The Portland daily press., 1872-01-15

They are extraordinary letters, but they are
such letters as man would write to a woman
resolved to cast off. Absolutely nothing about
Erie or Tammany appears in those published
by the Herald, which are said to be the whole
correspondence now in existence.
On Oct: 1, 1870, Fisk, in a long letter to Miss
Mansfield, says:-"But what think YOU of
woman who would veil my eyes first by gentle
kiss and night and day for weeks months and
years by deceit and fraud to lead me through
the dark valley of trouble when she could have
made my pathway one of roses, committing
crimes which devil incarnate would shrink
FROM while all this time l showed to her, as to
you, nothing hut kindpesss botIein words and
in action, laying at Your feet a sotf,- u heart
fortune and reputation which had cost me by
night and by day twenty-five years of perpetual
struggle and which, but for the black blot of
having in an evil hour linked itself with you
would stand out to-day brighter than ever seen
upon earth? But the mist has fallen and you
appear in your true light I borrow your own
words to describe you a snake in the grass;
and verify 1 have found thee out, and you have
the audacity to call on your sainted mother to
witness your advice to me, "a dog that bites
&c, &c. You accuse her of leading you On and
of ever standing ready to make appointments
for you.
The tone of your letter is such that you seem
willing to shoulder the load of guilt, under
which an ordinary criminal would stagger. L
believe you have arrived at that state when no
amount of guilt will disturb your serenity or
prevent your having sweet Dreams and we still
shall see you crawl "a snake in the grass How
l worship the night 1 said, Get thee behind
me, Satan The few weeks that have elapsed
since that blessed hour how bless them for
the peace of mind they have brought me. Again
the world looks bright and l have living. You
imagine that l would pursue you again, and
you thought that / would endeavor to tear
down the castle you had obtained by robbery
God knows if am an element SO lost to
every feeling of decency as to be willing to link
itself with you. will assist and foster it so
that it will keep you from crawling towards me
and prevent me from looking ON you as snake,
as you are, and raising hand in pity to assist
you should trouble again cross your path. So
have no fears that will again come near you.
L send you back ring, and were 1 to write
anything about it the words would be only too
decent for the same were they couche d in the
worst of language. So l say, take it back. Its
memory is indecent and it is the last sovener
have that reminds me of you. L had a few
pictures of you but they have found place
among the nothings which fill the waste bas-
ket under my table. 1 am aware that in your
back parlor hangs picture of the man who
gave you the wall to hang it on, and rumor
says that you have another in your chamber
The picture upstairs send back to me- Take
the other down, for he whom it represents has
no respect for you.
After you read this letteryou should be asham-
ed to look at the picture for you would say with
be merely the same oft repeated lie-so take it
down. Do not keep anything in that house
that looks like me. If there are any unsettled
matters that it is proper for me to arrange send
them to me and make the explanation as brief
as possible. L fan would reach the point
where not even the slightest necessity will eX-
ist for any intercourse between us. am in
hopes this will end.''
JAMES FISK, JR.
In another letter of October 18th, he says
Have l not fulfilled every promise l have
made? Is there not stability about your
finances to-day, if not disturbed by vultures,
sufficient to afford you comfortable income for
the remainder of your natural life? You say
that you have never received dollar from any
but me, and you will never have another from
me until want and misery brings you to my
door, except of course in the fulfillment of my
sacred promise and the settlement of your bills
up to three weeks ago at five minutes to eleven
O'Clock. You need no fear as to my sensitive
ness regarding your calling ON any one else for
assistance, as find the word assistance under
lined in your letter to make it more impressive
on my mind That of all others is the point 1
would have you reach, for in that you would
say, "Why, man, how beautiful you are to look
at, but nothing to lean on" and you may well
imagine my surprise at your selection of the ell
ement you have chosen to fill my place (Stokes).
Twas shown to-day his diamonds which have
been sacrificed to our people at half their value,
and undoubtedly if this were not so, the money
WOulu nave Deon over you, tnaU you
might feel contented as to the permanency of
affair. You will therefore excuse me if de-
cline your modest request for still further dis
bursement of $4,000. 1 very naturally feel
that some part of this amount might be used to
release from pawn the property of others in
whose welfare the writer of this does not feel
an unbOunded interest.
You say that you hope 1 will take the sense
your letter. There is but one sense to be taken
out of it, and that is an "epitaph" to be cut on
tha ctn of fl,a 1,ff hn hi oh,
Miss Helen Josephine Mansfield has buried her
pride. Had she been the same proud spirited
girl that she was when she stood side by side
with me, the power behind the throne, she
would not have humbled herself to ask per-
manency OF one she has so deeply ,wronged, nor
would she stoop to be indebted to him for a
home which would have furnished haven of
rest pleasure and debauchery, without cost to
those who had crossed his path and robbed him
of the friendship he once felt.
On October Doth he wrote: We have parted
forever. Now let us make the memory of the
pastas bright and as beautiful as we can, for
on my side there is so little to cherish that
cling to it with great tenacity, and hope from
| time to time to wear it off. You know full well
| how have suffered. Once you knew me bet
ter than any one on earth; to-day you know me
less 1t is the proper light for you to stand in;
it is all you desire your SIDE and it is all you
deserve ON mine. This letter should remain
and be read ouly by you. Should you see fit to
answer III, Tile answer Will IIe same way DC kept
| by me. There has been storm. The ship, a
noble steamer, has gone down. The storm is
| over and the sea is smooth again. Little ships
| should keep near the shore; greater ships can
venture more" My ship is poorly differed.
On Oct. 18th, Fisk writes: For once let us
be honest. You went that road because it look
ed smooth and pleasant and mine looked rag
| ged and worn. Now a mistake cannot be found
too soon. Travel further along and do not try
to turn too soon. l can see you now. as you
were last night as you talked on this man
| (StOkes) and do not deceive yourself-you love
him. Yesterday there was nothing but the
breaking up of strong pride and the giving
way of wilfullness Cling to that one Leave
me alone, for in me you have nothing left. Why
ask me to weaken yourself with him? All this
you must study, but pledge you tonight that
will not countenance ever your impression or
my mind until the door is closed behind him
forever; For what you'can give from me yor
probably cannot afford to do that; so let me adj
wise you. Nourlsh him and be careful. Moth
ing is so bad for you as changes. He loves you
you love him. You have caused me all the
misery you could. Cling to him and be careful
what you do. He will be watchful, for well hi
knows how you cheated me. He will look fol
the same and now as l know precisely how vol
stand from your own lips, / win treat him diff
ferently although you would not protect him.
will, while he is there and until his memory il
buried forever, never approach me for l shall
send you away unseen. Ever be careful tina
you not have feeling that you can come bacl
to me, for there is a wide gulf between you ant
me. L would not hold a false hope to you.
shall not trouble you more in this letter. You
have only the idea that l can express to you
You know when you can see me again if lever
The risk for you is too great. Loving suited d
you are, cling to him for the present and whel
your nature grows tired Of that throw him of
and so along until it is time for you to be wear,
and for you to be put in your little bed-foreve
you must rest contented. Do not begin plot
ting tomorrow; take tomorrow for though
and be governed by this letter for the writer ha
much Of your destiny in his his hands.
The Tribune TOMORROW will publish o state
ment on the authority Of Edward S. Stokes tina
the Fisk Mansfield correspondence publishe,
to-day in the Herald contains only unimport
ant letters which have no bearing upon the cas-
and that the remaining letters to be publishe,