Hurrying to leave for Nebraska but will answer briefly. Georgine Milmine, now Mrs. Benjamin Wells, of Aubrey, N.Y., gathered material on Mrs. Eddy. McClure bought the material, subsequently lost (along with a first edition of Science and Health) when the magazine was sold. Milmine couldn't do the writing, and after sampling short segments of it done by several other people he chose her [Cather]. This was shortly after she came to New York. Carefully checked the material and believes it is all accurate except the first chapter, written by Burton Hendrick, now with Doubleday. His resentment at being removed from the project may be part of the reason Doubleday does not bring it back into print. Please keep confidential. Willa Cather [Stout #649]
Yes, write to Mrs. Wells [Georgine Milmine] but do not mention Cather's name. Might also write to S. S. McClure for an account of how the material was collected. [Stout #658]
Appreciates her kindness to mother and to Margie. Loved Margie with the special love one reserves for children or those whose minds never grow up. Enjoyed cooking for her and caring for her a little when she went home. They understood each other. Is fairly well; writing on The Professor's House, which should be out next fall. Funny to think of Jessie going around with the movie people on A Lost Lady! Willie [Stout #754]
What has she done to upset her so? Hasn't sent anything to Bess [prob. Elizabeth Seymour] or Auntie [Sarah Andrews] since she returned to New York. Hasn't written because she knew Douglass was there. Certainly did not mean to cause discord between her and father about the newspaper story about Margie [Argus, October 30, 1924; apparently following a story in one of the city newspapers in Nebraska]. It caused gossip, but isn't angry about it. Hasn't felt really angry toward her since they quarreled about Mrs. Garber. They've been growing closer and mustn't ruin that now. Hopes she and father will let her buy the house so they can pay Elsie to come live with them and look after them. Willa [Stout #771]
Cather has gone to the country to get away from distractions and work on her new novel. Would surely answer her questions if she were there. Ellen Burns, Sec'y [Stout #775]
Has found someone to do the translations from Swedish she spoke to him about. Did not mind the philatelist in the private working room; has probably finished the research she needed to do. Willa Cather [Stout #823]
Cather has gone to California and will not return for some time. Piercy may quote from "The Novel Démeublé" and (if Knopf gives permission) from The Professor's House but not from her letter. Should remind her, quoting from a letter without permission is illegal. Ellen Burns, Sec'y. [Stout #964]
Accepts invitation to Friends of the Princeton Library dinner on May 4.[Others who accepted were Wilbur Cross, Robert Frost, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Gershwin, Ellen Glasgow, and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver LaFarge.] Willa Cather [Stout #1156]
Thanks for plants she sent for Christmas and for copy of "Little Willie," which is very funny. How did she know about the family nickname? Does not care to see [Maxwell] Anderson's rendition of Mary Stuart [Mary of Scotland, 1933]. Is trying hard to complete work on Lucy Gayheart, but people won't leave her alone. Hates meeting with financial advisors who tell her she is losing money. W. [Stout #1209]
Is honored to have been asked to serve on the nomination committee for the Howells Medal and would enjoy working with the other members of the committee [Ellen Glasgow, Stewart E. White, and Thornton Wilder] but feels too little acquainted with recent fiction to be able to contribute to the task. Has mostly been reading about 13th century France for several years. Willa Cather [Stout #1481]
