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#0429: Willa Cather to Ferris Greenslet, [August 6 to September 4, 1918]

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F.G. I. McC. H. Dear Mr. Greenslet1:

I go West via New York3 and came here to last Friday to spend a week with the Hambourgs4, who are here for the summer. Ysaye5 and Maurice Dambois6 are staying with them and Thibaud7 has a house across the street. We have Beethoven8 quartettes and Motzart9 every night. Last night the Tenth Beethoven10 and Schubert's11 Death and the Maiden12. The gods on Olympus' hill do not have such music. One might travel the world around and not hear its equal. My right to be in this Heavenly choir is mainly that I loaned the bunch my cook, Josephine13, for the summer. They are so fond of her good french food, and so afraid I'll take her away that they will even play 'request' programs for me. It is a glorious party, but the silence of the cornfields will be almost welcome after so much of it. As Josephine says; "Les Sonat', les quattuores a deux heures le matin—c'n'est pas raisonable, vous-savez, mademoiselle!"14

So this is why I won't have the pleasure of lunching with you in Boston15.

After Sunday my address will be Red Cloud, Nebraska16.

Faithfully, W. S. C.