Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian / Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America

by Charles Sumner Young

ONE OF MY AUNT’S LAST REQUESTS

Boston, Mass.,

April 20, 1912.

Col. Charles Sumner Young,

Los Angeles, Cal.

My dear Col. Young:—

When the death of our beloved occurred at Glen Echo on the morning of the 12th inst. Doctor Hubbell thought you were at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and I immediately wired you there, but I was notified that you had left the city. I was exceedingly glad to receive your beautiful message of the 13th from Los Angeles.

I followed your wishes by placing some beautiful flowers in your name upon her bier at Oxford and I knew that the sympathy and tenderness of your great heart were with us that day. I am sending you Worcester newspapers, which will give an account of the last ceremonies, all of which were carried out just as she desired them, both at Glen Echo and Oxford....

I am sending you enclosed a copy of the tribute written by Mrs. Logan and read at the Glen Echo services by her daughter.

Has it not the ring of eloquence, of justice and of fearless friendship? I gave it to the Associated Press, but I believe it was used only in a garbled form. You are at liberty to use it in any form which you choose.

At this moment I have not time to say more, but I hope to hear from you and to see you again. There is much to do and to say in the future. I shall need the good advice and guidance of such friends as your good self and one of my Aunt’s last requests was that I invite you with a few other such friends to compose a committee to advise with me in the future.

Very truly yours,

(Signed) Stephen E. Barton.