Mrs. McClung had a relapse on Saturday that seems serious. Has been taking refuge in Michelet; just finished the third volume. Recommends Richard Wagner's autobiography; it is so honest and direct. W. S. C. [Stout #219]
Wrote to him from New Mexico, but he may not have received letters. Sorry to hear about Mrs. McClure's illness and his business troubles. People should be as generous to him as he has always been to others. Contracts have been changed so much it is hard to know what his share of the company now is. Will help with autobiography without charge for friendship's sake. Hopes she can write the articles as he wants them. He will recall that she couldn't hit what he wanted in some parts of the Christian Science series. Hasn't written a bit since she left New York, but is suntanned and healthy and in good humor again. Hopes people will forget how cross she was. It was from fatigue. Will never let little things bother her so much again. Willa Cather [Stout #235]
Has made several changes in the poem [ "Grandmither, Think Not I Forget" ].[Reprinted in The Little Book of Modern Verse, 1913, ed. Rittenhouse.] Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #253]
Will go to New York next week, then back here. Has been reading phone directories from various cities—L, K, and O in Minneapolis. Isabelle's sister Edith getting married. W. S. C. [Stout #266]
Has received her two letters, but had such lassitude, couldn't write. Sees the doctor every other day. Is trying to work a little. Has been to the opera twice; missing hair not so conspicuous at night. Isabelle stayed almost a month. Willa [Stout #279]
She is a sport to go fishing with Greenslet. Henry James's latest book, "Brothers and Son" [Notes of a Son and Brother, 1914], is too mannered, with too little substance, to be worth reading. Tortured with afterthoughts and retraction. Hears from Greenslet that Elsie is not going to marry a cubist after all—he seems to have taken the joke seriously. Glad to be away from New York. Will probably go visit Fremstad in Maine some time in June. Is not pushing herself. Enjoying the weather and resting a lot. W. [Stout #282]
Glad she likes the little book, and will hope to meet her when she is in Boston. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #301]
Is outraged by the $166.73 charge for changes in proof. This is 14 percent of her royalties! Very pleased with the reviews. Has had a terrible winter and has written very little. Willa Cather [Stout #356]
Sorry not to have anything to send him yet. Will get back to New York in November and start to work. Glad to see the story in McClure's ["The Diamond Mine," Oct. 1916], but they should have let her cut it as she did "My Little Sister" [by Elizabeth Robins, pub. Dec. 1912 and Jan. 1913]. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #367]
Pleased with his success with this last story. Please ask Harper's to let her have the manuscript back to do a little revision. Willa Cather [Stout #371]
