Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, F

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at present but will soon be obliged to give up taking their lessons for lack of funds One sings soprano the other contralto Their voices blend finely in duetts [sic] They do solo work too. Oh! if you could know how much good you would do by helping them to contiunue their studies until they could be fitted to find a position to

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earn their own way in the world but as you do not know us to be worthy of help how hard it will be for you to decide but, you can refer to their former Teacher

Mr. Norman McLeoud

Tremont St.

Boston, Mass.

and to their present teacher

Prof. Ivan Morowski

#180 Tremont St.

Boston Mass.

I do so hope you will reply in their favor and

decide to aid them soon as it is a most worthy charity.

I will not write more only trust that it will meet your kind approval or can you in any way get them an opportunity to earn something by their talent with your influence Please excuse the liberty I have taken

Yours very respectfully.

Miss Mary E. Flavell

Hanover, Mass.

Sisters names

Miss Ella R. Flavell, sings soprano.

Miss Lillian C. Flavell, sings contralto.

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Hanover, Mass.

Feb. 28 1901.

Mrs Leland Stanford

Dear Lady:-

I read an article in a magazine a few days since and I thought if your generosity could be reached for my twin sisters who are and have been struggling for a musical education how good it would be They are studying with Professor Ivan Morowski

their hospitals. They begged my parents (then living), to allow me to travel to California with them. But they would not take me out of school for so long a time. Had I gone perhaps my life would have been different! As it is, I am in the greatest poverty - with my only boy suffering from nasal cataarh & Bronchitis. My husband, who seven years ago was worth at least Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) is today penniless. He invested in Real Estate and became a member of different land syndicated just before the awful depression in business. On account of dull times and competition in his businesses he lost everything. I was forced to mortgage my furniture - to sell my seal coat and few diamonds in order to live. I sewed - made lace-trimmed hats, in fact did everything I could do in the short time I could spare from my sick boy. Finally last spring, my husband was offered a pretty good salary to come up here and superintend the stone work of a large plant. When life began to look bright again and he sent for us - without a word of warning, he lost his position seven weeks ago - through no fault of his - unless it was that he was too conscientious to suit the man who employed him - God alone knows what will become of us here among strangers! There is not the slightest chance in this extreme cold weather to get another position in his line of business. No one knows of our extreme poverty and as the days pass and I can find no relief in sight I fear I will lose my mind -

307 Armory Place Gault St. Marie, Michigan Dec. 12 - 1901 Mrs. Jane L. Stanford San Francisco, Cal. Dear Madam: - Tonight as I sit in my room - sad and depressed - weary in soul and body, I saw your name by chance in one of our papers. My mind travelled back to my girlhood spent in Cleveland O. when I helped two Sisters of Charity canvas the city for funds to help build a hospital in Ireland. They had come to this country for that purpose and were then on their way to see you and your good husband. They had told me that your son had passed away while being treated in one of

Were it not for my darling boy, I would not worry. He is all I have besides my dear, good but unfortunate husband. I brought my son to the mountains in North Carolina last winter, hoping that the dry pure air would do much for him - But this winter!! Here in this extreme cold climate with scarcely enough clothing to keep us warm - My sight has failed so much of late that I cannot sew but little at a time. Ah! my dear, good Mrs Stanford - in God's name wont you do something for us to help us to pass the long winter - or for the sake of my darling boy, if you would let us go to California, I would do anything I could to repay your kindness - I know if you could but see us three in our poor little 3rd story back room - your kind heart would ache for us. No one knows how we suffer, sometimes cold and hungry. A little ray of hope entered my heart when I saw your name and this disconnected letter is the result. May Heaven grant my appeal wont be in vain. Please let me take my precious to your beautiful climate. I know he'll get well & strong. Pardon my filling in like this - its the last sheet I have. Hoping & praying for a reply, I am respectfully Marie E. Flaherty

Of Senator Stanford's magnificent gifts in the cause of education and his constant responses to all class of public charity the world already knows. Of the thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars as freely bestowed, but of which none knew but himself, the record will not be told. It is safe to say that he never refused a personal appeal and frequently gave much more than was asked. Mr. Stanford in all the great undertakings which accumulated for him such immense wealth, never started any project, no matter how important or simple, without talking it over with his wife. Her judgment weighed heavily with him in every incident of his career. Both of them were serious-minded and both full of good will and benevolence in managing the riches intrusted to them.