Letter from Clarence Edmonds Hemingway to Grace E. Hall

Oak Park, Ill. May 24. 1896. My Darling Grace, Sunday has again come and nearly gone, and our Doctorate sermon has been preached. The Rev Hillis gave us a most excellent and helpful sermon. Sister Grace was the only one of our family to go in with me. This is G.A.R. Sunday and the funeral of Mr. Lyman's father was also held this afternoon. There were so many services I could not expect more to go in as it was nearly 100 Fhr. in the Shade.

All sorts of events have taken place since I wrote you on Wednesday. One is we have a new servant, an English girl and a true servant, another Friday night we received our official returns and I received a written statement from the Faculty of Rush Medical College that my examinations had been satisfactory and was entitled to the degree of Doctor in Medicine, which would be conferred upon me Wednesday May 27. 1896. An exceedingly happy youth was the result, altho I could not believe anything else could happen.

Then too who do you think appeared before our class to drill us for our Commencement music? A la Professor [Herdustein ?] ! He was a most excellent master of the occasion, throwing kisses to the boys on the porch and drilling the singers in the front rows all within the same time. I stepped into the arena and shook hands with him before the siege began, and we had a real pleasant chat, - he was greatly interested to know if you took the "date" with the Indiana State Music teachers, - all I knew was

you had received my message and had written them yourself! I promised to let him know when I heard, - he said he had procured the copy of the Musical Age for you which you wished. He treated me fine and I bid him a cheerful goodnight after all was over. Now a sad event, oh so sad, our good neighbor A Wilber Wood is today violently insane. He has recently lost his buisness [sic] position and this seems to result. Dear Mrs. Wood is

very much down hearted and broken up, - prayers are going up in great numbers for Mr. Wood, - as yet I believe they have called in no medical aid, "tis so sad, - for God wants us to have both: Asking faith and working faith. Mr. Horace Humphrey called today for a little medicine and said Mrs. H. had rallied nicely. He told me to send in my bill and I said, - "All right"! Another big secret for you and your [Daddie ?], - the deacons and Trustees have been holding several secret sessions,

as a result, Mr. Palmer S. Hulbert has been asked to look "in short order" for another place to preach! This is after some great amount of deliberation and P.S.'s sermons this morning was one where he himself was on his knees before the people pleading for "Justice!" He may make some trouble before he gets away but I trust not. - The congregation as a whole knew nothing of this move, it was done quietly, but Palmer fairly told it all himself this morning. I am oh so thankful you held "that" letter. - For we now have no [ ?] there as we might have had.

Elsie ate breakfast again at our house this morning, all is smooth as oil about our home premises in anticipation of the new house. Tomorrow is "Plans day", and special clinics, Wednesday Commencement and Banquet Thursday my cards will read M. D. I wonder if you can realize what a joyous satisfaction it is to have attained the degree which I have striven so for during my youth and young manhood. I feel as if I had been climbing up a high mountain, slipping and slidding, each year making some head way, and now as a last strong effort have reached the summit where I can

stand up erect on my own basement and whirl my diploma in the face of all past obstacles, declaring to the world that my life is for a purpose which all humanity respects and that my life companion is one who was chosen by God for me and whose Life is sacred as a portion of a completness which we alone shall know. Darling Grace, how I do delight to telling you just how I love you and what happiness it is for me to look forward to our life together. Interruptions have been such that it

has been my duty to help Dr. Grosvenor in getting Mr. Wood off for town in a carriage with Dr. G- father and Mr. Durham. He will now be properly taken care of at the detention hospital, until Thursday, when the Court will adjudge him and place him in a proper asylum. So sad, but the best of Mrs Wood & Leslie, as also for Mr Wood! We are to be thankful we are not bearing all the sorrows of the world! Where oh where have your letters been, only your Matlock & Torquay, so far. Hope & pray you are not ill. Now a little prayer, Your ever loving, Clarence E Hemingway P. S. When do you sail?