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great moment when the course of my life was really settled and changed. It is curious to think that through the great catastrophe of the burning of the city of Chicago on Sunday evening the 9th of October 1871, a catastrophe that destroyed my home, impoverished my father, and which was the first cause of my poor brother Charleys mental breakdown, I should owe my real beginning in life. How often, we do not realize that our greatest misfortunes will turn out blessings and the tears of the moment will wash away channels where smiles and radiance will come later. I am glad to think that my successful career in my art was the joy of my father's life in his declining years. I remember well that the summer of '71 I was east with my mother and brother Charley. We were on dear old