Anna Dickinson GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Isom, S. May, 1878 and undatedUniversity of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. McG. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. 1_ 18_ 1898. My darling Miss Dickinson: - This is one of Longfellow's "rainy days". I never knew just such a "long dark & dreary" one - I have been too miserable to enjoy working or even reading. I begun a book by Canon Farrar last night "Darkness & Dawn" & was so absorbed that I thought I should never want to lay itaside; but today even pagan Rome fails to interest me, tho' for some time I have found every thing along that line, of exceeding interest & from the pile of old books to be found in my revolving book case & on my table you wd. think I belonged to ancient Rome. Many people like "Darkness & Dawn" wc'h was published last year, better than "Quo Vadis,"but it has not the rhetorical & dramatic qualities requisite for stage University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. McG. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. (2) affect that is to be found in "Quo Vadis" - I have tried to condense this with a view to unity of presentation making each selection tell a Chapter in the progress- we love - story, any other method I thought wd. have broken the book up into disconnected scenes - I am not satisfied with my opening remarks & prologue to each sketch, neither am I satisfied withthe illustrations - I have sent to several stereopticon dealers in N.Y. and Boston and I think I can get some pictures that wd. suit me better than Little, Brown and Co's it's in a letter I had from them yesterday that gave me permission to use a half dozen of theirs - Some one is dramatizing the book and they were under the impression that I [wd] wished to do this also, I wanted to do this work before it was University of Mississippi Department of Elocution S. McG.Isom,Instructor Oxford, Miss. (3) put on the stage & could do so very easily if I had nothing else to do, but when I return from my work and walk every day at noon I am very much exhausted and remain in almost a comatose condition the rest of the day. Recently we have had at different times two ladies from Chicago whose husbands leave them here while they [drum?] or [bu??] in this partof the world. There are no other ladies in the hotel & they seem to look to me to entertain them at all hours of the day & night. If they happened to be here a the same time they might entertain each other but unfortunately for me they are never here at the same time & as Miss Ben Butler (not of silver spoon notoriety) is not particularly fond of reading & likes to talk between her fancy stitches, to her next door (4) neighbor why I of course have to be a willing listener tho' upon my word I do not hear one half she says. She decided yesterday to go out to the country on a quail & duck hunt so I expect to have my mental equilibrium restored. I shall try to accomplish much in my work during the next fortnight - How are you & Mrs. Ackley this dreary weather? It isn't evenUniversity of Mississippi, Department of Education; S. McG. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. very dreary in N.Y. however It seems that we are to have here a repetition of the floods that caused so much ruin & desolation last Spring. The South seems to be drowned any way. They predict a general scourge in this part of the world next summer, you know they had a doz cases of yellow fever in N.Y. last week & four deaths. They say the city is free (5) of people suffering with this disease but they will not report it. It is in the Station part of the City and it is there to stay too; this being the opinion of wiser heads than mine, a Student joined my class yesterday fresh from Biloxi, on the coach, & he said they still had fever in all those places & that his father Dr. Haroldson. Pres. of the Miss Board of Health,said that we worked certainly have it again this summer, but in a mild form. People are already making preparations or arrangements to fly in the early part of the season. We haven't had eno' cold weather to kill the germs in Memphis & they have had none at all in N.O. & South Miss, Its a gloomy out look for there poor people. I intent leave Oxford as soon as I can (6) get away and wish my Father wd. go too, but he wd. die sooner there leave it we sh'd have an epidemic of yellow fever. Have you ever been to see Miss Clay at 144 Fifth Ave? It wd. give her so much pleasure to see you again, I am disgusted with the reports that come from Whitehall Ky. It is time for old Cassius & Dora too, to dieIndeed it would have been better if he had died years ago before he married her - The Clays are all talented but very eccentric. - I wd. love above all things to see you this evening, in fact every evening, I have much to say to you that I cannot write. I have now to go to work on Seventy-six Ex. papers & the very thought makes me wild - Some of the hieroglyphics I cannot decipher at all as a Mr. Cassius Vesticus Lucius (this is really his name & Lucius is his surname) who boards here & whose majesty I without malice afore thought offended a few evenings since, He is a graduate of Columbia College in Law & Medicine & is here at the Univ for Miss law. I see in him the "Sin Oracle" you spoke of one evening when paying yr. respects to Univ. students generally, If you have many in yr Northern Colleges like this specimen of pomposity & assininity II agree with you in yr. Estimate of them- I must leave you here and last move closely into their assininity on Examinations I have a keen sense of humor and its well I can extract a little fun out of their papers. & that they can daily excite my risibles, else I think I wd. soon be defunct in Oxford- My regards to Mrs A. respect for yoself the best love of my heart. Even faithfully and fondly, S. Mcg I.University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution. S. McG.Isom, Instructor Oxford, Miss. Sunday night, April 9th, 1898 My darling Mrs. Dickinson : - I suppose I ought not to write to you tonight for I've been deeply and darkly blue all day; indeed for several days, I dare say it all comes from the condition of my "stomik." I haven't anything to aid digestion and then too, the four ladies who were in the Hotel have all departed and Thursday night I was frightened almostto death by the alarm of fire, I thought of crime it was in the Hotel & when I raised my window & threw open the blinds & yelled to know where the fire was, a feeble little voice come from a little nigger at 2 o'c in the morning, that it was in Mr Jenkins' furniture store, w'ch belonged to my Father & myself & in one of the upstairs rooms I had stowed many things very valuable to me in the way of books, pictures, and old things containing papers &c - Mr Jenkins had in the adjoining room Coffins, and no one had been University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. Mc. G. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. (2) in either of these rooms in weeks so he says - Just how the first caught is not known, but I heard yesterday, that one of the rooms on the same floor was used as a gambling den & in that case I am not surprised the place is in ashes today. I was partially insured, but Mr Jenkins lost everything, & my insurance will not by a great deal cover the loss, My Father neverinsured anything in his life & never lost by fire before, he has had the grippe for weeks & looks very feeble & I was afraid he w'd become excited that night, but he said very complacently that he had lost no money by not insuring all these years & he w'd build again at once, - I think hereafter I shall carry [a] heavy insurance on everything - I am nightly expecting this Hotel to go up in flames, & I jump up very often & rap with great force with the brass handle of an immense University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. Mc. G. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. (3) pair of tongs, for Miss Hickey & Sons, in room's just below me - When I hear them & know they are awake & sniffing the air for the smoke I declare I was almost suffocated with, why I get back to bed & sleep the rest of the night very quietly - It has just happened so, that the ladies who board here all left last week, Some of them are coming back in a day or two & I shall certainlyfeel relieved, You w'd laugh to see me bolting & locking doors & windows everynight & then lowering the transoms & putting a pistol, lamp & matches & the tongs within arms reach of my bed, Several weeks ago, some one tried to enter several rooms in the Hotel & since then I've been utterly miserable at night & since the fire Thursday night, in a most nervous state, If there ever was a time [that] when I needed the Junction prescription, it is now; but not until I wing my flight for the summer University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. Mc G. Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. (4) can I hope for this relief. Did you get the N.C. papers I ordered to be sent you from Conn? Mrs Robinson is going there & wants me to do so, & I thought it wd. be a delightful atmosphere for Miss Clay & myself. She wants me to decide upon N.Y. or California, but I shall think twice before taking any step away from Oxford permanently. 'Tis true I am not very happy here but as long as I [am] have my business, I can manageto keep alive in that, & I might be very much alive in other ways, & very dead from a business standpoint elsewhere - eh? Miss Clay has had a very bad winter, was ill for weeks, then recd a fall from w'ch she is just not recovering, She was unable to move for six weeks, She wrote me very beautifully about you, said she wished she had never seen you since you would neither allow her to come to you nor come yr.self to see her - Why won't you call to see her some time when you are near University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. McG Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. (5) 144 Fifth Ave? How did you come out with yr. case this time in Court? I sincerely trust everything went your way & will continue to do so, Are you exercised over War? I seldom read much more than the head lines & Editorials, I am more interested in our "Fake" Champêtre our debates, Contests &c. I sent you an invitation for the 23rd. I wish youwere here for me to read you some of the replies in Shakespeare's words Some are splendid & some most comical & would make you laugh a week I sent several invitations to Jackson & Ex Gov, Lowry had a beautiful notice in the Clarion about my Mosaic as he termed it, I will send you a Menu card if I can ever get it to suit me. No "quart of Sack" allowed, so I determined to lease the milk & water crowd, & put on the menu "Aqua Vitae" wc'h [is] comes nearer being the death of me than the water of life. Such is life in this Varsity town- ! I long for the [lov] sight of University of Mississippi, Department of Elocution, S. McG Isom, Instructor, Oxford, Miss. yr. vanished glass & the sound of the glug, glug, glug, that is still, forever still here, but I am glad to know that this spirit still lives in N.Y. - Please remember me most kindly yo Mrs Ackley & believe me always, Fondly & faithfully yours, S. McG. I.Elocution and Oratory. S. McG. Isom. Dear Miss Dickinson: -- Will you appoint a day & hour when I can have a short conference with you on a little matter of business? I shall not remain in N.Y. much longer & in justice to my self as well as to you, I desire to see you. I have engagements for Saturday aft'n & evening - As ever, Yr loyal friend. S. McG. Isom. 42 W. 17" St.- Oct 20" '98. [University of Mississippi, Oxford.] Elocution and Oratory S. Mc. G. Isom. 42 West 17th St, New York. Oct 27th. 1898. My dear Miss Dickinson: - Having written you several times & not having recd an answer I fear the letters may not have reached you & I will therefore take the precaution to have this registered as it is of considerable importance to me - In the letters referred to I requested an interview with you concerning the $150.00 which you requested me by(2) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory S. McG. Isom. letter in March 1897 to send you saying you would return it in a very short while. It was a great pleasure Miss Dickinson for me to be able to accommodate you & it was never, nor is it now my intention to press you - You know I have had many losses by fire & fever & just at this time, this sum which seems small to you will be of great value to me. If you can pay me at this (3) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory S. McG. Isom. time, I feel sure you will do so & if not you will be glad to sign the enclosed note & have it endorsed by some responsible party, or see me & let us decide upon something you possess which I will hold as its equivalent & return to you when the money is paid - I think this should have been done in justice to me long ago & in the event of your death I would have been thus protected, I am sure you will appreciate my position & the spirit in which this is written for notwithstanding(4) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. your cruel, heartless & altogether inexplicable treatment I still care for you & I want you to believe me when I say, if ever in the years to come you should need me & it is in my power to assist you in any possible way, it will be my pleasure to do so, tho' you have wounded me deeply & almost broken my heart. Possibly we shall know each other better, when the mist has rolled away - University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. Wishing you the richest measure of success - I am always, Your friend. S. McG. Isom. I shall ask that you let me see you or hear from you by Sunday night - S. McG. I.University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. 42 W. 17th St. N.Y. Nov 2nd 1898 My dear Miss Dickinson : - I think it really is beneath me & you too, to care to follow up all the mischief making of people so infinitely inferior, I went to see Miss [Sleetsvon?] & she says "I told Mrs Ackley that I had seen you many times each summer for six years & never had you mentioned indebtedness until Miss D. had(2) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. treated you so badly & [near?] then the gift or amount of each gift" &c Since Miss Ackley attends to my affairs I will send her a statement of as near the exact amount as I can get She is as truthful in the $10.00 statement as she has been in other things - I wish her to know too, that Mrs Allen said weeks ago that she did not care if I told you what she had to say about the Butler mugs, so she failed there to cause trouble (3) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. As for the "poor Miss Finch" with whom you bait, she said so sympathized, Miss S. & all my friends in this house & out of it with whom I talked & showed bills, agree that I was a simpleton to allow myself to be fleeced by such a disreputable woman - With the exception of Mrs Ackley the people with whom I have discussed this matter have had a high toned sense of honor & justice - I don't see how I(4) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. can remain a friend to you when you are associated & influenced by such a woman. I desire more than ever now the note or statement . I asked you for & w'ch you said you would give, It is to secure myself from this woman in the event of yr. death, I realize how I would be treated. I do not mean Miss Dickinson, in asking this to join with others who are certainly going to sue you, for if I did, I could (5) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. easily send home for my box to be opened with your letter therein & get the "stub" from the Hanover National Bank here - I shall do nothing to wound you or hurt you, depend upon that, Mrs Ackley like the Janitress told you only things that wd. stir up strife & not the pleasant things Miss S. says she said about my friendship & love for you. I questioned Mrs Ackley's friend the janitress & she said very truthfully that I had asked about where(6) University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. she supposed you had gone to Court &c &c. I said why did you not say that I said, "I am a devoted friend to Miss Dickinson & feel worried, but I suppose she is troubled & worried, too over business matters" - It all amounted to nothing, but such suspicious people can make a great deal of mischief & therefore I shun & avoid them, How I long to get you into a beautiful pure atmosphere University of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. I had rather lay you in earths arms today than to think of you surrounded as you are - Do not talk with Mrs A. about me or my affairs Send me the statement & tell her you did so. This is all so disgusting & humiliating & distasteful to me as I know my dear Miss Dickinson it must be to you it all savors of tenement house quarrels - I wish for severalUniversity of Mississippi, Oxford. Elocution and Oratory, S. McG. Isom. reasons that you would come & adjust this matter as my friend should, in a dignified & amicable way. Remember if you have anything to say about my affairs, let it be to me - if I do not hear from you by Thursday aft'n I may call at yr. door when I shall wish to see you only, Believe me always, Faithfully yr. friend S. McG. Isom Would you care for me to go to see Mrs Allen with you, Do not send another, -73 West 94th St. N.Y. Sunday aftn. My dear Miss Dickinson :- "My frame of mind: Sat aft'n & evening was worse than when I saw you Friday - Truly, "troubles never come in single copies," My beautiful white tooth No 21 crumbled to dust Friday noon & the entire work was to do over & extracting these teeth pivoted & rivitted & cementedalmost caused me to go wild - I am better today & hope to be equal to accepting an urgent invitation from Dr Russell & his Sister, to Mrs Collins & myself to spend Monday & Tuesday with them at Trinity Rectory Waterbury, Conn - I shall speak to him in regard to your lecture & will see you on my return when I hope I shall be less perturbed in mind & soul than when you last saw me, With the best love of my heart, Faithfully always - S. McG. I.Hôtel de l'Europe LUCERNE Lucerne, le Aug. 2nd '9[6?]. ?MES? Hô? Grand Hôt? PEGLI près GEN? BUCHER-DURRER Propr. Only a piece of Edelweissw'ch come from one of the loftiest peaks of the Alps yesterday - 'Tis but a thought & enclosed with my hearts best love - We leave for Milan to_morrow. Ever affly yours. S. McG. I.Will you please let me see you - before I go? It is on a matter of business very important for me to have arranged before I leave the city & I shall have to see you - S McG IsomYes, I know I said in my haste & wrath tht I would never call to see you anymore, I must have meant that week for Monday after found me trying to gain entrance at your door & it might have been a ghost, but I heard a voice cry distinctly "Nevermore," I supposed you were out (of humor) or else playing the Butler act upon your yet more beastly friend. Aren't you coming to see me or going tohouse will substantiate what I say. I have regretted not going for many reasons particularly when I saw the class of passengers on board & heard what Dr Jenkins & others had to say about the safety of that line. But there's no use mourning over "lost opportunities" - My life is made up of mistakes & regrets & I might add "blind infatuations" - Will you appoint a time when you will be at home to see me, or when you will call allow me to be admitted into yr. presence again? Have you been prostrated with the heat or have I offended you & you don't care to see me which? I am certainly [if] very innocent of any offence & when I told you Thursday that I would leave Friday I had expected to do so & had written home to that effect & not until Friday A.M. did Mrs Deihl say the outside room could not be had for "love or money" Mrs Galt & others in the here? It is a long way & I want to see you when you come - Faithfully yours S. McG. I. Wednesday Noon - My dear Miss Dickinosn: - "Night brings wisdom" - I have realized how absurd it was for me ever to have gone to a "Clairvoyant" to learn anything of my own life, & how foolish it was for me to listen to any thing she had to say about my friends whom I love & in whom I believe implicitly no matter how many "[Dribls?]" try to poison mymind - I am extrememly sensitive & suffer violently, almost to madness, when I am told disagreeable things, I can never forgive myself for repeating the words of that "Charlatan" but I can forgive you for all the unkind things you said to me - I have allowed myself to be the most utterly miserable woman in all the word for five days & could I have left N.Y. Tuesday aft'n would have been insane to have gone - I shall be out at 94th St either to-night or in the morning & will ask you to let me see you a few moments - I shall probably leave monday & want also to get Dr W's "Menticulture" - Yours faithfully always S. McG. I. Friday, Noon -NEW YORK POLYCLINIC Medical School & Hospital A CLINICAL SCHOOL FOR GRADUATES IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY 214 TO 218 EAST 34TH STREET. New York, Monday - My dear Miss D. Geo' Riddle showed me yesterday in the Globe a notice of the fever in Miss & several suspicious cases at Oxford - I left Boston at once & came up here to make inquiries of Mr Wholleben & he had telegrams today yesterday saying Eight experts had declared 18 cases at Oxford & in almost every town on the Ill Central & people were flying still in all directions. My Father Familydid not leave with the [?] citizens who left the town when it was declared at Orwood since [?] away & they have all been exposed to it now & I know will not leave; the town is deserted, except by those who have been exposed. I have sent two telegrams to know if I could not get to there by private conveyance from Corinth. No trains have been allowed on the Ill Central from Memphis to N.O. - I am awaiting an answer. Dr. Wyeth has also telegraphed I may go any moment I am wild to get to my Father. I know he will have the fever New York Polyclinic Medical School & Hospital A clinical school for graduates in medicine and surgery 214 to 218 East 34th Street New York, or he could not stand it at his age - I would come up to see you, but I am hoping every moment to get answers - I was never so miserable Come & see me & if I am gone, you may know I wanted to say good bye. In haste & in trouble. S. McG. IsomUniversity of Mississippi Oxford. Elocution and Oratory. S. McG. Isom. Dear Miss Dickinson: I wrote you last Thursday & requested you to appoint a time when I could have an interview with you on a little matter of business. I dislike to insist upon seeing you where my presence seems an annoyance to you; but if I can see you a few moments I can better explain, than write on this subject. At what hour to-morrow or University of Mississippi Oxford. Elocution and Oratory. S. McG. Isom. Thursday can you see me? I am & shall hope to remain always, Your sincere & loyal friend, S. McG Isom. 42 W. 17th St. N.Y. Oct 25th. 1898.My deqar Miss Dickinson : - I send the article w'ch Mrs Ackley kindly offered me yesterday with very many thanks for the same - The picture is a disappointment to me however I send it as a sweet little thought I had of you in Venice I hope you are better today. I am not atall well, but if you do not come before 2 o'c & I am equal tothe effort I will call to say goodbye Excuse paper &c My trunk has gone & with it all my belongings - With love & in great haste Yrs. faithfully S. McG. I. CIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSTLANTIQUE Alger PAQUEBOT á bord, le Miss Dickinson, 405 West 22nd St.Wed. A.M. I write to say I escaped only with my life last night when the Hotel was burned to the ground I wrote you the night before or Sunday that I was afraid ot w'd go up in flames, some day & last night again at 2 o'c the alarm was given, & I had only time to throw on my wrapper & rush madly out in the dense smoke which strangled me & blinded me so I could not see & fell down the back stair way & made my way in my bare feet out of the house - I can't realize that my books & pictures & every thing that I had [is in] went up in an hour If I had only insured Monday as i thought of doing. I didn't have one cents insurance. Miss Hickey nothalf eno' to cover the loss Negroes carelessness caused it & the kitchen [w] caught first & the whole house on that side was in flames before any one awoke - My Father sent for me & the [Petere's?] made me come here & put me to bed where I've been shivering & quivering like an aspen leaf - tho' they gave me a bottle of whiskey I had a presentiment that something fearful was going to happen & why I didn't insure is [my] something I can't forgive myself for now, tho' no money could buy all my annotates books I studied with Murdoch & my marked copies of Shakespeare with every intonation &c as Booth gave the plays, each time, I had accumulated a beautiful library & I didn't save one thing, I so often thought I wd, in case of fire, duplicate my plays & put copies in the Book vault, where I happened to have some papers, I have sent for the dressmaker & sewing women & hope to have something beside my wrapper & gown by Friday My Father says I was fortunate to escape with my life, & when I mourn over my losses last week & last night he tells me I am not grateful - I may be doing a negro a great wrong but I beleive the Porter that Miss Hickey made furiously mad & dismissed last week, set fire to the kitchen, he didn't like me either as I told him Mrs H. was perfectly right in dismissing him for his insolence They are full of revenge & don't carewhat they do, tho' in this case I may be doing [Sel?] an injustice Coming events certainly cast their shadows before, for a week I felt that something terrible was going to happen & felt uneasy & wretched every night when I wd. go to bed so ready for burglars but not fire. Two drummers came nearer being suffocated than I & had to come down from the gallery on a ladder I can't imagine who all this ill luck is following me, I feel that I will have to begin anew, & in my work i can;t for any price have my books replaced. All my Quo Vadis papers & all my M.S.S. that I had just arranged with a printer here to publish, & little treasures &c &c no money can buy - Yr. letter came Monday AM, & yr. sweet little reminder went up all to soon in flames. It was bad luck that it did not reach me Sunday. Your letter pictures & all that I valued of my sweet Mother were of course lost too - What does it all mean? Excuse pencil &c - I am prostrated & in bed flat upon my back - I don't fear anything very much now - yours in the depths — S.McG.I.My dear Miss Dickinson : - I will not see Mr MacKay after Friday a.m. so if you have rec'd his book, will you be so kind as to bring it to me Thursday evening - I am very busy during the day & so tired at night that I do not feel equal to the effort of walking to your house - I hope you are quite well thisbeautiful morning In great haste S. McG. I. If you have not destroyed the New Eng. Magazine, will you cut from it the "Fools of Shakespeare" for me?Saturday - I am at last in the mountains of East Tenn - where the air is delightful, food good & water the best in this country so I hope to improve Will write you tomorrow Address me at Tate Springs Granger Co. East Tenn - Via Moorestown - I hope you are well - with love S. McG. I. Thursday P.M. Dear Miss Dickinson :- I have tried every day this week to get up to see you but it has been impossible I have to go down to see Mr Harrison [??] so if I come up to see you it will be about 10 in the forenoon if not then, about 2 P.M. I was dragged to the Theatre & witnessed a very creditable performance of Julius Caesar but hardly equal to Booth & [Bor?] It is refreshing however to see an attempt made at the legitimation. I hope you & Miss A are quite well, I [was?] better in mind & body Hastily yrs. S. McG. I. [*If you will be otherwise engaged tomorrow leave the message with yr. janitor - it will be all right —*] 42 W. 17"St. N.Y. Wednesday 7 a.m. My frame of mind is more spiritual than it has been in some time, so unless otherwise ordered I am coming up to see you after dinner this evening. If you will not be at home, send me a message & I will come some time to-morrow Hastily yours S.McG.I. Tuesday Noon - I did not write you last night for on my return some the League where you drove me, I found a letter from St Louis to Mr [W??lleben?] saying that his family had flown there & that all trains up North Miss had stopped last Friday & 2000 people left on special trains, I can have no communications except by wire I have wired both my father & Banker but can't hear one word, so shall not leave for a day or two or until I do hear from them - The fever is all over Lafayette Co, people having been exposed not knowing it was yellow fever, i fear my Father has been exposed to it & am most miserable [*Could [??] I will not drive you from my abode. S. McG. I.*]Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*?ate Spring Tenn.*] Miss Anna E. Dickinson No 135 West 98th St New York City Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*New York, N.Y.*] [*9.30.98 2 A*] Miss A.E. Dickinson 135 West 98th St New York City. Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*New York Aug 31 930 AM*] Miss A.E. Dickinson 135 West 98th St New York City. Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*New York N.Y. Station*] Miss Anna Dickinson 135 West 98th St New York City.Oxford Miss. May 7th. Will you send some of the notices to Mr [Derthre?] or shall I do so? Would you write to Henry Wallerson & send him the papers? If not, I can do so for you - I am so happy that yr. lecture was such a grand success in every particular - How I sh'd have enjoyed seeing & hearing you - I have sent the papers to [Scorsal?] Junction Editors - W'd like to write you at lengths but I am not well & my burdens are great - I had expected to study with Vegin this summer but since the sorrow that has come to us & particularly to my father, I am afraid to put the water between us - tho' he urges me to go - At all events I shall be in N.Y. soon & hope to see [*you Will you leave the city before June 8th? If I decide to go to London will sail on that day Yrs. S. McG. I.*] Wed. night. You will see I am still in the city & trouble & worry never came upon me till now I am detained here by the atrocious conduct of that thief & liar Finch, I have consulted a lawyer I may have her arrested. I would like to come & see you on some important business: I know my presence has been disagreeable to you all summer but this is a matter of importance in w'ch I am necessitated to talk with you - With sincere regards Very truly S. McG. Isom [*I shall call about 2 o'c tomorrow*] Sat. a.m. I was indeed sorry not to have been at home yesterday after. The girl told me you w'd see me last night or this a.m. so I did not go to 135 as I had expected to do, I have an engagement with Mrs Caulkins at 2 o'c this after', but if she doesn't come will try & see you some time during the after', or possibly tonight, however if you are going out do not remain at home on my a/c, Hastily yours, S. McG. I. Sat. a.m. I am & have been since last night in mortal agony with my teeth. If the dentist relieves me I will call for a little while after dinner; however if you [were] are going out, do not stay at home on my a/c - Yours &c S. McG.I.Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*?*] [*? May 7 8 PM 189? Miss*] Miss Anna E. Dickinson No 226 East 50th St. New York Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*Third Ave Dist Gar. N.Y. City 8-25 TR 19*] [*New York Aug 25 930 AM*] [*8-25 98*] Miss Dickinson 135 West 98" St. New York City Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*New York Jul 23 ?30 PM*] [*7-23-98 2-1*] Miss Anna E. Dickinson No 135 West 98" St New York City. Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*New York, N.Y.*] [*? 89 2-1*] Miss Dickinson. 135 West 98th. St. New York City.42 W. 17th St. Tuesday I wrote you a frantic letter yesterday from the Hospital where I had first read letters from Mr. Wohllebens "panicky" family - I have read telegrams & letters & cards galore today & my father refuses to believe the "yellow fever experts", & he & my family are one of the fifty families remaining in a town of five thousand. He wired me that I cl'd not get home under any conditions but not to be alarmed about them. When the experts declared the cases suspicious, there was a second exodus, & all trains have been abandoned Miss Clay wired she could not get here - Isn't it a sad & disastrous state of affairs. Come see me. I shall not be at home Wed [*morning - Yours with love S. McG. I.*] Monday I had expected to go to see you Sat aft'n, but have read such discouraging reports from home that I was at the telegraph office most of the day - St Louis & N.O. papers state Oxford the "fever Center" I have lost two of my best friends, one the cousin of Dr. Russell My father & all the local & by means are now convinced that it is a "malignant type of yellow fever" - I saw old Ma & Mrs. Jenkins who are just here from Oxford & they say the situation is truly disturbing & the Petitt family will not leave on account of Father's not going. I expect daily to hear [*of sickness & death in my family & the authorities will not allow me to enter We have all sent telegrams today but no answer I was never so miserable Yours S. McG. I.*] Oxford Miss. May 2nd. '97- I have been too ill to write you a letter of congratulation. I am just as happy over your victory as I would have been over my own. I was so anxious about the trials & wrote you twice - Cannot imagine what became of my letters - Indeed the papers have been silent I saw a little notice of a few lines several days ago in the St Louis G.D. & it mentioned the 6 1/4 Cts & said "if Anna has not lost some of her Eloquence she will be heard on this subject" - My Festival was a great success, but made me sick - I will write you when I am able to be up - Yrs. &c Sincerely, S. McG. I. 42 West 17" St Sept 12" 1898 Dear Miss Dickinson: I am going to Boston tomorrow for a weeks work with Geo' Riddle I wrote you a postal last Tuesday & told you I was necessitated to remain in the City I haven't heard anything from you I thought possibly you did not get it - I leave at 530 o'c via Fall River Line, wont you come & wish me "bon voyage" or call here & let me say "goodbye sweet heart goodbye," [*Yours hastily S. McG. Isom*]Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*9-21 98 2P N.Y.*] [*New York N.Y. Station ? Sep2?*] Miss Dickinson. 135 West 98th St. New York City. Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*9-26 98 9P N.Y.*] [*New York N.Y. Sep 26 ?*] Miss A. E. Dickinson 135 West 98" St New York City Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*Oxford May 6 PM*] [*5-4-97 2P N.Y.*] Miss Anna E. Dickinson 135 West 98th St. New York City. Postal Card - One Cent United States of America This side is for the address only. [*9-12 98 ? N.Y.*] [*N? St? 330PM*] Miss Anna Dickinson. 135 West 98th St. New York City.Dear Miss Dickinson I went up to see you & Miss Cave??? this aft'n fully beleiving that it was to say "goodbye forever" - Mr [Wohalleuben?] read me a letter form one of his sons in Nashville saying we heard that Dr Howe had the fever - I wired home to our minister, & learned to-night by wire that it was a "false alarm" & also that even tho' my father had been sick there was no possible way for me to enter oxford or LaFayette Co _ I had fully made up my mind to go south _ I was sorry not to find, you at home - Next time I'll write a card - If I come to dine with Mrs C. Friday I'll call by & see you about 3 or a little later - Yrs. &c. S.M.I. #44 West 17th St. 17th St Friday. July 1st '98 We reached here this a.m. exhausted. If I am equal to it I will come out to see you tomorrow Sat. after luncheon & if it is impossible I will come after dinner about 7.30 or 8 — I never was so overcome with the heat It is warmer here than in "Ole Miss." I am anxious to see you. With love for [* yr.self & Mrs A. Affly S. McG. I. *]Postal Card. One Cent. United States of America. THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY. [*New York 1030 PM*] Miss Dickinson 135 West 98th St. New York City. Postal Card. One Cent United States of America THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY. [*New York N.Y. Station 0. Jul ? '98*] Miss A. E. Dickinson. No 135 West 98th St. New York City.5 University of Mississippi Department of Elocution. S. McG. Isom, Instructor. Oxford, Miss. number many thousand there not & Miss T. is in with them & her brother in law & relatives have influence in other clubs & organizations, so she might really do good work for you, She is a good worker herself & is kind & sweet when she isn't mad with you - I forgot to send yr. address You promised to write me a line every week & its now more than a fortnight since I left N.Y. & not one word have you addressed to me, Idon't want to reproach you but if you would write me even every ten days, I'd be happy. About this tho' & everything else I am going to use a little of Whitcomb Riley's philosophy. "Haint a goin' to worry any more Haint a goin' to fret & fuss about it We'll get what's comin'[g] to us, shore, Er thank God, we'll git along without it" - Have you seen Mrs Pickard & the lily white pedal extremity since I saw you? After this year Miss Dickinson I want to go with you on the stage, I have a splendid opportunity for study here as I have so much time alone, Will you direct me & suggest what I had best concentrate upon? Make up yr. mind to come South the last of Oct."Once more into the breach dear friend once more" We are here safe but not very sound after rather a turbulent voyage on the French line w'ch doesn't believe in Godliness or anything next to it - i am awaiting a letter & may bring my flight forward any day = Wont you come to see me today? I will be at home from 12 to 3 & after 6 o'c this evening, I shall be even happier to see you than I was my own sweet land of liberty, With sincere affection faithfully & hastily, S. McG. I 120 W. 21stMiss Isom. University Mississippi. Miss Isom. University Mississippi.