Hopes to hear she is better. Is going to the Bohemian area to see the wheat harvest next week. Leaving for Pittsburgh in about two weeks. Will work on a story to be called "The White Mulberry Tree" that will alarm Ferris Greenslet. [Enclosure: poem "Prairie Spring"] W. S. C. [Stout #239]
His letter rewards her for the work of writing the book. Glad it makes him remember the prairie. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #269]
Looks forward to their sharing a cause. Can't write a statement to be read at the club federation meeting, because has been sick in bed, but please challenge the prejudice against cottonwood trees. Trees are precious on the prairie. Willa Cather [Stout #551]
Wasn't necessary to send telegram to say she understood about Towne. Prairie is beautiful in winter. Father drives her around to the Scandinavian and Bohemian communities in his car. A pleasure to watch the unfolding of the human stories. Willa [Stout #655]
Does not regard herself as an "effective force in American poetry," as Bartlett said. Of her own poetry, believes "A Likeness," "A Silver Cup," "Going Home," and "Macon Prairie" are the best. The most popular is probably "Spanish Johnny." [Stout #769]
Saw in the newspaper that there had been a speech at a club in Red Cloud about Cornelia Otis Skinner. Sending a sketch of Maud Skinner that was given her by her daughter. A typical story of that period when young people were escaping from prairie towns to bigger cities to experience more of the world. Willie [Stout #1478]
He may use the sonnet , but regards it as so poor that she dropped it from the second edition of the volume [1923]. Very juvenile. [The Commonweal published six Cather poems, "Thou Art the Pearl," "Sonnet," "On Cydnus, "Eurydice," "L'envoi," and "Prairie Dawn" in the February 25, 1931 issue.] Willa Cather [Stout #1810]
The claim in Miss Schossberger's second letter that Cather has published something in the Prairie Schooner is very confusing to her, for it is not true. Perhaps an editor resuscitated something she wrote when editing the Hesperian as a student, since the editors were also the writers, but nothing else has been in there. In fact, she knows very little about the Prairie Schooner altogether. Please show her what she wants to publish before doing so; one does not always appreciate seeing one's college essays in the later years. Willa Cather
Appreciates his vivacious letters and would like to visit him, but must keep writing on a story that is proving difficult [most likely Song of the Lark]. Though taking a break on a piece that is going smoothly is all right, it's not a good idea when the writing is proving tricky, as it is too difficult to get into it again. Hopes to see Roscoe in July, though. He shouldn't slay any beast for her unless he has plenty of refrigeration! Being a writer is an erratic enterprise. Is going to Maine Sunday to visit Olive Fremstad for a week. Hadn't planned this, but had better seize the opportunity when it is there. Fremstad is a synthesis of a major artist and a Swede just off the prairie, a combination that fascinates her. Has believed since she was a child that a great artist would emerge from the immigrant population in this new country, and it is exciting to see her expectation fulfilled. They'll talk about it when she is there. So wishes to see Meta and baby Virginia, but is leaving on "the long trail, the trail that is always new" [quoted from Rudyard Kipling's poem "A Long Trail"]. Human beings are the most fascinating part of creation—even more than the grandest scenery. Willie.
