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[in pencil] X X


[Seneca Falls]
[Gap men] July 2nd
[1851]


Dear Julius,


	You will have read the Lily before you get this and seen your claims set up for the glory of having been the first American woman to wear the shorts as a constant dress. The article signed J.V.N. is your beloved Mr. Johnson, but do not mention it or Jackson and Miss Gilbert would tear my eyes out. “Our daughter” you see is getting top heavy. She tells three lies this month. She says she was next to you to wear the dress. I wore it several weeks before she did. She says she does not wear a bodice. I have never seen her without one, a very long one too. She says I write over my own signature as much as to say that I do not write any of her editorials. In this very number are six editorials written by me. The whole column where your name is mentioned is mine, the “The Detroit Tribune”, about the Lowell girls, and the man in petticoats, which of us is responsible for the lack of moral sentiment
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in the child? - A man was sent here from Boston to get a daguerreotype of Mrs. B. for the “Boston Museum” a paper published in that city. It is quite a large paper and the whole first page is devoted to a biographical sketch of a full length cut of Mrs. B. I think Julius you might to be thankful that your name has not been blazened about as a leader of fashion, a kind of female Beau Brummel. I am sure I am glad that I have kept out of this part of the performance. I would as soon have my name in the bottle family all over the country, as Lunds Sarsaparilla or Swains panacea. No Julius you can immortalize yourself in something better than petticoats. Julius you must write - you write excellent letters. Do write one for the next Lily, about servants, children, the costume, labour or anything. Suppose you write a series of letters to mothers. Reread Combe with care, and teach mothers just how to take care of their babies. This would be a great amusement to you and of great use to many an ignorant mother.
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You need not let any one but Mister Johnson know until you appear in print and are approved, now do this Julius. Amelia and I get on delightfully. We have been feasting on strawberries. My baby is very good and grows finely. I continue to be his nurse, and it is easier to look after him than to train an ignorant Irish girl. I have invented such a variety of ways to keep him quiet that is ways for him to keep himself quiet. I’ll tell you how he sits now, in his carriage, comfortable behind him, pillow before him. A long tape is tied to the top a bell tied to the top also, hanging down about two fingers from the top. He has the tiny tape in his hands, which he plays with just as a kitten does with a string every little which he knocks the bell, then he looks steadily at it until it is perfectly still. Then he is tired of bell and string and I must invent some other position. Thursday morning, I am writing this letter by installments, - two gentleman from the Oneida community I have just seen down town. Their last paper, “The Free church circular”
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contains a long article on dress, it is excellent. If you do not get that paper I will send you one. I send you the names of those men and women that are to be recipients of our Father’s bounty here. As Henry had no time to attend to it I got George Price to do his duty for him. Henry is at Canandaigua now - engaged in a very important suit. When Charley goes to New Jersey, if convenient for him, I wish he would settle up Neils bills and I will settle with him. I should love to meet the party at Peterboro but I cannot leave home with my baby now. He is so regular I get on so easy and comfortable that I dread to make a move. Love to all at the Grove and in the [...] there. To Cousin Charley and “Wagabone” adieu
		Your cousin Lib.
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E.C. Stanton
	July 1851
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[typed transcript]
[crossed out]
Original in 
Alma Lutz Collection

Grassmere July 2nd 
(Seneca Falls 1851)
Dear Julius
You will have read the Lily before you get this & seen your claims set up for the glory of having been the first American woman to wear the shorts as a constant dress. The article signed J.V.N. is your beloved Mr. Johnson, but do not mention it or Jackson and Miss Gilbert would tear my eyes out. "Our daughter" you see is getting topheavy. She tells three lies this month. She says she was next to you to wear the dress. I wore it several weeks before she did. She says she does not wear a bodice I have never seen her without one, & a very long one too. She says I write over my own signature as much as to say that I donot write any of the editorials. In this very number are six editorials written by me. The whole column where your name is mentioned is mine, then "The Detroit Tribune", about the Lowell girls & the man in petticoats. Which one of us is responsible for this lack of moral sentiment in child? A man was sent here from Boston to get a daguereotype of Mrs. B. for the "Boston Museum" a paper published in that city. It is quite a large paper & the whole first page is devoted to a biographical sketch & full length cut of Mrs. B. I think Julius you ought to be thankful that your name has not been blazoned about as a leader of fashion, a kind of female Beau Brummel. I am sure I am glad that I have kept out of this part of the performance. I would as soon have my name on the bottle family all over the country, as Lunds Sasaparllla or Swains panacea. No Julius you can immortalize yourself on something better than petticoats. Julius you must write. You write excellent letters. Do write one for the next Lily, about servants, children, the costume, labor, or anything. Suppose you write a series of letters to mothers. Reread Combe with care, & teach mothers just how to take care of their babies. This would be a great amusement to you & of real use to many an ignorant mother. You need not let anyone but Massa Johnson know until you appear in print & are approved. Now do this Julius. Amelia & I get on delightfully, We have been feasting on strawberries. My baby is very good & grows finely. I continue to be his nurse & it is easier to look after him than to train an Ignorant Irish girl. I have Invented such a variety of ways to keep him quiet, that is ways for him to keep himself quiet. I'll tell you how sits now in his carriage, comfortable behind him, pillow before him. A tiny tape is tied to the top, a bell is tied to the top also, hanging down about two fingers from the top. He has the long tape in his hands which he plays with just as a kitten does with a string, every little while he knocks the bell, then he looks steadily at it until it is perfectly still. Then he is tired of bell & string & I must invent some other position. Thursday morning, I am writing this letter by Installments. Two gentlemen from the Oneida Community have just seen downtown theIr last paper "The free church circular" contains a long article on dress. It is excellent. If you do not get that paper I will send you one. I send you the names of those men & women that are to be recipients of father’s boundy here. As Henry had no time to attend to it I got George Price to do his duty for him. Henry is at Canandalgua now engaged in a very Important suit. When Charley goes to New Jersey, if convenient for him, I wish he would settle up Neils bills & I will settle with him. I should love to meet the gentry at Peterboro but I cannot leave home with my baby now. He is so regular I get on so easy & comfortable that I dread to make a move. Love to all at the Grove
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2
& in the        there, to Cousin Charley & "Wagabone'' adieu

Your Cousin Lib.

(To Elizabeth Smith Miller)