“I expected to have returned in time to see you on Saturday. I am so well pleased with what I have that more seems unnecessary. Possibly I may in the fall or winter do a little something on the Library. If you choose to put some heads on canvas for that object you can do the three heads enclosed and get one more of Clark or such as you choose.” JUSTIN S. MORRILL (This letter must have been written after May, 1865, as that was the date Edward Clark became Architect of the Capitol.) United States Senate Chamber June 20, 1878 “I was surprised upon reaching home this morning to find an oil painting in my parlor, being a copy by your son Laurence, from Guidorini. “It is quite a pleasing picture, and considering the short time he has attempted any work of this kind I think it betokens a talent of which his father may reasonably be hopeful. “Of course he cannot expect to equal you with your forty years of experience. “I am just leaving the city and have only time to render to him my thanks.” JUSTIN S. MORRILL Lola Germon Kirkwood was about sixty years old and Laurence Brumidi was forty-one when the following two letters were written from the mother to the son: Home (Richmond), May 29, 1902 “The check and ‘heads’ came safely, and would have been acknowledged sooner, but I hoped to write a longer letter, and waited for a more encouraging mood, but none came. “I wish I could sell them for you but an art man told Mr. Kirkwood this was a poor city for such sales, the people being too poor. You see they are just about recovering from the results of the civil war. Then besides people want large showy things. In other words, they want big things for little money. They are beautiful but if I had to buy them I would too want something larger. “I am sorry you sent anything you put so much work on. I thought I made myself plain. I wanted something big too. Even a landscape thrown roughly on. There would have been likely no visitor here to have told good work, and if asked I would have said it was sent me by a young student. But if I should get a chance to sell, you know how glad I shall be. I am quite sure if Whitney, Morgan, Carnegie or any of those great rich men were properly approached they would give perhaps thousands of dollars for the original copy of the dome, alone. I should think it would be a great thing for them to have in their private gallery. In the meantime why don’t you try a letter to these men?” MOTHER Home (Richmond), October 9, 1902 “I am sorry to hear you have been again sick, and thought as much when the letter came a little later than usual.