Thanks for the box of candy. Someone from Hull House was at the office and said Miss Wyatt is obsessed with white slavery these days. Too bad she can't see anything amusing in humanity. Miss McClung to be in town soon and Miss Goldmark not long after. Wishes Sergeant could be there to meet Isabelle, who also dislikes people obsessed with social reform. Willa Cather [Stout #195]
Sorry she has had bad news. Mr. McClure turned up unexpectedly last week. Leaving for Pittsburgh tomorrow. Elsie Sergeant saved her sanity while she [Cather] was in Boston. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #215]
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]
Is in the Italian Alps, on the Austrian border. Sends love to her, Lydia, and Pauline. Willa Cather [Stout #1016]
Sorry to hear he began a German translation of Death Comes for the Archbishop without her agreement or a publisher. Arranging for translations is very complicated and time-consuming. Mr. Knopf handles it all for her. Interesting that he knows Mrs. Brandeis. Once knew Judge Brandeis fairly well, and his sisters Pauline and Josephine Goldmark are dear friends. Can't help find a publisher for his translation. Willa Cather [Stout #1150]
Doesn't have anything to offer. Has done little except get settled in new apartment. Will hope to get back to a long story she was working on [prob. Lucy Gayheart], and if so will ask Mr. Knopf to send it to her. Willa Cather [Stout #1167]
Could she and Josephine [Goldmark] come to tea on Saturday the 22nd at five? Willa Cather [Stout #1172]
Bookends arrived after she left, but secretary is keeping them safe in New York. Has enjoyed the knit jackets. Working on a new book about a giddy young girl, but not enjoying the work as much as she has some books. Island very pretty now with wild flowers. Hated seeing the Italian air fleet pass over earlier. Willa [Stout #1189]
Treasures her letter. No, won't get to Red Cloud this year. Is working happily on a new book. This is where she finished Ántonia, began Archbishop, and wrote most of Shadows. Always has the same rooms high up under the roof. Is enjoying long walks in the woods. Willie [Stout #1198]
Regrets her tardiness in thanking them for the books they sent, but between working and good weather for walks has not been taking time to write letters. Today, completed the first draft of Lucy Gayheart. There is much more to be done to pull it up, but if they will protect her privacy over the winter she can get it done, if not in the new apartment, where she has not yet become accustomed to working, then back here at the Shattuck Inn. Ankle holding up well. Mount Monadnock beautiful, with a dusting of snow and roiling clouds above it. Sorry for the ornate writing. Willa Cather [Stout #1199]
