So glad to get his two letters. Wishes he could have stayed longer. Is working on a story about the length of the bridge-builder one. So good to be writing again. Not even thinking about magazine work. Willa Cather [Stout #208]
Both copies of Zoë's poems have arrived. Appreciates the inscription. Sorry to have been cross at times, but was worn out. Will never let herself be so worn down again. Likes "City and Country" best, also "Where Joy Passed By" and "Ask Me No More." Hates the pictures for "Alexander." The book will look better. Hopes she will like "The Bohemian Girl," a much better story though probably few will like it as well. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #218]
Hasn't answered her letter because traveling. Spent two adventurous months with Douglass. Probably won't get to Lincoln. Needs to return to New York as soon as possible after her brother Roscoe comes to visit. Was ill most of the winter but quite well now. She shouldn't bother reading "Alexander," but may like "The Bohemian Girl." Willa Cather [Stout #238]
Spent two weeks in New York getting the winter's work set. Promised the magazine two stories before Christmas. Wants to lengthen the Swedish story and merge it with the other to make a two-part pastoral. British edition of Alexander looks much better than the American. Has been reading Balzac and the disgusting Idiot by Dostoevsky. Thought the first two parts of Creative Evolution [ Bergson ] were splendid. Everyone seems to be celebrating "The Bohemian Girl" except a reader who thought it immoral. W. S. C. [Stout #242]
Appreciates the astute review of Alexander's Bridge on June 21. Reviewer understood what she was doing. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #245]
Appreciates his letter with comments about Alexander's Bridge. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #248]
Has been getting settled in the new apartment, including floors being painted. Thanks for the Christmas present. Has been hearing a lot of music. New book twice as long as Alexander. Has taken her themes from the long grass, as Dvořák did in the New World Symphony (which was not made from Negro songs as people say). Nervous about the new story, though it is just what she has been wanting to write. Probably very few people will like it. Willa Cather [Stout #250]
Thanks for the letter. Has just finished a new novel, having reduced her work for the magazine by half. Is settling into new apartment, which had to have considerable refurbishing but was worth it, spacious and quiet. Has bought four Persian rugs. The same colored maid as for the past four years is still keeping life in order. Agrees that Alexander is morally flimsy, but goodness in characters does not necessarily make strong fiction. Believes she will like the new novel better. Elsie is enjoying her teaching. Finds that one of the rewards of nearing forty years old is feeling more comfortable with older relatives, who always used to seem rather intimidating. Not so much Aunt Franc and Father as others. Willie [Stout #254]
Just reached Red Cloud after a summer in New Mexico and Wyoming. Enjoyed Roscoe and his family, especially the twins. Made a talk about The Bent Twig [Canfield Fisher's novel, 1915] to a bridge club. Interesting that they both used the same kind of treatment for such different material. Sympathizes with the character who fled moral restrictions. The mother reminds her of a stalwart woman who came to visit Fremstad when she was in Maine—such wisdom. They have different groups of readers in Lincoln. Dorothy's think Cather immoral, and her own think Dorothy boring. All of Dorothy's readers want to believe Thea didn't live with Fred out of wedlock. Willa [Stout #366]
"For Fannie Butcher, who wrote the first discriminating review of my first novel. (In this case my interest in the reviewer has outlasted my interest in the novel, for I don't think much of that book now!) With greetings and good wishes, Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #497]
