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in the face of a beautiful sunset across the bay. Mrs. Howe read some little verses on “Satan and science” --quite funny, and there were speeches by Mark Twain and Ex-Vice-President Colfax, who were there as guests.
It was very easy and pleasant.
January 8, 1876
Dr. Howe is evidently dying; I don't know how it will affect Mrs. H.'s life. . . . Generally she feels about her editorials as if she were a pair of tongs that could not quite reach the fire.
This she said to me and it well describes them.
I wish to tell you how much gratified I was at your liking what I said about your husband.
It was prepared with a good deal of care, and from the heart. ...
I went the day after to describe the whole services to Charles Coddington, whom you may remember, a very interesting blind young man here, who is now in wretched health and confined to the house.
He wished that in addition to the other speakers there could have been one pupil of Dr. Howe, who could have described him as he appeared at the institution for the blind.
This seemed to me the only thing that could have added to the interest of that unique occasion.
Our Oldport will always be dear.
The