Some of these features are only visible when "plain text" is off.
Textual Feature | Appearance |
---|---|
passage deleted with a strikethrough mark | |
passage deleted by overwritten added letters | |
passage added above the line | passage with added text above |
passage added on the line | passage with added text inline |
passage added in the margin | passage with text added in margin |
handwritten addition to a typewritten letter | typed passage with added handwritten text |
missing or unreadable text | missing text noted with "[illegible]" |
uncertain transcriptions | word[?] |
notes written by someone other than Willa Cather | Note in another's hand |
printed letterhead text | printed text |
text printed on postcards, envelopes, etc. | printed text |
text of date and place stamps | stamped text |
passage written by Cather on separate enclosure. | written text |
I have just dropped down in Red Cloud after three glorious months in
New Mexico4 and Wyoming5. My brother Roscoe6 lives up in7 the Wind River mountains in Wyoming, and he has an
interesting German wife8 and a little
girl9 of five and cunning girl
twins10 with whom I had
the most fun. Here is a picture11
of them playing with me in their lovely back yard which has a mountain river
rushing through it. We rode home— back from over
the wildest mountain trails, and I was "requested to speak" on "The Bent Twig"12 to a bridge club! If I could
remember my remarks, I'd write them to you. I think it's funny that we both
hit on rather the same method of treatment for such very different
characters. And I think in both books13 the
early part, and the American small town, came out the best, though you do it rather from the standpoint of the
law-maker and I from that of the law-breaker, or at least of the rebel who
bootlessly kicks against the pricks. I feel rather like poor Molly, who
bolted out of the moral law in her car. That's the best use for a car I've ever discovered. If the Army of Unalterable Law14 closed
in on me too hard, I'd escape like Molly, so I would. I do like the naughty
ones, Molly and Aunt Victoria, better than the 90 and 9 obedient—except the
mother; on the whole I think she is the dominating figure of the book. I
don't feel that she particularly enjoyed her own scheme of life, Dorothy,
only that her intelligence was too good to allow her to deceive herself.
Here's a recast: There was just
such a Maine woman who used to come to spend
the afternoon with Fremstad15 once when
I was visiting O.F. in Maine16. What a beautiful, noble, sad—and
humorous—face she had. She knew all about O. F. (how she was made) God knows
how, but she did. Two of her sons had just had
their eyes blown out dynamiting orchards, and her dignity and graciousness
under such a misfortune was beyond anything. It was so interesting to see
the two women together—so much wisdom in one and so much force in the other.
I used to go about thanking God that Fremstad didn't know as much as the
farm woman, for if she had she would not have been any good,—See? If she had
seen what the other NUMBER FIVE BANK STREET woman saw she positively
couldn't have lifted a leg to sing a part, ever. Great wisdom is like
Nirvana—it takes the "pep" out of people. You know I always liked the Romans Romans because they were so non-wise
and so full of "pep". It's blooming, full-blooded ignorance that makes the
bright show, after all. And, my dear, whether it's a wheat-thrashing or an
opera, it's the Bright Show that I love. I can't help it. It's like hearing
the band play when you are little; my feet begin to move, and
nothing
else
makes
them
move, alas!
Do you know that in Lincoln17 my readers and your readers—please don't be insulted if I tell you that yours outnumber mine 20 to 1—always fight whenever our names come up? Yours say insulting things about me, and mine say drastic things about you. Yours say they can't read me because it's all rot and most immoral, and mine (only about six) say they can't read you because you are dull. You have the Geres18, and the Westermanns19, alas for me, and the universityuniversity people, and Will Owen Jones20—you're welcome to him, Madame—and I have five German brewers and Sarah Harris21, who still cries out to a deaf world that Bessie Tuttle22 and I are Geniuses. But they never do discuss us like ladies; their eyes begin to snap and they begin to buzz like hornets. Mariel23 is especially bitter agin poor me; she says that just because my bad morals are not very vulgar they are the more insidious and that there is a flavor about me she simply can't stand. I like the Geres and dearly love the Westermanns, and I was a good deal hurt at first, but there's nothing to do but get what fun I can out of their loyalty to you. Old father Westermann you never got away from me, for he was really a brewer at heart, and old Dr. Tyndale24's life is one long warfare agin your admirers. I wish you could go to Lincoln. My Public tactfully tell me all that your Public say about me, and cry imploringly "She didn't live25 with him in Mexico26 anyhow, did she?"
Father27 and Mother28 are both well, all the nieces and nephews handsome and happy, and grown brothers and sisters coming and going, checking baggage in and checking out like a hotel. It's very jolly to be here29.
Lovingly Willa If not delivered return to W.S Cather Red Cloud2 Nebraska Mrs John Fisher1