Mother had a laugh from the picture of Mark Twain dinner. Seems a little better than last year, but still terrible condition. Sister away for a little rest. English nurse has been caring for her for a year and is very good. Has a cottage [at Las Encinas Sanitarium] of her own and is comfortable physically, but life looks bleak. Willa [Stout #1008]
Will be going abroad soon, so can't judge contest. Willa Cather [Stout #1094]
Sorry not to have replied sooner to thank him for sending Miss Hazen's letter about My Ántonia. She is a keen analyst. Willa Cather [Stout #1166]
Glad to accept the medal of the International Mark Twain Society. Is proud to think, as Albert Bigelow Paine reports in his biography, that Mark Twain expressed admiration of one of her poems [later letter says "The Palatine"]. P.S.: Sorry to be slow responding, but is just back from northern Canada [?]. Willa Cather [Stout #1208]
Doesn't know when she will be in the West, probably not until next winter. Has lost her copy of article about My Ántonia written for Mark Twain Society. Could he provide the name of the woman who wrote it? Willa Cather [Stout #1211]
Thanks for the copy of Miss Hazen's article. No, has not become a Catholic, though admires the Church and contrary to her Episcopal bishop, believes it the source of all Christian churches. Glad to hear of the postage stamp honoring Mark Twain. Willa Cather [Stout #1212]
Once met a Russian violinist who said he would greatly like to see the Mississippi River. He grew up near the Volga and had read Huckleberry Finn in translation as a boy and wondered if the Mississippi was like the Volga. Hard to imagine how the regional colloquialism of the book could be translated into Russian. But the book has enough vitality to shine through even botched language. [Stout #1213]
International Mark Twain Society has voted My Ántonia a silver medal, but must go to St. Louis to receive it. She might enjoy reading enclosed report done for the Society. Please don't show people in Red Cloud who are spiteful or would gape at Annie Pavelka to see how dissimilar Ántonia is. Why won't people believe fiction is not a direct portrait of real people? "Two Friends" not about Mr. Miner and Mr. Richardson, but the emotional response to them felt by a child. It recreates a memory. Similarly, Ántonia sums up emotions about immigrant people she knew there. Mr. Sadilek's suicide was the first thing she heard about upon arriving in Nebraska. Her fiction has always been a precise representation of her feelings, never faked or exaggerated feeling. P.S.: Enjoyed seeing Irene when she was in New York. Willie [Stout #1214]
Will not be able to go to St. Louis for the dinner. Still loves Huckleberry Finn as much as ever. Medal can safely be sent to her. Willa Cather [Stout #1240]
Too tired of answering questions from men writing books on creative writing to answer his. Silly to try to teach it anyway. People should be taught to write clear, correct English and let creative writing take care of itself. Willa Cather [Stout #1243]
