Epistles (first series)

Mrs. Leggett

Almora,
28th July, 1897
My dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},

Many many thanks for your beautiful and kind letter. I wish I were in London to be able to accept the invitation with the Raja of Khetri. I had a great many dinners to attend in London last season. But it was fated not to be, and my health did not permit my going over with the Raja.
So Alberta is once more at home in America. I owe her a debt of gratitude for all she did for me in Rome. How is Holli? To both of them my love, and kiss the new baby for me, my youngest sister.
I have been taking some rest in the Himalayas for nine months. Now I am going down to the plains to be harnessed once more for work.
To Frankincense and Joe Joe and Mabel my love, and so to you eternally.
Yours ever in the Lord,
Vivekananda

LXXXI
C/o E. T. Sturdy, Esq.,
High View, Caversham, Reading
England,
October, 1895
Dear Mother {Mrs. F. H. Leggett},
You have not forgotten your son? Where are you now? And Tante and the babies? What about our saintly worshipper at your shrine? Joe Joe is not entering "Nirvana" so soon, but her deep silence almost seems to be a big "Samadhi".
Are you on the move? I am enjoying England very much. I am living with my friend on philosophy , leaving a little margin for eating and smoking. We are getting nothing else but Dualism and Monism and all the rest of them.
Hollister has become very manly, I suppose, in his long trousers; and Alberta is studying German.
The Englishmen here are very friendly. Except a few Anglo-Indians, they do not hate black men at all. Not even do they hoot at me in the streets. Sometimes I wonder whether my face has turned white, but the mirror tells the truth. Yet they are all so friendly here.
Again, the English men and women who love India are more Hindu than the Hindus themselves. I am getting plenty of vegetables cooked, you will be surprised to hear, a la Indienne perfectly. When an Englishman takes up a thing, he goes to its very depths. Yesterday I met a Prof. Fraser, a high official here. He has been half his life in India; and he has lived so much in ancient thought and wisdom that he does not care a fig for anything out of India!! You will be astonished to hear that many of the thoughtful English men and women think that the Hindu caste is the only solution of the social problem. With that idea in their head you may imagine how they hate the socialists and other social democrats!! Again, here the men--and the most highly educated--take the greatest interest in Indian thought, and very few women. The woman's sphere is narrower here than in America. So far everything is going very well with me. I shall let you know any further developments.
With my love to paterfamilias, to the Queen Mother, to Joe Joe (no title), and to the babies,
Ever yours with love and blessings,
Vivekananda

XLVI

Chicago,
30th Nov., 1899.

My dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
Nothing new except Madame Calve's visit. She is a great woman. I wish I saw more of her. It is a grand sight to see a giant pine struggling against a cyclone. Is it not?
I leave here tonight. These lines in haste as A__ is waiting. Mrs. Adams is kind as usual. Margot doing splendidly. Will write more from California.
With all love to Frankincense,
Ever your son,
Vivekananda.

XLVIII

1719 Turk Street
San Francisco
17th March, 1900.

My dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
So glad to get your nice letter. Well, you may be sure I am keeping in touch with my friends. Yet a delay may sometimes cause nervousness.
Dr. and Mrs. Hiller returned to the city, much benefited, as they declare, by Mrs. Melton's rubbings. As for me, I have got several huge red patches on my chest. What materialises later on as to complete recovery, I will let you know. Of course, my case is such that it will take time to come round by itself.
So thankful to you and to Mrs. Adams for the kindness. I will surely go and call on them in Chicago.
How are things going on with you? I have been following the "Put up or shut up" plan here, and so far it has not proved bad. Mrs. Hansborough, the second of the three sisters, is here, and she is working, working, working to help me. Lord bless their hearts. The three sisters are three angels, are they not? Seeing such souls here and there repays for all the nonsense of this life.
Well, all blessings to you for ever is my prayer. You are one of the angels also, say I.
With love to Miss Kate,

Ever your son,
Vivekananda.

PS. How is the "Mother's child"?
How is Miss Spencer? All love to her. You know already I am a very bad correspondent, but the heart never fails. Tell this to Miss Spencer.

1719 Turk Street,
San Francisco,
17th March, 1900.

Dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
I had a letter from Joe asking me to send my signature on four slips of paper, so that Mr. Leggett may put my money in the bank for me. As I cannot possibly reach her in time, I send the slips to you.
I am getting better in health and doing financially something. I am quite satisfied. I am not at all sorry that more people did not respond to your call. I knew they would not. But I am eternally thankful to you for all your kindness. May all blessings follow you and yours for ever.
It is better that my mail be sent to 1231 Pine Street, C/o the Home of Truth. For though I be moving about, that place is a permanent establishment, and the people there are very kind to me.

I am so glad to learn that you are very well now. Mrs. Melton has left Los Angeles I am informed by Mrs. Blodgett. Has she gone to New York? Dr. and Mrs. Hiller came back to San Francisco day before yesterday. They declare themselves very much helped by Mrs. Melton. Mrs. Hiller expects to get completely cured in a short time.
I had a number of lectures here already and in Oakland. The Oakland lectures paid well. The first week in San Francisco was not paying, this week is. Hope the next week will pay also. I am so glad to hear the nice arrangement made by Mr. Leggett for the Vedanta Society. He is so good.
With all love,

Yours,
Vivekananda.

PS. Do you know anything about Turiyananda? Has he got completely cured?

1719 Turk Street,
San Francisco,
7th April, 1900.

Dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
Accept my congratulations for the news of the cause of the wound being completely removed. I have no doubt of your being perfectly cured this time. Your very kind note cheered me a good deal. I do not mind at all whether people come round to help me or not; I am becoming calm and less worried.
Kindly convey my best love to Mrs. Melton. I am sure to recover in the long run. My health has been improving in the main, though there are occasional relapses. Each relapse becoming less, both in tone and in time.
It is just like you to have Turiyananda and Siri treated. The Lord has blessed you for your great heart. May all blessings ever follow you and yours.
It is perfectly true that I should go to France and work on French. I hope to reach France in July or earlier. Mother knows. May all good ever follow you, is the constant prayer of

Your son,
Vivekananda.

Epistles (third series)

XLVI

Chicago,
30th Nov., 1899.

My dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
Nothing new--except Madame Calve's visit. She is a great woman. I wish I saw more of her. It is a grand sight to see a giant pine struggling against a cyclone. Is it not?
I leave here tonight. These lines in haste as A__ is waiting. Mrs. Adams is kind as usual. Margot doing splendidly. Will write more from California.
With all love to Frankincense,
Ever your son,
Vivekananda.

XLVIII

1719 Turk Street
San Francisco
17th March, 1900.

My dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
So glad to get your nice letter. Well, you may be sure I am keeping in touch with my friends. Yet a delay may sometimes cause nervousness.
Dr. and Mrs. Hiller returned to the city, much benefited, as they declare, by Mrs. Melton's rubbings. As for me, I have got several huge red patches on my chest. What materialises later on as to complete recovery, I will let you know. Of course, my case is such that it will take time to come round by itself.
So thankful to you and to Mrs. Adams for the kindness. I will surely go and call on them in Chicago.
How are things going on with you? I have been following the "Put up or shut up" plan here, and so far it has not proved bad. Mrs. Hansborough, the second of the three sisters, is here, and she is working, working, working--to help me. Lord bless their hearts. The three sisters are three angels, are they not? Seeing such souls here and there repays for all the nonsense of this life.
Well, all blessings to you for ever is my prayer. You are one of the angels also, say I.
With love to Miss Kate,

Ever your son,
Vivekananda.

PS. How is the "Mother's child"?
How is Miss Spencer? All love to her. You know already I am a very bad correspondent, but the heart never fails. Tell this to Miss Spencer.

1719 Turk Street,
San Francisco,
17th March, 1900.

Dear Mother {Mrs. Leggett},
I had a letter from Joe asking me to send my signature on four slips of paper, so that Mr. Leggett may put my money in the bank for me. As I cannot possibly reach her in time, I send the slips to you.
I am getting better in health and doing financially something. I am quite satisfied. I am not at all sorry that more people did not respond to your call. I knew they would not. But I am eternally thankful to you for all your kindness. May all blessings follow you and yours for ever.
It is better that my mail be sent to 1231 Pine Street, C/o the Home of Truth. For though I be moving about, that place is a permanent establishment, and the people there are very kind to me.
I am so glad to learn that you are very well now. Mrs. Melton has left Los Angeles--I am informed by Mrs. Blodgett. Has she gone to New York? Dr. and Mrs. Hiller came back to San Francisco day before yesterday. They declare themselves very much helped by Mrs. Melton. Mrs. Hiller expects to get completely cured in a short time.
I had a number of lectures here already and in Oakland. The Oakland lectures paid well. The first week in San Francisco was not paying, this week is. Hope the next week will pay also. I am so glad to hear the nice arrangement made by Mr. Leggett for the Vedanta Society. He is so good.
With all love,

Yours,
Vivekananda.

PS. Do you know anything about Turiyananda? Has he got completely cured?

1719 Turk Street,
San Francisco,
7th April, 1900.

Your son,
Vivekananda.

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Swami Vivekananda

Epistles (first series)