Anne Dickinson
General correspondence
Hertwig, J. G. 
1869-70Miss Anna E. Dickinson,
Philadelphia.
Madam : 
    Having taken the liberty, a 
few days ago, of introducing myself 
to you by a letter on woman's 
suffrage, I beg leave to molest you 
once more by these lines. I am doing 
so, because I entertain the highest 
opinion of your intellect, principles 
and patriotism. Being a German
American journalist, I should like 
to translate your book : What 
Answer ? into my vernacular 
tongue. I therefore most politely
submit the question to you, whether 
you would be willing to give me 
permission so to do ? 
     Hoping to be honored by 
a Yes or No from you,I am 
Most respectfully yours
J. G. Hartwig,
21 City Hall Place,
betw. Duane and Pearl streets.
New York, Dec. 30th 69.




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New York, May 19th 1870.
Miss Anna  E. Dickinson, Philadelphia,  Pa.
Madam:
A man's will is sometimes stronger 
than his achievements are. This confession 
I must make to you with regard 
to the translation of your book on manhood's 
suffrage into German. My present 
occupation - outside reporter of one of the 
dailies of this city for the branch indicated 
by the enclosed items - throws 
the only German sentence contained 
in your book [see page 20 line 17] in the 
way of my intention communicated to 
you. My interest however in your book 
and person or rather in your person and 
book is by this sad impediment indeed not altered at all.
     Not according to American fashion, 
for I was not legitimately introducedto you, but to German, which never
takes any offence in a decent letter
from a stranger, I beg leave to add the
following to the above. As to my view
there is a gap in the American press.
There exists no national paper in
this country. I mean a paper chronicling
exclusively the passing events
of the United States and to a certain
degree those of the whole American
Continent and its adjoining Islands.
Affairs in other parts of the world,
although they ought to be closely
watched for their teachings, ought not
to be mentioned in the paper at all,
except they have immediate relation
to America. The tendency of the
paper would be to show and maintain,
that the American people of
whatever elements composed, being
the freeest must become also the
best educated and wealthiest of all

nations on the globe. Considering
that New York is in principle the
least American of all cities of
the United States, she would be an
unfit place for publishing such a
paper. As for information by public
men and otherwise Washington City,
D.C., might be a better place for a
paper written in such a manner, as
to be equally acceptable to readers in
Maine and Texas or Florida and
Washington (Alaska) Territory. From
a business view a weekly paper
would be preferable to a daily:
Madam: What is your idea about
such a scheme or rather dream
and are you perchance able to
give me any practical advice to its
realization?
Humbly asking you for an answer,
I am most respectfully Yours
J.G. Hertwig,
21 City Hall Place, N.Y. City.In dupls.
New York, October 11th 1870.
Madam:
On the 3d inst. I wrote you a letter,
asking you for your friendship. Having
received no answer from you, I hereby
withdraw my request.
One remark I dare to make to you yet.
You commence your novel: “No
Answer!” with the words: “A crowded
New York street - Fifth Avenue” etc.
From these words I judge, that you
desire to live in Fifth Avenue, this
City. Do you know so little of the
history of your native land, that
you are not aware of the fact, that
the wealth of Fifth Avenue and
of this city generally has more or
less been derived from unrequited
sweat and toil of slavery, while
it existed in the United States?Blessed is, who does not live
in this abode of iniquity, vice
and crime!
Frankly Yours
J.G. Hertwig,
No 16 Market street.
Miss Anna E. Dickinson,
Philadelphia, Pa.