370 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



but it is hard. One feels the attitude as something un- 

 natural, and after control comes the break-down. 



April 22. — The war with Spain, if not declared by 

 word of mouth, is nevertheless known by the hoarse 

 notes of the guns in preparation — an unholy war, 

 for it is not justified by the circumstances. What will 

 be the end no man can say. 



Nahant, May 21. — Emma called for me and we 

 went together to the train for Lynn. It was a strange 

 experience, we two together — all that were left of 

 the old Nahant household. 



June 1. — The papers say that our ships are bom- 

 barding Santiago de Cuba. "War is Hell" is well 

 said. 



July 5. — News of victory for us in Cuba — Cer- 

 vera's fleet destroyed. Santiago must be in our power, 

 but, oh, the tragedy of it, the suffering! 



TO MISS GRACE NORTON 



Nahant, August 3, [1898] 

 . . . One thing has surprised me in the things written 

 or spoken about Sallie, and that is that people who, 

 one would say, had hardly seen and known her 

 familiarly enough to receive a distinct impression of 

 her rare qualities have said the most discriminating 

 things about her. . . . Her singing was the expression 

 of what was so pure, so noble, so true to herself and to 

 others in her own nature. Life goes on and I have a 

 great deal to make me happy, but there is something 

 beside — homesickness is the best name for it, per- 

 haps — but we must not dwell on that side. 



