BLACKWELL FAMILY GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Palacios, Juana ALICE STONE BLACKWELLMuy querida Srita Blackwell, Aqui está la traducción de su poema. Excuse the Spanish. This is the translation of your beautiful poem. It is very well translated and has been very much liked. Miss Huerta is going to translate some other of your poems. I will be sending them soon. Very affectionately yours, Juana Palacios.El humo del combate oculta las estrellas, empero, desde lo alto, aun esplenden eiias Ahogan los canones la voz de la campana, empero, su repique mensaje fiel desgrana. De Navidad las luces derreman su destello inextinguible y puro, resplandeciente y bello y dice la campana: "Estamos a la puerta de un Ano Nuevo, jalerta! Refuerza el Corazon, levanta y haz tu parte para que haya sobre la tierra,paz!" Alice Stone Blackwell Trad. Delfina Huerta Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo Mexico City, Jalapa 226 December 16th, 1937 Dear Miss Blackwell, I was very glad to hear from you and to receive your always welcome greetings; but sorry to learn about your eyes. It is a good thing to know you will recover the power to read. All your many friends and admirers will hope and pray this recovery be speedy. The folders advertising "Some Spanish American Poet' have not arrived yet; I will sent them to several Literary Circles and to the South American Legations as soon as they come. As you say this second cheap edition should have a wide circulation in Mexico. My niece has finished her secondary school; will enter college this coming year in February. She is very active in her Girl Guide duties. My sister and myself keep in good health. We go frequently to Jaxco to enjoy its quietude somewhat diminished since it has become a rendezvous of tourists and painters, specially. But its picturesqueness and balmy temperature all the year, remain the same. Mexico City knows now of really cold days not many in the year, but it seems the climateric changes that have affect so many regions have also reached our latitude. Of course nothing is compare to the raw temperatures we had when we were last in Boston and New York. I still remember how the cold wave in this last city drove us from its preventing us from seeing the fine social work directed by your cousin and deferring us from the pleasure of meeting her. As you see we still have pleasant recollections of our last trip to your country. Both my sister and niece send regards, kind regards to you. Please share them with Mrs. Boyer. Very affectionately yours Juana Palacios Boston 222 Mass Ave. March 1, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, Your rendering of Mr. Mariscal's sonnet is very satisfactory indeed. I am pleased to know that you like the idea. Mr. Mariscal is our Member of Foreing Affairs and has been a leading man of the liberal party since Juarez days. I have received the two copies of 'Winter' for which I thank you. I forgot to send back Mrs. Blackwell's translation in my last letter. I enclose it to day. Sincerely yours Juana PalaciosBoston, 222 Mass. Ave. March 1. 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I have read the two sonnets. 'Sights of the Prison' is very good indeed. As to the other one, it seems to me there are some lines which do not convey the idea of the original. May be I read hastily Mrs. Blackwell's translation. In the first stanza, the two second lines, the original reads: "And do not wonder at the funeral pomp of the rich tomb in which he slumbers." (The monument is a magnificent Carrara Marble structure Juang is seen dead on a marble couch; by the pillows, Patria, supporting his head, mourns.) The second stanza says: A statelier sepulche to mourn his doom 'tis builded of imperishable fame In the heart of any man who loves him and in the hearts of a grateful nation. I do not fully understand your rendering of these two last lines. I give them for you to decide whether the English agrees with them ornot. In the last verse you have "yea, empty out your life?" The original says: your worthless, (or useless) life also? Or wouldn't you be willing to give also the (your) useless (empty) life? This may be the meaning of "empty out your life," I do not know about that. It is not clear to me and that was why I called your attention to it. Sincerely yours Juana Palasios Boston, 222 Mass Ave. May 28, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I received the printed copies of "The Moonbeam". Thank you. I have sent one copy to my brother. My friend Miss Carnation has been quite a sick girl, but she is improving steadily, thank God. The report yesterday said that they hope she would be up next week. We have canceled our reservations in the steamer for June 3, and have made new ones for July 3. I have decided to stay in Boston for commencement and think I will leave next Friday. I will certainly enjoy working with you to translate 'Early Moss' or some other poem. I am not free this afternoon or I would go to Beacon St. as you propose. Do you think you could come Monday afternoon and have supper with me? I will not keep you until ten 'clock. I promise that. You could come as early as you wish in the afternoon and in that way we would have plenty of time before supper to work with two or three poems. My brother hopes I will be able to send him soon a translation of one of her [?]'spoems. I have told him we worked with one of his poems the last time I saw you, but that you are a very busy woman and he will have to wait until you find the time to do the rendering. I can understand his motive and hurry to get the translation. The minister could not but feel pleased to read your rendering of his verses. I should have heard about the translations I sent, but my letters are being delayed, they are going to Pittsburgh and one will go to the steamer 'Slavonia' as soon as I knew we would not be able to sail I wrote home, but I am afraid they will have not sent a letter to Spain before they receive the news about the change of plans. Hoping you are well, Sincerely yours, Juana Palacios Eventide Luis G. Urfina Red Sunset. Embroidering the dome of the glowing twilight, the dark branches of a tree set off Like unto the shadow of a keen, open hand. A bird crosses the blaze; it looks like a fugitive dark of sepia; Already on high, the fulguration vanishes into a sombre blue, when imprisoned, Set on shadows, A pale, pensive star twinkles. Thru the gray, dense foliage of the forest, silent darkness Weares the subtle, black lace; Yet, there remain fastened to the branches, Amid the dead gold of the landscape, Flashes of tired, lazy light. I am alone and meditating; And while I dream, and while above my head The sky (the infinite, in spanish) begins to glitter, I open my heart to sadness; A holy sadness which comes to me from thee, oh Mother Nature, From thee that makes me and artist and a dreamer Allowing my spirit to be filled Boston, 30 Rickerstaff St. Jan. 23, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I have received one book of poems ; my sister said in her last letter she had ordered the others to come direct from the publishers. I enclose the translation of one of Mr. Urbina's poems. Here is the first stanza of 'Invierno':-- The mountains sink in the mists ; Of the sonorous reeds Only dried stubbles remain standing ; The fields, once covered with green, Now desolate, dead, Are the waste of yesterday's life. or Show the waste of former life. I read with interest the clippings you sent me. Unfortunately the majority of people will couple all that information with their ideas of Mexicans and apply them to the whole country. The president of the Spanish Club asked me to give them a talk on Mexico. Although I am pretty busy all the time, I accepted thinking it was a good chance to say something about my country. Well, I prepared what I consider a fairly good talk and found to my disappointment that the majority of the American members of the Club are unable to understand Spanish readily They know the common, conventional phrases, but the historical vocabulary is very different from that of every day talk. If I am asked again I will take pains to know positively that I will be understood before I undertake the work Sincerely yours Juana Palacios Pittsburgh Shady & Walnut June 20, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I am afraid I have been very slow in replying to your letters. Now that I am away from Castile and its pleasures I can devote myself to write and pay my debts. I think I did not say a word about your rendering of "Ill [Omened?] Gifts." Somehow I put the translation away and did not see it until I was sorting my papers previous to my departure from Castile. It is a beautiful thing. I return it to day. Miss Carnahan and I read together, yesterday, 'Columbus'. We both are enthused over it. I feel sure the Minister will be very well pleased to read himself in English and find that his thoughts have lost none of their beauty. As to the lines about rituals you ask, in the last line of Page 2 I like better "Your lives become a lamp." I think it is all right to use 'proud [Marrius?] since you wish to avoid repetition. In Spanish the idea is that of daring; does not proud convey the same idea sometimes? On page 4, line 9, I like better the first rendering: "When on the blue sky Daion with golden hand signalled the lions that was to mark thy death."Daion is personified in the original, but either translation is all right. You decide which you like better. I will enjoy reading Mrs. Dargan's play. You say you had it sent to Philadelphia. I hope this was a slip of your pen and that you meant Pittsburgh. Let me thank you for your kindness in sending this play to me. The printed copy of the "Song of the Shore" has been received also. My friend read it and said, "How beautiful it is!" You see I must learn to like this kind of poetry. My friend Miss May Carnahan, will not be able to sail with me on the 3rd of July; her sister is going with me. Miss May and I had anticipated so much pleasure together that it is hard to think that she must stay. Miss Carrie is just as nice as her sister and I know I will have a delightful companion, only I feel so sorry for Miss May. Did you read of the wreck of the 'Slavonia'? That was the steamer we would have sailed on had it not been for Miss May's illness. We feel so very thankful that we were spared the shock of such a terrible thing, tho sometimes I think it is almost selfish to feel so thankful. My friend is [-ing?] very nicely but her Doctor forbids her to go abroad this summer. I hope you will have a very pleasant trip to Seattle and that you will enjoy the convention and all the many other things that are going on there. Please try to get a little time for rest. I have just received the Bulletin about the supposed liberal leader who consider themselves political refugees. Reading it I have learned that these men attacked one town and killed several people. They may call themselves patriots and liberal leaders, but the fact that they did not find any response in Mexico and the other fact that our government is not a tyrannical goverment but a very beneficent one prove that these men are misleading the people here or that they are in league with persons interested in spreading wrong notions about Mexico. To compare our government with Russian government is simply outrageous and shows a great ignorance of conditions in Mexico. I am very glad to read these things... They show that we have enemies both in Mexico and here and it is well to know it. I appreciate your kindness in sending these reports to me. Hoping you keep well and that your dear father is well also Cordially yours Juana Palacios My address in London is, Care Parrs Bank Bartholomew Lane London, E.C.Castile, Wyoming Co. N. Y. Dear Miss, Blackwell You must think that I have forgotten my promise. It is not so. All this time I have thought very often about you and any Spanish poems. I have some hope for a little rest after the great bustle of New York City. I was pretty tired when I came but I have used the first opportunity to send you a translation. Please find it enclosed. I hope it is clear. I am not very well satisfied with the word summons of the second line before the last. The Spanish citas is, literally, your word appointment or engagement. The poet conveys the idea of feeling himself called by someone, yet the meeting with this unknown caller never takes place. Juan Palacios I received your letter with the enclosed postal card. Mr. Garrison is not the only person who thinks that your translation is most excellent. I have heard the same from some of my American friends. Hoping you are well and that your dear father keeps well also, Cordially yours Juana Palacios Miss Palacios Boston, 18 Bickerstaff St Feb. 24. 1908 Dear Miss Blackwell, Certainly, Mr. Peon will like to see your translation printed. I will wait until I can send the printed copy. The stanza to which you refer might as you say, apply to the statue, but it might also apply to the character. The fact is the statue is a perfect embodiment of our conception of the hero. In regard to your father's criticism our fields are brown during the dry season, butgrew in the rainy one. This struggle took place at the beginning of the rainy reason, May, June and July. But if the word 'meadow' expresses the idea of your own meadows only, then the criticism is correct.. Grass does not grow in Mexico, on the plateau, as it does here, the air is too dry for that. The greenness of the valley at that time was the greenness of cultivated fields. I agree with you, one must allow something for the sake of of rhyme. Sincerely yours, Juana Palacios Miss Palacios Boston, 18 Bickerstaff St, March 20, 1908 Dear Miss Blackwell, At last I am able to send you some translations. I hope you will like the subjects. If you do not care to translate poems in which the poet speaks of himself, do not work with 'Ondas Muertas' I do not like subjective poems so very well myself, but Gutierrez Najera is essentially a lyric poet and I could not find other composition both short and more objective than subjective. Gutierrez Najera was considered one of the most noted poets in his time - died about ten years ago- Should you like the 'Hymnof the Forest' I will translate the other parts. It can be divided very easily, as Ortion describes the various hours of the day. I can send you more sonnets should you prefer it. Sincerely yours Juana Palacios Boston, 18 Bickerstaff St. Feb. 21st 1908 Dear Miss Blackwell I have received your fine rendering of the last of the Eighties: I am sure you worked at it 'con amore." I have read it and re-read it and every time I have been better satisfied with it. If you do not object and this is your final rendering, I will send it to my brother who will be able to very pleasantly surprise the author, presenting to him his composition in English. Not a few of our poets translate from theFrench, English and German and some write French poetry. I sent for a photograph or engraving of our monument to Cuahutemoc which I thought you would like to see. I have not heard yet from the B.U. faculty, but I have been studying all this week. There is so much to learn. As soon as possible I will send you another translation. Sincerely yours, Juana Palacios Miss PalaciosCastile, June 20, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, Very unwillingly I have had to delay my answer to your letter. It takes time to be a-resting We take long drives around this country and visit and are sociable and you know how time flies in this way. I have read your rendering of Mr. Urbina's poem. It is very fine. I have had it read to me and it has been read at the Sanatorium here. Everybody likes it very much. I am sorry I do not have here an English Spanish dictionary to send you the words that are missing I forgot about it before leaving Boston and nowI must wait until I am in a large city. There is a library here a memorial to Dr. Cordelia J Green, but they do not have the dictionary we need. I return the translation with my congratulations and those of all that have read it. Most everybody knows you here. I read with interest the number of the Womans Journal which you sent me. Thank you very much. Hoping you keep well and that your father is well also Sincerely yours Juana Palacios ps. I was forgetting about the diamond sands and the pupils of onyx. With us pupil means the opening in the centre of the eye, as with you but to the poet means all the colored portion of the eye; the iris which is varigated 'the sands of diamond" are the sparkles or flashes of light that gleam in the eye of any for you when he or she is full of animation. All the rest is perfect. J.P.Boston, 18 Bickerstaff St, April 22 , 1908 Dear Miss Blackwell, Yours of the 12st is at hand. I have read with a real pleasure your translations. They produce [?[ the effect of a perfect mirror when I read them by the original what more could be asked? The name of the author of Sunset is Vicente, that is the Spanish name Now in regard to the 'medow lark' I went to the library. To be sure. The dictionary gives linnet for our Spanish word. Our American friend of mine us ed to call 'jilgueros', medow-larks. The important thing is the name of a bird who is a good singer and sings at sunset. The medow-lark is not the lark, only a related species. Should you not wish to make the change I do not see why medow-lark would not do as well as linnet. Yes, the blossoms referred to are the orange blossoms. The word "bards" is very appropriateas I do not think that the authors idea refers to choristers, it is used in a general sense. I am sure I am to blame for it, but in the second line of the first stanza of 'Sunset' the author uses the word 'day' instead of 'sun' . The meaning is the same and, fortunately, the accent will not be altered by the change. Your Easter Greetings were received in time. Let me thank you for the kindness which prompted the action of sending such a token and especially for the beautiful thought on the card. You may be sure that if it were a matter of choice, and if it did not involve absence from home, I would select Boston as many residence. Your kindness has a good deal to do with Boston's attractions for me. Sincerely yours, Juana Palacios some one look into your papers- you had them published in Dailies Papers and I think-he would like to have a copy. He thinks you may have the originals. It is typical of human nature to miss a fine opportunity and then, years afterwards, to find that it should not have been so. Thank you very much for the book by Grace Noll Crowell and the leaflet with her biography. I will see that it is translated. Of course to have the translation published we will need permission from the author and publishers. Mrs. Crowell's address is in the leaflet. When the translation is done I will send it to her. She will then, hear that you sent the book to me and we will know what she thinks of your project. She will be pleased, no doubt. By the end of this month we will return to Mexico City. Miss Huerta will be happy to learn you were pleased with her translation. My sister and niece join me in sending greetings Very cordially yours, Juana PalaciosAcapulco, January 24th. 1944 My dear Miss Blackwell, We have been here this month, enjoying the benefit of sea air and bathing, in this tropical land where the sea breeze tempers heat. I was very glad to receive your letter and to know you had received the translation of your beautiful poem. Dr. Waxman received a copy also. He may read it to you and tell you his opinion. When I sent you the posthumous poems of Urbina, I asked Dr. Waxman to read them to you. May be he is so busy he does not see you very often. In his Christmas card he mentioned having seen you. You know how he admires you as do all who have had the privilege of meeting you. You may remember that my brother refused to having published in your book, your translations of two poems he wrote. He remembers only the titles 'El rio', The river and 'A Maria' To Maria. Should it not trouble you to have