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#2218: Willa Cather to Roscoe Cather, June 13, 1944

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My dear Brother1:

Isn't this a nice letter from our nephew? I think there were personal reasons that Charles Edwin3 knew nothing about. If you will turn to page 184 of the Archibishop 4(Trade Edition), you will find the story of the Senator's great-grandfather5 which, God knows, was written for nothing but my own pleasure – I did not know there was a Chavez left alive. I came on the material almost by miracle. The present Senator6 never wrote me. He must have sense enough to know that an account like that was written for delight. But his trembly old father7 wrote me soon after the book was published – wrote with a lead pencil and told me the story was accurate in every detail and he did not see where I got it, as his grandfather was a silent man and never talked outside the family. The Senator evidently knew that, that story was never written to flatter the Chavez family, and he did not write me – but years afterward, when he had a chance, he did this pleasant thing8. I am sure the boy's personality got him his appointment, but the Senator's family pride may have helped a little.

Of course, Jim9 had written me a silly letter: "Surely when the boy's whole future depended, etc.- - - -I would pull some string- - - Why couldn't I get KNOPF10 to use his influence- - -If I would give an interview to the Times11 or Herald-Tribune12, etc." Fortunately, the boy got his appointment before I had time to answer Jim's letter. I never pulled a string for myself in all my life, and I will never pull a string for those I love – the nearest I ever came to it, absolutely, was when I asked13 Yehudi14 to receive the twins15.

Lovingly WILLA CATHER
By Sarah J. Bloom16

P.S. Miss Cather asks that you return Charles Edwin's letter to me. I will keep it for her until she returns to New York2 in the autumn. My address is: No. 7 Dey Street (Room 1202) New York 7, N.Y.

S.J.B.