Julia Sand – Letter 23

Context

In the summer of 1883, President Arthur spent two months on a trip out west after being invited to explore Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone had only been designated a national park for just over a decade (dedicated in 1872), and Arthur was the first president to visit.

Letter 23

September 15, 1883

My very bad friend,

(who does not deserve that I should care where he goes, or what becomes of him!)

Are you coming to Newport? One day I hear that you are, the next that you are not. I saw your dear little boy at the Casino the other evening – he was talking to the ladies in front of me for quite a while – but he did not say anything on the subject. By-the-way he did not seem silly or & dudeified at all – in spite of what you & some other men say about him. But are you coming?

It seems a very long time since I saw you last summer. I feel about ten years older – I have had so much care & sorrow. I thought then that I had suffered all I could suffer – but I was mistaken. Now I believe we do not reach that point until we are dead. I came near reaching it, though – in the spring I was very, very ill. But somehow I pulled through & at present I am stronger than I have been for years. Yet I don’t feel it – because so many sad things happen in my life & wear me out. Sometimes – does this strike you as very comical? – when I feel exceedingly gloomy, I have an idea I would like you to come & talk to me. It is absurd, I know – but I can’t help it. I like the sound of your voice – even if you are such an awful old sinner! – & I would like you to tell me about your trip out west. I enjoy hearing about places I have never visited & interesting things I expect never to see. Will you come?

Of course, if you are an old bundle of worldliness & have no heart at all, you needn’t. But you know best whether you are that, or not. If you can remember a time when you were very unhappy, & I tried to say things to comfort you, & you did care for my sympathy, then do come. It is very hard for me to take hold of life again – & I am very grateful to those who help me at all to be cheerful.

At present I am staying at Mrs. Ives – a quiet little house, in a quiet little street. Of course it is not the same as being in my own home – but how can I help that? And we so seldom are near. Do come, if you can.

Yours sincerely,

J. I. S.