Jun 15, 20225 min read

The First Letter Home-Feb 20, 1901

[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]

CHINESE COURT GIVES WAY

Compliance with all the Powers' Demands Expected.

MRS. STETSON'S STORY OF MISS BRUSH'S WILL

For Her Church's Sake She Treated the Sick Woman. REVIVED HER IN 15 MINUTES Christian Science Reader's Theory of Her Alleged Divinely Imparted Power and Her "Distant Treatment."

Natick House

Main and First Streets

Los Angeles, California

February 20, 1901

My Darling Sue and Marion [John's 3 year old daughter]

Not having received your letter which you wrote me at Omaha, I got a little impatient and went to the post office tonight and was happily surprised to get that letter and also the one written Feb 15th directed to Los Angeles. They were careless and had not sent the letters to our hotel. The [Earlville] Standard [for which John is the owner and publisher]has been lost for sure. Would like to see a copy but guess I will not until I get home. Your letters were welcomed you may be assured.

Was surprised to hear of Mr. Lillibridge’s death. But he had been feeble for some time of course. I'm

very sorry to know about Mr. Murphy's condition. I am fearfully disappointed. I believe that fellow was converted and believe he will come out alright. It is sad! He needs continued care and love and sympathy.

From your letter I gather that there is a little lull in the church work. What did Mr. Ganony mean by his statement that there are greater hindrances than the club. Do you know what he refers to? The club properly conducted ought not to be any hindrance at all. I see nothing in that to hinder church work. People will stumble around about the club, have all sorts of criticisms to offer concerning the people who are members and these very individuals may be doing something of a different nature ten times as bad. I am coming to have little respect and little patience with those people who are forever criticizing their friends for what they do or what they do not do. I sincerely hope that the work will go steadily on in the church. Remember me very kindly to Mr. Ganony and family also to Rob and Nanning.

Glad you got out one day. My dear, I can't express my feelings on certain matters. Am very sorry that you are alone so much. It is not as I expected and if I had not been assured that

you would have company practically all the time I would not have left home. I don't want you to deny yourself anything you want at all. I'm glad you are going to Binghamton and want you get anything you want. As I understood it with Clayton [John’s brother-in-law and partner in the Earlville Standard] I was to pay Sherman and you. Did not know whether he would pay you or not. When I get home I will pay you too. Would like to get you something from here but the fact is I am running pretty low and don't want to write

home for anything. I can get along without any money from the office I think.

Now about coming home. I know you will understand me. If I were alone or if things were a little different here I would not remain one day longer. What I want to do is to be able to ret

urn without any expense and would very much like to have enough to pay at least Sherman out of what we make. I have to depend on Flay for car fare and cannot very well come before he does. He is continually talking about remaining for a longer time than I had planned. We are just getting into shape to make more than we have been making and I feel if we can both stand it I had better not confine myself strictly to the six weeks, although I do not mean to run over that time more than a week at the most. I would start for home Monday if I could act independent. I can't very well.

The next trip I make will be with you and baby. The hygian[?] supporters don't go well at all. They are awful hard sellers period since we left New York State where Abe

had his regular perfume customers, I have done us well as he has. We are now working on Dentessiyork [?], a toothpaste, and a line of theatrical goods manufactured in Rochester. We have not worked the latter much because we had not looked it up thoroughly. I have four good orders for it and there is a big profit.

My dear, I am so anxious to get home, as you are to have me, but if staying out one extra week will allow me to come home square financially, I think I had better do it. If I hurry Abe, he will everlasting talk about his having to come home because I was in a hurry and if by waiting a few days we'll avoid that I would be glad. The fact is he has business at home and will not want to stay much longer, but he wants me to be the excuse for his not remaining longer.

We took a ride to Santa Monica, a little town about 10 miles from here, this afternoon. It is on the Bay and we went bathing in the sea. What do you think of that? It is estimated that there are 20,000 tourists in the city at this time. After we leave California we shall not make any long stops and will hurry home.

Was glad to hear about dear baby. She does still love her daddy does she? That's good. It did me good to know that she talks about me. I will see a change in her I expect now that she is under full charge of her mother that she will be a perfect lady. Tell her that Papa wants her to be a good little girl and be good company for her momma. Kiss her on her “tod” and get her horsey for her Papa who loves her. Wish I could be with you tonight and all the time. We must both be lovingly patient. Rest assured that I shall be with you as soon as I can.

Glad to know Belle is improving. She has had a hard time of it. Hope they will come home this summer. Should think they would surely leave that country, but hardly believe it will be safe

for him to go east. We can take lunch we take lunch tomorrow with Cousin Charles.