Is pleased to see his success. Looking forward to his article on Gilbert White. Always expected him to write well, if he could get beyond youthful egoism. Since they have no book publishing now, can't consider his book of nature essays. Suggests Doubleday Page, which bought them out, or Houghton Mifflin. Ferris Greenslet there an old friend. For the magazine, more interested in content and a style more scientific than literary, designed to convey information. P.S.: Has been running the magazine alone past six months, as Mr. McClure has been ill. Will be going abroad this winter. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #182]
Is pleased to have the Adams book [prob. Henry Adams, Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, 1904; reissued by Houghton Mifflin in 1913]. Tell Nancy Moore her serial will get a quick reading by Mackenzie [at McClure's]. Willa Cather [Stout #273]
Is sending most of the novel. About 20,000 words yet to write. Believes it is very good. Feels envious of Doubleday's sales methods. Houghton Mifflin ought to push this book more than they did O Pioneers! Parts of the story are drawn from her early years, including the death of the railroad man, which happened when she was about thirteen. Story is full of the West. Has hit it with this one! Willa Cather [Stout #295]
Very pleased that she likes the story. Doesn't want a picture of herself published unless she gets a good one this summer at the cliff dwellings. Will get one taken by a photographer if she must, but it will only be disillusioning to the public. Willa S. Cather [Stout #307]
Glad to have eliminated the governorship for Dr. Archie. Has made a suggestion about the jacket to Miss Van Tuyll. Also, has returned thirty-three pages of proof. It's pretty rough. Willa S. Cather [Stout #308]
Do not send any more mail to 1180 Murray Hill Avenue, Pittsburgh. Delete that address from their records. Willa S. Cather [Stout #354]
Will be back to Bank Street Oct. 10. Making good progress on the novel. Houghton Mifflin urging her to hurry. Sending a rough first draft of a story called "Explosives." Willa S. Cather [Stout #393]
Glad to accept contract for Continental rights of the next book. Will certainly accept reduced royalties on O Pioneers! in a soldiers' edition. Century will start "Office Wives" series in January and wants the book rights. Trusts Houghton Mifflin will not mind. Wants to discuss the physical design of the novel when he comes to town. Will invite Benda to dinner and ask him about doing head and tail pieces. Otherwise, would prefer no illustrations. Has tried drawing her own. Willa Cather [Stout #394]
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]
The sample of heavy lettering is what she had in mind, but the accent over the initial "A" needs to be more distinct. Willa Cather [Stout #401]
