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December { ?} 1901

Mrs J. L. Stanford
San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Lady

Hoping for
your pardon for this seeming boldness
in addressing you, I will venture to give
some of my reasons for so doing.

Please do not think by this that it may be
a deception only to gain an undeserved
favor, for it is the first time I have ever at-
tempted anything so painful and humiliat-
ing as this is to me. I will aim to be brief.
I was born and raised in Cincinnati O where
I was accustomed to the best of advantages
and society. Married young to a schoolmate, a
graduate of Yale College, who was wealthy
and prominent. After a few years of happiness
misfortune in business overtook us and we
were made penniless and our beautiful home
lost by a mortgage. Then the loss of my

grand gifts for the good of the people. It
caused the thought to come to my mind.
Perhaps this noble good lady might be
willing to loan a striving one like myself
a helping hand, and all day long, I have
been praying and struggling for the will
to ask this favor. If I can get away from
here and get a foot hold once more in the
business world. I can succeed if any one
can, but I must undertake something which
will not tax my eyes too much. Oh death
rather than blindness. My discouragement in
spite of my will, causes a flow of bitter tears,
and many many sleepless nights, all being hurt-
ful to my eyes. If I could get started in some
business on a small beginning I could succeed.
Now I beg your kind consideration when I say
if you feel you could possibly allow me a
small loan you will never have cause to
regret it. and it shall be a profound secret so
that it will not cause you annoyance. I can
give the highest reference as to character, family
standing, disposition, honor & truthfulness. Altho'
it would be painful embarrassment to have my
friends of my palmy days know that my con-
dition is so terrible as this. My brother-in-law