Has sold the Bohemian Girl story for $500. Was offered $750, but that was too much. How can she [Cather] leave McClure's when they are so nice to her? Mr. Mackenzie already wanting to advertise the opera singer story, when she hasn't even written it. Thinks she caught the germ of selling manuscripts from her! It was a good one to catch. Is staying in town for the dinner for William Dean Howells. W. S. C. [Stout #213]
True, the story suggests Lillian Nordica, though there are only two specifics that resemble her life, the shipwreck and the dispute over the will. Yes, her last husband, George Young, is still alive. Let her know by mail if he is going to be in town, as she has had her telephone disconnected. P.S.: Truly doesn't see how Young could object to the story. Willa S. Cather [Stout #358]
Phone number is 7955 Chelsea. Hopes he will visit while in town. First few chapters of Mr. McClure's book [about war] are exciting. Her story in Harper's [prob. "A Gold Slipper," January 1917] has been praised more than it deserves. W. S. C. [Stout #378]
Glad to accept contract for Continental rights of the next book. Will certainly accept reduced royalties on O Pioneers! in a soldiers' edition. Century will start "Office Wives" series in January and wants the book rights. Trusts Houghton Mifflin will not mind. Wants to discuss the physical design of the novel when he comes to town. Will invite Benda to dinner and ask him about doing head and tail pieces. Otherwise, would prefer no illustrations. Has tried drawing her own. Willa Cather [Stout #394]
Chose Benda to do pen-and-ink drawings after seeing his drawings for Jacob Riis's The Old Town, for which Macmillan paid him $900. Expected to have about a third as many for her book. Benda will not do what they had decided on for the amount Houghton Mifflin is offering. Might do something simpler and easier for that amount. Will work with him on some new ideas. Is cutting the book so it will be very little longer than O Pioneers!. Willa S. Cather [Stout #400]
Not interested in doing the book of short stories after all. Has begun two other new books . P.S.: Terrible about Elsie Sergeant's injury. Please send review copy of Ántonia to the New York Globe. W. S. C. [Stout #442]
Thanks for the advance on her account. The Globe still hasn't received a review copy. Has he tried for a British edition? Has written four chapters on the soldier story. Feels like a medium through which the story writes itself. Willa Cather [Stout #447]
Glad he likes "Grandmither." Seldom writes verse. Unfortunately, the poems Monroe included in her noted anthology [The New Poetry, 1917] were garbled. Sorry to have been without a telephone, so missed hearing from him when he was in town. Willa Cather [Stout #450]
Glad Heinemann will publish an edition. Getting inquiries about serial rights on next novel, to be titled simply "Claude." Won't decide until they talk. Has sold two stories for good prices and two articles for Red Cross Magazine. P.S.: What do Londoners think of Wilson? Willa Cather [Stout #456]
Understands that he, too, thinks Joseph Conrad's latest book [ The Arrow of Gold ] weak. Hard to believe how people think it's the real thing. Is working on a new novel. Willa Cather [Stout #463]
