Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, Sa-Si

Clifton Forge, Ca June 1st

Mrs Leland Stanford My Dear Mrs. Stanford

A most interesting article which I just read, a description of the beautiful work which you are doing and of the dear one in whose honor the gift is given , impells me to write this letter.

So many of the universities which are founded for helping poor students really

2 do not help them at all, for although they are endowed heavily, the expenses are large and no work is offered to the prospective student, leaving the coveted education as far away as ever.

My husband has worked his way through (lacking one year of the classical course. And has had one year of medicine. To procure that we starved through the winter of '97 in Washington City, lived in one room etc But we had a boy and on the account of our little

3 one, we were obliged to give up the struggle, for he fell ill from insufficient nourishment but not even our dearest friends know of those trials.

I wish to know if there is a chance for a scholarship for us?

Is there work of any kind that could be given to both of us, to help defray the school expenses?

My husband has the best of recommendations and much training in nursing so if he could finish a medical education, I know he could do a great deal of good.

4 I would be willing to work in any way I could to help pay for his education. If this letter ever reaches you, I ask you, to put your self in my place, a young wife striving vainly for some means by which her husband could reach the goal.

We went to school one year and made our expenses. He by doing nursing and carpenter work. I by writing and teaching.

We have two children, a boy of seven, and a dear little baby, to whom I

should like to give the name of your boy who died. For I, too have a boy in heaven, and only mothers can feel.

I have not written this letter for charity or publicity. I want ot know if work could be given us to help pay our expenses (we could live for $30 per month) and if a scholarship could be obtained if we should send satisfactory references.

Very Sincerely Yours

Grace Boteler Sanders Clifton Forge, Va