Has been home about two weeks, feeling tired out. Mother better than in years. Hopes he will read her story in the June New England Magazine. Another to be in August or September Scribner's [?]. Hoping for cooler weather. Willa [Stout #70]
Examinations to begin soon. Will sail the 14th from Philadelphia, be in England until mid-to late July, depending on when she can meet them in Paris. Why has Dorothy been reading old Hesperians? Is not proud of her writing in them. Was not happy during that time. Hopes she likes new verses ["Lament for Marsyas" and "Hawthorn Tree"]. P.S.: Plan to go to Shropshire. Willa [Stout #72]
[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]
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]
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]
Enjoyed their day at Oxford. Jealousy on the part of the two people in Paris must have been what caused the grief. She seemed strange there as well. Willie [Stout #77]
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]
Is pleased that she and Mrs. Fields liked the first part of Mrs. Ward's story; will send the outline of the rest. Mrs. Fields the only person left who evokes the dignity of the New England past. Has been enjoying Fields's poems. She and Edith Lewis liking their apartment. Get their own dinner three evenings a week and go to the Brevoort [Hotel] the other nights. Fears Jewett won't like her story in the December issue. Willa [Stout #140]
Is sending a present for Peter Rabbit. Don't open until Christmas! Will send books for Mary Virginia as soon as she and Miss Lewis (with whom she is partners in housekeeping) have read them. Found these nice children's books from England in a local book shop. Willie [Stout #144]
Have not seen any of his work for some time. Please ask Mr. Pinker [his agent?] to send some. Can promise a quick reading. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #153]
