Has just that day been hired by the Pittsburgh Leader at $75 a month. To report next week. Has been writing stories, but must take this opportunity. Socializes too much in Pittsburgh, but can't resist [Emma] Calvé and [Sarah] Bernhardt. [Stout #42]
Not fair to accuse her of keeping her address a secret. Had not expected to be daytime telegraph editor when she accepted the Leader job, but when it became available applied and got it, despite youth and sex. Work is like running a race, but hours are short. Hard to write distinctive headlines for a dozen suicides at a time. Has received A Portrait of a Lady [ James ]. Mr. Farrar has come to call, so must break off. Willa Cather [Stout #46]
Has read her letter many times. These past few years has felt confused, tired, drained of energy by the job and has felt cut off from her self. Mr. McClure wants her to become another Ida Tarbell; he doesn't believe she will ever be much of a writer of fiction. Feels as much a beginner in her writing as she ever did, as if she hadn't learned at all. Doesn't even have the feeling of learning about other things, as when she was a teacher. Hectic pace is giving her a bad temperament. Glad to have her salary; needs to help out the family now and then; but could quit now and have enough in the bank to live on for three or four years. Has reread "Martha's Lady," such a beautiful story. Will hope to get up to Boston after Christmas. Willa [Stout #145]
Is going to Philadelphia tomorrow. Will come to the Book and Play Club luncheon if she is back. Willa Cather [Stout #334]
Appreciates her interest in The Song of the Lark. Will plan on speaking at the luncheon on Wednesday. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #341]
Thanks for her sympathetic reading of the novel and especially of Claude himself. Book is shaped by his sense of things. New book now starting on is more outward. Has cut out big chunks of it [ One of Ours ] and probably should cut out the chapter with the shell exploding under him. Willa [Stout #596]
People seem to have strong feelings about One of Ours, pro or con. Has been thinking he might like a memoir about Mrs. James T. Fields [for Yale Review], but through a misunderstanding Henry Seidel Canby is expecting such a piece from her [for Literary Review, New York Evening Post]. No longer interested in doing the article she discussed with Miss McAfee a year ago. Wants to keep working on a new novelette [ A Lost Lady ]. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #626]
Does not want to do business with Charley Towne. The Knopfs will try to serialize her story [A Lost Lady?]. Appreciates Zoë's helpfulness, but Towne has no credibility. Must go—taxi at the door. Willa [Stout #652]
Everyone is admiring the beautiful tortoise-shell fan. Is pleased with the Century offer [to serialize A Lost Lady in April, May, and June]. Miss Lewis will have the manuscript ready for them to pick up so they can get it to the printer in time for her to read the book proofs before leaving for Europe on April 1. Willa Cather [Stout #660]
Can't go out until she gets over her cold, so won't dine with them tomorrow. Please send manuscript of A Lost Lady back for a few corrections. W. S. C. [Stout #664]
