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To Paul R. Reynolds,
Nov. 9, 1916, from Red Cloud, Nebr.
; Columbia
Pleased with his success with this last story. Please ask Harper's to let her
have the manuscript back to do a little revision.
Willa Cather
[Stout
#371]
To Ferris Greenslet,
Saturday
[Feb. 1917?]
; Harvard
Phone number is 7955 Chelsea. Hopes he will visit while in town. First few chapters of Mr. McClure's book
[about war] are exciting. Her story in Harper's
[prob. "A Gold
Slipper," January 1917] has been praised more than it deserves.
W. S. C.
[Stout
#378]
To Bobbie
[nickname for Elsie Cather],
December 30, [1916]
; UNL-Southwick
It was a good idea to make it to Chicago
and have the party after all. Such excursions can be helpful. Jack did not come for Christmas, and she and Edith had a quiet day, nursing Edith's sick eye. Had dinner with Isabelle and Jan Hambourg Christmas Eve,
and invited Joe Charter
[?], a widower, and Sanborn, the New York Globe
music critic, for dinner on Christmas night. Ended the night early, owing to Edith's eye. Had a wonderful Friday tea yesterday with about 30
people, including Alfred McClung and many friends
from Pittsburgh in town for Christmas.
Afterwards bolted to the Biltmore hotel to have dinner with Bostonian friends. Feels tired
today, but still went to a concert with the Hambourgs. Had lunch on Wednesday with
the pianist Harold Bauer, Mrs. Bauer, and the violinist Kreisler.
Isabelle is wonderful at entertaining
creative and famous people. Received two gorgeous Russian candelabras from Jan and Isabelle for Christmas, which cast a beautiful glow at tea on the new tea table.
Best new things, though, are three terrific paintings of the Mediterranean and Ionian sea by
Edith's friend Earl Brewster. The paintings are
beautiful so large that framing them is going to be expensive. Brewster's paintings are typically selling for $200 to $500, and
these are quite good. He said he they are not a gift but a long term loan. Has published a
rather weak story in Harper's Monthly
[
"A Gold Slipper"
], but got $450 for it, and is glad for the money: expenses are quite a bit
higher than last year. Engough apples for a pie cost 25 cents, beef is 36 cents a pound, and
chicken costs 42 cents a pound—$2.10 for a five pound chicken! Probably won't
starve on Bank street, though.
Willie
To Roscoe and Meta Schaper Cather,
January 22, [1917]
; UNL-Roscoe
Thank you for the cigarettes and handkerchiefs, and thanks to Virginia for the colorful pictures. She put them up by her
desk for many days before sharing them with mother. Has a beautiful miniature orange tree with nine fruits on it; please tell
Virginia. When she is older, will send her some
fragile sea shells Isabelle mailed from
Florida. Did he see her paltry story in Harper's
["A Gold
Slipper,"
Harper's Monthly Magazine, 134 (January 1917):
166-174]? British War Supplies is laying off people, and is afraid Jack will lose his job. But then, after all, life should
not be too easy when one is young. Maybe the fact that he did well enough there will spur him
to strive for more success. Has mailed $100 to mother for her trip to Tucson, and will send another $100 on March 1. Is pleased
Virginia enjoys the beads; it's nerve wracking to
try to select anything for her to wear: remember that hat! She is quite particular about her
fashion choices. Wishes Virginia could come to
visit her, and she must do so when she is older. Please send condolences to Elsie Stewart about her mother. Will soon send Roscoe and Meta a book they ought to read, and hopes they send her some sage this spring.
Willa.
To Ferris Greenslet,
Sept. 6, [1918], from Red Cloud,
Nebr.
; Harvard
Glad to hear advance orders are coming in well. Would he like a volume of stories about
musicians and singers? Could include "The
Diamond Mine" and "The Gold
Slipper," as well as some new ones. Mother's health improving. Will return to New York in October.
W. S. C.
[Stout
#430]