Manuscript/Mixed Material
Letter from Mabel Hubbard Bell to Alexander Graham Bell, May 20, 1899

1331 Connecticut Ave Washington, May 20th1899. My dear Alec,

I did not think it was a very kind or gracious thing for you to tell me that to write to me properly was to steal time from your thoughts and experiments. Surely your wife as a right to a few minutes of your time and thoughts once in a while. Rather are you stealing time that properly belongs to me, it strikes me.

But I do not ee why it should come to an issue between me and your experiments or thoughts. Rather might it be between me and some of your numerous newspapers. It wouldnt do anybody any harm it you omitted reading all of the m every other day, and it would give me a great deal of pleasure, and not interfere with or work. Or you might take a little time from telling your father stories. I am sure he would excuse you. I do want very much to know what you are thinking about and your letter was most interesting, and perfectly intelligible to me, but I did not like the way you began it. That might have been omitted, besides I would like to have been told that the object of your thoughts was sometimes me. {Begin deleted text} {End deleted text} A little flattery, like a good dinner never does harm, and may help you to accomplis your purpose! I am very glad that the laboratory