Will go to New York about mid-January by way of Washington. Working well here. Won't get to Boston before late winter. The new book great fun but awfully long! Please return The Idiot [ Dostoevsky ], if it was she to whom she lent it. Is reading The Awkward Age [ James ] with Isabelle. W. S. C. [Stout #290]
Glad she likes the little book, and will hope to meet her when she is in Boston. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #301]
Thanks for the gift book about Boston. Is going to New York next week for the rest of the winter. When will British edition be out? W. S. C. [Stout #346]
Has been in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. Has he seen Alice Meynell's review in the Manchester Guardian? Will have another book ready by the end of the year, probable title "The Blue Mesa." The book on the Southwest to come after that. Is shutting last year behind her. Glad to receive his check. W. S. C. [Stout #365]
Enjoyed her letter; opened it when she and Isabelle were having tea and has tacked it up in her studio up under the eaves. Is working on a translation of Ántonia into French that will be published in La Nouvelle revue française. Feels proud of that. P.S.: Has met a woman from Boston whose cousin is married to Ms. Hills's cousin—a very nice person. Willa S. C. [Stout #543]
Returned from Boston last night [?] for the opening of a friend's play at the Empire [Zoë Akins's The Texas Nightingale]. Leaves Friday [?] for Nebraska to stay through Christmas. Sorry to miss her, but must get ready for the trip. Would like a chance to talk with her about Mr. Seibel's review of One of Ours. P.S.: Do go see The World We Live In. Willa Cather [Stout #646]
Has received check for $1000 to pay Bakst. Work has been slow. Her health has not been good, and she is very tired; going to Aix-les-Bains to rest. Not sure her parents will want to go to Omaha to unveil the portrait. Would prefer this to be quiet. May Bakst exhibit the portrait in Philadelphia and Boston before sending it to Omaha? Will probably sail for the U.S. in late October and is not eager to get to Omaha, where the aggressive Mrs. Shotwell lurks. The questions she wrote to Bakst are entirely too personal and intrusive! Willa Cather [Stout #693]
Appreciated his sending her the Proust Within a Budding Grove. Glad he has had a good trip to Rome. Received an honorary doctorate from University of Michigan in June, then went to Red Cloud. Here on the island since early August, writing. Impossible to tell when a good work period will come. Leaving in three days for Boston and back to New York. Willa Cather [Stout #745]
Was in Boston while he was in Virginia. Enjoyed The Little French Girl, though it is overly long. Glad he got money back from the candy shop. Will go on to New York next week. Hoping to finish the new novel this winter. Ready to receive her September royalty check. Telephone number on Bank Street is Watkins 7736, but not to be given out. Willa Cather [Stout #748]
When is she sending the nice bookends? Will spend Thanksgiving in Boston with Mary Virginia. Willa [Stout #753]
