From collection Frances Willard Journal Transcripts
Master of Balliol when he died.-
Found the dear cottage & the maids & the pets all just as one could wish. My den with its new south windows lovelier than ever. George Knight of Liverpool, a rising young journalist, interviewed me on the theater. Nice boy.
October 31, 1893
The last day-as we hope-of Cossie on the sea. Somehow the [........ ] condition of expectancy and fear lest there has been a storm has me, as she says in her bright way, "in the cleft of a stick" wriggling. Not that I really think things have gone ill with her (sick rather!) in this endless week's sea-death, but because I love so well & hope so much. Still this has been a glorious day in the sky but I have staid in my den & worked right on. First letters from home & papers-dear Nan sending a line from Convention-are full of encouragement about the 2 Conventions-I feel confident they have done no end of good. Miss Thayerof Wellesley College, a friend of Bessie's here to lunch-nice girl.
November 1, 1893
Cossie Comes Home.
I am more than ashamed of my anxieties for this morning at 8 behold a telegram from the Bravest of the Braves, off Queenstown "1:15 Nov. 1 safe-well-love-E.C. So she has come safely & on time-the woman with the head of a statesman & heart of a child. How great a thing she has done in these 24 days neither she nor we can realize. She is the first reformer to preside over the great rally of clans in the country of the Crusade, though herself the leader in a land three thousand miles away.-She has come; I heard the clatter of hoofs within 5 minutes of the time we looked for her-10:15 P.M. We had set a light in every window from top to bottom; put a wreath of Chinese lanterns around the portico & were all gathered in the hall. She came in, that dark-bright face, so arch, so [entry continues in space for 11/1] so sweet; a tall slight figure behind her-Somerset, who has been in peril of his life away in Athabasca. We talked till 2-it was bad but I had to know of the Convention-so many questions! All seems to haev gone for the best & harmony is restored at headquarters. She says nothing can exceed the love & loyalty of the women for their old friend. She says Nan was splendid-&Steviey & Hoffman & Carsie, Margaret, & the rest. She went to dear Rest Cottage; she went to Mother's grave, so did Alys Smith & so did Mary Sims who kissed my horse "Old John"! Mary has such a good heart! The Fair is [entry continues in space for 10/26-pages still out of order in book] a miracle-she has bro't great photographs which prove that no such culmination of architecture & sculpture was ever seen on earth. The Court of Honor-white columns crowned with statues mirrored in the great lake & wide, clear sky of our prairies.-she says that by scores & companies people have come out to Rest Cottage from Chicago all summer. It
