The Cleveland Stone Company

Cleveland, O.                                     

Feb. 6^th 1914

 

Mr Luther W. Hopkins.

100 E. Lexington St. Baltimore Md.

 

Dear Mr Hopkins

            Some eight or nine years ago it was my privilege to be a fellow boarder with your son John at the home of the Shields-Rayner family at Hudson O. and I grew to have a high regard for him during our short acquaintance.

 

            About three years ago on a visit at Hudson I had an opportunity to read your book "From Bull Run to Appomattox" and was very much pleased with it. It presented a view of the great conflict in an entirely different way than any I had ever read and its evident fairness & sincerity made it a very interesting book. I was born in 1863 and had two uncles in the Union Army & naturally grew up with a strong prejudice in favor of that side but that has left me as I have grown older and realize that both sides fought for what they believed to be right and I believe your book should be read by all our children North & South.

 

            Last Oct. the Rayners & Shields came to the city & rented a furnished suite near where I live and when at their home / a few weeks ago they showed me a copy of the Baltimore Star of Nov. 27-'13 giving an account of your experience with the "Young Arabs" of Lafayette Market, and it occurred to me to write to you & express my appreciation of what you have done for the benefit of your City and of humanity. I believe there has been a great deal of misdirected philanthropy but this effort of yours it seems to me got nearer the root of the matter than anything I ever heard of. I want to congratulate you not only on your record as a "boy soldier" but also & more so on this last evidence of your loyalty to your fellows. It is an example well worth following. Give my kind regards to your son & believe me

 

                                                                        Yours Very Respectfully,

                                                                                    Harry W. House

 

1105 Leader News Bldg.

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