Something lovely discovered today by research volunteer Nancy Freudenthal:
My dear Mr Mercer -
Just after you left me at the reception the other night I saw right at my feet in the moonlight this tiny, battered anchor of hope, and have ever since been possessed with the idea that it was meant for you. I didn't send it at first because I was afraid you would think me a superstitious idiot, but I shall risk that. Since you threw away your good luck in the horse shoe perhaps this will bring you hope for comfort, and in that day there were signs and wonders.
Very sincerely yours
Sally Blair Fairchild
August twenty fifth [1888]
Madison Wisconsin
Sarah (Sally) Fairchild, daughter of General Lucius Fairchild, was born in October 1870, making her just 17 years old the night she saw a tiny metal anchor in the moonlight and (after some indecision) sent it over 900 miles away, along to Henry Mercer, who was then 32, and (in my opinion, anyway) very dashing indeed. Aww, Sally.
Sally grew up, and in 1894 married attorney Seldon Bacon. In 1900 they were living in New York, at 393 West End Avenue, on Manhattan's Upper West Side. They had two daughters and two female servants, around the same age as Sally.
In early 1902 the couple lost an infant son from whooping cough, and on August 25 of that year, Sally died as well — coincidentally 14 years to the day she sealed the tiny, battered anchor of hope in an envelope, marked the return address Personal, and sent it to Henry, some 900 miles to the east. She was 32 years old.
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| Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, October 26, 1894 |
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| New York Tribune, January 9, 1902 |
Clippings from Newspapers.com
Headstone image from Findagrave.com
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