The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-06
HAROLD FREDERIC'S FAMILY.
Subscriptions for 1t Are Invited
From His albany Friends.

From His Albany Friends.
From the Albany Argus
Harold Frederics family is in abject want
in London. When the brilliant newspaper
writer and novelist died it was thought that
his literary works would furnish funds for
the livelihood of those he had left behind
and education for his children. This is not
the fact, the royalties on his works being so
heavily mortgaged as to preclude the nope of
the family ever receiving any benefit FROM
them. The money raised in England fer th1
family Is to be used entirely for the educa-
ton Of the two sons of the novelist, both
under the age of twelve The widow and
two daughters are forced to throw themselves
upon the charity of the friends and admirers
of the gifted man. Their condition is shown
In the following letters written to a friend of
the family residing in Albany, by the elder
daughter Ruth, who is but eighteen years
of age:
Al Chelsea Gardens, Chelsea,
Dear -: For many years you have
been to me a kind face over the chimney
corner; a name dearly and often spoken Oh
by my father as the good friend and adviser
of his youth. and l have been brought up with
the superstition deep in my heart.
now that l am in need of help.
We as doubtless you know by this time,
have been left absolutely unprovided for
and there are debts amounting to some thou
sand pounds; these will, of course. dispose
Of whatever book royalties there might have
been for us in the future. A subscription
amounting to about $1.5G0 has been collected
over here for the estimable purpose of pro-
viding for my mothers future. That money
wiahed to invest by taking a house, fur
nishing it, and taking in paying guests. The
scheme would have provided a comfortable
livelihood for her.
Upon applying to the trustees we were told
that the money had been collected for the
education and maintenance of the boys and
could not be risked upon such a venture.
We are, of course, quite helpless in the mat
ter. My mother is exceedingly i'll, and some
thing must be done at once to get her set
tied, or else it will be too late. So l have
put my pride in my pocket and am going to
ask my fathers old American friends to help
me to get together home for her. Once it
is there we can keep it.
1t would be of the greatest value If you
would let me know which of the Albany peo-
pie who knew and were fond of him would
help us in this matter
1t is very distastefu to me to have to
do this thing, but there is no way of AVOID
ing It.
Perhaps they will remember the great gen.
thing to it's memory
How great that heart was it was difficult
to understand 1 was with him for the last
realized the disappointment and sadness in
it. and the strength with which he fought
the word and lost.
IL is great tenderness and pitifulneSS !
have for him. Surely all those who knew
him must have it too
1t IS still difficult for me to quite compre+-
bend that he IS gone. Very sincerely.
Ruth Frederic
The newspaper men of Albany and Utica
who knew Mr.. Frederic during his residence
In these cities have undertaken to raise a
sum OF money for the benefit of the family.
and appeal to all who feel a friendly interest
in the survivors OF the novelist's household
to contribute such sums as they are able to
give Any subscriptions may be left at one
OF the several newspaper Offices, to be turned
over to ex-Mayor James H. Manning. who
VIII act as general treasurer for the Albany
fund. Subscriptions sent to the Argus of
tice should be in care Of w II. Brainerd. All
checks should be made payable to Mr.. Man
ming as treasurer. 1t is hoped that there
VIII be liberal Response. All subscriptions
will be publicly acknowledged