Your letter was full of interest, & gave us great pleasure. We want to hear all about the progress of both of you—the one toward success in the competitions mentioned, & the other toward the use of colors. We’ll hope for good luck for you, since this seems to be a favorable year for young aspirants,—Mr. Gillette, for instance. You remember I confided to you a state secret (about our helping him to get his play started on the western boards, which resulted in his presently becoming manager of the Madison Square Theatre.) Well, his play was put on the stage at the Madison Square the first of this month, & achieved a handsome success. The papers say it will have a long & popular run. A play which he previously wrote with Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett is now loudly called for by several New York managers. So we consider that Gillette’s pecuniary future is safe.

We have been at the seaside since the 4th of this month (but our P. O. address is still Hartford,) & are having a luxuriously lazy & comfortable time—which reminds me to warn Mr. G. that working ten hours a day is pretty risky heavy activity—he must take care of his health, for that is his most valuable possession after his wife. It is mighty hard to hold back when one is interested; & the fact is that one can’t hold back, but then one’s wife must make him do it, when it seems best. That is what one’s wife is for, partly.

Your accounts are perfectly clear & straight & methodical. That is right. IⒶemendation will keep a lookout & renew the letter of credit in time.

I enclose a K. of H. card. One came a few weeks ago, & I returned it to Mr. Emmons & gave him your address, & asked him to send it to you; but I don’t know whether he did or not.

We are all well except Jean (the baby) & she is well too. At least nothing is the matter but teething. She rages over that a good deal.

Good bye, & good luck, & a power of love to you both from

upside down in the top margin of the last page: