Anna Dickinson General Correspondence Phillps, Wendell 1863-1868 undatedSept 10 '63 My dear friend, The Rondouters say, flatteringly, that perhaps a word from me might influence you to accept their invitation - they are most excellent folks, & make visitors very happy - this I testify having proved it often - they pay me $40 - whether you can afford to so for that or whither they can afford to give you more deponent knoweth not - these terms (less than $50 & $100 terms) are conveniently sandwiched in between theirMy dear child - now perhaps that's not very respectful - but you often feel how far best are the words that come first to your lips - So I'll let it stand & say how much, try to say how much, I fatter neighbors, to fill otherwise vacant evenings I hope your triumphant success has made you think some of us saw your future better than you did when we talked it over in Dover St times I traced your flashing tracks with most sincere delight, very faithfully Yr Wendell PhillipsThank you for your generous sympathy. I have no words to tell you how much I feel it & dont want you ever to be in circumstances to learn the value & dearness of such stanch comradeship & support. Be sure I shall never forget it. If anything could make me follow your course & watch your words with more interest this intuitive & thorough understanding of your question & fearless standing by it would - Let me add too on my private accountApril 9 ['61?] My dear friend You know too well how much those once helped presume on the goodwill & seek to lean on strong & friendly arms. I needn't quote the time honored proverb. But "Oliver asks for that I have not been silent on certain occasions because I did not feel your great personal kindness to me very cordially & faithfully yours my dear friend, Wendell Phillips Anna E Dickenson Dec 65more, you did great favors last May, so we come to ask still more for next May; the 8th the morning our Amn. & AntiSly Socy. holds its anniversary in Cheever's Church. Will you, can you come & talk twenty minutes or half an hour for us? If you are anywhere within reach, do help us, do the Nation good. Set the Anniversary week (help set it) to the right time - & give us all so muchreal pleasure. You know how seldom I've heard you speak. I am obliged to know you tour fifths by report. Come & I know I shall cry out 'the truth has been not halftold'. Do say yes if you can, think of the Nation's peril. Yours faithfully Wendell Phillips Anna E Dickenson [*Answer if convenient as I wish to announce the speakers.*] My wife bids me hold the pen & let her say My dear young friend I cannot tell you with what a brush of sunshine your magnificent basket & lovely note gladdened my room. Many beautiful flowers have I had sent me but yours surpass them all - Among the well & happy you cannot realize how very much pleased we long time invalids are to be remembered. The tone of your note was so real that you seemed to come into my room & sit down beside me - within came your fresh [?] life - it was a pleasant night & very kind in you to make it. Trusting that useful & well hours are before you, I am Gratefully cordially yours Anna M[?] You see she is not aware how I scolded you for such lavishness - I am a [?]but could she hold her own then as of old - you I better understand the deep joy with which she cherishes your heavenly beautiful note the superb frame it came in - 'twas a very thoughtful kindness - shall we ever learn how fitly to acknowledge such? Faithfully yours Wendell Phillips Miss A.E. Dickenson June '6[?8] Dear friend I am very desirous Miss Dickenson should receive this soon will you please either forward or keep it just which you think will make her get it earliest Obliged Yours Wendell Phillips Apl 9'66 Miss DickensonOct 28 '68 Dear friend Who lost most during that visit, so ill timed for me! But I won't write you- not believing you & I shall ever gain one step in understandingunderstanding each other by that medium = Bad luck to him who invented reading & writing - nothing but muddle & confusion comes of them. When we meet five minutes sitting on a dock, the sea in front & rainclouds overhead will set us all right - won't you wait & postpone all misconstruction till I have that chance of defense? I think the telegraph clicks 'yes', at leastI'm determined to believe so - Why you ought to grant me plenary indulgence if only in consideration of the Mt. Blaver of fuss I've had trying to obey you in the matter of Newark. Goodbye till such time as we need no pen between us Yours cordially W Phillips Dec 22 '60 My dear friend I am just home from a lecture tour and hear you have returned to Philadelphia ill. I have been very ill. Be sure we all sympathize most heartily in your suffering & disappointment. arerejoicing in your recovery & just a little bit angry that you won't take better care of yourself. Won't you learn to be good? The papers say you intend to fulfil your New Eng'd engagements. That's right provided you're able for we'll treat you so much better than that inhospitable west where they kill you with kindness! But be sure you are well before you begin to work - don't risk anything - there're very few good folks around & we cannot afford to lose any, not even such a little trifle as your wee self. I hope now you're at home they'll make you be prudent. Does anyone ever make you do anything? Ann & I are truly & very sincerely Yr Wendell Phillips Aug't 13.64 My Dear Friend "There", as the boy cried who trod on the tail of his aunt's cat "I've gone & done it". That pesky Jamestown. I mislaid your letter, was sure you told me to respond to Preston, now find it was Bishop I ought to have believed in!! Will you consent to believe me stupidestof mortals & to forgive me? Will accepting Harlem - wholly because you endorsed it (without signing your name to the note, leaving me to guess handwriting) will that soften my awkwardness? What shall I do? I will buy a Common Prayer Book & cultivate all Bishops, Deans, vicars & curates & this Bishop of Jamestown with special reverence. Teach me the way & I will walk therein. I never see you in New England or rarely - the quality, I suppose of interviews must make up for quantity - I did once get rain soaked in your presence & I will remember one very pleasant minute of an interview, just before surrendering you once to S.B.A., in the cars. - This rainy season will easily enable me to repeat the first; perhaps some good fortune may duplicate the other sometime. Should you so far forgive my clumsiness as ever to address me on this Jamestown Episcopal business, remember my address is always Boston Your truly Wendell Phillips Miss A.E.D. Sept. 13 '67 Dear friend You should not yourself write such perfect notes if you wish other folks to write you - Who'd attempt to talk in De Stael's presence, lecture in Emersons or orate (horrid word!) infront of Demosthenes - By the way I doubt whether your little quaker self ever saw a statue of Demosthenes your great great, great, great, grand father! Did you now? Well I looked into your idol Arnold's book read the extract you fell in love with. Never saw it before. Guess it is from Sophocles. So the context looks - I am not scholar enough to remember - If I get a chance I'll ask somebody who knows something, were it only to get thereby a chance to write you again. If "somebody" says he "don't know" I'll keep writing that till "somebody" does know. Now confess I showed the hurt I had in your belief in my real friendship in the offhand, unceremonious cold Yankee (there that's the climax!) way I got rid of you the other day. If I had not believed that you believed in me enough to allow it I'd beenpolite as to any mere acquaintance. Old Hannah Avary the first Yankee there stocking (since my great great great great grandmother Dawley who was a poet & hence O W Holmes originated) said "no two were not really intimate till they could sit together reading, hours, without feeling it necessary to touch & I add" & till they can part uncivilly & still believe in each other. Goodbye take care of your health Yrs most cordially Wendell Phillips May '68 Dear friend, Your note relative to trips eastward or west this coming summer reached me daily- But absence from home and illness there must excuse my answering Perhaps I shall meet you at the anniversary. If so (may it be so!) we will talk the matter over and you will allow me to offer my suggestions- If you are not able tobe in NYork, I will find time immediately on my return thence to write you all I know or think. Of course any thing I can do for you I shall leap to do. Smalley & Conway have large facilities of aid in any plans you may have. My other acquaintance in England is so little that I have almost no other string to pull. Very faithfully Wendell Phillips A.E.D.May 12 '68 Please admit Miss Dickenson & friends tonight Wendell Phillips To doorkeeper Acad. Music New YorkYoung writes me Senate had adjourned late Saturday on account of Howard's illnessMy dear young friend You do me great honor in asking my counsel. I wish I were more able to advise you. The case strikes me very much as you stated with one exception.Reputation, gained a great amount- 'tis a strike for public approbation, a shield against future criticism such as even you never made. Danger I should have said before mobile not much & am still inclined to think your womanhood, (equal to a Senatorial mantle) would still make it not much. Compensation - about the same, I guess, i.e. not much. Harm to health too much to risk : far more risk than there's any fair probabilityof good to be done I don't think one whose health has been recently tried so severely can be fairly asked to do such service now. Do you know what it is to speak in open air? Four times as trying 2 If therefore it lay with me to decide, as an Economical & wise workman, proportioning means to Ends, I should decide against going: I dont think this special work needs a martyr - perhaps(to show how much or little impartial my judgment is) I ought to add, if it does I am not quite ready to offer you. With kindest regards most faithfully Wendell Phillips Miss A.E.D. Thank you for the scrap from the Bost. Traveller. I made a speech last night in which I said I pitied editors, especially Boston editors, because they could not afford to have opinions, but were obliged to make bread until abusing everybody they could afford to - I wish I had had this instance to address. Odd is'n't it? but I still think, spite of your critic, thatI know a good speech when I hear it !!! I wont take his opinion when I'm about surely I prefer mine where I have the same chance to judge as he. I don't know why you wanted to see that scrap of a letter from my western friend but I enclose a copy. Goodbye again with heartiest wishes for your health specially if you think of facing the rigor of a New England Summer next July - Troy Sunday My dear true friend They told me at Pokeepsie the sad auspious news that called you home. I sympathise with you most tenderly. I trust you found your brother's illness not so serious as it first seemed. I know how the first breach in the draw circle of brothers sisters changes all after life. I hope you are not to feel in for many long years. I wish your mother Hester knew me well enough to allow of my telling them how muchmy heart goes outs out to them. I'm glad you did not speak in Pokeepsie it was just one those wet chilly evenings, During which you ought to be housed- neither winter nor autumn, but the worst possible threatening of both. I presumed to stand where they hoped to welcome you in order to try to lessen their disappointment just a wee bit- stealing the evening from Saratoga which grumbled over a Saturday instead & gave me a superb drive of thirty miles behind the nicest ponies to regain my route to N'Lond on which has sighed for years over the impossibility of its daring even to ask you. I passed through the empty Delavan (all the world gone home to thanksgiving) regretting I could not have been there a few days before to have met you. But you must remember all our cautions & learn to take a little care of yourself so that we shall be more willing to have you launch off all alone. Good bye; way home be all pleasure to you & all comfort. I send you out again rested & with the gladdest of hearts, all your fears scattered. Most faithfully Yrs Wendell Phillips A.E.D.Sept 28 Monday Ev'g Dear friend, Scratch me out of your books. -thank the Gods You can't now scratch me out of your book. call me speak add to my misfortune any punishment [*out of joint- why I U shall tell the men about you, are you vain enough to asst more? gratefully, admiringly, & provoked by Yrs W Phillips*]you think proper - I believe the Deil wouldn't let me see you-- I tried often enough as my letter fully explained but you never answered. Dodged you half [*Providence does not think me good enough to see Philadelphia folk"- I lost Davis by an awful mistake not mine*] a dozen times at Fields Saturday- he said you promised to call - just missed you by half an hour at Parkers-- so far I had arranged to spend that night in town; took my revenge by lighting up 4 gas burners & sitting up to read your book- Well I am not going to incense you confound you-- But a lady, who could write almost as well if she tried, says "I thought all speakers would fail as Beecher did - but bless you, Anna's book is worth - a score of Norwoods" Well if your fresh worship at H.W.B's shrine puts all our noses Sunday My dear friend, You have sent me an unanswerable note, certainly I have no words - are any words? equal to answering it? Still believe me I have felt & valued as I ought your brave, true friendship for me the last three years. & can never forget it. Don't speak of it as loyalty to chief- that's not simple truth we were brother soldiers at that Agincourt we few - we happy few - we band of brothers - Yes & some absent then or hostile will one day hold theirs manhoods cheap whiles any speaks who fought with us on that heartbreaking day- Thank you for your generous remembrance ofour Exchequer - & of course we'll give three cheers for even the hope of your being with us this week most cordially and gratefully your comrade in the fight Wendell Phillips Anna E Dickinson Happy new year - I must report to you for I'm in your diocese - where every one talks of you, quotes you & swears by you - I live on your friends - the Days of Ann Arbor - nice people - the Owens of Adrian - nicer still - I owe all my welcome to being thought your friend - How these folkslove you _ Why they'd almost teach any one to do so _ and then its impossible to say any thing out here - I venture some pet remark - "Yes - Anna says so" - I wish an opinion on somebody or thing & am carelessly put aside with "Yes, Anna thinks so" as if after that it did not matter what anybody else thought & indeed it was rather a presumption for common folks to presume to have any opinion on such a topic _ I fail to make money for my committee "well Miss D. always makes up for all our losses"- "Oh we shall surely succeed - no fear - Anna D is coming" - Empty pockets, starved by three or four of us "stickiest" or senatorial Lecturess , walk off buoyant in 'high" glee - swelling even now withfuture but assured prophts Did you even see in old Boston newspapers, before you were born, a picture for an Eating House Advertisement , a very lean man, legend underneath, 'the man who does not eat at Millikens" next, an enormously fat one underlined -"The man who eats at Millikens" ----- Well, Redpath should get up to head his journal two pictures, a mournful Don Quixote looking secretary "Thinan who has not Anna in his course" Then a Jolly falstaff, sunny for the very sight of him to make others fat & jolly - with a belt on embroidered "the man who has got Anna on his list" - that would make[nd] many a Secretary challenge Red on the ground that he had stolen his photograph. One thing, why dont you sometimes condescend to tell your worshippers some of your nice adventures why trust wholly to inherent fascination? There's ByronHall of G. Rapids. He was holding forth by the hour in admiration &c &c I tried him on a few of the nice things that a worshipper like him was worthy to know lo! behold! He'd never heard of them! had talked only with you & as Curran said of Grattan never got any thing from you about yourself - - So I said "now she's coming - Be sure & come down from landing ("No fear of that: of course I shall & let democrats on my Com'ee swear: he ejaculated)- "well make her tell you about the six feet of Doctor at Rockford &c &c" - no matter what I added - now be generous & treat him to some tidbits; poor Lord! he is yours exclusively, cannot conceive or admit, for' a moment, that any one has any right - even to use the name by which folks call you lecturer or such like - Of course it is easy to see why you like coming out west. Vic. naturallywished making a "Progress" thro ' her Highlands - Eugenie still more, being Queen by two divine rights - Well Happy New Year to your majesty You'll never read these for perhaps - If you do dont think of scolding me for it unless you direct to me to care of W. C.. Regal St. Louis where I expect to be Jany. 13th - Elsewhere (Earlier or later, it's likely to wield me & go wandering any where How's Topsy? Yr W.P. [*Wendell Phillips*]Oct 19 Dear friend So you are pretending to be at a loss for a theme! nonsense - you lavish overflowing fountain. I dont believe a word you say- and to be at the November courty [*I wondered & was dazed before thy superbly illustrated - Chicago - Maud Muller - Ah, Princess, how Lost thy Quaker breeding Lost does love the arts!*]on W.R. in Boston? no = I dont sail in the fleet - I, on the contrary am one who pretend to be able to carry a story correctly & to intend always to use that ability - Be lazy; that also is necessary for your genius - When I publish another volume - ah - I'll tell you - but its no present plan. I'm sane yet, I'm so glad to hear what I anticipated, that yours goes off the counter like lightning. Its deserving to do so leave us to decide we don't want your opinion on that - of course I'llto the fallen man since you wish it & go as thou sayest & wish you'd say "come" & I could as easily come are you to be "lazying 'round" in December when I come to Quakerdom: Yrs faithfully Wendell Phillips A.E.D.21 Feby Ann Arbor My dear little friend I am provoked disappointed & mad with every body but you. Here I came buoyant with longing to see you- & catechised every secretary from Syracuse here as to your whereabouts - None would confess to any knowledge of your route - one clumsy soul was sure the only land mark I had (your Kalamazoo Sunday 23rd Feby) was changed. That's was all the inkling I could get . In despair I wrote at at Ashtabula & mailed at Oberlin a note to your Sue, asking her Should you condescend to write me again, remember these secy are so lazy There is strong chance It will go to Boston Do not be surprised if you get no answer that you may depend on - your faithfully W. P.*]to take the trouble to write me your route. Three hours after a lazy official (they don't seem to recognize at Oberlin any distinction between letters & permanent classic works & think time is no element of the conver) handed me your most kind loving note - thank you - I had planned to make you run to Detroit fm Kalamazoo & find room at the [Dr???] House to get a talk. But in my ignorance of your whereabouts & told that an illness at Chicago (of which I had not heard had changed your appointments, ) consented to change Adrian & Ann Arbor so must be tied up all Sunday at Adrian instead of learning all the good things & odd news & rare stories you could tell me - I'd come to Kalamazoo but you are housed with friends there you told me & one must not intrude So I see You are indeed all adrift from my route for today (the first time) this Secretary Rhodes, let me see (what I never heard of before) your printed route - [Torbert's] paper up to Mch' 5th I had that note mailed at Chicago 16th Did you mail it there? Did you spend [it] there that Sunday? I wish I had known for I loafed away a soletary Sunday at Cleveland the same time- what a relief you would have been! Now is that not a compliment! Am I not growing gallantin my old age & western tour? Yes Torberts route is somewhat spread. But I have shortened it; he pledged me more evenings than I promised him. But I go to St Louis 5 &6 Inst Dayton & Terre Haute 3& 4 Chicago 9th then to Minnesota - on Belvedere [Jullen?] 17th Richmond 18th home The only thing I differ from you is Brown. He is worth all these beggarly societies. I would not have gone to them had they invited me. I'm mad that they let Higginson go home with only 6 lecture out here. Please, child, talk up Higginson & make them ache for him next year, will you? & mind dont forget me for [if ] even if you [* do it wont [????] you *] [*Bloomington 7th Inst will send me same Evg to Chicago (Briggs House) where I shall sleep as cold as the Sunday you were in that city & I away. Sympathize with me*] Dear friend There's no possibility of my being able to keep my appointment & come down tomorrow. But I shall manage Some way soon Yr very truly W.Phillips A.EDDear friend I thought you ought to see the enclosed. Please return it to me Thursday, day after tomorrow VWP.for Miss Dickinson Wendell PhillipsSterling Illinois Apl 1st Dear friend I misunderstood Powell (wholly my fault- I thought your speaking for us quite a settled [thing?] Will my entreaty add any thing to our chances? Dont you think, now, you owe me something after that naughtiness at the Parker House with Mr B-? Do say yes, for some, any reason, if you possibly can-Do you realize how many idolaters you have out here? & are you not ashamed to make folks break the commandments so? There's Milwaukee - one Altar to you - and at Belvidere they live in you - Good nice folks those - & make one very comfortable. They have sent you, by me, some memorials of their worship - which you shall have if I dont lose them - which I have already done twice - recovered them with no little pains - But I want to talk lecturing over with you - you're doing too much altogether: & beside another year you must cooperate with my Brown of Chicago whom all good Lecturers adore Goodbye Have you been scolding me for troubling your mother to send a note for me to [Pugh?]?Well you have so many things in me to forgive I know youll kindly add that to the others & absolve me all in the lump Take better care of yourself or we wont any of us like you half as well - if we can help it - I sent [Dr.?] Riching's picture to Fuller of Belvidere, whom you crazed Goodbye again Yr. Wendell Phillips Miss A.E.D.Dear friend So sorry to find you out- I shall be in town Saturday - Let me know by [letter] a word to Boston P.O. where I can call on you somewhere about 12 if you arein town that day Goodbye Yr W. Phillips Monday Dear friend Our plans for moving up chain me, so that Icannot bid you goodbye- or return what you've lent me But it shall be safely kept till you honor Boston again- Lots of pleasant incidents I trust will glorify your journeying till October & everafter till spring thus you witching the world from Topsy, saddle Goodbye Yr W. PhillipsDear little friend I did write that not asking you to come to Essex St. and Ann looked forward with great pleasure to sending it seeing you the next day-He[?] I trust you'll see sometime-but youwill never know how ten[?] & with your own felicity in note- making I couched the request for you to come-'cause why? we burned it-for the next morning she waked up with a throat which would not let her speak- a word- most unfortunate you see for a woman! actually debarred from speaking!! So she would not have you come & lecture her with no chance of firing back- But we'll catch you yet. You don't escape us that way--third winter in Pittsfield where you frightened them so awfully last week that immediately they telegraphed to me for the [Lost Ark?] as a salve, dose of chloroform. [?] Bular days went by theyve plucked up courage & want another dose something like yours. So I shall try tonight to struggle up to your level - audacious man that I am faithfully W Phillips [** 12th recd to-day. Gave the Major [thy?] Steubenville address **] Lancaster Mh 12 Dear friend This will introduce to you my friend Major Bosbyshell, of the O.S. Mint. He has very kindly & successfully arranged some lectures for me in Penn & I wished to secure Anna for Lancaster. Will you advise her to say yes to his invitation if she can. [?] yours with kindest regards Wendell Muller Miss Dickenson26 Essex St. Friday Dear friend I hoped to see you this morning - but the fates decide against me. I find after waiting till noon - So I mustfirst to their method of telling you how the splendor of your generosity in offering me [to try?] has dazzled me. I am horseman enough to know what infinity of regard such a willingness to let me mount that sacred seat implies. I am almost as generous in resisting the temptation. Unused to the saddle the last five years I fear my awkward hand might injure that favored mouth. Beside we quit [Swampicot?] in a day or two & hence the few hours are mortgaged to business. [Hesture?] has the [goly?].. But accept my heartiest thanks. I only wish I could have told you then, instead of writing, Yr sincerely Wendell Phillips A.E.D/Dear friend I heard the black velvet nun last eve- struggled but could not [get in?] [?] 8 1/2. Stayed til 9.20 saw the heroine go up on the drawbridge & to prison then had to go home You launched most successfully I congratulate the Lyceum W. P.Well, dear Nan, in black velvet & crimson, cross at your side I did see & hear & feel you--got in too late to shake hands - say at 8 p - stayed ahint of you till I saw the drawbridge go up & the girl hero in prison ; then had to come home. Should have called yesterdaybut house & housefolks detained me all day. Good bye Go and conquer Yr WP. [** Apr 1 **] Dear Brackett Relentless Pawtuckett keeps its iron claws firmly fixed in me not withstanding my second telegram. So I must, honorbound, leave you & yoursexclusively the pleasure of hearing Miss D. & go my solitary way out toward Rhode Island. I've engaged to find entrance for a French Gentleman & wife who wish to hear A.D. May I ask you to send by bearer a couple of passes & oblige Yr Wendell Phillips Independence Iowa Dear Madam Yesterday I inclosed a letter for Mr. Pagh to your address : intending to put with it the inclosed note to explain my hounding you. But in the hurry forgot to put this in the envelope. I should not have hounded you, but that I feared if I addressed a letter to Miss Dickinson a A.E.D. from this quarter of the world either would be sent off to Miss Anna without opening With much regard Yr Wendell Phillips [Mh?] 25 Dear friend Sorry to miss you - heard two days ago you were here. that little horsewoman avoided the clumsy Consul & his 4 horses most gallantly. Drop me a line in Boston when next week you shall be in Boston & where Parkers or Bracketts will stay How long do you stay in cold Yankeedom Yr WPhillipsSunday Dear fr--d I sent you all I could get yesterday - April is sent you & will come soon Perhaps I did wrong in sendingback overland. I meant to live on the right side & not rob you of it down there where nothing can be got I find I shall not be able to keep my engagement about Thursday. All the plans of the weeks are muddled. But you'll be bothered by me soon again Yrs cordially WP Miggles Ive read & reread over again four timesS Denis Tuesday Jany 14 The Happiest New Year to you & may I be able to contribute to it, My dear little friend; This note is most fitly written and so thy roof for I want to remind you of the great pleasure yougave the society, the public & specially me by coming here & speaking for us last May- & to ask if you will be so kind as to repeat the whole performance? We are securing the Steinway, but a most important point is to obtain the means of filling it. This your name will do, more than any other. You remember our meeting comes the first week in May Tuesday, I think. Do promise & come if not too inconvenient. Ill agree to do my best to second you & shall be delighted to have the whole '67 week exactly copied in '68 - even to [the] eating the mammoth beefsteak you pay for!! I'll promise to bring a keen appetite & behave twice as well as last year - & only wish I could believe that were any temptation for you to respect the delightful occasion & strengthen us with your cooperation again Will you let me hear from you & oblige Yrs faithfully Wendell Phillips A.E.D.-