Appreciates her help getting through scrapes during years at the university. Now another one. Keeps making a fool of herself! Keeps trying on personas (the scholarly, the bohemian)! Would consider suicide but knows her stupidities spring from liking someone too well. People always watching her, waiting for her to do something unusual. Feels superficial and useless where she is. Little brother Jack is the one consolation. Has been to a dance with Douglass and actually enjoyed it. Miner girls there. Met a Miss [Anna] Gayhardt and talked all night. Can't talk like this to Katharine [Weston], of course. Hopes to get up to Lincoln soon. Professor Bates very happy in his new job. Willa [Stout #24]
Why don't the girls write? Is lonely, not during work days but at night. Has her own stenographer and entire responsibility for the first issue, even overseeing layout. Is arranging for material for September issue [of Home Monthly]. Wants to do article on Mrs. William Jennings Bryan and Mrs. William McKinley. Please help get personal details about Mrs. Bryan. Magazine not much as literature, but hopes to make a success of it. Is behaving. Willa [Stout #26]
Has been to Homestead, Pennsylvania, to see Mary Esther Robbins, now engaged to a German professor of science. Was in New York in February; had lunch with Madame [Helena] Modjeska. Willa [Stout #48]
How lucky Mariel is! [See #0053.] Is traveling home the long way, by the Great Lakes, but will be in Lincoln the next Sunday. Is worried about her mother, who has been ill. Willa [Stout #57]
Is studying Greek and being treated like a goddess. Hasn't seen the Nevins, but they have phoned and he has sent a copy of Shakespeare's sonnets. In Chicago had dinner with Mr. Dooley. He and the Peatties encouraged her to come there to work. Mrs. Peattie's new story in Atlantic ["The Man at the Edge of Things," reviewed by Cather Nov. 4] establishes her as a writer. Was met at the train station by Isabelle, looking beautiful. They have been walking in the hills and going to concerts. Has read all of Dorothy's letters from Paris. Had a nice visit with May Willard last night. P.S.: Will tell her about Alfred next time. Willa [Stout #58]
Could not visit last night because had to serve as a last-minute substitute reviewer of an orchestra concert. May go to Paris next month. Has a poem in the March Critic. ["Grandmither, Think Not I Forget" was in the April 1900 Critic.] Willa Cather [Stout #61]
Has accepted a temporary position with the Library. Parents may move to Lincoln. Will be there to help around the first of November and will stay through the winter. Would be interested in some work on the Journal. Has to work, or will begin to resemble Herbert Bates. Has some new prose and poetry being published in the fall. Willa Cather [Stout #62]
Has finished first month of teaching, but may quit and go home to Red Cloud. So much effort, if one is serious about it, for so little pay. The "letters" have been rejected [projected book of open letters to actors]. Just as well; they were overwritten and not of lasting interest. Maybe some can be placed in the Critic, with Dorothy's help. "Jack-a-Boy" in the Saturday Evening Post with good illustrations. Has been reading Lemaître. McClungs have moved into new house. Would like to discuss the Pittsburgh novel. [Two poems are enclosed: "Caliban" and "The Inexorable."] Willie [Stout #68]
Children not so changed as she expected; mother better than reports had indicated. Very hot; doubts she can work. Mrs. Garber doesn't go out any more. Hopes Mariel is better. Willa [Stout #69]
Has been home about two weeks, feeling tired out. Mother better than in years. Hopes he will read her story in the June New England Magazine. Another to be in August or September Scribner's [?]. Hoping for cooler weather. Willa [Stout #70]
