amstud

Immigration, Industrialism, Progressivism, Realism in Literature, Immigration, Women’s Suffrage, Spanish American War and World War I. 

1877-1918

Unit test #6

 Key figures

1. Emma Lazarus – A poet best known for her sonnet The New Colossus, which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty and welcomes immigrants to America. She was an advocate for Jewish refugees and fought against anti-Semitism.

2. Ellis Island – The main immigration processing center in the U.S. from 1892 to 1954, where millions of immigrants entered the country. It symbolized hope and opportunity for many newcomers

3. Angel Island – A West Coast immigration station (1910–1940) in San Francisco Bay, often called the "Ellis Island of the West." It primarily processed immigrants from Asia, many of whom faced long detentions and interrogations due to restrictive immigration laws.

4. Mark Twain (and the term Gilded Age) – Mark Twain, an American writer and humorist, co-authored The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized greed and political corruption in the late 19th century. The term "Gilded Age" refers to this era of rapid industrialization, wealth accumulation, and social inequality.

5. John Muir – A naturalist and writer who championed wilderness conservation and was instrumental in the creation of national parks like Yosemite. He co-founded the Sierra Club to promote environmental preservation.

6. Teddy Roosevelt – The 26th U.S. president (1901–1909), known for trust-busting, progressive reforms, and conservation efforts. He expanded national parks and strengthened the U.S. Navy.

7. Elizabeth Cady Stanton – A leader in the women's rights movement who co-authored the Declaration of Sentiments at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, demanding equal rights for women. She also worked closely with Susan B. Anthony for women's suffrage.

8. Susan B. Anthony – A key figure in the women’s suffrage movement who co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association. Her efforts led to the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

9. Woodrow Wilson – The 28th U.S. president (1913–1921), known for leading the country through World War I and advocating for the League of Nations. He also pushed for progressive reforms but had a controversial record on civil rights.

-Racist and anti semite

-Hates jews and blacks

-Progressive

-anti war

10. Leland Stanford – A railroad tycoon and founder of Stanford University who played a major role in building the transcontinental railroad. He also served as governor and senator from California.

11. John Rockefeller – An industrialist who founded Standard Oil and became one of the wealthiest men in history. He revolutionized the petroleum industry and later focused on philanthropy, funding education and medical research.

12. Andrew Carnegie – A steel magnate who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. He later became a major philanthropist, funding libraries, universities, and cultural institutions.

13. JP Morgan – A powerful banker and financier who played a key role in stabilizing the U.S. economy during financial crises. He helped create General Electric and U.S. Steel influenced corporate finance.

-Created bank that gives money to companies so they can run then he gets money back from those investments

14. Henry Ford – Founder of Ford Motor Company, he revolutionized automobile manufacturing with the assembly line, making cars affordable for the masses. His Model T transformed American industry and transportation.

15. Kate Chopin – A writer known for The Awakening, a novel that explored women's independence and societal expectations. Her works often focused on themes of feminism and the complexities of female identity.

16. Charles Chesnutt – An African American writer whose works, such as The Marrow of Tradition, addressed racial issues and the complexities of post-Civil War America. He was one of the first Black authors to gain national recognition.

17. Charlotte Perkins Gilman – A feminist writer and social reformer best known for The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story critiquing the treatment of women's mental health. She advocated for economic independence and gender equality.

18. Jack London – A novelist and journalist known for adventure stories like The Call of the Wild and White Fang. His works often explored survival, nature, and the struggles of the working class.

19. (in passing: William Dean Howells)

Immigration

• Irish: 1840s

Irish came in the 1840s Irish immigration

-Potato famine half million to 1 million ish

  -Over next 90 years another 3 million

Boston, Philly, NY major ports

-When they are living in New york they are actually competing for low level jobs in Northeast with free black slaves

-”No irish need apply”- strong anti- irish sentiment

1st more men than more women immigrate

Irish - politic / law enforcement Boston NY

1842 nearly 100,000 irish immigrants flooded in

-Irish felt they could never be absorbed in US

 Described as violent, shiftless, did not work, always drunk

Called the blacks of the 19th century

• Chinese: 1840s-1890s

Chinese immigration 

CA gold rush of 1849

Transcontinental RR 1850s- 1870s

Ostracized, ridiculed, humiliated

(CA gold rush of 1849)

Set up shops to provide supplies (pedders)

-laundry

(Transcontinental RR 1850s- 1870s)

-worked on RR, often struck with most dangerous jobs

The page act 1875

First restrictive federal law

-no chinese women allowed, they are whores

-the1882 exclusion act

-keep number of chinese as low as possible

-chinese man banned

1882 chinese exclusion act

- The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was a landmark US federal law, signed by President Chester A. Arthur, that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years, denied Chinese residents the right to become citizens, and required Chinese people to carry certificates to avoid deportation

• Germans: 1860s

• Italians, Jews, other Southern and Eastern Europeans: 1880s-1920s

Italians

-1891

-New Orleans home to more italians than any other southern states

One of the bloodiest attacks on italians

David Henessey was shot to death and mayor blames Sicilian gangsters  (released bc no evidence)

-10,000 people broked into jail, lynched 11 silicians 

Included 2 other Italians who were in jail for other crimes.

Nothing happened to people that kill the 11 italians

Jews

Between 1860 and 1920, large numbers of Jewish immigrants came to the United States, especially from Eastern Europe, escaping persecution and seeking better opportunities. Many settled in cities like New York, working in factories, starting businesses, and establishing strong community networks. They faced discrimination but also contributed significantly to American culture, labor movements, and industry.

Eastern and Southern Europeans

Between 1860 and 1920, millions of Southern and Eastern Europeans immigrated to the United States, seeking jobs, escaping poverty, and avoiding political and religious persecution. Many settled in cities like New York, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, working in factories, mines, and construction. They often faced discrimination and lived in crowded tenements, but they built strong ethnic communities with churches, schools, and cultural organizations. Over time, they contributed to American industry, politics, and labor movements, helping shape the nation's growing workforce.

• Volunteerism, settlement houses

Late 19th century american see white women in a certain economic state volunteering

-Volunteerism

Upper class and upper middle class white women go to college

Hull-House, Chicago's first social settlement was not only the private home of Jane Addams and other Hull-House residents, but also a place where immigrants of diverse communities gathered to learn, to eat, to debate, and to acquire the tools necessary to put down roots in their new country.

• 1875 Page Act – The first U.S. immigration law that restricted entry, mainly targeting Chinese women, based on claims of preventing forced labor and prostitution. It was an early example of anti-Asian immigration policies.

• 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act – This law banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. and denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants already in the country. It was the first major U.S. law restricting immigration based on nationality.

• 1892 Geary Act – This law extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for another 10 years and required Chinese immigrants to carry identification papers. Those without proper documentation faced deportation.

• 1913 Sacco and Vanzetti – Italian anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were accused of robbery and murder, leading to a controversial trial. Many believed they were convicted due to anti-immigrant and anti-anarchist bias.

--Held in prison for 6 years while attorneys tried to get them a new trial

-Death sentence on april 9 1927

Electrocuted by order of judge thayer july 10 1927

• 1924 Immigration Quota Act – Also known as the National Origins Act, this law set strict quotas on immigration, heavily favoring Northern and Western Europeans while restricting Southern and Eastern Europeans and banning most Asians. It reflected growing nativist and anti-immigrant sentiments in the U.S.

--limited number of immigrants allowed entry into USa

Know terms:

 nativism-is the belief that native-born citizens are superior to immigrants and the push for policies that restrict immigration and favor the interests of native inhabitants.

xenophobia- fear of foreigners

nationalism- many countries wanting their own independence

-blind faith

growing concept of American Dream

The concept of the American Dream grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasizing the idea that anyone, regardless of background, could achieve success through hard work and determination. It attracted millions of immigrants seeking economic opportunities, land, and freedom, though in reality, many faced significant social and economic barriers.

Women’s Rights

• 1913: Influence of non-voting women through the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and Prohibition (also known as the Volstead Act/18th Amendment)

• 1919: 19th Amendment (Ratified 1920)

Industrialization

• Impact of the Railroad  (refrigeration in particular)

Railroads

-economic growth

-growth of cities

Cities began to specialize

Employment

The expansion of railroads, especially with refrigerated train cars, transformed industries by allowing perishable goods like meat, dairy, and produce to be transported long distances without spoiling. This innovation boosted the meatpacking industry, expanded national markets, and contributed to the growth of cities by providing a steady food supply.

• Growth of cities and tenement housing

-Cities grew rapidly due to industrialization and immigration, leading to overcrowded tenement housing with poor conditions. Reformers later pushed for better sanitation and housing laws.

• Monopolies/Trusts

SHerman antitrust act

-1890 law made “trusts” illegal

- violated free trade between states and other countries

-Bad thing …

-Trust-busting; anti monopoly

Monopolies and trusts formed when large companies controlled entire industries, limiting competition and raising prices. In response, the government passed antitrust laws, like the Sherman Antitrust Act, to regulate big business and protect consumers.

• Rise of middle management

-The rise of middle management occurred as businesses grew larger and more complex during industrialization. Companies needed managers to oversee operations, coordinate workers, and improve efficiency, creating a new class of white-collar workers.

• Rise of a leisure class

-As industrialization created wealth, a leisure class emerged, consisting of the rich and upper-middle class who had time and money for recreation. They enjoyed activities like theater, sports, and travel, while also influencing culture and social norms

• Division of labor (the private sphere and public sphere circles from the board)

-The division of labor separated work into two spheres: the public sphere, where men participated in business, politics, and wage labor, and the private sphere, where women were expected to manage the home and family. This reinforced traditional gender roles but was challenged as women increasingly entered the workforce and public life

• Emergence of Unions (what were they for?)

-Unions emerged to protect workers' rights by fighting for better wages, safer working conditions, and reasonable hours. They organized strikes and protests to challenge unfair labor practices, leading to major reforms in labor laws.

• 1886 Haymarket Square Riot

-A protest, suppose to be about long work day and long working hours

When people are killed things get heated

Someone throws a bomb, we don't know who/ which side the person was

Bomb kills 7 police officers

• 1892 Homestead Strike

-Homestead Strike

-In1892, the AFL affiliated steelworkers union strike at the Carnegie Steel plant 

- Company pres Henry Frick chooses the plant brings in Pinkerton Troops to protect the plant from potential non violence

-Striking workers attack Pinkerton troops

-16 people killed

National guards called to break up the fighting

Lasts 5 months

25% of workers got their jobs back

Next 20 years, union movement halted in steel industry

• 1894 Pullman Strike

-Geaorge PUllman refuses to negotiate with his workers

-Cut wages 25-40%

-kept rent and prices the same

-Workers strike

-Pullman closes plant

American Railway Union refused to handle pullman cars

• 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 

-The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a tragic factory fire in New York City that killed 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women, due to locked exits and unsafe conditions. The disaster led to major workplace safety reforms and stronger labor laws.

• 1899 US Patent Office closes for one day

-In 1899, the U.S. Patent Office briefly closed for a day due to the false belief that everything useful had already been invented. This reflected the rapid technological advancements of the time, though innovation continued to grow.

• Key inventions: phone, light bulb, automobile, airplane, steel

• Telephone (1876) – Invented by Alexander Graham Bell, it revolutionized communication by allowing voice transmission over long distances.

• Light Bulb (1879) – Perfected by Thomas Edison, it provided a reliable and long-lasting source of artificial light, replacing gas lamps.

• Automobile (Late 1800s–Early 1900s) – Popularized by Henry Ford’s Model T (1908), it transformed transportation and industry with mass production.

• Airplane (1903) – Invented by the Wright brothers, it made powered flight possible, paving the way for modern aviation.

• Steel (Bessemer Process, 1850s-1860s) – Allowed for mass production of strong, affordable steel, fueling the rise of skyscrapers, railroads, and bridges

Imperialism and Expansionism

• 1890 Closing of the American Frontier

-In 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau declared the American frontier officially closed, meaning there was no longer a clear line of unsettled land. This marked the end of westward expansion and led to new debates about America’s identity, growth, and future opportunities.

• Alaska purchase from Russia

• The Alaska Purchase occurred in 1867, when the United States bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Initially called "Seward’s Folly" because many thought it was a useless frozen land, it later proved valuable due to its natural resources like gold and oil.

• Hawaiian annexation

-The Hawaiian Annexation occurred in 1898, when the United States took control of Hawaii after the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani by American businessmen and settlers. Hawaii’s strategic location and valuable sugar industry made it an important U.S. territory, later becoming a state in 1959.

1898 Spanish-American War 

•Yellow Journalism

-Yellow Journalism was a sensationalized and exaggerated style of newspaper reporting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It played a major role in swaying public opinion, particularly in pushing the U.S. toward the Spanish-American War (1898) with dramatic and often misleading stories.

•William Randolph Hearst

-William Randolph Hearst was a powerful newspaper publisher known for using yellow journalism to influence public opinion. His newspapers exaggerated stories, especially during the Spanish-American War (1898), famously saying, "You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war."

•“Remember the Maine!”
-“Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!” was a slogan used to rally American support for the Spanish-American War (1898) after the USS Maine mysteriously exploded in Havana Harbor. Many blamed Spain, fueled by yellow journalism, leading to increased calls for war.

•Treaty of Paris: 1898

◦Cuba is free (Teller Amendment)

◦US annexed Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico

-The Treaty of Paris (1898) ended the Spanish-American War, marking the U.S. as a rising global power. Under the treaty:

-Cuba gained independence, though the Teller Amendment prevented the U.S. from annexing it.

-The U.S. acquired the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, expanding its overseas territories.

Teddy Roosevelt: Big Stick Diplomacy

Teddy Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy was a foreign policy based on the idea of "speak softly and carry a big stick," meaning the U.S. would negotiate peacefully but use military power when necessary. This approach was evident in the Panama Canal construction and the Roosevelt Corollary, which strengthened U.S. influence in Latin America.

• “Speak softly and carry and big stick”

• Presidency as “bully pulpit”

• Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine

• Square Deal

• 1904 Panama Canal and the Torrijos-Carter Treaty (1978)

• TR Progressivism

  • labor labs (children, safety)

  • settlement houses (Hull House founded by Jane Addams, often run by volunteer women)

  • Meat Inspection Act (1906)

  • 1906 Antiquities Act

"Speak softly and carry a big stick" – Roosevelt’s foreign policy motto, meaning the U.S. should use diplomacy but back it up with military strength.

Presidency as a "bully pulpit" – Roosevelt believed the presidency was a powerful platform to influence public opinion and push for reforms.

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904) – Declared that the U.S. had the right to intervene in Latin America to maintain stability, expanding U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Square Deal – Roosevelt’s domestic policy focused on conservation, controlling corporations, and consumer protection to promote fairness for all Americans.

1904 Panama Canal & Torrijos-Carter Treaty (1978) – Roosevelt supported Panama’s independence from Colombia to secure land for the canal, which boosted global trade; the 1978 treaty later returned control of the canal to Panama.

TR Progressivism – Roosevelt championed reforms like trust-busting, labor rights, and environmental conservation to curb corporate power and protect workers.

Labor laws (child labor, safety) – Roosevelt pushed for child labor restrictions and workplace safety regulations, improving conditions in factories.

Settlement Houses (Hull House) – Community centers, like Hull House (founded by Jane Addams), provided services to immigrants and the poor, often run by women volunteers.

Meat Inspection Act (1906) – Passed after Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed unsanitary conditions in the meat industry, requiring federal inspections of meatpacking plants.

1906 Antiquities Act – Gave the president power to protect natural and historic sites, leading to the creation of many national parks and monuments

Key themes of era

• Imperialism and Manifest Destiny, Prohibition, Trusts, Trust-busting, Progressivism, Vi

Wars

-Imperialism & Manifest Destiny – Manifest Destiny justified U.S. westward expansion, while imperialism extended this idea overseas, leading to U.S. control of places like Hawaii and the Philippines.

Prohibition – The 18th Amendment (1920) banned alcohol, but it increased crime and was later repealed by the 21st Amendment (1933).

Trusts & Trust-Busting – Large business trusts dominated industries, but Teddy Roosevelt and other progressives worked to break them up using antitrust laws.

Progressivism – The Progressive movement sought to reform government, labor, and industry to improve conditions for workers and consumers.

Wars – The Spanish-American War (1898) and World War I (1917–1918, U.S. involvement) expanded U.S. influence and global power.

• Spanish American War and its resolution

The Spanish-American War (1898) was fought between the U.S. and Spain after the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, fueled by yellow journalism and U.S. support for Cuban independence. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1898), where Spain gave up Cuba, and the U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking the start of American imperialism.

Woodrow Wilson and Progressivism, Pacifism

• Federal Trade Commission (1914)

• Federal Highways Act (1916)

• Pushed for isolationism but had no choice but to bring us into WWI

Woodrow Wilson & Progressivism, Pacifism – Woodrow Wilson promoted progressive reforms, such as financial regulations and labor protections, while advocating for peace and avoiding war.

Federal Trade Commission (1914) – Created to regulate unfair business practices, the FTC aimed to prevent monopolies and protect consumers.

Federal Highways Act (1916) – This law provided federal funding for road construction, improving transportation and connectivity across the U.S.

Pushed for isolationism but had no choice but to bring the U.S. into WWI – Wilson initially sought to keep the U.S. out of World War I, but unrestricted German submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram forced him to join the conflict in 1917.

World War I (begins 1914, US involvement 1917-1918)

• Lusitania and unrestricted submarine warfare

-In 1915, a German U-boat sank the British ship Lusitania, killing 128 Americans, escalating tensions as Germany continue unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied ships.

• Zimmerman telegram

-A 1917 secret message from Germany to Mexico urged Mexico to attack the U.S. in exchange for regaining lost territory, helping push the U.S. into World War I.

• Triple Entente vs Triple Alliance (know the main countries/know about how Italy, US, and Russia entered and exited)

-The Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) fought against the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy), though Italy later switched sides, Russia exited after the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the U.S. joined the Allies in 1917.

• Wilson’s 14 Points

-President Woodrow Wilson’s plan for postwar peace included ideas like self-determination, free trade, and the League of Nations, though many were rejected by other nations.

• 24 million drafted; 4.2 million served; 2 million saw combat

-The Selective Service Act (1917) drafted millions of men, with 4.2 million in military service and 2 million deployed in combat.

• Segregated troops 

-Black soldiers served in segregated units, often in labor roles, though some, like the Harlem Hellfighters, fought bravely in combat.

• Native American radio/code breakers across units

-Native American soldiers, including Choctaw code talkers, used their languages to transmit secure military messages, which enemy forces couldn’t decipher.

• First Mechanized war

WW1, first mechanized war

Opportunities for marginalized communities for women and black americans in particular

Time where we have strong sense for national pride

nationalism-> blind faith

American dream

Economic success

Big govt

• tanks, trenches, mustard gas, machine guns, submarines, gas masks, planes

• Armistice Day (11/11/19) and Treaty of Versailles 

-The Armistice on November 11, 1918, ended World War I fighting, and the Treaty of Versailles (1919) officially ended the war, imposing harsh penalties on Germany.

• know main points of Treaty of Versailles and how it impacts WWII’s inevitability 

-The treaty blamed Germany, forced them to pay huge reparations, limited their military, and took away territory, creating resentment that helped fuel Hitler’s rise and World War II.

• League of Nations

-Wilson’s idea for an international peacekeeping organization, but the U.S. never joined, weakening its effectiveness and failing to prevent future conflicts.

• Post WWI isolationism lasts until WWII. 

-after World War I, the U.S. avoided foreign entanglements, focusing on domestic issues until Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) forced American involvement in World  War II.

WWI Homefront

• War Industries Board

• Selective Service Act

• Committee on Public Information

• Food committees

  • victory gardens

  • Poster war

  • Propaganda

  • war bonds

  • women as nurses overseas and at home

  • Women and blacks in factories: virtually no unemployment

  • Strong anti-German and anti “Leftist” sentiment: 

  • Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1918)

WWI Homefront – The U.S. mobilized its economy, workforce, and public opinion to support the war effort through government control and mass participation.

War Industries Board – Regulated industrial production to prioritize war materials, increasing efficiency and military supply output.

Selective Service Act (1917) – Established the military draft, requiring men aged 18-45 to register, leading to 24 million drafted and 4.2 million serving.

Committee on Public Information – Led by George Creel, it used propaganda to rally public support for the war and suppress dissent.

Food Committees – Encouraged conservation efforts like "Meatless Mondays" and "Wheatless Wednesdays" to ensure food supplies for soldiers.

Victory Gardens – Citizens grew their own food to reduce strain on commercial agriculture and support the war effort.

Poster War – Government-produced posters promoted enlistment, war bonds, and national unity with slogans like "I Want You" featuring Uncle Sam.

Propaganda – Used films, speeches, and posters to encourage patriotism and vilify Germany, shaping public perception of the war.

War Bonds – Sold to finance the war, citizens loaned money to the government with the promise of repayment with interest.

Women as Nurses Overseas and at Home – Thousands of women served as Red Cross nurses or worked in military hospitals, supporting troops directly.

Women & Blacks in Factories: Virtually No Unemployment – With men at war, women and African Americans filled industrial jobs, leading to economic opportunities and the Great Migration.

Strong Anti-German & Anti-“Leftist” Sentiment – German culture was suppressed in the U.S., and socialists, anarchists, and labor activists faced persecution under laws like the Espionage & Sedition Acts.

Espionage Act (1917) – Made it illegal to interfere with the military draft, aid the enemy, or obstruct U.S. war efforts, leading to arrests of anti-war activists like Eugene V. Debs.

Sedition Act (1918) – Expanded the Espionage Act by making it illegal to criticize the government, military, or war effort, heavily restricting free speech during World War I.

Literature:

“To Build a Fire” by Jack London

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

“The Passing of Grandison” by Charles Chestnutt

“The New Colossus” (the final lines) by Emma Lazarus

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

To Build a Fire" by Jack London – This short story follows a man in the Yukon who underestimates nature’s dangers and succumbs to the freezing cold. His struggle against nature highlights themes of survival, human arrogance, and the power of the natural world.

"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin – After hearing of her husband's supposed death, Louise Mallard briefly experiences a sense of liberation before tragically dying when he returns alive. The story explores themes of marriage, freedom, and the constraints placed on women.

"The Passing of Grandison" by Charles Chesnutt – A seemingly loyal enslaved man, Grandison, outwits his enslavers by escaping to freedom after gaining their trust. The story critiques slavery and racial stereotypes while showcasing intelligence and resistance.

"The New Colossus" (Final Lines) by Emma Lazarus – The poem famously describes the Statue of Liberty as welcoming immigrants with the lines, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” These words symbolize America as a land of opportunity and refuge.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman – A woman suffering from postpartum depression is confined by her husband and slowly loses her sanity, believing she sees a woman trapped in the wallpaper. The story critiques the oppression of women and the harmful effects of forced isolation

-What made her crazy that she had no value 

John is babying her

he demands things that she doesn't think are good ideas 

She wants fresh air, exercise, talk with people,

word yellow has a positive connotation

-urine,bland yellow,

“I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me.”