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A 12 page A.L.S. Mentions an Earthquake in Brooklyn "Brooklyn...considered the finest city in the United States" WORK, Henry Clay (1832-1884). One of America’s greatest song writers of the 19th century. Composer of such noted songs as Marching Through Georgia, and Kingdom Comin. Died at the early age of 52. Autograph letter signed, 23 October 1870, N.Y. To: “My Dear Friends”. Extremely lengthy 12 page letter, signed in full. Work writes in part: “In transplanting a tree is it well to choose a damp and cloudy day, twisted and wounded rootlets need not become shriveled, desiccated and dead....it is quite appropriate that my first day in N.Y, should have been a rainy day; but why the windows of heaven should have been opened so wide, why they should have remained open quite so long, and why the deluge should have been accompanied by an earthquake is a mystery beyond my power of solution”. He continues saying he caught a cold, an imaginative experience of what it is to be seventy five years old. “Brooklyn, which you know as a place of residence is considered the finest city in the United States”. He continues to write two pages about living in Brooklyn and the surrounding walking area. Talks about his friends cleaning miserable little fish, scaling, cutting them down and back with scissors. He talks about Mr. Beecher’s sermon this morning and mentions a song they sang in church and states: “I shall not be obliged to sing” and “I hope by and by to dispense with the other part of the song....poor woman who was hooked by the mad bull....the Indian trails which I saw in California were very much worn....whether in case I should commence the manufacture of wash boards....assumes to disguise while passing the slaughter houses or in other words why he hunts up sheepskins and hides from the butchers...I want to know whether Charles S. was distinguished or extinguished the past week, also whether he came in possession of the drawer full of traps and trinkets left him by me in my will....” Together with the original envelope, hand addressed to ELEVEN individuals on Pine street in Philadelphia. Postage stamp removed. The letter is in fine condition................ $895.50  |