Niece Mary Virginia Auld is a freshman at Smith. Could Mrs. Whicher get in touch with her some time? The boys would enjoy her. Came here to work after a wonderful summer in New Mexico living like a Zane Grey character. Wishes Mrs. Whicher could have attended the birthday dinner for Robert Frost. Willa Cather [Stout #797]
Has been in New York only three days since the first of June. Enjoys being here for fall. Walks a lot. Is going back to New York in a week but expects to leave it permanently before long. Is surprised at how well The Professor's House is selling, considering how gloomy it is. Not her favorite. Wishes she could see the Frosts again, but never seems to have time. Has been wanting to work on a story but keeps getting interrupted. Willa [Stout #798]
[Two quotations from Robert M. Lovett review in The New Republic.] Either of above quotations will make a good ad. W. S. C. [Stout #913]
Most English teachers have never actually written a thing and think being scholarly means avoiding any taint of common sense. One critic makes a big point of broad a sounds in female names in her books. Could quote others equally foolish. One says title Death Comes for the Archbishop shows she is now willing to acknowledge death. What it shows is that [Hans] Holbein used the title in his woodcut and she saw Latour's death as a victorious one, a kind of riding away with death. [Stout #933]
Is attending to Cather's mail while she is at Grand Manan. Is not forwarding letters except from family and close friends, so that she can be free to work. Will show her the letter when she returns. Sarah J. Bloom, Secretary [Stout #940]
Will be pleased to be present for the presentation of the Howells Medal, but hopes not to make an acceptance speech. Is grateful for this honor. Willa Cather [Stout #1023]
Thanks for letter with instructions. Glad to make a few remarks upon receiving the medal [Howells Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters]. Will be there tomorrow (Thursday), but leaving Saturday. Willa Cather [Stout #1024]
Accepts invitation to Friends of the Princeton Library dinner on May 4.[Others who accepted were Wilbur Cross, Robert Frost, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Gershwin, Ellen Glasgow, and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver LaFarge.] Willa Cather [Stout #1156]
Appreciates her kindness in searching for hotel accommodations, and also her thoughtfulness to have made the reservation in Miss Lewis's name. It's obvious that Smith College is not going to be so thoughtful. The tone of their letters is truly condescending. Perhaps they should plan to have dinner together on Saturday rather than Friday. Maybe West Virginia could come, too. Has lived in such a rush lately, hasn't even written to her. Looks forward to seeing the Frosts as well. Willa Cather [Stout #1180]
Has no photographs of Nebraska in 1885 or 1895. Understands from Professor Pupin [?] of Columbia that it resembled the plains of Russia. Otto Fuchs not a representation of a specific person but a composite of many, as are most minor characters. Blind d'Arnault modeled on Blind Boone. Has also heard of a similar Blind Tom and Blind Noah. Actress Jim sees in Camille based on Clara Morris. Many relics such as the Spanish sword have been found in southwest Kansas. Good reading does not come from factual information, however, but from cultivated taste. Does not approve of required reading of contemporary writers in English courses, which should center on great English writers of the past and on Latin writers. Wishes his students were reading Kidnapped [ Stevenson ] or Vanity Fair [ Thackeray ] rather than My Ántonia. Willa Cather [Stout #1306]
