Letter from William T. Stead to May Wright Sewall.

STEAD, Wm T Dec 8 1900

Dec 8 1900

Dear Mrs. Sewall,

I often wonder where you are that you are getting on since we parted.

I wish very much you were not so far away, so that I could look in upon you and discuss many things, Among others, there is the International Union which is about to [?] upon the [?] period of its teething you were present at its [birth?] but not at its [christening?] I go to Paris on Monday & will report progress afterwards.

Then [?] the love affair for which you and I are suppose proudly [?] in that was owing to you & me that the lovers met.

Mr [Hudson?] Alfred has, as perhaps you have long ago been told fallen ? head? ? in love with Miss Hussey who seems to be not [?] in love

with hers. How I wish I could hear from you just if [?] what you think about the proposed match.

We (mother & I) [ushered?] upon maintaining an attitude of [street?] reserve until we heard from her parents. Mr. Hussey wrote me a very nice [?] letter saying that he agreed to his daughter's [wish?] the two could meet with a [rev?] to seeing whether they really were suited to each other. But no sooner do they receive this conditional permission than they declare they must marry in a few months!

To this I oppose all my parental wisdom & experience and plead for at least 12 months respite. Alfred is not in a position at present to make 500 a year and I don't think it enough to marry such a girl as Mrs. Hussy under that income. I understand that Miss H. has no fortune, and as her father said to me in his letter "no expectations" That being the case it seems some a very serious thing for the young people to [?] upon marrying so [?]. Miss Hussey does not [?] [?] exactly the kind of hard economist who might make [love?] in a cottage a success.

As for Alfred he has as little idea of denying himself that he actually goes to Paris any weekend and [?] to see her whom his son loveth.

It's very romantic & beautiful. But it is not practical.

Hence I wish I could take you in to our concil and hear what you think on the subject.

You know the Hussey family. I know nothing except what Miss Hussey has from time to time told Alfred. I have not seen her since the engagement.

I gather that they all are old family from Maine, well to do and thriving with a son in a newspaper at Chicago. [?] at home. The mother somewhat in love with society and given to share in things social.

not strong [?] or fervidly religious.

That is about all I know. I hope to see her this week when I shall probably learn more in the [?] than Alfred would tell me in a week for he is so secretive about all the cherished ado of his heart felt [?].

So please, like a dear friend, write & tell us just what you know think & feel about the proposed match.

If you have not heard of ? from the H's don't let mine ruin that I have consulted you but if you are talking of one with them I should be very much obliged if you could get to know [?] [?] what their ideas are on the subject of the letter.

Believe me [?] my dear Mrs. Sewall Yours sincerely William T. Stead