not to see you the other day. It was a real disappointment. I hope you shared it, though I do not generally wish to have others share any sorrows. I'd rather enhance their joys. But I do want you to love us well enough to share our regret when we cannot meet. We wanted you for your own dear self. We had decided to say to you, as ... soon as you arrived - "You are our guest. As such we wish you to be happy and undisturbed. We should like to talk with you about some of the matters you revealed to us last winter, and which have since been commented upon far and wide. We should like to know your opinion now in regard to those sad stories - but - it shall be left to you to speak or be silent on that topic." That was our resolve, and we should have carried it out to the letter and in the spirit, for we wanted you here because we honor and love you, and there are theories enough upon which we could have talked beside. We do wish you had just called on us, if no more, the day you were in town, but I suppose you were in haste. "The latchstring is always out" at 13 Horne Place, and in our hearts and at our board there is always room for you. So come when you can, and as often as you can. Surely you pass through this city sometimes so stop and see us. I have all this morning been enjoying Mary Clemmer Ames' book on the Carys.I wish I had known them as I perceive you did. But we all loved them. I met Mrs. Ames in Washington last April, and was pleased with her. So the "irrepressible Susan" is mythologically in jail, at last. I honor her pluck and persistency, and I know she enjoys being a martyr. She has been here since I saw you, and she asked me what she said of you, and I told her. She says she did not mean it - but - she said it, and Mrs. Livermore and I will not soon forget her tragic manner. Your brief letter reached me. When you have leisure, I shall be glad to hear from you again. One cat alone is left - I have also an dorg. Come & see. Affy P.A. Hanaford.New Haven, Conn. May 22 - 1873. Dear Anna - I suppose you are at home - the Winter campaign ended - and you in the midst of dressmaking horrors and joys - preparing for the country and to rest awhile. We felt sorry for your discomfort in the West - but somehow the good fat prices which you get for lecturing will go far toward reconciling one to much discomfort. 'Frances help me. Our puppies have dwindled to one, and at dinner time we have only Duchess Hanaford & Libby Kimo Miles (?) and Andreas Hofer Hanaford to adorn our dining room, and be waiters, in a cat and dog sense. I get a fine illustration every day of the Psalmist's words, "The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season." I hope you've seen Miss Cushman before this time. She is about going to Newport, and looks for her brother from England, with his family, next month. I've just closed a letter to Miss Stebbins and send it there. I am as curious as ever about the B.J.W. scandal. Sometimes I doubt, and again I believe. I wish somebody could assure me that Beecher & Tilton are both saints, and Mrs. Tilton an angel. Sometimes I fear she will never be happy till she dies and becomes an angel. I'm going to Longwood this year. Oliver Johnson has urged me to go, and I go. I suppose there is no other public talking woman who can go, or I should not be invited; but I will curb my ambition and be willing to fit into to any crevice. Better me, perhaps, than nobody. I shall take Florence with me - and if she gets happiness out of the new scenes, I shall be satisfied. Nellie goes as a speaker and reader: wish we could meet you there, but of course we sha'n't, for if you hadbeen going we should not have been needed. Why don't you take New Haven on your way somewhere and make us a little visit! Do, if you can. You will find loving greeting, and true hearts. "What's to hinder?" Come along. We'll battle in an amicable manner, or agree like turtledoves as Nellie says. Hope your dear Quaker mother - bless her! - is well. She shall not be made afraid by my puppies. But do you come and see them and us - after Longwood. Jesus aff'y P.A. Hanaford Love from us all. I suppose you know that our friend Anna Marble Rood is to be buried this afternoon. A wife and mother - and now an angel - in one short year! Her babe is alive [*[Hanaford]*] North Tonawanda Niagara Co. N.Y. May 24-1893. Dear Anna, I certainly intended to write to you much earlier than this, but as I know you heard from me everyday through our precious Nellie, I felt easy in my mind, though I delayed. Knowing your disinclination to write, of course I did not think I was depriving myself of a letter, which, when it does reach me, I shall prize. Dear Nellie tells me of the disappointment you had at Middletown. I anticipated it, for it is too near Seward, and there were other reasons. It was late in the season. It was not under the right auspices. The lecture you gave there before was not a Joan ofArc "(which is "simply perfect") and therefore not so likely to call out a second audience. Well - there were reasons enough to show that some other place should be preferred. But since it could not be helped - we must endure it. We who love you share your trials and disappointments; but we must all try to be hopeful. I am longing to hear that my dear Nellie has left that den of darkness and gone to Asbury Park. You will miss her, and I hope you will, so that you may hasten to follow her. Do go, and leave your trunks - or satisfy him in some other way. If it were my case I would place some valuables with somebody I could trust who had the money, and would give them back to you when you could redeem them (Phebe Hull might do it) and get away. You might be happier at less expense. I did hope you would use that John H. Money for your comfort and happiness at Asbury instead of wasting it on the desert air of Middletown in the red dress. You know I don't think as much of dress as you do, and, like yourself, I express my opinions freely. As you are sure I love you, you can bear with my "feeble remarks." But there seems to be no use in my planning for your comfort and enjoyment, as [you] we do not "see eye to eye" about some things. Poor dear Nellie! and poor me! have to go without dresses for a time, but we will have all we need some day. I hope we are to meet you at Asbury some time the coming summer, but I don't see the wayopening, and our advice seems to be thrown away when we give it. Not being on the spot perhaps I can't decide what was for the best, and I acknowledge your right to do as you please. I miss you & Nellie - of course I miss her who is a part of myself, so to speak - and I wish I had her here with me. She is wearing herself out for nothing - paying her $6 a week for "kitchen privileges" which are minus. But you know all that. I wish Paul Butler would write - or that you could hear from the Whittier family. I shall have to write to Dr. Putnam again. I saw by the paper that he was in Bklyn the other day helping to instal a successor in the church which my nephew attends, and of which his wife is a member. Bennett of the Herald is here, so say the papers - Has Judge Dailey assailed him as he ought ? How I would like to stir them all up to a useful activity in the direction of your claims! I suppose "Peggy the faithful" - the admirer of yourself and the adorer of Nellie, is now with Nellie. Well, I'm glad for her not to be alone nights. But I shall not be easy till she gets away from 12th st. She does not eat her meals - does not get a chance to eat - Clara is there most of the time; and she is running down, I fear. Oh for money enough to take her wherever I was and have her always "comfortable and happy". Did she show you Akers' letter to me? What a fuss Sorosis made, or others made in the press about Sorosis! Wish I had beenthere. Time for mail. Therefore hastily, but lovingly, goodbye - Ever your friend Phebe A. H.. Harry Hankins has written to me to remind me of Yearly Mtg. I went last year - and would like to this. Says Elias has moved to Bklyn. Love to my precious Nellie, Peggy, and all friends who inquire. P. A. H. This is written on Wednesday afternoon. I sent Nellie this morning. Her letter of the 22 - reached me to-day. At least it was mailed the 22 - I wish she wd always date her letters. But I am glad to get them dated or undated. Ben lies at my feet, in my room, as I write. She has renewed her acquaintance with me, and barks at me to get candy. How human in her selfishness. But I love her with all her faults, as I hope my friends love me - ?? in spite of faults. Dom. Thanks for papers. Miss Anna E. Dickson, New York, N.Y. 44 West 12th st. New York, N.Y. 336 West 51 May 18 - 1894 My Dear Mrs. Dickinson, I beg you will pardon my delay in responding to your letter which came duly, and was then mislaid. Today I have found it, and hasten to reply. I am sorry that I cannot give you Anna's address exactly. But you can find her, I think, if you go to the 2nd floor flat in the house, corner of 6th ave and 54th st. On the North West corner. She is probably with Mrs. Marion Booth Douglass.do her good, if she would let us. It grieves Miss Miles that she acts so. It makes me indignant. But yet we love her still, and could easily forgive her, if she would but let us. She does not realise what true friends she is ignoring. God help her into the light! Yours truly, Phebe A. Hanaford Pardon me I find I have written on two sheets - But I write in haste. If you can do her any good pray do it.She has withdrawn herself from Miss Miles and myself, so that we have not seen her since some time in early spring. Then she was abrupt in speech and unjust and unkind in manner to us, and surprised me so that I was half inclined to believe her insane, as so many have declared her to be. We have always said she was not, and we have strenuously declared that she used no liquors and drugs. But her behavior has been so ungrateful and unaccountable, that I am at a loss for a reason or an excuse. She was at 47 W. 12 from last October till March or thereabouts, and then we heard of her with Marion. We have not called on her because she seems not to desire to see us. Has not called on us since last October, and we have called on her. Miss Miles has cared for her tenderly and unselfishly, night and day, in sickness and in health, and she ignores her shamefully. But I leave you to find out for yourself. We love her for her old self and her grand work in other days. She is still an eloquent, gifted woman, but hides her light. We would gladlyMy Anna dear, Your Nellie loves you, and misses you and wants to see you. This is the third time I have come to you, since saw your dear face. Believe what I say, dear. Nellie, as ever.Dear Anna, We are sorry not to find you tonight. We wanted you to go with us to hear Miss Ghant. And I've got the book we wanted to read "Rachel Stanwood"- Do come and lets talk it over- Hastily but aff'y P.A.H.19 Home Place- My dear Miss Dickinson, I'm glad you had the refreshing sleep, for I think you need it. I know, by experience, how wearisome continual speaking is - at least how weary one becomes who speaks much. But I do want to have you call just a few minutes. I will not detain you long. I want to talk with you, and though I could call on you, and would rather do so than not see you, yet I want you to come and see my pleasant study and so be able to locate me, when you think of me,as I know you must sometimes do, for us women-workers have all an interest - or ought to have - in each other. I finished my letter to the "Boston Journal" this morning with a notice of your lecture last night. Of course it was favorable, for I think the lecture the best you have ever delivered in my presence. God bless you in your good work for our cause and His! Do come, just a wee bit of a while, if no more. Yours certainly- Phebe A. Hanaford. Shall I speak at Irving Hall? I mean ought I? - that settles the "shall" part.Mrs Hanaford