A subset if documents in this item has been translated into English, including:

• Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to Fakhr Taj and Qamar Taj, [5 June 1923]

• [Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to Qamar Taj, [18 November 1923]

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[Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to Fakhr Taj and Qamar Taj, 5 June 1923]

20 Shavval[1]

My dear children, Fakhr Taj [2], the exhilarator of my body, Qamar Taj [3], the source of delight and brightener of my soul.

I have had no letter from you this week. Of course, I know you write to me every week but you should hand it over to the post office to arrive regularly instead of two envelopes arriving simultaneously, and no letter for a long time. This makes me anxious. See how regularly I have sent you letters with each post. Make inquiries from the post office about what days they deliver to Europe. Every week you should hand over a letter to the post before it departs. Send it to this same address of Zika’ al-Dawlah.[4] They will send it to me wherever I go.

If you are concerned about my health, I have not recovered yet and I might go to Germany for treatment. Whatever the result, I will write to you. Aqa Mir [5] wrote me a letter asking my opinion on whether he should go to Isfahan after getting his certificate. I told him it was good for him to go and wrote to His Excellency Mr Haji [6] to find him a job so that he would be able to do so, and wrote that perhaps I would ask you after a while to come to Karbala in the company of Aqa Mir so that we could return together.

My beloved ones, do not feel any sorrow; I hope we can meet soon.

I am tired of the rain here. It is cloudy and it rains all the time. I saw the moon from under the clouds the night before last. It reminded me of Manuchihr’s tale. I dashed to the veranda to see my beloved properly. Then I thought of my Qamar.[7] If only you were with me my dear Qamar so that at this time of nocturnal solitude in a foreign land, my heart could be brightened by seeing your moonlike face. Fakhri, my dear, you should not get distressed because I have yearned for Qamar. You are always present in my thoughts. Anyway, I went back inside the room. I wanted to close the door when I realized the door was made entirely of glass, and it occurred to me, were Qamar here she would break one or two pieces of glass everyday; what would I do then? I’d probably have to pay a fine of a 100 tumans each day! I thought this would be somewhat difficult and almost regretted what I had wished for.

Yesterday I went for a stroll; it was seven when I returned. The bell had been rung for dinner. I went to have dinner; on the way, I wondered what would we have for dinner. Earlier I had wished my beloved Fakhr were with me so that I could talk to her while strolling. I approached the dinner table gripped by these thoughts. When I saw the boiled carrots, potatoes and fish, I was thankful that my Fakhr was not here; considering how hard it is to please her, she might go for weeks without eating anything. However, it occurred to me that the pastries here are of high quality and Fakhri likes pastries so much that she is ready to marry a confectioner. So, she could fill herself with pastries. Well, my beloved ones, this is how I spend my days and nights. Hopefully, things will be better when I go to Berlin. I mean that I may find something to do there to preoccupy me and stop me from worrisome thoughts. I will send you a photograph from there.

I really wish I could send you some beautiful small things. But sending things is an endeavor. There are a thousand obstacles with the post office. That is the way it is for sending things to Iran, unless it is important, and I can demonstrate and insure it. However, I would very much like it if each of you had one of these wrist watches. You should each collect 60 tumans and exchange it at the bank for a draft in English pounds, so that I buy and send them with Doctor ‘Isa Quli [8]. Dear Fakhri may sell her watch. But do not sell its strap. I will send a nice pencil for it. It is trendy here. They wear a long chain with a pencil hanging from it. I will also send Qamar a chain with the pencil. And send me, God willing, some money whenever you can afford it. I will buy you certain things I know you cannot find there and that might be of use to you. I will bring them myself or will send them along with a traveler. They say that especially in Germany there are wonderful and cheap things, but Switzerland is expensive, with the exception of watches of which the best manufacturers are in Switzerland.

I would like to inquire after Baygum Aqa’s [9] health. Of course, you should pay a visit to Batul Khanum [10] and be of utmost kindness to each other so that I would be satisfied. My regards to Mr. ‘Imad [11] and your mother. I would also like to ask after the health of all friends, one by one.

With my deepest love,

[Signature]

Whenever you visit Her Excellency Aqabaji [12] and Her Excellency Khanum Shaykh [13], give them my regards. Also give my regards to all the prominent gentlemen.

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[1]The letter is sent from Switzerland and the full date is 20 Shawal 1341 (10 Khurdad 1302/31 May 1923). At this time, Fakhr Taj and Qamar Taj were residing in Isfahan.

[2]Fakhr Taj Dawlatabadi (1324 AH-1371 SH), the second daughter of Haj Mirza Hadi Dawlatabadi and Munis Aqa (1312 AH-1355 SH). It was the second marriage of Haj Mirza Hadi. Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to a certain extent acted as the mother of Fakhr Taj and her sister Qamar Taj. Initially the names of Fakhr Taj and Qamar Taj were Mujibah and Rubabah. However, upon the death of their father, Sadiqah gave them the names of Fakhr Taj and Qamar Taj.

[3]Qamar Taj Dawlatabadi (1326 AH-1371 SH), the younger daughter of Haj Mirza Hadi Dawlatabadi and Munis Aqa.

[4]Ms. Zika’ al-Dawlah Qaffari, a friend of the family, residing in Switzerland.

[5]Aqa Mir (1317 AH-1370 SH), the son of Haj Mirza Muhammad ‘Ali Dawlatabadi (1295 AH-1347 SH) — the fifth son of Haj Mirza Hadi and Khatimah Begum — and Zahra Nazimi known as Khanum Bala Khanum (1304 AH-1354 SH).

[6]Haj Mirza Yahya Dawlatabadi (1279 AH-1318 SH/1863-1939), author of Hayat-i Yahya (Tehran: Ibn Sina, 1326 SH). He was elected to parliament from Kirman inthe second and third Majlis and from Isfahan in the fifth Majlis.

[7]Qamar means moon.

[8]An ophthalmologist in Isfahan.

[9]Maid of Fakhri and Qamar in Isfahan.

[10]Batul Kavah, a friend and a colleague of Sadiqah Dawlabadi who was also known as Ms. Principal.

[11]‘Imad al-Sharia Sarlati, second husband of Munis Aqa. Munis Aqa, the second wife of Haj Mirza Hadi, married ‘Imad al-Sharia Sarlati after the death of her first husband.

[12]Aqa Baji (Gawhar Sultan Nasiri (1279 AH-1323 SH), first wife of Haj Mirza Ahmad (1277 AH-1346 SH), the first child of Haj Mirza Hadi.

[13]Khanum Shaykh , second wife of Haj Mirza Ahmad. She was initially the wife of Shaykh al-‘Araqayn and when he died she married Mirza Ahmad.

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[Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to Qamar Taj, 18 November 1923]

18 November 1923 [1]

My dear child, my breath of life, Qamar, the beloved of mother.

I received your letter of 21 Safar with utmost delight and I am happier yet because you wrote it better and I could read it all. You expressed happiness to have received my photograph. I am happy to learn of your happiness. But if you look at my new photograph, taken for my passport, you will no doubt feel sad. No, I won’t send it to you; it is better to remember me with the previous photograph. Only four months have elapsed since I last took it, but this heart-wrenching calamity, along with loneliness and illness, has made me ten years older. I am still grateful and ask God to give me strength to embrace you one more time like sweet life itself.

My dear, don’t feel stricken for me; try to keep happy, because sorrow in early youth will show its effects in middle age, the way it did for me. I hadn’t seen the Afghan Minister Plenipotentiary since I went to the celebration of Afghans and subsequently he had come to visit me. He had invited me several times but I excused myself and didn’t go, until two nights ago, when he invited me with great insistence. I went to his house. The Minister himself had cooked rice with raisins. Afghans speak Farsi grammatically. He said to me: “I myself have cooked [pukhtah kardam] this rice for you. Does it please you?” Of course, I said, it was “the plenipotentiary of all rice dishes.” He laughed heartily. He is a nice old man. His wife is the editor of Women’s Guidance [irshad-i nisvan], which is known to you.[2]

She is also an old woman. Their daughter is the wife of the Afghan Sultan. The Minister’s wife told me: “My daughter is the Shah’s wife [Shah Khanum] and his appointed supervisor of women’s schools as well. She would be really pleased to see you [’u ra az shuma bisyar khvush ayad].” It was only when the rice dish was finished that they brought the spinach stew. The Minister said: “This vegetable mix is my wife’s doing. Does it please you?” “Of course,” I said, “thank you very much.” He said: “Our French cook asks us, ‘who may this guest of yours be that you take it upon yourself to cook for her’, and I answered a priceless Iranian gem.” I thought of you both often on that evening and I know that had you been there it would have been very pleasant for you as well.

There was another very old woman from Afghanistan there. She asked my name. “Sadiqah,” I replied. She was sitting at the head of the table during dinner. I had the Minister on one side and the Embassy Deputy on the other. That woman would shout each time (because she was a bit hard of hearing). She would say: “Sadiqah Khanum, does that syrup [shirah] please you?” She meant jam. Then she would shout: “Do grapes please you?” She would speak like this for every item. But I would not laugh. They had invited Ihtisham, an Iranian student, so that I wouldn’t be the only Iranian. Ihtisham really wanted to laugh, but I wouldn’t look at him. But my dear, had you been here, you would have spoiled the gathering with your laughter. After dinner, another Afghan came who had seen me only at the celebration. He said to me: “Grand lady [khanum-i kalan], we laid you to waste and never saw you again,” by which he meant, “we lost you.” It was a sweet gathering.

I was frightfully happy to behold Shawkat’s handwriting. I will be happy if your going to Isfahan had only this great achievement to show for and be content with our being away from each other if that dear child of mine was saved from going blind.

Offer my warm greetings to all the ladies. The Doctor is sending his hellos as well as a beautiful photograph. Thank him for it. The rest is only the tale of separation of a mother.

[Signature]

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[1]Date on document reads 8 4 2, shorthand for 8 Rabiʻ al-Sani 1342.

[2]Irshad-i niswanwas the first women’s magazine in Afghanistan, published between 1921 and 1925.

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[Sadiqah Dawlatabadi to Qamar Taj, 9 June 1926]

9 June 1926

My precious child, my dear Qamar, the fruit of my life, I love you so.

I received your 19 Farvardin and 17 Urdibihisht letters at the same time. I am not sure why they were delayed for so long. I thanked God when I learned that you, your husband and your dear child are in good health. My dear, I am burdened by the desire to see you and hold you in my arms. What can I do? It is duty that has separated me from you and it is duty that has kept the time of separation woefully long. You tell me that the thought of kissing me gives your heart tribulations. Thus, you must realize how important duty and the sense of obligation is in this world that a child is separated from her mother for it. The dream of kissing the mother disturbs the child, but each will have to pursue their obligations. But had we been together all the time, refusing to leave a corner of one of the houses that we had lived in, like the estate of Karbala’i Khan or the house of Mirza ‘Ali-Akbar Khan, would I have been able to represent Iranian women in the International Congress of the World and raise the flag of Iran amongst the flags of forty nations above the head of an Iranian woman in the name of Iranian women? How would you have become a mother and bring up a good boy for your homeland? My dear child, you are my heart and soul, and you need to raise an honorable Iranian; you are the one who can serve Iran with those hands that rock the cradle and earn a good name. You are my service [to this nation]. You are to bring up a child who will sacrifice himself for his country. Keep this letter for when he reaches adulthood. Were I alive, show it to him and tell him that your educator had prepared you to raise such a child.

Dear daughter, Iran was one of the best-known countries in the world and today it is one of the least known. Had you been with me on the day I arrived for registration at the Congress, you would have shed wrenching tears after seeing the way American women treated me. On the surface it appeared fantastically joyous but their every word was worse than a thousand insults to me. For example, they would say: “Upon reception of your letter announcing that you would be ready to represent your country, we, the exclusive members of this Congress, danced in merriment. We present to you this medallion and these gifts. This is the fifth time that we have been carrying these gifts to various countries in the hope of meeting a representative from Iran. We pray to God that they found their rightful place.” They invited me to lunch. I arrived five minutes late because the train was behind schedule. When I apologized, they said, “We have been waiting for the women in your country for years, waiting five minutes for you is nothing.” In the general assembly, all the members were introduced. When they saw me with the flag of Iran, they asked me if I was from Italy, because the color of their flag is much like ours. When I said that I was from Iran, they thought that a European is representing Iranian women. I was obliged to deliver a sermon to each explaining that Iran has many knowledgeable and intelligent women, and so on and so forth. “Where do you really come from?” a wily Briton finally asked. “We know Iranians, their men do not concern themselves with these issues. You have no doubt an Iranian husband?” I was vexed. For half an hour I talked about the progress of Iranian women, modern-style schools, and some such things. Now do you understand me? Yes, my dear, we need to engage with the world, benefit from and give to it. I wish for the day we meet and, God willing, I will again help you to better fulfill your motherly duties and not ignore your own education. Now we are both walking the path of duty and we must prepare ourselves for a better future. I have already lived half my lifetime but you are at the beginning of it and you must prepare for a better future because you have the necessary spirit and nature has gifted you with many skills.

My health after ten days of malaria fever is not bad. The microbe is still in my veins. The thing is that there isno malaria here. We Iranians are so loyal that even microbes don’t leave us alone. I am frightfully exhausted because of the commute to and from the city, especially for work at the Congress. It is now over, but twice a week I go to Paris for private lessons because there is none here. I hope that this year would pass and to see myself in Iran by the next, if I receive the funds.

Now I will answer your 17 [Urdibihisht] letter. This letter of yours made me very hopeful, more than what I had anticipated from you. Dear Qamar, you are the source of hope and the fruit of my past. Whenever I think that my life and youth passed without so much as a hint of physical pleasure, I immediately remember that I now have spiritual pleasures, of the gift of a daughter like you, because I have wanted to at least bring up a good, family mother, whose ethics are always without blemish. “I am never interfering with my husband’s freedom,” you say. Of course you shouldn’t. I am not sure what you are saying. If you interfere with his freedom, then you have interfered with your own, unless there is another you and him between you and him. If you are suspicious of yourself, then you will be suspicious of him. I have said it a thousand times, I will say it again: To be husband and wife is as sacred as the creator of the world is One. How can we even think then that there be separation between them? She who doesn’t trust her husband is not to be trusted. How can a noble woman who doesn’t have complete trust in a man, in his kindness, in his honesty, in his sincerity, and in his actions, sleep with him? Or, regard him as the father of her children? She should leave her husband the moment she feels suspicious. In other words, she should strengthen the foundations of her trust so that when she becomes suspicious, she can leave him. One should never be inquisitive of a man. A man’s constitution is stronger than a woman’s and as such he is more self-assured. If he feels that he is being watched, whoever is doing it, even his dearest kin, he naturally wants to hide his deeds and secrets from her. Then slowly the colors of separation are fanned, then the seeds of enmity are sown and then hostilities break. My dear, these words I am writing to you are the fruits of twenty years of experience, in personal as well as social life. Thus, strive to be always confident of your husband. Hide nothing from him. Never be too vigilant as to how much money you have and about your expenses. Never ask him something that he doesn’t volunteer. Then, he would never hide anything from you. You say: “I am still a child, I am still not seasoned and at times I have misgivings and rotten thoughts.” My dear, it is true that you are still not seasoned, but I am content that you realize that you are still a child, that you don’t know the things that one should know: “She who doesn’t know and knows that she doesn’t know / will ride her horse of reason to her destination in tow.”

You say that your husband genuinely loves you but that he doesn’t show it. I prefer such deportment. Which one is better: sharp-colored but non-permanent ink or soft-toned but stable ink? It is obvious that the sharp-colored ink will disappear when exposed to the sun, air and water, but the stable, soft color will stay by you with loyalty. You mentioned dear Humayun, I am happy to learn that his health is good. This is the first thing. No, don’t be disturbed when I say that he is ugly. Even if he is ugly, I like him like sweet life itself. I wish him good health, strong spirits, discerning talent, flowing intelligence and good taste. Should he become prosperous, then all the better; as such, appearance is but peripheral and all the others are important. My dear, listen, don’t bear another child so soon; there are several problems with it. First, your health will suffer. Second, you won’t have time to attend two or three children the way you do to one. The best way is to purchase a douche and be careful to wash yourself with warm water. It is good in any case, but it should be done right away. It is something without harm. You can get pregnant when you want. All European women do the same thing and that’s why they don’t have more than one or two children. How would they be able to nurture them in a modern manner if they were to bear ninety-nine children like miserable Iranian women do?

Give my regards to Mr. Haji and his respected wife whenever you write to them. I suspect your trip has been good. I will send this letter to Tehran.

I adore my dear Mr. San‘atizadah. I hope he has reached his goal and was elected as a representative, even though I think all these are but play. [verse:] The foundations of the estate are in ruin / The landlord thinks but of the ornaments of the balcony.

The rest is just adoration for my beloved daughter.

[Signature]

Kiss Humayun on my behalf.

متن تایپی برخی نامه های متعلق به این فقره شامل:

• صدیقه دولت آبادی به قمرتاج، [۱۸ خرداد ۱۳۰۵]

• صدیقه دولت آبادی به قمرتاج، [۸ ربیع‌الثانی ۱۳۴۲]

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[صدیقه دولت آبادی به قمرتاج، ۱۸ خرداد ۱۳۰۵]

۹ ژوئن ۲۶

دختر نازنینم، قمر عزیزم، قربان تو ثمره زندگی ام بگردم.

کاغذهای ۱۹ فروردین و ۱۷ اردیبهشت تو را در یک وقت دریافت کردم. نمی دانم چرا آنها اینقدر در راه مانده بودند؟ از سلامتی تو، شوهر و فرزند عزیزت شکر خدا را به جای آوردم. عزیزم برای دیدن و اشتیاق در برگرفتن تو هر آن در فشارم. چه کنم؟ این تکلیف است که مرا از تو جدا کرده و اداء وظیفه این قدر مدت فراق را طولانی نمود! می گویی، خیال بوسیدن من قلب تو را مضطرب می کند. پس ببین اداء وظیفه و انجام تکلیف چقدر مهم است در دنیا که مادر از فرزند جدا می شود، فرزند آرزوی بوسیدن مادر در زحمتش دارد، اما هر کدام باز دنبال تکلیف خود هستند. ما اگر تمام وقت با هم می بودیم، و یکی از گوشه خانه هایی که در مدت زندگی با هم، مثلا باغ کربلایی خان با خانه میرزا علی اکبر خان را تا حال ول نکرده بودیم، من کی می توانستم زنان ایران را در کنگره انترنسیونال دنیا جا بدهم و بیرق ایران را مابین بیرقهای چهل دولت بالای سر یک زن ایرانی به نام زنان ایران بزنم؟ تو کی می توانستی مادر بشوی و یک پسر خوب برای وطن تربیت کنی؟ عزیزم، روح روان من، تو هستی که باید یک ایرانی شریف تربیت کنی، تویی که می توانی به وسیله آن دستهایت که گهواره را می جنبانی به دنیای ایران خدمت کنی و نام نیک از خودت باقی بگذاری. خدمت من تو هستی که باید یک پسر برای فدایی بودن به واقع برای وطن تربیت کنی. این کاغذ مرا نگاه بدار وقتی او به حد رشد رسید اگر من زنده بودم این را به او نشان بده و بگو مربی من مرا برای خدمت یک همچه پسری تربیت کرده است.

دختر جان، ایران نامی ترین ممالک عالم بوده است و اکنون گمنام ترین است. اگر تو با من بودی [و] روزی که وارد کنگره شدم و اسم خودم را ثبت کردم به عنوان نماینده زن ایران، احساسات خانمهای آمریکایی را نسبت به من می دیدی خون گریه می کردی. در ظاهر فوق التصور خوشحالی آور بود. در معنا هر کلمه آنها از دو هزار فحش به من سخت تر بود. مثلا می گفت:‌ «وقتی کاغذ شما رسید که یک خانم ایرانی به سمت نمایندگی حاضر است، ما اعضای خصوصی کنگره با هم رقص کردیم. این مدال و اسبابی که به شما تقدیم می کنم، این دفعه پنجم است که ما با خودمان به هر مملکت که رفتیم بردیم و منتظر نماینده ایران بودیم بالاخره بی ثمر پس بردیم. الحمدلله که حالا جای خودش را گرفت.» مرا به نهار دعوت کردند، وقتی رفتم ۵ دقیقه دیر بودم چونکه ترن رتار [تاخیر] داشت. از آنها معذرت خواستم، گفتند در صورتی که مدتی است زنان مملکت شما را منتظریم ۵ دقیقه شما را منتظر باشیم نقلی نیست. در (تیرُکاردرُد) در یک مجمع عمومی تمام نمایندگان معرفی شدند. مرا که با بیرق ایران می دیدند، می پرسیدند شما ایطالیایی هستید؟ چونکه رنگ بیرق آنها هم مثل مال ماست. وقتی می گفتم ایرانی ام، خیال می کردند یک زن اروپایی ام نماینده زنان ایران شده ام. مجبور بودم برای هر کدام شرحی روضه بخوانم که ایران زنان فاضله هوشمند دارد. چنین و چنان. بالاخره یک انگلیسی بدجنس گفت شما اهل کدام مملکت هستید؟ ما ایرانیان را خوب می شناسیم، مردهاشان هنوز داخل در این چیزها نیستند یقین شما شوهر ایرانی کرده اید؟ من خیلی متغیر شدم و به قدر نیم ساعت راجع به ترقی زنان ایران و مدارس به طرز جدید و غیره حرف زدم. حالا می فهمی که چه می گویم؟ آری عزیزم، باید در دنیا کار کرد. فایده برد و فایده رساند. امیدوارم باز روزی برسد که ما به هم بربخوریم و انشاءالله باز من به تو کمک می دهم که در اداء وظیفه مادری و تربیت خودت کوتاهی نکنی. حالا هر دو در جاده تکلیف قدم می زنیم و باید خودمان را برای روزهای آینده بهتر حاضر کنیم. من اگر عمری داشته باشم تقریبا نصف بیشترش رفته است، اما تو اول عمرت است و باید از کوشش خودت خودت را برای آینده بهتر حاضر کنی چونکه مایه اش را داری و طبیعت هم وسایل آن را برایت فراهم کرده است.

حالت مزاج من بعد از ده روز تب و نوبه سخت حالا بد نیست. هنوز میکروب مالاریا در خون من کار می کند. در صورتی که اینجا نوبه وجود ندارد، اما ما ایرانیان از بس با وفا هستیم میکروب هم ما را ول نمی کند. بی اندازه خسته ام از کار رفت و آمد به شهر، مخصوصا برای کار کنگره. حالا تمام شد ولی هفته ای دو روز باز برای درسهای خصوصی که اینجا نیست به پاریس می روم. امیدوارم این سال هم بگذرد و سال آینده خودم را در ایران ببینم. اگر پول به من برسد.

حالا به جواب کاغذ ۱۷ می پردازم: این کاغذ تو مرا خیلی امیدوار کرد، پیش از آنچه امید داشتم به تو. قمر جان تو مایه امید من و نتیجه زندگی گذشته من هستی. هر وقت افسوس می خورم که عمرم و جوانی ام بدون داشتن یک ذره لذت جسمانی گذشت، فورأ به یادم می رسد که حالا لذایذ روحانی دارم، از داشتن یک دختری مثل تو که من می خواستم لااقل یک مادر فامیل خوب تربیت کرده باشم که اخلاق او از هر حیث مبرا باشد. «می گویی هیچ وقت من مخل آزادی شوهرم نیستم.» البته نباید بشوی. من نمی دانم تو چه می خواهی بگویی؟ اگر مخل آزادی او بشوی مخل آزادی خودت شده ای. مگر میان تو و او یک تو و اویی هم هست؟ اگر تو از خودت می توانی ظنین بشوی از او هم ممکن است ظن پیدا کنی. هزار دفعه گفتم باز هم می گویم زن و شوهر آن قدر مقدس است که خالق وجود یک یکی هستند. پس چطور می توان حمل کرد که میان اینها ذره ای نفاق یا نا موافقی هست؟ آن زنی که از شوهرش اطمینان ندارد از آن زن نمی توان اطمینان داشت. چطور ممکن است یک زن شرافتمندانه در صورتی که از یک مرد اطمینان کامل به محبت او، به صداقت او، به یکرنگی او و به عمل او ندارد بتواند با او بخوابد؟ بتواند او را پدر فرزند خود بداند؟ آن دقیقه که از شوهرش ظنین شد، همان طور که مرد اگر از زنش گمان بد پیدا کرد، باید او را ترک کند. یعنی درجه اطمینان خود را روی پایه محکمی بگذارد که اگر وقتی از او ظن پیدا کرد باید او را ترک کند. هرگز در کار مرد نباید کنجکاو شد. زیرا که مرد وجودش قوی تر از زن و به همین جهت هم به خود مغرور است. اگر دید یکی او را می پاید، (هر کس باشد ولو عزیزترین کسانش) طبیعتأ می خواهد کار و اسرا خود را از او پنهان کند. آنوقت رفته رفته رنگ نفاق ریخته، بعد تخم عداوت کاشته می شود و بعد کار به جدال می کشد. عزیزم اینها که به تو می نویسم، در نتیجه بیست سال تجربه است، در زندگی شخصی و اجتماعی. پس کوشش کن همیشه خوشبین باشی نسبت به کار شوهرت. هرگز هیچ از او پنهان نکن. هرگز دقیق نشو که چقدر داری و خرج آن چه بوده است. هرگز از او نپرس چیزی را که خودش به تو نمی گوید. آنوقت طبیعتأ او چیزی از تو پنهان ندارد. می گویی: «من هنوز بچه ام درست پخته نشده ام و گاهی خیالات واهی می آید پیش من و اندیشه های فاسد می کنم.» عزیزم، راست است که تو حالا هنوز پخته نشده ای، اما همین که می فهمی که هنوز بچه ای یعنی کاملأ دانستنیها را نمی دانی، از همین من راضی ام؛ «آنکس که نداند و بداند که نداند / اسب خرد خویش به من منزل برساند.»

اینکه می گویی شوهرت تو را از صمیم قلب دوست دارد اما خیلی ظاهر نمی کند، من این را هم می پسندم. آیا یک رنگ جوهری تند بی ثبات بهتر است یا رنگ ثابت ملایم؟ بدیهی است، رنگ جوهری از آفتاب، هوا و آب فورأ می پرد، اما رنگ ثابت طبیعی تا آخر عمر هر شیئی با او وفادار است. از همایون عزیزم نوشته ای، خیلی خوشحالم که او سلامت مزاج دارد. این اول چیز است. نه، تو دلتنگ نباش از اینکه گفتم او زشت است. بر فرض زشت هم باشد من او را چون جان شیرین دوست دارم. من برای او سلامتی مزاج، روح قوی، ذوق فطری، هوش سرشار و سلیقه خوب می خواهم. اگر وجاهت هم داشته باشد آن نورعلی نور است و الا آخری فرع و دیگران اصل اند - عزیزم کوشش کن که حالا به زودی بچه پیدا نکنی - چندین عیب دارد. اولأ مزاج خودت ضعیف می شود، دوم، نمی توانی از عهده پرستاری و تربیت دو تا سه تا مثل یکی، برآیی. بهترین راه اینست که یک دوش بخری و همیشه مواظب باش بعد از موقع، خودت را با آب جوشیده نیم گرم بشور. از هر حیث خوب است ولی باید بلافاصله شست و شو داد و این یک کاریست که هیچ ضرر ندارد و هر وقت نشستی و خواستی آبستن بشوی می توانی. تمام زنان اروپایی همین کار را می کنند که از یکی دو تا بچه بیشتر ندارند. اگر مثل ایرانی بدبخت بخواهد یک زن نود و نه تا بچه بزایند از کجا می توانند آنها را با این تربیت مدرن پرستاری کنند.

خدمت سرکار آقای حاجی و سرکار خانم محترمه شان هر وقت نوشتی سلام مرا ابلاغ کن. امیدوارم سفر شماها به خوبی گذشته باشد. این کاغذ را به طهران می فرستم.

آقای صنعتی زاده عزیز مرا قربان می روم، امیدوارم به مقصود رسیده باشند و به وکالت منتخب شده باشند، گرچه من همه اینها را شعر می دارم [دانم].

خانه از پای بست ویران است / خواجه در بند نقش ایوان است؟

باقی فدای دختر عزیز خودم. امضاء. همایون را عوض من ببوس.

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[صدیقه دولت آبادی به قمرتاج، ۸ ربیع‌الثانی ۱۳۴۲]

۸ ۴ ۲ [۸ ربیع الثانی ۱۳۴۲]

فرزند عزیزم روح بخش خاطرم قمرجان قربان تو مادرت.

کاغذ تاریخ ۲۱ صفر تو را با کمال خوشحالی دریافت کردم و از اینکه بهتر نوشته بودی و توانستم تمام آنرا بخوانم بیشتر از پیش مسرور و راضی هستم. از رسیدن عکس من خوشحالی. من هم با خوشحالی شما خوشحالم. اما اگر عکس تازه مرا ببینید که برای پاسپورت انداخته ام یقینأ دلتنگ می شوید. نه، آن را برای شما نمی فرستم بهتر است که مرا مثل عکس سابق تصور کنید. چهار ماه بیشتر نگذشته از موقع انداختن آن عکس، ولی این داغ جانگداز، تنهایی و مرض مرا ده سال پیر کرده است. باز هم شاکرم و از خدا می خواهم آنقدر به من امان بدهد که بار دیگر شماها را چون جان شیرین در بغل بگیرم… [سه نقطه در اصل متن]

عزیزم شما ها برای من دلتنگ نباشید و کوشش کنید خودتان را خوشحال داشته باشید، چونکه غصه اول جوانی اثرش در اواسط سن و پیری ظاهر می شود، چنانکه برای من شد.

از روزیکه جشن افغانها رفته بودم و بعد وزیر افغانستان به دیدنم آمد دیگر او را ندیده بودم و چند دفعه دعوت کرد عذر آوردم و نرفتم تا پریشب به اصرار مرا به شام دعوت کردند. رفتم خود وزیر افغان یک پلو کشمش پخته بود. افغانها فارسی صریح حرف می زنند. به من من می گفت «این پلو را خودم برای شما پخته کردم، آیا شما را خوش می آید؟» گفتم بله البته این وزیر مختار پلوها است. خیلی خندید.

یک پیرمرد خوبی است و خانمش مدیره «ارشاد نسوان» است که می شناسید و او هم پیرزن است. دخترشان زن سلطان افغانستان است. زن وزیر می گفت «دختر من شاه خانم است و هم مفتش مدارس دخترانه از طرف شاه. اگر شما را ببیند او را از شما بسیار خوش آید.» وقتی که پلو تمام شد تازه خورش اسفناج آوردند. وزیر گفت «این سبزی قاتق را زنم کرده است، خوش دارید آن را؟» گفتم البته خیلی متشکرم. گفت «آشپز فرانشوی من می گوید این مهمان شما کیست که خودتان برای او پخته می کنید؟ گفتم یک گوهر بی قیمت ایران.» آن شب آنجا خیلی از شماها یاد کردم و می دانستم اگر آنجا بودید خیلی برای شماها مطبوع بود.

یک زن پیر بسیار بزرگ هم تازه از افغان آمده است، آنجا بود. از من پرسید اسم شما چیست گفتم صدیقه. سر میز شام کله میز نشسته بود. وزیر یک طرف من بود و نایب سفارت طرف دیگرم. آن زن هر دفعه داد می زد (چونکه گوشش کمی کر است). می گفت «صدیقه خانم آی شیره خوش داری؟ (یعنی مربا)» باز می گفت «انگور خوش داری؟» همین طور برای هر چیز این طور حرف می زد. اما هیچ نمی خندیدم. احتشام یک محصل ایرانی را هم دعوت کرده بودند که من تنها نباشم. احتشام خیلی میل داشت بخندد، ولی من هیچ نگاه به او نمی کردم. اما عزیزم اگر تو اینجا بودی از خنده مجلس را خراب می کردی. بعد از شام یک افغانی دیگر آمد که فقط روز جشن مرا دیده بود. گفت «آی خانم کلان ما شما را ضایع کردیم و دیگر ندیدیم.» (یعنی گم کردیم) خیلی مجلس بامزه ای بود. از خط شوکت بی نهایت مسرور شدم. می توانم این رفتن شما را به اصفهان فقط منتج همین نتیجه بزرگ بدانم و به دوری شماها راضی شدم که آن فرزند عزیز از کوری نجات یافت.

خدمت تمام خانمها سلام با محبت مرا ابلاغ کن. دکتر به شماها سلام می رساند و عکس قشنگ برای شما فرستاده است، از او تشکر کنید. باقی قربانت مادر به هجران مبتلا.

[امضاء]