NAWSA
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Spofford, Ainsworth R.

Cincinnati June 8/54.
H B Blackwell Esq
Vile Renegade!
Take notice that
a threat conveyed in a
late letter to S. C. B. and
by him communicated to
me - is regarded as a
personal & mortal offence
& unless speedily revoked
withdrawn will subject
you to the disagreeable
necessity of choosing your
weapons - To wit - namely,
an insinuation that "Spofford
need not defend" you
for that Poem!! Now, Spofford

does depend on you
for that   poem has depended
on you for that poem,
& will depend on you
for that poem, until he
hears either of your death
or departure for Nebraska!
the Committee disown
the intimation that you
cant with a poem, The
Committee after careful
search, have not found
the word cant in the
Dictionary of the Committee
- The disavowal of ability
the Committee receive with
profound skepticism_
The plea of occupation they
regard with sublime indifference,


—of the resignation
of the office they
unanimously + indignantly
reject.
Now, old
fellow - you are bound
to write that poem for I hope
your own sign manual, at
a period when you were of
sane mind (two weeks, before
the Boston kidnapping) to
the fact that you did agree
to attempt a poem.
Now I say, in the words
of Scripture "Fair play
& no dodging"! Write the
Poem, & if you cant be here the
4th get somebody else to read it.
The Club will be wholly without any
Poem unless you do this. & our first
temperance Celebration will be a miserable
prosaic humbug, without a single
cheer from the muse, or one solitary croak
from the Bird of Freedom. Your undying
Enemy
A R Spofford

A.R. Spofford
Washington DC
Rec May 3. 1862
[?] " 6. "
" " 10. "
Washington May 2/62
H B Blackwell Esq
My dear Sis
When I
last heard from you, I was acting as
associate Editor of the "Commercial" in
Washington—[??ou] was engaged in a real
Estate business in N.Y. with some desire
of exchanging it for a post of honor +
responsibility near Sec'yChase.
That I succeeded ill in my friendly
endeavor to secure Chase's attention:
at that time was no fault of mine,
but the natural result of official
station, and tho' I believe I am guilty
of the dereliction of not conveying to
you my efforts + my regrets, chagrined
as I was at the time +
overwhelmed with cares _having
been the "army comes [?]"
[y??y] paper before + at the battle

of Bull Run, after which I went
back to newspaper drudgery at
Cincinnati + was sent to [Se??]
[Me???uts] [a??y] at St
Louis without any interval—
I still credit you with the
charity of being able to pardon me.
In September last, after
being twice urged to accept the
post of Asst Librarian in the
Library of Congress, I concluded
to remove to Washington - chiefly
to escape the severe night-work
of a daily newspaper, which was
very wearing to my energies, without
ministering specially to my
intellectual growth or ambition.
The Librarian is our old friend Dr
Stephenson, of Terre Haute, whom you
will remember, + another of the Clubman
+ Librarian of the "Mercantile" in
Cincinnati. He is a thorough good fellow.
liberal-high-minded-+active-


the [???atio?s]—which are usually
more than half the year. Under no
circumstances is the Library open
after dark—the room being iron-cased
+ fierproof, without gas-fixtures. The labor
consists of becoming familiar with the
contents + location of the various chapters
into which the books are arranged - supplying
the colls of readers, occasionally aiding
members of Congress in references—writing
an occasional letter—keeping a
few simple a/c's, + catalogueing the
new purchases as they came in.
All this is divided between three persons_
besides the Librarian + the porters. The
annual increase of the collection is about
3000 vols—Congress appropriates
every year $5000 for Law, + $2,000 for
miscellaneous Books. —The post, as you
see [s] is easy—+ the pay sufficient—+there
is none of that unmitigated hack-work
which is the chief objection to a clerkship
in any of the Departments. I

would rather die, & try my chances
over again somewhere else—than live
with the hopeless prospect of passing
all my days as a mere figure-machine
Now for the disadvantages of
the position—for I should not forgive
myself, were I to be the means of getting
you here to be disappointed—& I shall
tell you candidly every drawback which
I saw or have [since] found since accepting
the appointment. —Of course, there
is the contingency of a removal in 1865,
or three years from this time. The Librarian
has the sole appointment of his assistants
—& I am positive you could not be
thrown out so long as Stephenson holds
his office. If the Democrats come in
in '64, perhaps he will be removed
altho' it has not been the practice—his
predecessor having been in 32 years
& my own predecessor held a post 30
years! Indeed, the great age of
some of the former occupants was


a main reason of so sweeping a
change. &Stephenson, in acceding to an
urgent appeal from Sen. Foote, to appoint my
present co-adjuter, tho' he made the mistake
of appointing one of whom he was ignorant
—specially reserved the agreement
of dismissing him whenever he could
suit himself better. — As for the diminution
of Salary, which at one time was supposed
to be imminent — it is now almost
certain that Congress will pass no reduction
bill. Next — as to Washington as a
residence— it is probably more expensive
than Orange—& of course lacks the great
advantages of a great metropolis.  Still,
a man may have any kind of society here,
& the grand irruption of progressives
this winter has given a changed aspect
to the [public] tone of public feeling. The
triumphant sustaining of so remarkable
a cause of popular lectures as is just
closed here speaks volumes for Washington
as it now is. You can get a
tolerable house here for $250—I pay
$300 & get a Room & every comfort. Marketing
is pretty high—but cheapening weekly.
the climate is moist & mild all winter_
& pretty hot in summer. Tho - I did not
find last July any excess of discomfort
over Cincinnati. My family
Enjoy good health here — & for the first
time in a dozen winters, I wholly escaped
taking a severe cold or cough -.

So much for both side - & now, since I
cant see you, unless you will come on here at
once for the purpose - I may sum up the whole
thing thus - Here is a post under government
waiting for you - subject to no contingencies
save what accompany every
government post - honorable, remunerative,
& eminently congenial, requiring
just the faculties which you
so eminently possess, of quick intelligence
good address, application - & energy!
& demanding no book-knowledge beyond
what you will soon have at command
with your past acquisitions joined to any
constant co-operation. It is not a post
which can minister to your ambition especially -
but at the same time, it is one
which hundreds of the best-educated
men in the country would jump.
at. It affords time & opportunity of
familiarising oneself with the present
boundaries of knowledge - so that
if one seek, to become an author, the
preliminary training of a librarian
cannot fail to be of immense
value by showing him a lot has already
been done in any direction.
Finally, I will wind up this long
epistle by committing the matter of
your immediate & serious deliberation -
requesting that, as speedy action
is of all things desirable for us, you
will let me know the result at
the earliest practicable moment.
Sarah joins me in love to you
and Lucy
I remain
Always Yours Truly
A R Spofford
I enclose, at Dr. S's request,
a formal appointment.


but with no special knowledge of
books - & having to part with most of
the former assistant librarians, Recalled
me to his aid for my experience
& bibliographical knowledge. At the same
time, he appointed another assistant,
who turned out unfitted for the post
being too old - & slightly deaf - besides
having been a Vermont parson, & totally innocent of
a knowledge of the world. Stephenson
has accordingly determined to dismiss
him. In casting about for a successor,
he is resolved to appoint no one of whose
qualifications he is not fully sure, & altho
there are at least a dozen applicants
for the post, he will give it to no one
but whom I shall recommend - such
is his Confidence in my judgment and
knowledge of what is needed in the practical
administration of the Library.
Now I know of but one person
among my friends of many years,
with whom I am fully satisfied to be
associated in such a post - & that

friend is yourself. I will briefly
set before you the advantages & disadvantages
of the post.
The Library of Congress is
a collection of 72.000 vols embracing all
departments of literature &science, &is the
only national Library at the Capitol.
The public use is precisely as the Astor
in N.Y. & members of Congress & of the gov't
only draw out books. The Library is a
magnificent room in the central front
of the Capitol & a great resort. The Librarian
(who is appointed directly by the President)
receives $2160 salary. There are
three Asst Librarians who receive $1800
salary each, a messenger at $1440, and
two laborers (colored) at $500 each per annum.
The Law Library (which is kept in 
the old Supreme Court Room) is under
the charge of one of the 3 Assist. Librarians
—who has been many years in that
department. The two remaining assistants
—whose position is equal in every
particular—have charge of the Administration
of the miscellaneous Library,
under the general direction of the
Librarian. Practically, this last amounts
to but little, as Dr. S. between
whom & myself there is thorough good
understanding, leaves pretty much
all to my management, and I have
actually been doing the work of both
assistant Librarians ever since
I have been here (6 months)—keeping
the other assistant on the Catalogue
now for the duties of the place. They are
exceedingly light—consisting of attendance
daily from 9 am to 4 or 5 during
the sittings of Congress—& 9 to 3 in


A R Spofford
Washington
DC
Rec May 9. 1862
Ans   "     9.   "
Washington May 8/62
My Dear Blackwell
     Your two letters
of 5th inst to myself & Dr Stephenson
are just at hand, & altho. it is
Thursday and you intimate that
you expect to decide the case
before you can hear from me,
I will drop a line by the mail
post leaving to answer some
of your queries.
     As to absences—there will be
no difficulty in arranging for
such as your business interests may
render necessary—In any case, it 
is the established usage to give every
one a summer furlough of
3 or 4 weeks—in turn—& such necessary
absences as may occur can always
be arranged among the corps of Librarians.

As to collateral occupation there
is no obstacle to one's earning whatever
his leisure, industry & talents
can bring him—either as newspaper
correspondent or magazine writer
or author of books.  I have rec'd
$10.00 per week from the Commercial
during several months of my engagement
in the Library—for writing
letters, critical & descriptive, of doings
in Congress etc.  The only drawback
hereto consists in avoiding too conspicuous
an identification with
partisan journals (tho. it need not
be known here who writes "letters from
Washington") or too severe reflections
upon individual Congressmen, which
might give rise to unpleasant peer
Social relations.
As to the society & intercourse—personal
& political—it is just what
one chooses to make it. The entrée
to a familiar intercourse with the notable 


persons here is by no means
difficult to any man of brains
& address, who chooses to pay the
usual penalties of frequenting
social gatherings etc. As for the
position of Asst Librarian— it neither
helps nor hinders one's social 
opportunities—altho. it does throw
a man into intercourse of a of a 
passing-acquaintance-character, with
a great many persons, which may
be improved or not, as one chooses.
For myself, despising, perhaps
unduly, the whole tribe & generation
of politicians, I have systematically
avoided social opportunities,
& engrossed myself
in intellectual pursuits connected
more or less intimately with
acquiring a thorough knowledge
of a great Library & accumulating
materials for future
use in literature.

As for the character of the business
duties—they are sometimes
monotonous—as in vocation—
when little besides cataloguing 
the arrangement of the
books is going forward. Still
as the mere monotony of
writing consumes few hours
& is capable of being divided
up so greatly—there is sufficient
variety in the
use of one's faculties to
prevent anything approaching
that horrible Ennui
which a wide-awake
man always feels in
"clerking" it from morning
till night & from year's
end to year's end. I believe
I have now hastily & cursorily
—but to some purpose
answered your chief enquires.
In haste for the mail
Yours Truly
A R Spofford
PS. I have
consulted
Stephenson as to all
the points of these queries—


[*A R Spofford*]

Washington Sept 22/62
My dear Blackwell
The week which
has elapsed since Dr Stephenson's
strange & sudden dismissal of
George has only confirmed my
feeling expressed to you in my
last hurried note. It is so far
as I can see a most unaccountable
freak, absurd or at least unreasonable
in its origin &
unjust in its consequences! As
George will have fully possessed
you of the ostensible grounds
of the Dr's displeasure, I will
not recount them. How much
to attribute to his own real feelings
of dissatisfaction. How much
to the influence of female backbiting
I do not know. But the
act of dismissal altho' he admitted
it to be hasty & "perhaps" unjust,
evidenced a prejudice in
his mind which is probably invincible.
The result of my conferences
with him upon the matter

in which he learned plainly that
I considered his action not only
hasty but unjust both to George
& to myself—was that he would
re-instate him if I thought it
best. My judgment as to this
was in the first place guided by
George's feeling about the matter
& next by my own position & need
of help. George having distinctly
declined to be re-appointed in a
way which would look as If he were
forced upon the Dr by me—or
indeed in any way which should
not be preferably free & magnaimous
on Stephenson's part, I
have refrained from advising his
re-instatement. If Stephenson
has the magnanimity to bury
all personal & official pride in the matter
& make the past as if it had not
been—he will signify it by soliciting
George to resume his position.
This however I do not expect.
The Doctor has shown a weakness
of character in the whole matter
which I  think closes the door
to any hope of his voluntary


& complete reparation of the
error. He has shown himself to
me in a new light. I knew that he
was a man of strong impulses—somewhat
quick, & prone to act upon half
views—but I have never before
(fortunately) been compelled to
see & suffer from an exhibition of
his prejudices. He has left me so
free to act in all things after my
own judgement, & has himself been
so prone to consult mine, that his action
in this case without reference to
me both surprised & pained me. For this
he has made amends—so far I mean 
as I am concerned. I have thought
it both my duty & interest to take
the occasion to have a clear & full
understanding. I have made it a
condition of my retaining my post
that I am to be subjected to no
hasty deprivation of support—that
no appointments or removals shall
be made without my approval. While
I conceive that Stephenson has in
this instance disappointed the confidence
I had always reposed, still
his uniformly generous treatment
of me & his readiness to repair the
past by doing whatever I should
advise, leave me willing to continue

continue associated with him. But I
have taken security of fortune by
coming to a clear business understanding
as to the future conduct
of the Library. And I only refrain
from actually advising him to reinstate
George, because George does
not wish it to come in that way,
& I fully share his feeling, & would
do just as he has done in similar
circumstances.
     Now a word about other
matters. The photographs I hope
you have not forgotten - Perhaps
you will bring them yourself in
a week or two. If the sure contract
should prove to be a flash in the
pan, cant you find enough other
business this way, together with seeing
me & mine, to take a brief furlough?
it would delight Sarah & myself to welcome
you all here.
     Can you or Lucy think of
it when you write, to give me the name
of the author of the "Tragedy of Errors" &
"Tragedy of Success" lately published in
Boston? Tell George I will write
him this week. I enclose your letter to
him - being the only one which has arrived.
You can show him this letter if you
please.
     With love to you all I remain
     Truly yours
     A R Spofford

[*(Letter by H.B.B. written just after marriage
ceremony)*]
West Brookfield, Mass.
May 1, 1855.
My Dear friend: [*(A.R. Spofford)*]
I have just entangled myself
beyond the possibility of release by promising
to love, honor, and cherish Lucy Stone in
sickness, or health, in joy, or sorrow, so
long as we both shall live! Being a
lover of exact Justice, I have postponed
informing you of the terrible misfortune
about to befall me, as you did in a
 similar case . But, like yourself,
I lose no time in conveying information
of the frightful calamity the moment
it has become irremediable. Time presses—
I must be brief - The affair was thus—
place, a wild, rocky, Massachusetts mountain farm,
hour 7 A.M.- day May 1st weather cold,
cloudy drizzle - Scene front parlor,


adorned with running pine and evergreens—
persons Lucy Stone's Father and Mother, brother
and Sisters, and nephews and nieces—guests
Charles C. Burleigh and Rev T. W. Higginson
and wife— Enter Lucy Stone in silk dress
and H.B.B. of unenviable notoriety in
a mulberry coat and white vest—Performance
1st. Reading a protest by the
unenviable H.B.B. 2nd. Remarks by T.
W. Higginson. 3rd. Promises to look after
each other, by the Unenviable and the Bride.
4" Pronunciamento of our matrimonial
status by the Rev. T. W. Higginson. 5th,
prayer by Rev. Higginson. 6th Small
oration and solemn benediction by
Chas. C. Burleigh. 7th.. tears. and wedding
cake by all the Company. 9th. Departure
of the Company— the Unenviable and the
Bride taking cars for New York. 8th..
Breakfast however intervened between

the imposition of the Halter and the Exeuntommes:

I hope to be home Saturday night—
Meanwhile accept wedding-cake and
sympathize with my bereavements. Give my
love and half the Cake to Sarah.— Tell
her it was my fault she married you and
I now I am paid up for my past actions.
In fine, excuse all the above nonsense
(in consideration of the circumstance) and
believe me
Your fellow Sufferer,
Henry B Blackwell
P.S. Please present to Neogenos the assurances of my
distinguished consideration and esteem.
P.P.S. Ora pro nobis

Washington, Oct 28 1863.
H.B. Blackwell, Esq.
My dear Friend
          Your letter came to
hand ten days since, & I take the first time I can secure
from cataloging some heavy invoices of London books
to reply. I congratulate you upon the disencumbrance of
still more of your real estate - Now is the time to sell,
for the present inflation of values is certain, while any future
realisation of high prices is contingent. With regards to
your three fold business dilemma—I agree with you that
those are many considerations in favor of a change.
And first, as to that horn of your dilemma about which
I may fairly be presumed to know the most, viz; the
scheme of some position under government. You are
right in supposing that there are many such to be had - and especially
in the Departments of War and of the Treasury, arising from
constantly occurring vacancies, as well as from constantly
increasing business. But they are all clerkships—varying from
$1,200 to $2,000 per annum salary, and with really little
or nothing to recommend them except relief from business
cares and the command of a few hours more leisure per day

[*P.S. Will you do me the favor to find out & send me the real name (in full if possible) of 
the author of "Among the Pines" & "My Southern Friends" - who calls himself "Edmund Kirke"?
I want it for my annual catalogue, & it should be here by
the middle of
November.*]

than falls to the lot of most business men. But the
latter you can secure already by a residence in New York
which you have wisely determined on for the winter. The
present heavy labor in both the Treasury and War Departments 
are from 9 to 4 and if you allow one hour for dinner, which
has to come after 4, you will very nearly reach the number
of hours you habitually spend at the Sugar-house now.
In either case, you have your evenings. My experience is,
that that is all a man who retains any connection with the
business affairs of life, in order to a support, can get at any
rate - and a good deal more than some (witness Editors) ever get.
Then as to the relative chances for mingling actively in the next political
campaign. My opinion is that coming to Washington would
isolate you for at least a year. You would be new in office,
with a certain amount of character for efficiency to establish,
and with no special claim upon your superior officers for
furloughs involving absence. You would be remote from the
regions where the big political meetings are to be carried on.
Nothing of the kind takes place in Washington - for the District
of Columbia has no vote. Of course there are positions under
government - like Col. Forney's or Dr. Stephenson's,
which carry with them more freedom, but they scarcely
number a score in all, and are always got by the
adroit politicians, who employ men of practical talent

to do the business of the offices, while they take unlimited
furloughs themselves. I state these disadvantages
of a government office plainly, because I am bound
to give you nothing but the facts, though nothing I know of
could give me personally more satisfaction than to
see you establish yourself in Washington. And I do
not doubt that you could almost  immediately obtain
a position with Chase at a salary of $1800, though, if you
had your family here, it would cost at least $1600 of the am't
to live as well as you now do.
     I am getting converted to your view of the
probability of Mr. Lincoln being the next President.
He is vastly more popular than he was a year ago,
with all parties. The radical emancipationists
while they dislike his slowness and lack of original
convictions, owe him much for the actual anti-slavery
blows struck by his administration - no matter from what
motives - and the feeling that the same administration
which started the "abolishment of slavery" (to
quote a Lincolnism) should have fair play to carry
it on to completion, will go far to make him
the most popular candidate for all sincere
abolitionists. At the same time, the "expediency" wing
of the Republican party are hardly likely to find a man

between now & next fall who will run so well with the
masses.  And the party of the Northern rebels, alias old
line democrats, have got to be beaten anyhow - and will
find it up-hill work to run McClellan or Seymour -
their most probable candidates - against Abraham.
     The session of Congress is now only six weeks off -
&  promises to be a prolonged & eventful one. The Republicans
will probably acquire the House - turning out
Etheridge who has identified himself with the anti-administration
policy & electing some former Congressmen
Clerk, & Schuyler Colfax - a genuine anti-slavery man -
Speaker. The Senate is heavily anti-slavery, & with a House
nearly balanced between radicalism and conservatism
with the preponderance for the former, will give us sound
legislation enough to brace up the remaining months
of this administration. The lessons of the late elections are
hardly likely to be lost on the "Democracy" and their defiant
tone will be very considerably lowered, unless we meet
with signal military reverses. On the whole, the skies
now look bright for a decent administration the coming
four years - a prospect which I did not venture to hope
for last fall - & which may again be dashed before 
another.
     I am glad that Alice now goes to school - a
great thing for all young people to do. Our children are
in extreme good health, but Sarah has only just recovered
from a three weeks low fever - not severe -  but
confining & exhausting. It has led to one good result -
the purification of the system, and she is now in better health
& spirits, & more exempt from head-aches, than for
several years past. She joins me in the warmest
regards for Lucy & yourself, & we are not without
hope of seeing you here this winter, or at least during
the coming session. Remember me to your brothers and
sisters, and believe me as ever
Yours very truly,
AR Spofford
[*AR Spofford Oct 28/63*]

A.R. Spofford to H.B.B

Washington DC Oct 28, 1863
My dear Friend,
I am getting converted to your
view of the probability of Mr. Lincoln's being 
the next President. He is vastly more
popular than he was a year ago, with all
parties. The radical emancipationists while
they dislike his slowness and lack of original
convictions, owe him much for the actual
anti-slavery blows struck by his administration,
no matter from what motives, and the
feeling that the same administration which
started the "abolishment of slavery" (to quote
a Lincolnism) should have fair play
to carry it on to completion, will go far to
make him the most popular candidate for all
sincere abolitionists. At the same time, the
"expediency wing of the the Republican party are
hardly likely to find a man between now
and next fall who would run so well with

the masses. And the party of the Northern
rebels, alias old-line Democrats, have got
to be beaten anyhow, and will find it up-hill
work to run McClellan or Seymour - their
most probable candidates - against Abraham.
The session of Congress is now only
six weeks off and promises to be a prolonged
and eventful one. The Republicans will probably
acquire the House - turning out Etheridge who
has identified himself with the anti-administration
policy - and electing some former Congressman
clerk and Schuyler Colfax, a genuine
anti-slavery man, speaker. The Senate is
heavily anti-slavery, and with a House
nearly balanced between radicalism and conservatism
with the preponderance for the former,
will give us sound legislation enough to brace
up the remaining months of this administration.
The lessons of the late elections are hardly
likely to be lost on the "Democracy", and their

defiant tone will be very considerably lowered,
unless we meet with signal military reverses.
On the whole, the skies now look bright for a
decent administration the coming four years -
a prospect which I did not venture to hope
for last fall, and which may again be dashed
before another.----
A.R. Spofford

A.R. Spofford
Washington Dec 9/1872
My dear Sir:
I have your inquiry of 6th
with a welcome supplement of news
from Lucy. As yet there is no list
completed in Washington of the next
Congress, but in about a week,
the Clerk of the House promises
to have ready a [?] list of members
with their residences, and I will
watch for + send you a copy in
time for you to start the propaganda.
My impression is that matters are
working, slowly but steadily, toward the
establishment of Woman Suffrage. The late
proceedings in NY, by which Woodbull + Cloflin
have at last gone to the devil, where they belong,
will have a very wholesome effect.
We are all well, and anxious to
see you again. Can't you come
for a two weeks visit this winter?

or at least at Inauguration
time?  Sarah has just returned
from a week's visit at
Newburgh, at brother John 
R. Wiltsie's where I arranged
to eat a Thanksgiving dinner
in the course of a two day's business
trip to there + back. Harry
is getting out of his green[??] a
little, in the fine business school
he is now in. At the end of this year,
I intend to have him go to school again.
I see the Sa[????] Bay [??terpure]
has gone into private hands. I think
't'is better so - certainly it is cheaper
for the tax-payers.
Hoping to hear from you more
frequently, + to see you in our snug
little house before long, [???main]
Very truly yours
AR Spofford
H B. Blackwell, Esq
NAWSA-28
How fourtunately unfortunate you were to be
burned out and get your insurance
before the companies went under!

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Library of Congress,
Washington, April 30, 1892
In behalf of the Joint
Committee of both Houses of Congress on the Library, the
undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
Woman Suffrage in New Jersey,
An Address
by
Lucy Stone
presented by the author
to the Library of Congress
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
AR Spofford
Librarian of Congress
to Mrs. Lucy Stone
Boston Mass.

Library of Congress
Washington
DC
May 2/92

A. H. Spofford
R


AR Spofford
Library of Congress
Office of the Librarian
Washington

Jan'y 13/1906
Dear Madam:
My absence in New
York has postponed reply to 
your request of the [?].
These go to you under
frank by this mail.
1. The only printed list of
American Libraries. Let your
friend select those recorded
as having the larges number
of volumes, and he will
reach the most [i??x??tated]


populations.
2. The last issue of the
Congressional Directory.
These I secured for you without
charge.
There is no "time limit"
for the introduction of Bills
in Congress. They are offered
daily, throughout the session.
With my kindest regards to
your father, and hoping that
you will soon come and
stay with us at next assembly
of the Suffrage for Women
Committee, In[?]
Florence would send her love if she were by me.
Sincerely yours,
AR Spofford
Miss Alice Stone Blackwell


Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.