September 26th, 1889.

MRS. KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN,

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Much Esteemed Madam:

Will you be kind enough to give us your opinion regarding the following.

The Browns, Smiths and Jones are three foreign families living here in Mexico. The Browns' child was to be baptized, and they had thought of inviting a number of friends, but owing to unfriendly feeling among the different families, could not well arrange the company.

Brown explains the matter to them all, then he asks Mrs. Smith if she, as an intimate friend, would do him the favor to ask and arrange with a certain Chinaman Hotel Keeper, to bake a few fine cakes. She most cheerfully complied, and also informed Brown that she wanted to make a

cake herself for the Baby, and if Brown would send her 2 lbs raisins, and one pound of butter, she would bake a nice fruit cake.

Brown sent the butter and raisins.

Mrs. Jones, a friend also of Browns, and a next door neighbor to Mrs. Smith said she wanted to furnish a cake, all said in the most friendly terms.

On the afternoon of the 19th inst, Brown sent a servant for the cakes. They all came together, those of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Jones, and those the Chinaman furnished, along with numerous boquets of flowers.

The baptism took place that evening, present, only God Father and God Mother. The following morning (the 20th inst) the Browns, so happy knowing their son was a Christian, concluded as there was a great abundance of cake they would send it around among their friends, to enjoy, also the baptismal cake.

Among others to the Smiths and Joneses.

Gathering together the dishes of Smith and Jones and writing a polite note stating the cakes were all very fine and much enjoyed, they sent them, enclosing also to each, Mrs. Smith, and Jones, the usual baptismal cards, custom of the country.

Mrs. Smith and Jones sent the cake all back without one word of explanation. In sending the cake Mrs. Brown sent two pieces of each cake furnished by Smiths, Jones and Chinaman.

Now someone has been guilty of commiting a breach of Etiquette; who was it?

The Browns are very much hurt as they meant no harm.

The Smiths and Jones Family are hurt that they should have their own baking returned for them to eat.

Please excuse all of us for our molest

tice.

The day that you visited us I happened to be punished for a small offence. The biggest disgrace of our school is to be put under the clock in the Normal School's main corridor. My teacher put me under the clock for the whole day.

By the way the students were rushing around, I knew something unusual was to happen. Afterwards I heard the elevator lady tell the janitor that Mrs. Wiggin was reading to the girls. I nearly fell off my chair, I was so surprised. Really, Mrs. Wiggin, I don't believe I have ever been so disappointed in my life before, when I heard that you were there and that I was not to hear you.

Of course the reading must have been splendid but there was another reason that I wished to hear an author read. My greatest ambition is to be an author myself. I love to tell and write stories and I always get "Excellent" in compositions in school. Poetry to me is beautiful and I write some; of course no one ever sees it but I love to write poems.

I dearly love Rebecca and many times have I transformed her into a real little girl and have played and talked to her for hours. I read the book and then Rebecca steps out and we have a lovely time together. "Patsy", another one of your books, is splendid. It is so sad, though, that I always cry when I read it.

I saw "Mother Carey's Chickens" Saturday and it was lovely. I can imagine just how proud you must feel to see your book being played. I was telling the friend that was with me that if I do become an author and write lovely things, that if it is ever dramatized I shall buy a seat in the top gallery and more or less disguise myself. Then I shall study the people's faces, they are so interesting up there

and I would like to see the effect my book has on them. I do so hope that I shall write. I am going to try very hard.

I have at least been a little consoled by seeing you. I saw you when you were coming down from reading; maybe you saw me but I doubt it. I was sitting in the corridor "under the clock", just across from the stairs and near the elevator.

I hope with all my heart that I shall meet you some day.

Respectfully,

ISABEL HARTSHORN. (14 yrs.)

Monday, May 18th, 19-, Number 941 Linden Street, Oakland, California.

Mrs. Wiggin:

I am Mr. Jordan, Will Jordan. I am the same one that you used to see at Mrs. Blake's House, in San Francisco. I would like to remind you of some things, and also, ask some favors of you, and also, of all of your lady, and girl friends, through you, and when I say all of your friends, I mean all of them, and everywhere. Will you, and your friends, please dress for the halloweens and for all of them, & as follows? While you are in the house, wear standing collars, and turn back cuffs, or, turn down collars, and inside cuffs, but, if you go out on the street, wear also, either thread gloves, or dressed kid gloves, either outside, or inside, of the sleeves. Also, this same style of dress, would be equally suitable, for seeing, or doing, any of the following things. For any circus, or any real fire, or any race, or any tournament, or any disaster, or any sham fight, or any killing contest, or to see

anything killed, or any melodrama, or to see any animals trained, or broken, or for any hunting, or fishing excursion, or for any Wild West Show, or for any horses show. This is what I call, the 1st Style of Dress.

Also, if you, or your friends, should ever do, or see, any real fights, or tragedies, please dress for that, and as follows. Wear veils, if it is possible, turn down collars, turn back cuffs, and undressed kid gloves, either outside, or inside, of the sleeves. This also, is what I call, the 2nd Style of Dress.

Mrs. Wiggin, if you, and your friends, would do all this for me, it would oblige me very much. I have asked you, and your friends, to do this for me, because, I think so much of having ladies, and girls, thoroughly dressed, at such times, either to do such things themselves, or to see them done. Mrs. Wiggin, you know me, you remember me, and Your Mother and Sister, and I and My Mother, used to meet you at Mrs. Blake's House in San Francisco?

I will say again, that if you, & your friends, would all do this for me, it would oblige me, very much, for the reason I have given. When a woman, or a girl, is dressed in either of these ways, she is to me, at least as well dressed, and as thoroughly dressed for such things, as she would be if she was dressed in the usual way. enclose a stamp for reply.

W. H. JORDAN.

I

Mrs. Wiggin, please don't return this letter, or please don't write and tell me that you don't wish to do all this, because I want you to do it. You know me, and remember me, therefore, I want to ask these favors of you, and your friends.

(Signed) W. H. JORDAN.

Those who have read your moving little tales (and who has not?) know you to be entirely above the use of cosmetics, but it would be both laudable and legitimate if you should use some simple emollient and thereby preserve those charms with which Nature has endowed you so lavishly.

We send you herewith 6 bots of the W. R. B. If you should feel you could give us a testimonial we should be deeply grateful but in any event dear Madam we shall be glad to have served you.

Yours respec'y & admiringly,
THE W. R. B. CO.,
per HENDRICKS.

Wisconsin,

February 8th, 1910.

MESSERS. HOUGHTON, MIFLIN AND CO.,

PUBLISHERS,

Gentlemen:

I would like to write a sequel to "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" published by you; Provided of course no other has written one, and also provided I could arrange with you to publish it for me.

Will you kindly tell me if you would undertake this if in your Judgement the sequel was every whit as good as Rebecca and it was about the same sized body and binding? Could you tell me if Rebecca, met with a good

sale, and what were the royalties paid on it?

There are so many characters left at the post, as it were, in this book; that I believe I can make even a more interesting story than Rebecca, and not do violence to the Authors description of their characteristics.

An early reply will be very much appreciated by,

Yours very truly,

HENRY A. WHITE.

Manchester, N. H.
Nov. 10, 1889.

TO KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN,
Dear Madam:

Please find enclosed 25c, for the New York Kindergarten Association. It gives me great pleasure to comply with your request, for I was very thankful for your autograph. How much nicer and ladylike it makes you appear to grant such request. I feel better acquainted with you, and feel more like reading your books. Now Mrs. 2 is different. She is quite hogish and refuses all requests. I don't feel like reading her books. Yours sincerely, (Signed) IDA I. CAMDEN, Age 13.

slightest temptation to me to part with my place, neglected as it is. I consider it worth $1,000, (One Thousand Dollars) to breathe the same air as Mrs. Riggs one month in the year. With regards to all,

Oakland, California, Feb. 21st, 1887.

Dear "Miss Kate":

I send you a jewel for your collection, in the shape of a romance, written by my ten year old niece.

As ever,

Affectionately,

A. W.

THE CUPLE

A FINE YOUNG CUPLE WERE WALKING UP THE SHORE ONE DAY TALKING OF POLETICKS. MISS CRANE SED I THINK BLANE WILL BE ELEKTED. MR. WHITE SAID I THINK HE WILL TOO. I THINK WHEN TOO PEOPLE LIKE BLANE THEY OUGHT TO GET MARRIED.

SHE SAID I DO TO. HE SAID SHALL WE? I LOVE YOU SO! SHE SAID DO YOU LOVE ME REALLY? THEN HE SAID WILL YOU BE MINE? SHE STUDERED AND THEN REPLYED I DONT KNOW. WELL YES. THE CUPLE WALKED UP TO THE HOTEL AND IMBRASED.

THEN HE GLIDED DOWN THE WINDING STARES AND SENT A TELEGRAM TO HIS MAMA AND PAPA TO COME TO THEIR WEDDING.

THEN HE WENT UP STARES AND THEY IMBRASED AND SAID THEY LOVED EACH OTHER AND WOULD ALWAYS VOTE FOR BLANE BECAUSE HE GOT THEM MARRIED. Winnie Warner.