A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

73 letters found

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To Dorothy CanfieldJuly 6, 1902 from Ludlow, Shropshire, EnglandUVt 

[Begins with lines from A. E. Housman, "The Recruit."] Is looking forward to seeing her in Paris. After Liverpool went to Chester, then to Shrewsbury. [Inserts four lines from Housman's "The Welch Marches."] Saw football being played [two lines from "(Is my team ploughing)"] and went to Shrewsbury jail [four lines from "(On moonlit heath and lonesome bank)"]. Tracing scenes of A Shropshire Lad. Has found out Housman's London address from his publisher. Ludlow Castle delightful, with its associations with both Housman and Sir Philip Sidney. [Inserts three stanzas of her own poem "Poppies on Ludlow Castle."]   Willie   [Stout #73]


To George SeibelJuly 21, 1902 from Cranston's Waverly Temperance Hotel, 27 King Street, Cheapside, LondonWCPM 

Enclosing essay on an intriguing English industry ["The Strangest Tribe of Darkest England," Pittsburgh Gazette, 31 August 1902, magazine section, p. 4], and has included photographs, though they aren't of very good quality due to her poor camera. Having a delightful trip and will write Mrs. Seibel from Paris.    Willa Cather   [Stout #74]


To Mariel GereAug. 28, [1902] from ParisWCPM 

Has been there four weeks; meant to write sooner. She and Isabelle like the Sibuts, at whose pension they are staying. Disagree as to whether they like Mlle Céline [Sibut]. Dorothy spent three weeks with them in London and accompanied them to Paris but now has gone back to Scotland. Went to Barbizon with a school friend of Dorothy's. Will soon leave for a walking tour of Provence and the Mediterranean coast. Enjoyed a walking tour to the Oise Valley.   Willa   [Stout #76]


To Viola Roseboro'June 14,[1903], from 1180 Murray Hill, PittsburghHarvard 

Typed note by Witter Bynner indicates that Roseboro' gave him the letters. Yes, certainly knows A Shropshire Lad. Don't her own poems show it? Traced Housman in Shropshire, where he seems unknown. Visited him in a boardinghouse in a dreary London suburb. He looked gaunt, seemed bitter, but is the only English poet now active whose work will endure. Though an instructor in Latin, he writes strictly from the level of a country boy.   Willa S. Cather   [Stout #88]


To E. J. Overing, Jr.,  [President of the Red Cloud Board of Education] Apr. 30, 1909 [letter read at 1909 commencement exercises and published in the Red Cloud Chief May 27, 1909] ; WCPM , also Bohlke.

Had hoped to be there for commencement, but is leaving for London on business. Has kept up with Red Cloud schools through brothers and sisters. Remembers with love Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Goudy and Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Case. Mrs. Case, then Miss King, was principal when she first entered the school. Remembers her first teacher and some of her fellow pupils. Always tried to please Miss King, who helped and advised her all through high school—even tried to teach her algebra, an impossibility. Hard to believe it has been nineteen years since she graduated. Best wishes to the new graduates. They should try to live up to their teachers' goals for them.    Willa Cather   [Stout #159]


To Mrs. S. S. McClureMay 18, 1909, from Thackeray Hotel, LondonWCPM 

Thanks for her letter. Will start back after George Meredith's funeral.   Willa Cather   [Stout #160]


To Mrs. Ford Madox HuefferMay 20, 1909, from Thackeray Hotel, LondonCornell 

Apologizes for having caused Mrs. Hueffer the irritation of a complaint from Joseph Conrad about Cather's attempt to see him. Believed Mr. Hueffer [pseud. Ford Madox Ford] had assured her of welcome. Had hoped to obtain something for publication in McClure's. Is leaving for Paris Saturday [the 22nd] but hopes to see her when she returns.   Willa Sibert Cather   [Stout #161]


To Annie Adams FieldsJune 27, 1909, from LondonHarvard 

Learned of their terrible loss [of Sarah Orne Jewett] yesterday. Cannot accept that Jewett is not still there. Knows how fearful Jewett had been of losing Fields; had loved her so dearly for so long. Sailing next week. Will let her know as soon as she lands in New York. Shares her grief.   Willa   [Stout #162]


To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc]Jan. 5, 1910, from 82 Washington Place, New YorkUNL-Ray 

Wishing her a belated happy New Year. Has been managing the magazine by herself since returning to New York in the fall. Has been unwell, so has had not only little time but little energy. Isabelle McClung with her from early November through Christmas; helped a great deal with shopping and the training of a new maid, so the apartment is now very pleasant. Always feels homesick at Christmas; seems everyone in New York suffers from homesickness then. Last year went to the children's service at Trinity Church on Christmas Eve and people were crying all around her. Probably wishing to be back at some small town. Is glad Jack and Elsie put out holly and evergreens in the cemetery for her at Christmas. Both such nice children. Elsie will be nicer when she gets older and not so sure of herself. Enjoys thinking of Bessie [Elizabeth Seymour] and Auntie [Sarah Andrews, sister of Mary Virginia Cather] being together and less burdened by care. Used to find it so hard not being able to do anything for them. Mother seems in better spirits lately. Is anticipating a Grand Jury investigation as a result of McClure's articles on Tammany and prostitution. Expects to go to London again in a few months but hopes to get back to Nebraska in the summer. Hopes to have as nice a visit as this past summer, when Mother did not seem to begrudge her visiting in the country. Please let her known if Bess and Auntie need anything. Sends love and best wishes.   Willie   [Stout #168]


To George KennanMar. 3, 1911, on McClure's letterhead ; LC 

Mr. McClure cabled from London asking if Kennan can sail next week and saying he has settled the Russian matter. Not clear what he means. Thinks the magazine will pay his passage.   Willa Sibert Cather   [Stout #189]


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