Correspondence (incoming): Grant, Ida, 1892-1899

have sorrowed with you, in your great grief though you may have felt, if you had time to think of us, at all, that we ought to have expressed our condolence in telegrams or letters, When the terrible moment came to you. I know you will

understand all, when you learn that at the time, that our noble, grand-hearted and great friend, the dear Senator, passed away, Colonel Grant and I, with our children, were in a little old town of Belgium called "Bruges" where no news of the outside world ever reaches. After re-

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all the circumstances of our ignorance, of what had occurred and then when we reached America, Mrs Grant showed us your sad, distressed letter giving an account of your dear one's passing away so quietly and so suddenly - and we wept with you, but felt - that our letters could only be a

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all and that you can so bravely and nobly carry on the great work which you and he began together. Your grief, far from being a selfish one, makes you all the more noble and grand in your great works among your fellow beings.

We have heard from May all that you are doing and accomplishing! I do not understand why such great

great intrusion and care to you, in the midst of your grief and of the responsibilities you had thrown upon you. In fact, we saw that you scarcely had courage then, to read or answer letters from Mrs Grant or anyone else -so we decided to wait until the avalanche of letters

should cease to be oppressive to you. Colonel Grant and I feel My dear Mrs Stanford, that in the dear Senator, we lost our best friend in this life, after our own immediate dear ones, and realizing how thoroughly united you and he were, how bound up in one another, we wonder that you lived through it

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noble men, who it seems to us cannot be spared, should be taken, when so many who bring unhappiness to others, are spared. We hope, my dear Mrs Stanford that occasionally, you will come East, as we do not hope to go west, and we cannot bear to think that we are to be entirely separated

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gave his powerful aid to my husband, and how you so sweetly and kindly announced to me Fred's confirmation. Our children preserve their beautiful watches as greatest treasires & heirlooms & now can scarcely bear to use them for fear of injuring them, or losing them. Mrs Grant who is in California, with her sons, Ulysses and Jesse, hopes to go see you, before her return East. I suppose, in your noble, unselfish life, you reconcile yourself to your sorrow, doing good for others. Colonel Grant the children and I

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minute in begging you to accept the expressions of our warmest devotion and in wishes that the N. Year may bring you comfort and health.

Yours most affectionately

Ida H. Grant

This world of ours can go on, after the passing away of such noble men as Senator Stanford. - I do not think I want to see Washington again, now that you are no longer there.

We can never, never forget your kindness and sweet sympathy with us in all our affairs - and how the Senator

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from you. Your place in Washington is a great void which will never be filled. Ex-President Harrison who was here last week, spoke with such respectful affection of you and the dear Senator, & with such sorrow over your loss; and all your friends, wonder that