Yesterday I went to LynnEditorial Note: Lynn, Massachusetts, the Christian Scientist's "Mecca". I collected the rent from "Lower" Lewis, less $1.00Editorial Note: $1 in 1880 is equivalent to $28.69 in 2022. which he held for repairing a window, & the receipt I gave him, read about as follows:
Lynn MassachusettsAs Written:Mass. 6 Aug 1880
ReceivedAs Written:Rec'd of Mr. — Lewis the sum of Sixteen 67/100 ($16.67Editorial Note: $16.67 in 1880 is equivalent to $478.29 in 2022.) Dollars (less $100 One DollarEditorial Note: $1 in 1880 is equivalent to $28.69 in 2022., for repairing window) rent of lower tenement No 8 Broad st. for month of July 1880
(signed) James C. Howard.
That is a copy as near as I can remember. He ("Lower" Lewis) told me that his brother Upper Lewis was going to move a way, but that he ("Lower Lewis) was going to take the house another year. I was rather surprised at their different storiesAs Written:storis. but they didn't As Written: didnt know that. "Lower" said that he had receivedAs Written:rec'd a letter from you saying that you wanted him to look after the place as before, etc. When I saw Mr. & Mrs. "Upper" Lewis, they wanted to know what to do with the furniture (Yours), & if you will break the lease from the first of Sept. I told her that she had better leave the furniture where it was. She Mrs L.Editorial Note: Annie A. Lewis says that Dr. Eddy spoke of breaking the lease but that it wasn't As Written: wasnt settled finally, & that they have been waiting to hear from you. She says a letter came from you & she thinks it was intended for her, but she doesn't As Written: doesnt know what it contains, as it was directed so that her bro-in-law (Lower Lewis) got it.
They wanted to see one of you if possible, or to have your address, but, of course, I wouldn't As Written: wouldnt give that to them. They said that Lower Lewis had the renting of the rooms & that he wanted another room (on top floor) that they call the baggage room, but that Lower Lewis won't As Written: wont let him have it, & if there is any dispute about the tenement it will be hard to rent it, etc, etc. etc. (There seems to be considerable of a rumpus among the brethern.) Upper Lewis didn't As Written: didnt pay the rent, because he wanted to hear from you first, as they understood the Dr. to say that they needn't As Written: neednt be in a hurry about hunting up another tenant & a lot of other things too numerous to remember. You see when two men & their wives are trying to explain everythingAs Written:every thing to you all at once, somebody is likely to get mixed up, & you don't As Written: dont get much information from them. I felt like a worm that four chickens were fighting for & pulling to pieces. Not knowing anything about the affair before, it was rather hard to understand the questions they asked me & the stories they told. I told them that I would write & let you know just how matters stood & that probably you would answer so that they would receive the reply by Tuesday AM next, but that I couldn't As Written: couldnt promise anything, as I had no authority to do so. They don't As Written: dont know whether you want them to let the upper tenement or not, but that Lower Lewis wants to let it or thinks he ought or he has the right to do so. Mrs. Upper LewisEditorial Note: Annie A. Lewis says a friend of hers wants to rent one of the upper floor baggage rooms to store some furniture in, that she is willing to pay $1.50Editorial Note: $1.50 in 1880 is equivalent to $43.04 in 2022. per month for it, but no more: & come to think of it that is the amount that Lower Lewis wants to get the other room for. Now if we could talk this matter over I am sure I could give you more information than I have written, though I have tried to tell all that I heard. "Behold how good & how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity"Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . That is what I said as I left No 8 Broad st. Lynn yesterday P.M: Now Upper Lewis says the rent is ready, & as soon as he hears from you as to what you intend doing about the Upper tenement he will send the money. He is or seems afraid to do anythingAs Written:any thing about leaving, or trying to let his part of it, & he has been building & will be ready to move by the 1st of September. I wanted to see the rooms & he was very anxious to know if I thought of taking them. I didn'tAs Written:didnt tell him. I didn't As Written: didnt see the kitchen. And now we come to the other part of the business. I must see one or both of you & talk over this matter, as there are scores of things to be settled before I could undertake to do as you suggest. Would Lynn be a good place to go to on a/c of the Mesmerizers.? Have they not many friends there.? How many students are living in Lynn.? And how many of them are in practice.? Would it not be treading on somebody'sAs Written:some body's toes.? There is where Kennedy & Spofford have held high Carnival & raised Hell generally & would it be expedient.? These are only a few of the questions that are floating about on the top of my mental cauldron; & you mustn't As Written: mustnt think that I am trying to find fault or pick flaws; for you know that I want to be thorough in what I do, & when I do anything I want to know it is well done. My bump of Caution (belief) is very large & I don't As Written: dont like to jump with my eyes shut, I want to know all before I start, so that when I do make a move I will know who is to blame if I don't As Written: dont succeed as I want to. Now doesn't As Written: doesnt that look like a heartless statement.? or bundle of questions.? And I haven'tAs Written:havent as yet even thanked you for your kindness & benevolence. I assure you I can & do appreciate it all. Now as I said before I want you to look after my wife, as far as their hold on her is concerned, to cast a doubt in her mind as to my ability to heal the sick. It took me a week– but it's As Written: its of no use either I must tell you the whole story, beliefs & all, or I can't As Written: cant tell you anything. I can tell you this much - she is afraid (fear- fear- fear.) of you & afraid that I may not succeed & afraid that it won't As Written: wont do to have anyone at our table or to board, or board with, anyone. & 1001 other things that these Devils are saying to her. This is the fourth day she has had the M.D. come to see her & he is giving her the same medicine that failed last winter, before I got that fiend Arens to attend her. I haven't As Written: havent given her a treatment since the Dr (M.D.) has been here, & I won't As Written: wont till he has left for good. It is a peculiar case that I couldn't As Written: couldnt hold as I ought to but I think I would have come out on my feet if I had had time. I left her feeling pretty well one day & when I got back from seeing my patients I found she had sent for the Doctor. I can't As Written: cant blame her, but I can't As Written: cant take hold & treat her while he comes to give her medicine. Don't As Written: Dont think we have had any quarrel over it, for we have not, but I told her what was the cause of it & that until they let go, all the medicine this side of Hell wouldn't As Written: wouldnt cure her. And that I couldn't As Written: couldnt treat her till she got over her idea that the Dr