Laura E. Richards, Maud Howe, Florence Howe Hall, Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910, in two volumes, with portraits and other illustrations: volume 1

She admired Charles Sumner heartily, but they disagreed on many points. He disapproved of women's speaking in public (as did the Doctor), and-with wholly kind intentions — did what he could to prevent her giving the above-mentioned readings in Washington. She notes this in her Journal.

“I wrote him a very warm letter, but with no injurious phrase, as I felt only grief and indignation, not dis-esteem, towards him. Yet the fact of having written the letter became extremely painful to me, when it was once beyond recall. I could not help writing a second on the day following, to apologize for the roughness of the first. This was a diplomatic fault, I think, but one inseparable from my character. C. S.'s reply, which I dreaded to read, was very kind. While I clearly saw his misapprehension of the whole matter, I saw also the thorough kindliness and sincerity of his nature. So we disagree, but I love him.”

Mr. Sumner did not attend the readings, but he came to see her, and was, as always, kind and friendly. After seeing him in the Senate she writes: “Sumner looks up and smiles. That smile seems to illuminate the Senate.”

Another passage in the Journal of March, 1864, is in a different note: “Maggie ill and company to dinner. I washed breakfast things, cleared the table, walked, read Spinoza a little, then had to ‘fly round,’ as my dinner was an early one. Picked a grouse, and saw to various matters. Company came, a little early. ”