The Autobiography of an Idea by Louis H. Sullivan

Early in the summer of '70, Henri List felt an impelling desire to visit his second daughter, Jennie, whom he had not seen in a number of years. In 1862, she was married to a certain Walter Whittlesey, a contracting railway engineer, and they lived on 300-acre farm at Lyons Falls, N. Y. On the 29th day of February, 1864, she added to the world's population a daughter, in due time named Anna, under Presbyterian auspices. Mrs. Whittlesey at the time we are considering, was 34 years of age -- one year younger than her sister, Andrienne, greatly beloved mother of Louis Sullivan. When Henri List's desire had ripened into a resolve and was so announced, there was "the devil to pay," as was said at times in those days. Louis became frantic. He must go too. He, also, had not seen his Tante Jennie in many years. He must see where she lived and how she lived. He must see his dear little cousin Anna, and Uncle Walter too. He must see the farm, and the river and the great waterfall.

"Grandpa, I have never seen a waterfall, only in pictures, and in pictures they don't move and they don't roar; I want to live with a real waterfall; and I want to see the Berkshire Hills; and the Hudson; you know, Grandpa, pictures don't give you any real idea; why Grandpa, a picture of a tree isn't anything at all when you see a real tree, like our great Ash at Cowdry's; and to think, Grandpa, I've never been farther away than Newburyport; take me with you, Grandpa. I want to see something big; everything in Boston and Wakefield has grown so small; we are so shut in; my geography says there are big things as you go west, that outdoors gets bigger and bigger; I want to go Grandpa; now is the time; I may never have another chance."