SCHEMERS—DEFAMERS—PIRATES
Bakersfield Club,
Bakersfield, Cal., February 2, 1904.
My Dear Miss Barton:
Your favor of January 13 received, and read with exceeding interest. Mr. and Mrs. Canfield appreciate your letter to them personally, as well as your kind words sent through me, in recognition of their slight token of high regard for you. While here a day or two ago, Mrs. Canfield requested me to convey these sentiments to you.
Now, Miss Barton, why you have confided in obscure me is a mystery I cannot solve; such a compliment is more than I can hope to deserve. (Having written the above General W. R. Shafter came into the Library and sat beside me at the table. I stopped writing and we entered into a discussion of you and your affairs. He is exceedingly complimentary to you and of your work. He especially requested me to extend to you his greetings and sincerest good wishes.)
I have known for several years more of the secret plottings than you think. From our mutual friends I have known also of your heart aches and the causes, and a thousand times have wished that I might say something, or do something, so that you might know that in my inmost heart I was in sympathy with you and your struggle against the coterie of schemers. I have also wished that I might have power long enough to show you in what esteem you are held by the households in America; what a charm attaches to your name wherever spoken,—such as neither royalty possesses nor money buys.
Your defamers no more represent the American people than pirates upon the high seas the country from which they spring.
The unanimous vote of confidence, last week by the Woman’s Club of Bakersfield enthusiastically expressed by all present rising to their feet, was but one manifestation among tens of thousands of similar ones which would occur if the facts were known. I hope you will soon hear of similar evidence of love for you and fidelity of your friends from organizations elsewhere in California, including the State Federation of Women soon to convene in Sacramento.
My Uncle, General Ross, never told me of any event in his military career with so much pride as that of offering you his services, and acting as your lieutenant in the ware-house of the Red Cross at Havana. Likewise would I be proud of the distinction to serve you in the most humble capacity, either for the cause you represent or for yourself personally.
While I do not, and can not, take seriously even the remotest suggestion that you might seek retirement and seclusion, I would gladly volunteer to be your Kit Carson over any mountain trail leading to happiness. I don’t think the American people will ever permit your forced retirement, but in the event you should voluntarily withdraw from public service, I would indeed be glad to suggest to some of my friends, who I am sure would esteem it an honor and privilege, to offer you a home in Los Angeles and a competence the rest of your life.
I expect to be in the East again soon and hope to have the honor of seeing you. I have in mind several things I would like to talk over with you, and thank you kindly for the invitation to call at your home in Glen Echo.
If in my humble way I can be of any service to you, you will please remember that you have but to command me.
Believe me,
Sincerely your friend,
(Signed) C. S. Young.
To
Miss Clara Barton,
Glen Echo, Maryland.
Whispering tongues can poison truth.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
The paths of charity are over roadways of ashes; and he who would travel them must be prepared to meet opposition, misconstruction, jealousy, and calumny. Clara Barton.
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them what every man should take. St. Mark.