Correspondence (incoming) - A

be put by you at the exclusive disposal of your monthly Lady (the feminine sex being the most appropriate for charitable action), alternating in several cities of the Union two concerts in each for the benefit of the poor, charitable institutions, etc. Your Lady would have the trouble to put the Philharmonic at the disposal of a Committee of selected ladies in each city, who, in turn, would make the necessary preparations for the concert or the Theatre and for the proper control of tickets, in order to obviate expenses, except, perhaps, for the theatre, thus obtaining a greater result for the intended benefit. The Philharmonic should be of no expense whatever to concerts, and at the proper time I will make known to you the make of doing it. A Philharmonic thus used would justly add to you great fame and merits, for their would be no other man in the world possessing an equal monument of luxury, refinement, pleasure and boundless benevolence. Humanity would certainly recognize your spirit of progress also in matter of art combined with the divine attribute of charity, for the enjoyment and benefit of the general public.

The Philharmonic could be transported from city to city by providing a railway car capable of fifty persons, with eight feet of room for a common kitchen, and so reduced as to permit resting comforts at night. While traveling, permission could be obtained from the different Railway Companies to attach gratuitously the musical car to their regular passenger trains. They would certainly not refuse the request, considering their own interest, as a large number of people would naturally be attracted to city for hearing the concert - a musical wonder the equal of which was never before hear by them - thus benefiting the Railroad Companies and increasing the funds of benevolence. I [bind?] myself to go to Italy, to find the proper professors, to engage them for five years for your exclusive service, with the condition that they shall not use, under no circumstances, their musical capacity for outsiders, nor receive compensations of any sort, except the salary received from you. It would be, of course, indecorous to see a professor offering

his services to others for want of sufficient salaty. Moreover, each musician of the Philharmonic should use three uniforms, to be made according your [dictation?] - one for every-day use, one for parade, and one full-dress for the choicest occassion. It is also necessary to provide the proper instruments and music to each professor, its passage and inherent expenses from Italy to San Francisco. The musicians' salary would begin only from the date of their arrival here. I have made detailed calculations as to the total cost of the Philharmonic per year, and the amount would be $90,000. This sum would cover everything and all expenses, except the unfurnished headquarter, to be provide by you and furnished at my own expenses, in order t cause no trouble to you. With said amount I bind myself to provide and to support the Philharmonic in a condition creditable to you under all circomstances. I do not intend to make a large profit but of the enterprise. My principal ob-

-ject is to obviate [wasting?] administrations and to spare all possible inconiences to you. I respectfully beg to state that if my project should, as I trust, meet the honor of your approval, an anticipation of $15,000 would be necessary to me on leaving for Italy, for meeting the first expenses. It will require about six months to procure worthy professors, to have their uniforms and necessary preparations made. Besides providing for uniforms, instruments, music, passage, subsistence, and other expenses, it is very likely I will have to anticipate money to some of the professors for their families. As a security for the $15,000, I am willing to make any agreement you may wish as to bind indemnity claim at Washington against the Venezuelan Government, binding myself to reimburse you at the rate of $250 per month, constituting $15,000 in five years. Most Respectfully Yours, [?] Albino Abbiate 555 Stevenson St.

Lansing, Iowa. August 5th, 1889. To the Hon. Leland Stanford. San Francisco. Dear Sir. I saw recently that the Stanford University opens in the fall. I do not know but I hope that there is a library connected with the University and that I may get some position in the library. This past year I attended