3. Ireland to Scalabrini¹⁷

         St. Paul, September 19, 1901

Dear Bishop:

I dare hope you have not forgotten your good promise to visit me before your departure from the United States. I hold you to your promise. This will be for me a very personal honor whose most pleasant memory I will always keep. Besides, this will be a graceful compliment to the Italians of St. Paul and, at the same time, an occasion to do them a lot of good. I have already made known to them that they will enjoy your presence.

            I would like to have now an idea of the probable date of your visit. Unfortunately I have to be away from Minnesota the last days of September and the first of October – and also between October 17 and 30th. If you were in our vicinity toward October 10th, or at any time during the fist two weeks of November, I would then be completely at your disposal.¹⁸

            Please send me a short note that would give me an indication of your itinerary. In the meantime, accept the brotherly sentiments of my high esteem and consideration,

Your devoted Servant,

John Ireland,

Archbishop of St. Paul