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Knoxville Tenn 12/28/1901

Mrs Jane L. Stanford

Sanfrancisco [sic] , Cal

Dear Madame:-

I intrude myself upon your
notice from reasons of necessity, and
because I have heard much of your
kind, sympathetic, and generous character.
But for these I should never venture to
risk a rebuff at your hands, or perhaps
at least a cold refusal.

To be brief, I am 34 years of age and
have spent about 17 years of my life
in Railroad and Telegraph Service which
I abandoned about three and a half
years ago because I could not longer
conscientiously perform secular duties
on the Sabbath day in violation of the
commandments of God.

Since that time I have made many