From
Samuel L. and Olivia L. Clemens
to the Saturday Morning Club
25 March 1878 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: CtHSD, UCCL 01549)
slc
Hartford, March 25/78.
My Dear Young Ladies:
For Mrs. Clemens & myself I hasten to thank you cordially for this exquisite remembrancer, these lovely flowers. If you will let me say it, it is like coming to us yourselves, in a body, these gracious creatures do so worthily & so truly represent your own fresh bloom & grace & beauty.
It is a very touching attention you have paid us, & we cannot tell in words how much we value it & are gladdened by it.
Although I am doubtless to be absent a long time, I am too proud of my patriarchal position in the Club to be willing to either resign it or allow another to occupy it in the interregnum. I beg, instead, the privilege of appointing a vacant chair, of ordinary pattern, to represent me & my wisdom on occasions when I ought to be present in my official capacity—& mark you, there are malignants who will tell you that a vacant chair is able to represent me & my wisdom very well—but no matter, you will see in it only a reminder that the spirit of one is there whose body is absent: & trust me that will be entirely true.
Begging that you will keep the Club compact & strong, & neither suffer it to languish nor die—for it is worthy to outlive us all—we offer our affectionate good-byes, & our sincere wishes for the lasting peace & happiness & prosperity of each & every one of you.
Samℓ. L. Clemens
Olivia L. Clemens
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