In these years, three correspondences with Cordelia indicate that she continues to be involved in music and teaching in Liberty as a single professional. She is living with her mother and apparently a cousin Mary. The first letter is from Mollie. It has been a while from her previous correspondence with Cordelia and Mollie indicates that is because Cordelia has not responded to her letters. Mollie writes about the unexpected death of her brother and how she wants to visit Cordelia on her way back to teaching in Warsaw.

The last two letters are from 1877 and are two of the longest letters of the collection. C.H. Evans writes to Cordelia while he is visiting St. Louis. These letters are long and conversational so it is clear he must be close to Cordelia. There is no mention of courting her or words of affection or love towards her though like some previous men that wrote Cordelia. C.H. Evans seems content to tell her all about his experiences in St. Louis. They are quite entertaining and a bit rambling, but worth the read.

St. Louis, MO

May 22, 1877

4 o’clock p.m.

Dear Friend,

There is a kind of lull in the business of business and so I improve the moment to write you a few lines of St Louis news and least if I wait long, there may be such an accumulation of highly interesting and deeply absorbing items to communicate as a book would not contain. I never came to St Louis before with the determination of seeing the city from a leisurely, easy, wide awake point of view and as a result, I never saw it that way before and was very much pleased with it; but I must say that I find life here quite tolerable at present I shall not affect to a larger dose if administered in the present delectable manner. But a word as to my initiation I started to Liberty Landing at 4 o’clock Thursday morning and arrived there early only to learn that the fearful rains had swept away bridges, culverts and track … by that my best broke was a stay of 6 or 7 hours there. As I was anxious to come and not desirous of expressing that … by 4 miles to L. I sent my horse back and resolved to wait and study adjacent …. And …… But a very little of this satisfied my desires in this line and the only thing left was to watch my neighbors.

As a very heavily loaded … train soon came from St. Louis, all lonesomeness was dispelled and we all settled down to as … … an …. Of things as we could muster up.

When my first 6 hours of waiting over ones, I learned that there would be another 6- and when this last was gone, there was an additional 2 hours to linger.

The old wine seller on the hill of love did a thriving business that day; the … …., smoked, shot, drank, and swore and starved. For fun we had some … Dutch and so things moved more smoothly toward evening. At last we started at 8 pm after dreary drowsy …. Side of a long time. Reached here at 11:30-16 hour behind time, pretty well worn out.

I have found things in a tolerable … condition here - do not know as yet how they may eventually turn.

I am living with Bro. Ferguson out on … … Ave near Lafayette Bank.

By the way, I think you told me your brother living in the same section and … you will direct me where to find him.

I have not prospected very much yet - haven’t seen all the new and fun things on the … to my boarding place yet. Have been in Lafayette Bank which I find a superb little place. I have been to a beer garden (!) - didn’t mean to do it; just went to see what the matter was. Every body go … think he did and took his wife and sister and dog.

Sunday night I dropped into St. George and heard Dr. Holland lecture on “St. Louis as seen from a Pulpit.” Was … very much struck with the man but the church organ and music even undoubtedly fine. The congregation was small, but elegant.

Committed the indiscretion of walking over these and back - paid the … by a last installment of some feet, which has made me more cautious since.

As I was getting up a review last night I found one of the dear old ballads I used to hear - Lora …. And not knowing whether you heard ever seen it and that you are fond of …. Copy it and send it to you.

Now, you have had enough of this and I (since beginning this sentence) have been impressed to go and hold service as the “Home for Indigent Women,” beggin you to excuse all these irregularities, as several have been in talking, I will close, take repent for this by a long answer.

With regards to your brother and Miss Mary and kindest regards to yourself, I remain.

Your friend,

C. H. Evans

• C. H. Evans goes on to describe his beer garden trip and makes references to his faith and beliefs, morality and temptations. He must have known Cordelia quite well to be so open and frank with her.

"I am about such things as Paul was about the meat - I think best to keep away, not because I am afraid (for I fear nothing in that time) but because drunkenness is the great crying sin of this one given and my attendance at such places when known will excuse some weaker one’s conscience. Yet I have such an insatiable curiosity that I always must go to such places when I can do so quietly and not lead any one else."

• The letter starts describing a beer garden and gets to his description of his preaching debut.

"You will think this egotism, well it is and so I will go on. Well I had made my debut as preacher and so was compelled to go to hear myself preach last Sunday night; and as some of those …, misguided people seemed blessed, there is no telling where this thing may end."

• Quite interestingly, he describes a female teacher/preacher that he heard preach. Later, in the letter he also describes a famous woman Methodist preacher that moved him to tears. These could be signs that female progressivism was growing.

"Talk about women preachers - she can beat many a man whom I have heard belabor his audience for a dull lectious hour. I went considerable through curiosity because I had been told that she was both handsome and witty, but I found my informant to be a poor judge of beauty. She was just warm-heated, whole- could jealous Christian girl, valuable, eloquent and interesting - as you might know by the attention she gets from those … little boys and girls. She leads the singing at the church where I preached Sunday night. They say she is just intended for a preachers’s wife; but I don’t know that she realizes the fact or not."

• C.H. Evans also seems sincere in his faith and his wishes for his family and even Cordelia. She clearly wasn't Baptist.

"I have been delighted to hear of the glorious meeting in Liberty. I feel that any prayers have been answered in it by the conversion of my Brother and Sister; and now trust that one large family that was never united in this world may be in the one to come. Wish you could go to the meeting more- believe you would like the Baptists better if you knew more of them."

• He ends his letter with another nod to her musical interests, sending her a copy of the musical guests of a performance he attended. One can almost hear C.H. Evans talk when reading his letters as they are written in a very conversational manner.

411 N. 3rd St.

St Louis, June 2, 1877

Dear Friend;

Your letter arrived in due time and was entertaining enough to get a second reading, which is saying a great deal for a letter that I get. You need not let your conscience trouble you about my trip to the beer garden - I am a genuine son of Eve and my curiosity had long since decided me to improve the finest opportunity of going to one and seeing how they were carried on in first class style. I saw and was satisfied - there is nothing there attractive to me but the music and the beauties, the latter I can see elsewhere, while the former I can hear just as well from a considerable distance, or so I now pressure. However, as that particular time there was another preacher with me and we went not knowing what it was till eve reached. He was well-known, so his courage soon failed him and we neither event in … remained long.

I am about such things as Paul was about the meat - I think best to keep away, not because I am afraid (for I fear nothing in that time) but because drunkenness is the great crying sin of this one given and my attendance at such places when known will excuse some weaker one’s conscience. Yet I have such an insatiable curiosity that I always must go to such places when I can do so quietly and not lead any one else. I know the moralists say that just such youth as I become finally frequentness of the … but this does not frighten me. For such reasons as these I had not intended to be a preacher when I cam down here; but that was a moral impossibility my … all very kindly told that I was from William Jewell, and therefore I forth with went down on the list as a Baptist preacher. My first experience begun about the time I was closing my former letter. But there were untold ladies; on the contrary they even about 70 in number and mostly in their teens or just …, well-dressed and (some at least) quite handsome. I supposed I was going among a lot of … old ladies. Most of whom had been greatly shattered as to … eyesights had not hesitated to go direct from the office without any fine … Perhaps for you can imagine a tithe of my consternation when I found where I was. But there was more teachers, so I nerved myself for the strife, assumed the aim of one where if he does not appear well, is so innocent as to be totally ignorant of the unpleasant truth; and after a very pleasant evening, you know fortuned favors … - and I count myself to have been quite brave on that occasion. Everything seemed … after the start and I (played?) my (?) even to my own satisfaction, which is …

You will think this egotism, well it is and so I will go on. Well I had made my debut as preacher and so was compelled to go to hear myself preach last Sunday night; and as some of those …, misguided people seemed blessed, there is no telling where this thing may end. So now you see I am in for it regular fashion and will have to be much more d… about my sightseeing. Sunday evening, I attended a funeral service at 3rd Bap. Church. They have a fine, but not very large house and it is most …. … - … with a thundering great organ that … the whole building at times. The pastor is lately from … - an easy, wordy, eloquent speaker.

In the afternoon, I went to a S.S. where a young lady teacher an infant class of 75 or 100; and does it well too. Talk about women preachers - she can beat many a man whom I have heard belabor his audience for a dull lectious hour. I went considerable through curiosity because I had been told that she was both handsome and witty, but I found my informant to be a poor judge of beauty. She was just warm-heated, whole- could jealous Christian girl, valuable, eloquent and interesting - as you might know by the attention she gets from those … little boys and girls. She leads the singing at the church where I preached Sunday night. They say she is just intended for a preachers’s wife; but I don’t know that she realizes the fact or not.

Tues. night I went way upon North Market to hear Mrs. Van Gott- the famous woman Methodist preachers - She was very …. And dramatic and made me cry two or three times; yet after all i was rather disappointed As to the flesh she is one of the mighty ones and would weigh over 200. It seemed droll to see the little brethren bustling around …ous body with lusty amens and quick jerking songs that seemed like jigs.

I visited the Merchants Exchange yesterday and saw in a most noble building the most eager, restless throwing of trading, speculating, gambling men I ever beheld anywhere - not that Ll were of this class but a little leaven of evil leaven the whole bunch, you know, so these men gave character to the whole occasion.

I went to a show this afternoon (what is the use of being in a newspaper office and having free tickets if you never use them?) and saw the only baby elephant in the country; a rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and … besides some rather indifferent acting, some fine … … and a g… ride a horse in a gallop and jump over a sh.. And through a hoop, as the equestrian performers usually do.

I might run on indefinitely with this twaddle, but you are … this and so I will slacken up a little.

I would say something funny, but have said and laughed at such with Ferguson till my sides ache (we have a 2-mile street car side-to-the office and they are famous for fun at every body’s expense) so that I think of nothing new and a joke like a finch of snuff ought not to be use but once.

You will think me by … critical for professing to be a … and ministers, yet looking at thinking of and talking about thinks in the way I do. But I do not believe I am; I attend and enjoy very much the simple services of the Lord, such as prayer meeting and preaching where the service of God and not the man is the main thing. The clerical side is hard for me to keep out- I am interested in the salvation of those around me and rejoiced when I know of the change their hearts and feelings … their change from death to life and adoption as God’s children; yet I am seldom talking (too seldom doubtless) with them on the subject. I have been delighted to hear of the glorious meeting in Liberty. I feel that any prayers have been answered in it by the conversion of my Brother and Sister; and now trust that one large family that was never united in this world may be in the one to come.

Wish you could go to the meeting more- believe you would like the Baptists better if you knew more of them. Have called twice at your Brother’s office, which is only a short distance from my place, but he was out both times. Guess I shall use your word of introduction, but wish you hadn’t said anything about obligation, for I do not feel as if there were any … makes me feel mean as if I ever? going round to get paid.

Have seen Dr. Berkeley at church with clambering ivy but do not know as I can get around much more soon, as I expect to start for L. one week from tonight. When I get there I wish to have some of your company engaged for Commencement - will not be so presumptuous as to ask for it all as I know of at least one of your old beaux that is to be there.

I send you a copy of the musical guests - do not know whether there is anything good in it or not you will.

… … … that if she will wait over Commencement, I should be glad to come down with her.

Guess I have told enough.

Regards to your Mother.

Your friend,

Charles Henry Evans