NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Severance, Caroline M. Caroline M. Severance to A. S. B. Los Angeles, Feb. 19 / 94 My Dear Alice ---- I have always associated most delightfully your mother's rare and remarkable voice, the pathos and charm of its great sincerity, with the lovely song which our dear Abby Hutchinson sang so touchingly, at their various concerts. "If I were a voice, a persuasive voice, I would travel the wide world thro." ... "And teach men to be true." I've forgotten the third line, and so on for many fine verses, which really embody your Mother's aim, and her accomplishments. For such were the teachings, and the results of that voice, - and the "sweet singer" had a voice of kindred magnetism, and sang the lines most touchingly, and with her full heart in them. ----- Always affectionately C. M. Severance [*Severance*] 1848 "Governments Derive Their Just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." "El [Nido?]. Monday. July 25. 1907. My dear friends: HBB.& AS.B. A [very] welcome card from you both, is very gratifying. And I has- ten to say, that I have planned [to] again & again, to write & report how happy I was to hear of the escape of HB.B. from the horrors at Jamaica,- over wh. we had shuddered doubly because he & his friends were "in it." A haunting memory for life, it must be, I fear.- But an [*son for fellowship & to "rally around." wish I were there to join! *] [*Our L A. Suffrage Club is under fine, active leadership The Co. ditto.8] [*Mr. C M Severance Los Angeles Calif The Herst/[???]*] you no doubt got all our special suffrage news - this the "W's Tribune" & the "Yellow Ribbons" -- Jany has bene in a special way, my own month here in L.A. My [own] 88th birthday on the 12th, & the Club (Friday) celebration of it, on Tues. following. Reviews of my little [vol.?] in the Club, & at "Unity chh. Alliance". - Better than those it has given me sight of our true American Wm J. Bryan & a listener at his earnest & impressive speech to the great audience at our Polytechnic Sch. girls & boys; of hearing & meeting also the noble George of the "Junior Republic," who in- cludes the girls in all his plans & talks, - a most cordial winning, earnest man, "made for his work" - Jacob Riis is also here, but I've not met or heard him. And these have many sympathizers here & practical helpers - almost miraculous escape. The natural forces of our globe seem on a rampage, this year & last. To match the industrial, & political! A real "judgement day." In social lines, also! - But we must still hope on, undismayed, & sure that "Truth is mighty, & will prevail," - but it must be by our help, & of all true, valiant [deeds?]. The evil ones work mightily, now that they begin to see the handwriting that dooms them, & that their time is short, - let us hope. - The members of all parties, & numerous organizations, [who?] have the gift of insight & prophecy. - are now espousing the cause of woman you see. - in this extremity of coping with the powers of evil - [*With old-time love & constant gratitude yours C. M. Severance*] Los Angeles is cosmopolitan, -- & as free of "isms" as dear old Boston ever was. -- Our delightful annual visitor, N. O. Nelson, also has given me the light of his radiant countenance, his hearty good cheer and sympathy. -- And my own dear ones, hereabout, & in N. England, have been, & are, as devoted as ever. -- And so all sides, & brings a precious harvest to me. But, I took my stubborn "stylo" only to tell you of the sincere pleasure wh. yr. kind "remembrance" has not [?] now, & in the clever stanza wh. come earlier, & wh. I thot I had acknowledged. But, "the Senior Ed." must begin to find how easy it is to let things slip fr. one crowded memories. But I hope that he dwells sometimes, as I do, on the blessed early times with their comradeship & keen enthusiasms. And you still have his JWH, & Col. Higginson Do not fail to "remember me" to the dear faithful W & F Caroline Severance 126 W. 66th St. NY Oct. 9 '93 [*LS Rec Oct 10 '93*] My dear Dr Blackwell: I longed to see dear Lucy & you all once more before leaving for my long trip, & longer stay away, -- so far from dear New England! But I was laid up with a most unusual ill turn, & unable to go about for the last two weeks of my stay. And only able to structure my journey, a week ago today as she should have had them. Such faithful, unstinted service, such spending of herself in season & out of season! Ah, but women & the world, will yet rise up & call her blessed! And value her work as it deserves to be. -- And you & Alice! Ah, you will serve her & keep her memory fine, & your own hearts comforted by taking up, heartily, her share of your mutual work. And so realize her presence with you always in it. ---You would surely rather have it so, that she go on before you, than to leave her to face the loneliness coming this way with my sister for her escort, & to rest a few days. And now I am to take the trip by easy Stages -- Spending the nights at Albany, Auburn & Cleveland, with friends. And only beginning on the overland trip, at Chicago. And now I am pained, beyond words, at the sad news we have of dear Lucy's condition. That she & you have to face the fact of her leaving you, -- going on before you. And leaving her work before she has had its rewards & added burdens of life without you. -- And dear Alice, since I can see, take up & carry on the work of you both, in a masterly way. The helpful Journal is already half hers. My gifts of capacity & zeal, God bless her! And comfort you all by the blessed memories wh. can never be taken from you. A promising form while life endures in any state of existence. And a prophecy of better things to come. "A Dieu.' Sincerely & sympathetically yrs. Caroline Severance [*1893*] Dear Alice: In writing you the other day. I quite forgot two items wh. I meant to include: & they were these: that I always have associated most delightfully your mothers rare and remarkable voice, the pathos and charm of its great sincerity, with the lovely song which one Abby Hutchison sang, so touchingly ; at their various events; [If I were] [*yourself. for whom I am certain this is a most useful successful future -- in the best of senses. Always aff'ly & admiringly yours, C. M. Severence*] The other time was to ask if you will not kindly send me "COD" one of the photos wh. you advertise of your mother in wh. the barb of lace is [fine?] - I have a fine one, a little earlier, of her -- but not that. -- I cannot as I [now am?], promise to earn it by getting subscribers- but will most gladly pay the price. I cannot at this moment, from my "lying by" so long, put my hand at once on the Vo. of W.J. wh. gave the price, but "If I were a voice, a persuasive voice, I would travel the wide world thro', X X X X X And teach men to be true." I've forgotten the 3rd line. And so on for many fine verses, which really embody your mother's aim, & her accomplishment. For such were the teachings, & the results of that voice. --- and "the sweet singer" had a voice of kindred and magnetism, & sang the lines most touchingly, & with her full heart in them. [*806 W. Adams St. Los Angeles. July 19, '94.*] [*Mrs. C.M. Severance Wants photo*] think it was a dollar. I want to say also that greatly as I enjoyed all the fine tributes to yr. Mothers life & character, that of Miss Wilde went to my heart, after yours & yr. fathers, more than they all. It meant so much, coming fr. Miss W's honest pen, & after such intimate & daily association with yr. mother. And it was also fine in a literary way. -- My love to her & Miss L & of course to yr, good father & MRS. CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE Page 182- The Western Reserve of Ohio and Some of Its Pioneers, Places and Women's Clubs. Mrs. Caroline M. Seymour Severance was born January 12, 1820 in Cambridge, N.Y. On August 27, 1840 she married a banker in Cleveland, Mr. J. C. Severance. She was with Fanny Gage and Sojourner Truth in Akron, Ohio, and fromthat meeting she founded the Ohio Suffrage Association. She was in New York City at the Temperance Convention when Antoinette Brown*, an accredited delegate, was refused because of her age. Mrs. Severance at once wrote a paper entitled, "Humanity". It received immense hearing and was repeated in Tremont Temple. (Boston) In 1895 the family removed to Los Angeles, California, where in her reform work she was made president of the Kindergarten Association and succeeded in putting Kindergartens in nine schools. She is called The First Club Woman of Our Country. *Note: Antoinette Brown later married Samuel Blackwell, brother of Henry B. Blackwell husband of Lucy Stone. West Newton, Nov. 16, 1866 My Dear Lucy: I had already received and rejoiced in, a copy of the admirable statement you enclosed to me, from Susan B.A. and of course I shall gladly do all in my power in furtherance of its objects. How much that will be, time will show. Just now our people have been giving liberally to the Garrison Testimonial but we can try them with a new appeal. You should have funds, as you say, to secure fine correspondence, at home and abroad. There is much going on in England and many noble words spoken by the best people, that would be both precedent and rebuke to our people, and should be better known here. And you could get the best names in the world for contribution. Mill, Bright, Frances Power Cobbe, Laborilaye and numberless others of weight and power. Would not a (name omitted J.R.B.) an uncle of the Wattles family of Kansas, who lives at Newark or Trenton, and has established homes for poor people with his own funds, and is a reformer generally I believe, do something liberal for this? I wish I might meet you at Albany but I can't. Why won't you come on here with E. C. Stanton, and talk up matters, besides stirring up the minds and pockets of our Boston and Mass. radicals. You can best do it, Lucy, and you need to do speedily what is to be done, if you would start by 1st of Jan'y. How I wish I might save you the tedious work, by opening my own purse. But the opening of so empty a purse does not promise substantial help. So I must "serve" by standing and waiting - my old and painful service - or, as before, try to atone for my own deficiencies by loosing the purse strings of other more-favored mortals. Will now the new Radical paper in New York, to be started by Dana, I think, touch on your field? I rejoice at Mrs. Stanton's release, and have hope of my own, altho' I cannot aspire to such labor as hers. I long for the paper and have urged to for years. Certainly now there is double need of it, and only the funds are wanting. Can you count upon any moral help from Higginson, or has he clean gone over to literature? And will not Anna D. give liberally? But I wait to see you. I do not doubt you will think of all who could be made helpful. Most sincerely yours C. M. Severance. Dear Lucy: I am in despair about getting up to doing something for the Journal in way of items even, as I intended from the papers I enclose. And so I send them for Iris Anagnos - perhaps she has not seen them + may find a few things to add to her column. Iris Greff has sent them to me since her husband was in this country. And just now a package of some new organization papers, I think - which I have had no time to look at, & having two sets, enclose one of those also. I wish I could help you with money or otherwise, -- the Journal must be such a weight upon you & Mr B. Does he go to Santo Domingo this winter? And do Iris & Dr. Howe ? Won't Iris Livermore write at all this winter for you? You see I am taxing you with questions - for altho I see Iris [?] quite frequently, she can't So many friends ask after Libbey? & don't see his letters in [about?] & by Herald that I thought of making a few up [?] from home - letters, for Journal, if you would care for them -- He has been tempted to leave the confining life unit Mr Spafford in Library for other work with the friends in whose expedition he had been - But is to remain in Washington. [*Severance*] always report just what I want to know. There must be this satisfaction about the Journal, that if the work is great, so is the gain, I'm sure. It is so creditable-- Mrs Howe, Mrs Cole, Burliegh Higginson etc are always so interesting - & many other bright people. And as for Mr B. I think he puts his articles so clearly & forcibly, that there is no gainsaying - I always think when I read the "HBB," - well, that question is settled! Your selected stories too, are always fine. - Can't the Journal be made to pay its way, with so much ability, so much interest in its topics, & no competitors in its special line? And without [taxing?] you beyond measure, as it now does? If I keep up as well as I have the last month, I shall try to get in to look at you, before long. Kindest regards to Mr B. & Mrs Hinckley. Always sincerely yours C M Severance. [*? 1874 Caroline M. Severance v*] W. Newton. Sunday PM. July 5. Dear Lucy. or HBB: Something more, & if you have space. And a better [list?] so that you will not be troubled, I hope, as you must have been with the last. What with my change of tense in that, & [the] your change of punctuation, the first part [of that] is not to my credit, - is shocking in the fourth paragraph. And there is so little one can "do about it," after it is in print! X Please do me, & the subjects, all the justice you can in this. Yours - C M S. X It just occurs to me to add a line to try to mend matters a little, - with your leave. Caroline M. Severance x West Newton. July 12- [*1874?*] My Dear Lucy: I do not intend to be a thorn in your side- but you will see the need of the accompanying paragraph. - Please insert it first before the paragraphs about the "Popular Science" article- that is, if you intend to publish the last I sent you,- as I take for granted, you see! Thank "HBB" for the retort to the "Nation". He has earned Knighthood at our hands! When we make up our x jewels won't he have a place of honor! Yours CMS. [* x I repented of my fun, you see!*] (Caroline M. Severance to Lucy Stone) West Newton, Mass July 12, 1874? My Dear Lucy I do not intend to be a thorn in your side - but you will see the need of the accompanying paragraph. Please insert it just before the paragraphs about the Popular Science article - that is, if you intend to publish the last I sent you, - as I take it for granted, you see! Thank "H.B.B." for the retort to the "Nation". He has earned knighthood at our hands! When we make up our jewels won't he have a place of honor! Yours C. M. S. My Dear Lucy: I had already received, & rejoiced in, a copy of the admirable statement you enclosed me, from Susan B. A. - And of course I shall gladly do all in my power in furtherance of its objects. How much that will be, time will show. Just now one people have been giving liberally to the Garrison Testimonial - but we can try them with a new appeal. You should have funds, as you say, to secure fine correspondence, at home & abroad - There is much going on in England, & many noble words spoken by her best people, that would be both precedent & rebuke to our people - & should be better known here. And you could get the best names in the world for contributors. Mill, Bright, Frances Pown Cobbe, Labonlaye & number- less others of weight & power. Would not a [?] an uncle of the Wattles family of Kansas who lives at Newark or Trenton, & has established homes for poor people with his own funds, & is a reformer generally I believe, do something liberal for this? I wish I might meet you at Albany, but I can't. Why won't you come on here with E. C. Stanton, & talk of matters - besides stirring up the minds & pockets of our Boston and Mass Radicals. You can best do it, Lucy - & you need to do speedily what is to be done, if you would start by 1st of Jan'y. How I wish I might save you the tedious work, by opening my own purse. But, the opening of so empty a purse does not promise substantial help. So I must "serve" by stand- ing & waiting -- my old & painful service -- or, as before, try to atone for my own deficiencies by loosening [xxxx] the generous pursestrings of other more favored mortals. Will not the new Radical paper in NY to be started by Dana, I think, tend on yr field? I rejoice at Mrs. Stanton's release - & pray & hope for my own - altho' I cannot aspire to such labor as hers. I long for the paper, & have urged it for years. Certainly now there is double need of it - & only the funds are wanting. Can you count upon any moral help from Higginson -- or has he clean gone over to literature? And will not Anna D. give liberally? But I wait to see you. I do not doubt you will think of all who could be made helpful. Most sincerely yours - C M. Severance. West Newton. Nov. 16th 1866. [*Lucy Stone Box 299 NY.*] [*C. M. Severance*] My Dear Lucy: Mrs Woolson's "Report" came out while I was off on my Salem visit; & so occupied directly on my return, that I had not read it carefully at all, when Mrs Flynt called my attention to it a few days ago. She feels that Mrs. W. has not done justice to her in describing her garments so minutely, - being patented as they are - & wishes me to correct some mistakes of the article. But, on thinking the matter over, I do not feel that it is best for me to criticise the "Report." And as Mrs. Flynt has some [?] or ideas" in the [?] she would like very much to touch up & print in the Journal, it seems best to me that she should do it, incidentally, in that way. Would you not like to finish this, (which she calls "The How, & the Why.") in short bits from week to week? It seems to me that such articles over his signature, would be of great value to the Journal, -- if they are written in the bright, pertinent way in which she talks. If you would like to see them, why not write directly to her, saying so? I promised to ask whether you would like them. In great haste Sincerely yours C M. Severance West Sutton Aug 20 [*1874*] Mrs Severance Private [*Mar 17, 1873*] My Dear Lucy: I do console with you most sincerely on that distressing issue of the vote at the State House. But, I am half consoled by such numberless signs of progress in all other directions. And I am more than ever convinced that by every specific case you can show, of need for womans help & action on all the moral questions, you gain in converts beyond any line of abstract argument about the right to the ballot. I find it so daily, in my own observation. I hope therefore you will publish in the Journal all you can secure, ably written on those topics. And just now Mr Garrison's letter in the Independent on the "Final Evil" in St. Louis, will, I am sure, help sting & shame women into an agony of desire for the ballot, & all instrumentalities of influence & power. Sarah Southwick has just been in, & urges petitioning again, thoroughly, as in the old anti slavery campaign. But so few are willing for the hard work it involves! The lecturers might carry [them] petitions with ease to their audiences, putting them into the hands of the most efficient in each town. -- Have you any private report from the petition to Pres. Grant? I hear fine things, - quite a romance indeed - about the lady now in the Custom House, - & that she has promise of a foreign promotion. But don't speak of this, yet. I shall try to get in at your next gathering, whenever that may be - if I keep up as well as now. But it will be only to see you all, dear people . I am not fit for work. Kindest remembrance to all. Always sincerely yrs C M. Severance. West Newton. March 17, 1873. Would it crowd you too much to classify your item about women, especially having one for all women in office of whom you can learn - & keep the list standing for additions? It seems to me it would stimulate many localities to elect, & to send you all notices of such. And keep the incumbents of office to feel the fellowship of the sex more really & pleasantly. V Caroline M. Severance Stockbridge. June 25, 1874. My Dear Lucy: Will you not save me a column, or a trifle more, until Monday PM? I must get off a little statement for the Dress Com. in reply to the multitude of questioners who are waiting very impatiently & watching the Journal for it. I suppose you can make space better next week, than after the picnic. I have found a woman of wealth & leisure here, who is amusing herself by writing out her views upon the [fortune?] of women & growing into the wish for the ballot. I shall try to get her as a subscriber, & thro' some friend learn whether her experimental writing will do for its pages. Don't put her in print, even in the smallest paragraph, or reference by word,— as so you may lose her, for the time. We rest so thoroughly here, that I don't see the townspeople or the strangers within its gates, except on our drives —or I might proselyte to some degree. I shall be with you on the 4th. Till then à Dieu! Sincerely yours, C. M. Severance. Theodore & Caroline M. Severance of Cleveland, Ohio West Newton, Mass. & last - Los Angeles - California Mrs Severance handwriting Theodore & Caroline M Severance " of Cleveland, Ohio, West Newtown Mass & last - Los Angeles, California" Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.