Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, X - Z

[Subscr. bk. ret'd.]

The International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, 3 West Twenty-Ninth Street, New York. Feb. 6, 1901.

Mrs. Leland Stanford, San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Madam:

Ladies are interested in good work for young men. Presuming on this, and knowing your generous interest in benevolent and philanthropic movements, I write to ask your co-operation in the world wide work for young men, by the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. The headquarters of the Committee are in New York, but its members and sec setaries reside in all parts of Canada and the United States, and it has the supervision of association work all over North America and in missionary lands, where nineteen of its secretaries are located.

Its most important work for classes of young men is for the 200,000 students, 1,000,000 railroad men, 100,000 soldiers and sailors, for colored and Indian young men, for mechanics, business and professional young men and for boys. Its educational and physical departments are far-reaching in their influence, but its best and most active work is in developing the spiritual life and activities of Christian young men, stimulating Bible study, and in evangelistic effort for the conversion of young men and boys.

The Committee's work has revolutionized the religious life of our colleges, and, as a result of it, since its inception 6,000 students have been influenced to enter the ministry; 5,000 have offered themselves as missionaries (1,600 of whom are now in mission lands); 35,000 have been converted, and 80,000 students, trained in Christian work, have gone into business and professional life. 3,000 students were converted last year. Our Railroad work has affected a marked change in the life of railroad men. Hundreds have been converted this year. It has the co-operation of the railway managers of the continent; nearly $200,000 are given annually by railway corporations for its support, and $1,000,000 have been contributed for railroad association buildings as an endowment of this work.

During the war with Spain we carried on a large work for soldiers and sailors, having at one time 70 tents and 150 secretaries. There are now twenty-five secretaries in this department, largely in the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico. Within a few months we have sent 60 tons of reading matter, stationery, and other supplies to these islands. Three secretaries are with our forces in China. With 100,000 soldiers and sailors in the service, largely in distant islands or at naval stations, with many saloons and places of vice open to them, you will realize what our comfortable buildings and tents - with reading matter, facilities for correspondence, ice water, games, and judicious secretaries in charge - mean to our "boys in blue." This department will cost $40,000 this year.

In asking your co-operation, may I not also earnestly ask your help? I enclose a subscription book and stamped envelope, asking you to please return the subscription book and with it, if convenient, your contribution.

Hoping for an early and favorable reply, Sincerely yours, Thomas K. Cree

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perspirations day and night except at intervales [sic]. I was under the Doctor's care for a number of years with some good results but I am not able to apply any longer for want of means. I had been feeling some better until I meet with a severe Earthly Sorrow in the sudden death of my dear and only brothe [sic] who departed this life last May 17th. I am left alone and friendless. I am all alone - all my loved ones are gone I trust to a better home. Yet my grief knows no ending and my fears refuse to cease No dear voice to ask are you feeling any better or is [there] anything I can get to help you. My dear brothe [sic] had been suffering for some years with heart and stomach trouble and this spring was taken

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my father located for a time and as my father was a Classsic Scholar their [sic] were not much for my father to do at that time but teach a Common School. After a time my father went into the lumbering business and it was there that my dear father meet [sic] his death by the fall of a tree. It was a sad blank for my dear Mother far away on a distant shore from all her loved ones and was left with three Children Young in Years. My dear Mother and Elder brother has passed from Earth away many years ago. My youngest brother was spared with me for to help me to bear my loneliness. I have been an invalid for many years I have suffered from uterine trouble and pain on the nerves and perfuse

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NewCastle Creek Grand Lake Queens County New Brunswick 2nd Jan 1902

Dear Lady Stanford

I have taken the very great liverty [sic] of addressing you, but I do feel to sincerely hope that you may be an with me and please allow me to call you friend. And when I give you a brief and sad history of my life I think that You will forgive me for making so free. First I desire to give you a few outlines of my parentage. My parents came from Stranraer Scotland my father was a merchant of that town and my Mother was a Merchant's daughter. My fathers father was a tenant farmer My grandfather came to America and as my father was young in years was induced to follow soon after where

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with severe pain and dizziness in his dear head-my dear brother was very ingenious could work at anything in common he used to clerk but could not get anything of that to do of late. The poor dear worked in pain on a building a few days before his death. Oh dear friend I am bowed down with grief some times I fear I shall have to sink beneath my heavy load except some kind of friend may reach out in sympathy & hand to me in my lonely and dark hours oh so sudden the message came for my dear brother in the quiet hours of the night on early dawn My dear brother went to bed he suffering as he had done for some time the next morning I was told my dear brother was

help me financially. I have made free to write to you as a Lady for I feel there are no one can realize a womans sufferings as woman can. Thus I hope and feel that you may not pass me by. Dear friend I have not asked you in my own strength alone Oh may I hope to hear from you. If you kindly remember me I trust that it may be as bread cast upon the waters and it shall be gratefully acknowledged. And dear friend if you wish me to I shall rejoice in send you the name and address of the Minister of the Church to which I belong and also the physician that

[left side] I trust again never to part. But oh the loneliness and anguish of heart I endure, Oh dear friend, while in my weakness I try to look above for strength to bear my sorrows. Dear friend I feel so hope that you may sympathize with me in my severe earthly bereavement and body sufferings I have been left to lonely I suffer much for care and have suffered for the necesscities of life I could get a friend to take care of me for $2. or two dollars a week and perhaps less, or if I had the means to go to the United States to a hospital. I have dear friends there yet are unable to

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has attended me. and I feel to think that they would be pleased to know that I had found a friend in my adversity, oh dear Lady if you feel to hear my pleadings I do hope you will be abundantly rewarded . If it is Gods loving will that I may receive help from you would you kindly advise me what hospital you would think best. Dear friend please forgive me for making so free in asking you for such a boon for I have asked you in tears with kind wishes I am yours in sorrow Mrs Mary P.H. Yeamans

Ps. please look over every imperfection as it is hard for me to write

[right side] speechless and when I got to him he could not speak to his poor suffering Sister oh the one I loved the only earthly comfort I had the only one who could fully understand my sufferings. My dear brother so thoughtful even in such poor health has been taken away from me. and oh my poor broken heart mourns, for the dear face that is gone for the dear kind voice that is silent for the brotherly love that is no more until the great day when we all shall meet