50 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



idge Herr Dr. Zenker zu besuchen, die Herren sich bei ihm 

 zu studiren entschlossen. Bought tickets for the Gewandhaus 

 Concerts. 



Thursday 13. Visited Waring and Coolidge. Was called 

 upon at 4 P.M. by Mr. Pugh just arrived from America. 



Jason Clark Easton had married Mr. Johnson's sis- 

 ter, Sarah, in 1851. His letters show that Mr. Easton 

 was some time in finding his true vocation in life, try- 

 ing first one then another occupation, and meeting with 

 a fair share of success in each. It was not until he 

 encountered the problems presented in the settle- 

 ment of the Northwest that he found his opportunity. 

 There he foresaw the form the development of the 

 country would assume ; he became a successful banker 

 and was largely concerned in the construction and 

 management of railroads in Minnesota, in the exten- 

 sion and development of which he took an active part. 

 The affectionate intimacy of boyhood continued until 

 old age, and kept him and Mr. Johnson in close sym- 

 pathy. The dominant characteristics which shaped 

 the lives of the two men, starting under conditions so 

 nearly identical, are interesting. Widely divergent in 

 their development, each recognized in the other a 

 capacity which he himself did not possess and found 

 hard to understand, while admiring and respecting it. 

 In November 1853, Mr. Easton wrote to his absent 

 brother-in-law, closing with these words : 



As much as I want to see you, I do not want you to come 

 home till you have done all you have intended. I want you 

 to come out a strong man. I am proud of you as a brother 

 and expect to see you one day one of the first scholars in this 

 country. I wish I was rich, I would send you all the funds 

 you wanted. I don't, however, apprehend that you will lack. 



