BRYAN TO HAYES
Velasco, Brazoria County, Texas, Dec. 16th, 1890 My dear Rud:
I have just received yours of the 15th inst. 82 I cannot tell you how glad I am to get it and to hear from you. How often have I wondered the cause of your long silence, which I intended to break on Christmas day by sending you a loving letter as my gift. "Old memories," yes, how they remind you and me of each other, and the loved ones of long ago,—so many who have passed away. Your wife whom I dearly loved, your mother, sister and uncle, and Mr. Platt. I am glad to know that you feel as you write about your dear wife; it is a comfort to have such memories. I can understand and appreciate them for I have the same for my peerless wife. I am spending the winter in Quintana with my son Willie's family, consisting of his wife and a bright three year old boy. Willie is in Atlanta, Geo.; has been there for two months for medical treatment; received a letter from him yesterday saying that he was doing splendidly and would return cured. My daughters Laura and Hally are with me; both bright, intelligent, cultivated women. Laura will be married in April to an intelligent worthy gentleman of Washington, D. C., who has a situation in the mining bureau. He is a Republican, the only objection to him. Guy is a clerk in a hardware store, one of the finest fellows of his age I know. He is 19 today, and has applied to the District Court for removal of his disabilities as a minor.
My brother Joel is 75. I came down with him from his old plantation (which you know so well) three days ago from spending his birthday with him. He is in splendid health, has five grown sons, all of whom have large families—girls and boys. Austin lives in Brenham. His wife has been dead nearly two years. He has two sons by his first marriage, and four by his last marriage; two of the latter are merchants and two lawyers—all promising useful men. Austin was 73 last Sept. He is well and carries his years with his white locks without wrinkles on his smooth face. My daughter Hally has just come in and says give my love to Mr. Hayes and tell him I wish he could be here on the 12th of January to take dinner with you on your 70th birthday. Your first birthday dinner given you by your children.
I gave my son Willie a humble home here to grow up with this place (Quintana). We have as much water on the bar now as at Galveston, with prospect of spring rise in river making it 18 or 20 ft. The jetties are 5000 ft. long and but for the money crises would have been completed. We think we will have one of the largest cities in the South at "the old Jack place" and the safest and best harbor on the Gulf coast. You know the lower Brazos and can understand what I say with deep water at the mouth.
My brothers and their children speak of and respect you—of course mine do.
Mrs. Ballinger has recovered her health; Miss Bettie is well and unmarried; and Lucy has one boy, a fine fellow. Tom is engaged in the practice of his profession making a good lawyer in the old firm his father founded.
My old and dear friend, my feelings like old wine grow stronger and better for you. Give my love to your daughter and sons, and write me about each one of yourselves.
Ever and ever your sincere friend, Guy M. Bryan.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston, May 5th, 1891. My dear Rud:
I have your good letter and enclosures. I thank you for the letter introducing Laura to Mrs. Gray. I appreciate your remembrances of me by sending me your addresses. I read them with interest, and I am glad that you make them, for they interest you and are the means of doing good.
The young people (Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Parker) may not from previous engagements be able to take Fremont on their way, but they appreciate highly your kind invitation, and at a subsequent time may avail themselves of the pleasure of accepting it.
Laura told me that she wrote you before she left here thanking you. She and Mr. Parker left here on the same day of their marriage for Brunswick, Ga., where reside Mr. Parker's parents. I was not here when the President [Harrison] visited this place, [April. 18,] but nothing (I learn from every quarter) was wanting in consideration and manifestations toward him filling the highest office in our country. He had every reason to be pleased with his reception in Texas. If political managers would let the negro question alone in Congress, there would be an end of sectionalism, and it would be best for the welfare of both races and the country.
Mrs. Ballinger received your friendly message to her with pleasure, and she told me to say to you that if you would like to visit Texas that it would afford her and her daughter Betty great pleasure to entertain you and Fanny at their house. I could then hope to go with you to other parts of the State and you could see the great improvements made since you were here in '48 and '49. It would be pleasant to visit again in our old age those places we saw together in our young manhood. Would it not?
Sincere thanks for your gift of the engravings of your wife. I gave one to Laura, one to Miss Betty Ballinger, one to Hally and one I kept for myself.
My brothers remember you with affectionate interest and their and my children respect you. With affectionate regards to you and children,
As ever your friend, Guy M. Bryan.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Quintana, Brazoria Co., Texas, December 31st, 1891. Dear Rud:
I write the last of the year, as ever your friend. I thought you would break your long silence by your usual Christmas letter, but it did not come. My last letters to you have not been answered; in one of them I sent you a message from Mrs. Ballinger expecting a response whether or not it would be agreeable to you to make a visit to Texas and be entertained by her. If your response had been favorable, I then intended to see that you had a written invitation from her. But you never noticed my letter. Why is this? If in any way I have given you offense it has been unwittingly done. I only write you now, because of our lifelong friendship and my unwillingness to let our correspondence die. I have been suffering for the last month with grippe, but I am nearly well.
Last summer when my son Guy went North I made the request of him to call and see my old friend; he did so but his visit did not break your silence.
In a few days, 12th of next month, I will be 71 years of age. I am older than you. May you live long and enjoy life, is the earnest prayer of your old classmate and lifelong friend.
As ever, Guy M. Bryan.
HAYES TO BRYAN
Spiegel Grove 4 Jany 1892 My dear Guy—
My readiness to say yes to importunate demands on my time has brot its due penalty. The burden of duties on me the last year has been too great. Relatives and friends have been neglected. Worn to dullness with labor for other men's causes, I have postponed to a lighter mood my letters to friends and loved ones. You ought not so easily to have assumed that I was offended. There can be no offense between us. But I have been wrong. The urgent multitude had no right to take my time away from old friends. I will cut off these outside people more resolutely.
As to coming to Texas: I can see no immediate prospect of finding time for a vacation. I have had none for more than five years. My hope has been to connect it with some educational duty arising out of the Peabody & John F. Slater Education Fund. My recent trip in that interest in seven of the Cotton States, while most laborious, was full of gratification and interest. Indeed my semi public work since leaving Washington has been of great value to me, even if of small public account. Especially since my precious wife left me I have found in occupation my best refuge.
Of course, if I could visit Texas, you and yours, and your friends would be the persons I would wish to be with. I recall always the dear home on the Brazos with warmest feelings, and Hallie Jack is the bright particular star in that sky.
On Christmas day I was travelling from the home of my mother's people in Vermont (New Fane) to the home of my father in Brattleboro, and spent a little time in each place. You are not alone among my friends who were not remembered. Laura Pratt Mitchell, Gen Force and Mrs Harron all reproach me. And I must change. I have been putting the question to myself in this way: "Friends know how it is and will excuse me—but with others promptness and punctuality are duties."
Yes, we are old fellows now. I was born Oct. 4, 1822—here is 1892—in my 70th year! My health is good. My family are all well. My two grand sons are a perpetual joy to me.
The stream of abuse that flowed around me some years ago has run its course. Now the pendulum swings to the other extreme. The cutting from N. Y. Times of 23rd last month shows what I am doing.
Now Guy be patient with me. I confess my error. I am driven by duties, (so called), and in my (alone,) condition it is best for me to be in this bondage.
As ever Rutherford B. Hayes
HAYES TO BRIAN
Spiegel Grove Fremont, O. 10 Apr 1892 My dear Guy—
Your letter came last evening. It is very welcome. Its tone and spirit are in exact harmony with my own temper and feelings. The golden days are the days that are gone. It is a happiness to dwell upon them and to live them over again.
Two or three weeks ago on an invitation from a. student lecture committee I went to Kenyon and made them a talk. Connected as Trustee with three or four other Colleges—one of which, (The Ohio State University), I am a founder—perhaps the founder, I am so engaged at the Commencement season that I can not go to Old Kenyon. Eight years away, it was like going home again after a protracted absence. My theme for an offhand talk was "Some of the boys and men at Kenyon more than fifty years ago." Old Bosse Chapel was crowded. I never spoke to a more responsive and enthusiastic audience. Students, officers, and the lawyers in Mt. Vernon, Hurd, Delano, and Curtis old graduates or students before our time Judge Davis, Chase C. J., Stanton, Henry Andrews, & Matthews. You see!
The only drawback is the College—the old building is neglected and in some degree down. It is thought to be however looking up. But the Boy School with new building, with three Winter Davis & & Mcllvain & Sparrow—Bryan, Trowbridge, uniformed & well drilled companies, is very fine & promising. The girl school is fully up to the mark also. The Theological Seminary stands well. A gem of a chapel—a noble Library & Building for it—and excellent gymnasium—Society Hall &c &c. Taken together an unusually well equipped institution in Buildings. How we would have enjoyed together the visit. But, alas, not one of our cronies, classmates, or contemporaries was there. Think of it—the nearest to our day—was a fine looking boy in the Mil. school, a grand son of Joash Rice Taylor, our class mate— now in Michigan.
You don't know how nearly I came to visit Texas about these days with Dr Curry of the Slater & Peabody Fund. It is a cherished dream which may yet be a reality.
Scott, the youngest, now 21, has a place in an electric concern— "Thompson-Houston"—at Cincinnati. Birch in Toledo still— Webb in Cleveland—Fanny & Rutherford here.
Yes, yes, I recall the feasts—the studies—the good times together! We shall cherish these friendly recollections till our latest breath. Good Bye—God Bless you— Written with my eyes and face bunged up badly with poison ivy—but these thoughts are for the time a cure all —
As ever Rutherford B. Hayes Here the correspondence ends. President Hayes died at Spiegel Grove, January 17, 1893. Colonel Bryan died at Austin, June 3, 1901.
How to cite:
Winkler, E. W., "THE BRYAN-HAYES CORRESPONDENCE XX ", Volume 030, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 68 - 74. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v030/n1/article_9.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 16:31:02 CST 2009]
