Has received Erna's picture. Is impressed that Mr. Seibel has acquired a complete set of Hugo, but they will envy her "Thistle" Stevenson. Has not yet retrieved manuscripts from Axtell and Orr. Beware of Christians! But is attending church with her family. Leaving on hunting trip today. Has a cold. Willa Cather [Stout #41]
Mr. McClure hopes he will do some articles on Germany while there. Especially interested in something on German railroads. Hopes to see him in Boston in two weeks. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #170]
Mr. McClure will be in the office March 25 to April 5. Please stop by if in town. Will be in Boston April 6–14 and could see him then. Glad for him to write whatever he wishes about Germany. Perhaps the schools? Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #172]
Can offer a four article series, one dealing with German education, one on municipal government, and two others on whatever he thinks important about German civilization. Series title might be "When I Came Home." Will run in four consecutive numbers. All right to do something on German theater for a literary magazine such as Atlantic. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #174]
Agrees to $2000 for series of four or five articles, no less than twenty thousand words total. Would appreciate his providing appropriate illustrations. Please send photograph of himself other than the one they have already used, plus biographical sketch. Want to give the series good advance promotion. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #175]
Sorry he found title frivolous, but would like to strike a personal note if possible. Doesn't believe the American Institute in Berlin would have wide enough interest. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #176]
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]
Sending her publisher's pamphlet with biographical information and a list of books with information about her and her work. Has marked the two best. Hard to answer his question about French influence. From adolescence and for many years thereafter read and liked French prose writers from Hugo to Maupassant. Read all of Balzac more than once before the age of twenty, though not much now. Doesn't believe she ever imitated any French writer, but did admire them more than their English contemporaries because of freer experimentation and greater thematic range. Tone of British writers of that period, before Hardy, sometimes mechanical or patronizing, though it doesn't really bother her. Believes French language itself more exciting to her than English when she was younger. Now prefers Prosper Merimée to the others. Likes his reserve, as well as other qualities. P.S.: Suggests he read "The Novel Démeublé." Willa Cather [Stout #988]
