Blackwell Family Alice Stone Blackwell General Correspondence Weisman, KatherineJune 12, 1923. Dear Miss Blackwell, I am typing this on my Corona in the hope that it will be easier on your eyes. Also, forgive my not replying sooner; I don't know how these few days have slipped away! It grieved me, in more ways than one, to get your letter. I am terribly sorry all around. As to the purely practical aspects of the thing, let me say this: 1) As it seems more a question of enhancing your resources, than actual immediate need of the $500.00, perhaps you will not mind and will not be greatly inconvenienced, if I make it somewhat easier for myself by sending it in $100.00 payments-- besides all else, this has found me somewhat unprepared. However, I am sending enclosed herewith a check for the first $100.00 now. 2) Also, I should much prefer that you were not charged for Dr. Prenn's professional services to you, but--since he is anything but a rich man, and a woman not rich either (and carrying other family responsibilities besides) is in fact paying this debt for him, I suppose I must not think of it. 3) But here I am confronted by a dilemma. You see I do not want Dr.P. to know I am liquidating this debt for him. Not that I see prospects of getting it back from him as it is; but if he knew I was doing this, he would dismiss the matter comfortably from his mind--& that would not be good for him. Frankly, his psychology where the family is concerned is, to say the least, inadequate. Consciously or subconsciously he believes that "All is fair in "--family spoil! Dr. P is rather nice in some ways ofcourse; but on the whole, quite childish and immature as to character & mentality. As you know, I believe him highly gifted technically #2 and professionally; indeed, were his personality, his mental & spiritual development, on a level, or almost so, with his professional skill, I am convinced he would now be at the top of his profession. (It seems I am fated to confide family situations to you; but I do not mind doing so to you). But I did not mean to tax your eyes with so much to read. I just meant to explain why I prefer not to have him know of my paying this for him, & why accordingly I would much rather not ask him for an accounting in this matter. And so I will ask you this: Do you think that his charges for professional services would about equal the amount of interest? You see, I haven't any idea at all; but I hope I am not suggesting anything very unfair. If then, you think the two would about equalize, I would send you the remain- $400.00 in 4 separate payments--if that is agreeable to you. And as it is to be paid in 5 installments, I believe there is no need at this point, of any statement of release to Dr.P. I might just make the necessary notation on the back of each check,& have the release signed with the payment of the last one. Hoping that your eyes are more rested now, & that you are at least fairly well, with much regret at the inconvenience caused you, Yours, with love, Katharine NeismanTelephone Bryant 4338 Katherine Weisman Miss Weisman's Studio Cultural Courses For Adults 32 West 48th Street New York, N. Y. Katherine Weisman 207 Cross Street, Malden, Apr. 24, 1906 Dear Miss Blackwell, I have enjoyed reading Mrs. Bowne's letter; thank you for sending it. I am sending you another of Edelstadt's poems- "The Dream". I hope you will pardon the delay. It is a long time since I sent the last one, but I have not been very well, and the Doctor had enforced a complete rest from any mental activity. I am getting a little better and this translating requires very little effort on my part:so I hope I can be more regular now. I was very glad to get the printed poem, "The Last Wish". Since you are kind enough to promise me the printed copies when you get them, please do not trouble about sending your own written copies. Thanking you, love. Very sincerely yours, Katherine WeismanChecks in safe NYFRF [corn] maple syrup for Kelley Mazzini need attire eggs [Mrs. Cabot] chocolate checks - family letters letter weigher [hat] [Mouth] [Songs of Russia] (addresses) [Koroff] [wash clothes] [cash] [novels] shawl Dr Wolcott will scrap books [lunch basket] Mr. Rogers tooth-powder [?] Isabel [Kropcthin] oil water poetry Humorous long envelopes [checks] mucilage weigher blotter Kelly Am. Hebrew veiling ink letter-file Isle of Man Ella Abbott Howell Objections [wash] [brush] will copy Miss Gilbert Katherine Weisman [?] black silk waist [?] bathing mitten Dec. 12 '15 Dear Miss Blackwell I hope you haven't thought I had forgotten; my appointments and conferences with Mr. Cantor had been so unsatisfactory - because so broken and interrupted - that I hate to think of how long a delay it has caused. Several times he found it impossible to keep appointments and so cameToro Song" and "Oy Vay Bruder" for which I have not the melodies yet. Mr. C. does not know those, but has kindly offered to get a Book of Folk Songs from someone and copy the music of these for me. It had occurred to me that a child from Miss Bamber's school might be asked to give me the melodies in question, but I was not sure whether it would be the thing a day or two later - unfortunately at a time when it was impossible for me to stop more than a minute with him. However, I have all the melodies now but two. I am sending you the meter for the three I just got - those of the Cradle Song and the Wedding Song I believe I sent you when I last wrote you. I have made myself a copy of the "Simchasfor me to ask Miss Bamber. However, unless you are in a hurry for them, I think the young man must send the note to me in a few days. By the way when I was going over the translations of these songs, I think I left out one word: "Rendlach" in "Simcha Toro Song." I had left it to ask my father the exact amount of that coin and forgot. "Rendlach" means - three dollar pieces. With genuine regret for the delay, affectionately yours Katherine WeismanCULTURE COURSES TELEPHONE, ROXBURY 1403-1 FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ROOM 230, HUNTINGTON CHAMBERS 30 HUNTINGTON AVENUE 23 WAUMBECK STREET ROXBURY, MASS. Jan. 1, 1914. Dear Miss Blackwell, In case you want to get to work on them, I am sending you three of the poems; these were all I could get done yesterday and I have just finished copying them. I expect to do the others you refer to to-morrow. It just occurs to me it may not have been necessary to indicate the metre of "Twilight" in such detail, since it is all a variation of the same theme, but now it is done, I am sending it. May the coming New Year prove a satisfying one, rich in the highest achievement, both personal and for the Cause which I know is dear to you. Affectionately yours, Katharine WeismanKatherine Weisman 207 Cross Street Malden , June 15 , 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I kept you waiting these few days for that word, in the hope that I might get hold of a copy of [Fmg?] in the meantime. But I am sorry to say I did not succeed. Some of my friends or acquaint- tances seem to own one. But perhaps I can throw a little light on the translation as I see it.The second stanza expresses merely the mortification and bitterness of Haman's wife at the defeat of their plans. I should think though, the word "witch" was not meant to be taken literally - just some real hard name directed against her. The third and fourth stanzas, of course, express the triumph, respectively, of Esther and Mordecai. I am sorry I cannot supply the missing word of the last line of the The first stanza, of course, is just a blessing - an expression of good wishes for those who celebrate "Purim," the day, that is, communicating the defeat of the Haman and the triumph of the Jews. The last two lines of the stanza refer to a childish ceremonial relic - in fact a ceremony relegated entirely to children to-day - of symbolically, by means of rattles etc. "taking revenge" of Haman on Purim day.third stanza. The word "Achashverish", of course, you recognize; Mr. Brownoff spelled it phonetically according to the Yiddish pronunciation. The last stanza, in a "humorous" or ironic vein as Mr. B. informs you, is a promise - as I understand it - to Jewish people to-day, that all their modern enemies, and the "unbelievers" and "infidels" the Jews shall "have" punished. Humor at his own expense, I should say. That word in the other poem "bokserim" is that eastern fruit called "St. John's Bread." Do you know it? Faithfully yours, Katharine WeismanKatherine Weisman 207 Cross Street, Malden, March 1, 1906. Dear Miss Blackwell, It was exceedingly kind of you to send me your letter from Mrs. Bowne, and I am deeply grateful to you for thinking of me. It felt good to get news so direct from one -- about one. I should say -- who had done so much for me; and I was glad also to hear of Mrs. Bowne and her sister, both of whom I have met. Thank you, so much.I am enclosing another poem of Edelstat's. With grateful appreciation, I am, Yours very sincerely, Katharine WeismanMiss Katherine Weisman 207 Cross Street, Malden, Jan. 23, 1906. My dear Miss Blackwell, I have your note and your copy of Mr. Rosenfeld's poems. I enclose the prose translations of two of the poems which he has marked. I wish I could have sent them earlier, but I hope to send one or two more next Saturday or Sunday. Although you did not expect to make use of individual verses, I have kept the lines distinct because that seemed to me the safest way of being literal. If, however,you would prefer the translation any other way, I shall willingly change the method if you will be good enough to speak of it. I have spoken to some people about your published volume of Russian poems, and I expect to see a few more. One or two would like to get a copy now, but as I had failed to ask you, I could not tell them where they could get them. Or, are they to be had only from you direct? Very sincerely yours, Katharine WeismanKatherine Weisman w poem 207 Cross Street, Malden, Mar. 18, 1906. Dear Miss Blackwell, I have not been well these days, and have been overwhelmed with work in consequence, or you would have heard from me sooner. I am sending you a poem of Edelstat's -- "My Last Hope." It hasof Bread," you remember. It was in the third line -- "My bread is now full with my [life] blood." --- a rather deep socialistic tinge, but I thought it worth translating because it is so representative. I hope to be able to send you another soon. Very sincerely yours, Katharine Weisman P.S. That word I omitted in the last poem means "blood". It is in the one entitled, "A Little PieceK. Weisman w translation 207 Cross St. Malden, Dec. 26 '09 Dear Miss Blackwell, Enclosed please find translations of three poems from Rosenfeld: "To a Shop Girl", "The Lion" and "All the Same", which is but a few lines in length. The first one is fresh from the poet's pen. I came across it in a new Yiddish newspaper of December 18th, called "The New Thought." I chanced upon this paper with the new poem in it quite accidentally, while inquiring for Imber's poems, as youonce suggested. It appears, however, that whatever of Imber's may be already published, it is not on sale in Boston. The bookseller is going to inquire from New York publishers, for me, and if there is anything of the poet's in print there - as I suppose there is - will get it for me. May the coming New Year prove a satisfying one to you. Faithfully yours, Katharine WeismanCULTURE COURSES TELEPHONE, ROXBURY 1403-1 FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ROOM 230, HUNTINGTON CHAMBERS 30 HUNTINGTON AVENUE 23 WAUMBECK STREET ROXBURY, MASS Jan. 27, 1913. Dear Miss Blackwell: I know you will forgive my sending you a typewritten letter, this time, when you know the reason for it. It is due to a stiff right arm, probably a touch of neuritis or "writer's cramp". It is nothing at all very serious but I am giving my arm a rest. I have wanted to write to you all this week, but waited thinking I might be able to write you myself. Since my pleasant visit to you last Sunday, and our conversation concerning our friend, I have thought of a real obstacle in her way which I ought to have remembered then. I refer to the new law which says in effect, that after July 1912, no one can be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar who has not a college degree. Of course that excludes our friend from the practice of Law. However, there are still two plans more or less satisfactory, open to her. One is to take the course at the Law School and get her degree just the same, so that she could enter the employ of the State in any branch where a legal training would be required---a wholly feasible thing, it seems to me, without one's being actually a member of the bar, though I should want her first to get the advice of someone who is quite sure on the point. The other plan is to take a course at the School For Social Workers, and become a trained Social Worker. I believe she could make a fairly satisfactory living afterward, though we all know, of course, that social work does not pay as well, for instance, as business. She herself proposed the first plan and she seems to like the second one about equally well. So perhaps when she is actually ready to take the step, you and I could help her to decide which field to enter. In the poem "My Secret" which I enclose, I find I had done a very absurd thing last summer. I rather thought it read queerly when you showed it to me at your house; that is one reason why I wished to take the poem home for reexamination. The point is that the second word of the first verse, in each stanza, reads "fiel" in the Yiddish version, and either absent-mindedly or through some other equally gross carelessness transcribed it literally in to the English "feel". I felt badly to think of having imposed on you like this, when you depend on me for the accuracy of the translations. I do not think, however, this carelessness has happened before. The abused word properly translated means "much" or "as much as", as you will see from the corrected translation. The word "you" about which you questioned me particularly, in the original, is used in the plural. I hope in a very few days to be able to send you a few more of the poems. I had a really delightful time last Sunday. So far asIpersonally was concerned, I was wishing I had come earlier so that we could have talked a little longer. With love, Yours always faithfully, Katharine Weisman CULTURE COURSES TELEPHONE, ROXBURY 1403-1 FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ROOM 230, HUNTINGTON CHAMBERS 30 HUNTINGTON AVENUE 23 WAUMBECK STREET ROXBURY, MASS. July 29, '13. Dear Miss Blackwell, It had been so long since I had translated for you that I had quite forgotten your original request to indicate the metre. I am sending you four more small poems -- three by Roisin and one by my old stand-by, Yehoash -- on which I have indicated the original metre; I am also enclosing the metre of the four previously sent. I received your little note last night in which you evidently meant to enclose one of your renderings. I do not therefore know which one you rendered without the metre, but you will have a chance to see the metre anyway. I am going up to Ogunquit this morning for a week or ten days and if you should have any questions on the poems etc. you can reach me at "The High Rock, Ogunquit, Maine." It is too bad you should feel so weak, even if it is natural under the circumstances and yet it is perfectly marvellous to me you should feel like doing this or any work now, feeling as you do. I myselfwithout the excuse of an operation, so often feel like doing just nothing and I never used to be that way -- that it frightens me. Your energy is an inspiration to me. I pray that you may soon have the health to meet all the requirements and the demands made upon you by your work. It seems so strange to see the work of substitutes on your page of the Journal, however splendidly they may do. I do hope you will soon be strong enough for me to come to see you -- and a good deal stronger too. Lovingly yours, Katharine Weismanif so, I am glad for you as well as for those who benefited by the gift. I have met Mrs. Rubin once since, and she thought your new flat was very comfortable looking. Sometime soon, if you will let me, I should like to make you a little call. There is no special perplexity I wish to bring you this time, just to pay a little visit when you are at leisure and I can afford the luxury. There is no change in my sister's affairs, except that there has been another 207 Cross Street, Malden, Mar. 3, 1912. Dear Miss Blackwell, If you knew how long I have kept the enclosed translations waiting for a good opportunity to write you, you would have a pretty poor opinion of my ability to get things done. So you see - in self defence - I am not going to tell you, tho' I will admit that there have been several occasions since when I especially wanted, and inintended to write, - though of course you could not have known anything about that from my mere "good intentions." Ofcourse, I wanted to write when you so kindly sent me the western clipping about yourself as translator, with the kind suggestion that I need not take the time to acknowledge; without really intending to, I took you at your good word then. More especially did I want to write you when, of a sudden, I read of your having given your home away, to live in a flat instead. Not that I would have known exactly what to say on that occasion. While I thought the act a most beautiful one, somehow I was not at all surprised --it seemed so natural a thing for you to do. I knew further that one capable of such an act was not in need of anyone's sympathy for the loss of her home; yet I hardly knew whether I felt like congratulating you. I can only say now that I hope the deed brought you happiness, as it doubtless has; andmove - from New York to Albany, where he is superintendent of a Jewish People's Institute. My sister does not tell me anything about his work, which probably means that he is again dissatisfied, and thinks all the people there to blame for the condition My sister finds Albany fairly pleasant; people are always nice to her, tho' of course her opportunity at present of meeting people, or of any self expressionis little enough. She is resigned to live her narrow cramped life, so long doubtless as she hopes it is temporary. When I can feel that the family situation here is ready for it, I shall try to get the matter to a head. I have not yet thanked you for your nice letter of last December. I must have overlooked that member of the Jewish Advocate that had your translation of the Hebrew poem, given you by that western rabbi. It ought not to be difficult, I should think, to get prose translations from the Hebrew, as there are so many rabbis and Hebrew scholars generally who should be glad to get Hebrew poetry into English. I am sending you these few poems from Morris Winchevsky which - as I said - I translated some time ago. I hope none of these are duplicating any done for you by anyone before. Always faithfully yours, Katharine WeismanIsle of Springs, Me. June 17, 1912. Dear Miss Blackwell, I take it you received the last translations I sent you some weeks ago and I am sending you five short ones from Yehoash-Bloomgarten - this time. You may be surprised to see this hailing from Maine at this early season. You see my vacation begins early this year - and will end late; I have taken a leave of absence and have come up here into a really beautiful place to hide myself, to rest and to gather myself together generally. Before I came away I wanted to call on you, but found in talking with your secretary on telephone that you were in New York. Furthermore, between your return on the seventh and my going onthe truth, I learned that you had so many engagements, that I actually got "scared," and feared that my asking for an appointment would be sheer intrusion. I hope to benefit considerably by my stay up here. Indeed I shall need all my strength in the fall, if only for the ordeal I shall have to help my sister face. For we are expecting a visit from her and Mr. Seawitt in the fall and I shall try hard to have the matter settled then. I am writing also to Mr. Dunham and when Elizabeth comes, I shall take her to see him so that we all get a clear understanding of the situation. There is one thing I wanted in particular to speak about this time. I understand that you I thought the person for her to see is Mr. Charles Birtwell secretary of the American Federation of Sex Education - if that is the right name. I wanted further to suggest to Dr. Korinkow to see if you could help her get acquainted with Mr. Birtwell, but I happen to know that she feels quite sensitive, since her unfortunate domestic affair which ended in divorce. I understand a good deal of scandal had been raised, and she doesn't know how some people regard her now. And while I felt very certain that you wouldn't accept another person's narrow, gossipy valuation of any one, I couldn't say anything to her; for I wanted to make quite sure -- if itknow Dr. Antoinette Kornikow. She is practising in the Jewish district in Malden and lives not far from us, so that I have become pretty well acquainted with her. I know she wants to work out of her practice to become a special lecturer on sex hygiene and sex education topics. You know that this is a common profession in the social service field; and as a medical practitioner and with her scientific outlook generally as well as her experience in lecturing, I should think she was excellently fitted for such work. I know she has already given talks of this nature to clubs of working girls in New York, with considerable success. is right for me to ask you -- what your attitude, in this matter, really is, and whether it would be right for me to suggest to Dr. Kornikow to go to see you about the things that interest her. I do not need to tell you, I think that I can be discreet if necessary. I hope you are as well as your preoccupations would seem to indicate. This has been a great year for suffrage progress and it must have given you much inspiration for your work. Yours always faithfully, Katharien Weisman Address - till end of June: c/o L. M. Radcliffe, Boothbay, Me. R.7.D. #1 After that: c/o Mrs. L.M. Turner Isle of Springs, Boothbay Harbor, Me.Katherine Weisman 23 Waumbeck 21 Sea Foam Ave. Winthrop, July 18 '13 Dear Miss Blackwell, I am so glad the flowers gave you pleasure; the sending of them gave me much pleasure as well. I have been wanting to write to you ever since your sweet Easter note; and if I told you how long since I first planned to send you some more poems, you would find it hard to believedozen or more poems quite ready and will copy them at once; but I think I had better not send them until the first of next week, as the two particular books from which I took them are at home in Roxbury, and I want to go over the poems once more with the book before me, to make sure that I did not make some silly mistake. I am sorry you lost the other poems, if you could remember which that even so habitual a procrastinator as myself could hold out so long. However, since last Saturday, when I first learned of Mrs. Rubin of your illness, I thought I should have to wait until you were quite well again before I sent you some, so I am really glad you asked me for some if you think you want them a little before. I have half aones they were, I could make you another translation easily. I do hope you are progressing as rapidly as can be expected, and that you will soon feel as well as you ever did. You will surely hear from me next week, as soon as I can get out to Roxbury for the books. With love and again with best wishes for your health, Affectionately yours, Katharine Weisman D. BERGAZIN, Chairman All Communications to be addressed to the Superintendent EZEKIEL LEAVITT, Supt. A. E. WEINER, Sec'y. HEBREW SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON, D. C. 5TH AND EYE STREETS, N. W. Washington, D. C. May 5, 1909 Dear Miss Blackwell, I am sorry I could not have answered you sooner, though I wanted to very much. I have received both your communications containing your versified translation of the four poems. I liked your translations very much; in the places where you had several phrases to choose from, I take it you have already decided upon the ones you wanted. In answer to your question about the word which I translated both "despair" and "sadness," let me say the word is Hebrew rather than Yiddish, and the Dictionary gives as English equivalents for it - "Despair-Despondency." Now I would say "Despondency" in English was about half way between "Despair" and "Sadness" would you agree with me? Furthermore, the whole context of the poem seems to me to justify the use of the word "sadness" in one or in both places where that HebrewD. BERGAZIN, Chairman All Communication to be addressed to the Superintendent EZEKIEL LEAVITT, Supt. A. E. WEINER, Secy, HEBREW SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON, D. C. 5TH AND EYE STREETS, N. W. Washington D. C. 190 word appears. Perhaps you can still keep it "Despair" in the title, and use one of the other words in the poem proper. I am translating some of the other poems, and as soon as I can finish them, will send them to you. I am sorry to say I cannot be very definite regarding Bloomgarten's first name. We all think the initial is "S", but cannot agree as to the name it stands for. The reason for this uncertainty is that the poet is better known under his pseudonym "Jehoash" -- the name which appears in the book. It is a Hebrew name, I believe; but Mr. Leavitt says it has no special meaning. The publisher is A. M. Evalenko. His last address is 22 North William Street, New York. He has recently moved, but we are not sure here of his new address; doubtless any communication would reach him on the old one. Faithfully yours, Katharine WeismanKatherine Weisman