Will have "The Case of the Reporter" set in type soon and send proofs to Danzig. Glad he likes the article on the German emperor. Can meet him at the office between four and five on Friday [July 1]. Would be good to talk things over before he sails. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #180]
The four articles too much like essays for McClure's. Rejected the idea for a piece on German theater for that very reason. Mr. McClure believes German methods superior to those of the U.S. and wants something informative along that line. Perhaps after he returns, he can provide that kind of thing? Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #192]
Mr. McClure will decide about the articles when he gets back. Expects him in a few days. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #201]
Has been ill, or would have written sooner. Has obtained a passport and will sail on May 19. Hopes Hoover will be nominated while she is away. Willa Cather [Stout #505]
Thanks for looking up quotation. Hopes she will like My Ántonia. P.S.: People at Bread Loaf were very friendly. Willa Cather [Stout #612]
Sylvia Bates wants to use about 10,000 words of My Ántonia for a textbook. Gives permission, but it is up to him regarding Houghton Mifflin policies. Willa Cather [Stout #869]
Wanted to let her know about Professor Bates. Saw him very little after he left the university. He remained boyish and yet matured, a very gentle person and quite individual. Willa [Stout #977]
As she can see by newspaper photos, was the only woman to receive an honorary degree. Is sending hoods. P.S.: Edith says she got double the applause of the men. Sending a check for Mr. Bates's window. W. [Stout #1056]
Was not offended, but expected Louise to follow customary practice and contact her when she was in town, as others did [Cather was in Lincoln, Nebraska, in October 1915]. Sarah Dorris kept her very busy, anyway. Regrets if Louise is angry, but she could have stopped by. Always enjoys seeing her and admires her mind tremendously, and thinks students do not treat her with proper respect. PS: Is sending Mr. Bates a wonderful Christmas gift. W.
Will never allow Death Comes for the Archbishop to be in an anthology, as anthologies are ultimately shallow [Horberger published The Literature of the United States in 1946]. After speaking to many young people, is convinced that the college classroom is no place for modern books. When a man is in school, he ought to study the classics of the English canon. An energetic undergraduate will read current books for fun. When teaching school in Pittsburgh, was forced to use a set list of texts, which included Silas Marner, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Marmion, Quentin Durward, Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, Macbeth, and the poetry of Robert Burns. Some students are still in contact. Would Prof. Hornberger consider Silas Marner—a rewarding if unhurried book, good for modern students—worthy of an anthology? Does not know who selected the list and was given no options, but was expected to read them and test the students on them. This is the limit of what a high school English class can be. If one hundred students read a great writer, about two of them will be affected deeply, and the other ninety-eight will not be injured by it. When reading the classics, there needs to be no distasteful argument of a writer's worth. All anthologies make this kind of argument, except for Field-Marshal Wavell's [ Other Men's Flowers: An Anthology of Poetry ], whose notes are sometimes better than even the selected work. Except for the glut of Browning's work, his selections are perfect. He loves The Hound of Heaven and expresses that. He fears neither Rommel nor erudition. PS: Please send a list of pieces in Volume One to aid in thinking about Volume Two.
