Blackwell Family Blackwell, Helen Thomas Blackwell, Alice Stone (wife of Howard Blackwell) Family correspondence [*Helen Blackwell*] [*Please return, at your leisure, to Alice.*] HOTEL WENDELL PITTSFIELD, MASS THE WESTERN GATEWAY OF THE MOHAWK AND BERKSHIRE TRAILS IN THE HEART OF THE BERKSHIRE HILLS Lenox Feb. 23, 1933 Dearest Cousin Alice and Cousin Kitty — Although I may easily be back in Cambridge before this can reach you, I still want to send it, because I want you both to know how much and how lovingly you are in my thoughts. I do trust the increase in vigor & in appetite (which Howard reports in his letter written yesterday) continues to continue! And that our much-loved Alice has practically lost the last trace of her wretched cold. These last three weeks have been hard ones for your household!I am having a grand and relaxing time enlivened by sprees, here & there. Last night George & Ethel gave their first dinner party — in my honor — and it was very charming and eminently successful. Mr. & Mrs. [Monks?] and Mrs. di [Heredia?] were the other guests. Ethel & Geo. spent their whole holiday tidying up & getting things ready & so it went off with a flourish. I have been staying over in Littlefield so I could be all by myself, which is a great rest. Not that my own company is so agreeable, but that I need the quiet. The children's apartment is most attractive in outlook, structure & contents, & I shall try to tell you all you want to hear about it when I see you next. Soon I am going to bed, so this is goodnight — with much love, Helen I find Ethel's troublesome wrist is holding her up on her wedding notes. The Atwoods & Whiddens are among the ones not yet written to. The delightful tea set and the handsome serving spoon are much appreciated & will, I trust, soon be acknowledged. If you see B. Atwood or write Agnes or Ethel Robinson, please mention his E. B. R's gift of books is also unacknowledged.1933 Oct. 3 Helen Thomas Blackwell Mrs. Howard L.) to Alice Blackwell about return from VineyardOct. 3rd, 1933 Dearest Alice — I am stealing a bit of office paper to send a little separate message to you. I have sent Howard, some time ago, your inquiry about Oct. 10th & expect a reply from him tomorrow or Thursday. I do hope he can make it. If not, what can [will] you do? For all the bays are firmly an appointment for you. I had not the memo of dates with me. It is getting toward time to shut up shop. Good night, dear — you'll find a warm welcome when you come back. Always with love and a great deal of it — Helentied up in school & college & while they might cut for one day, it would be a serious matter to cut for two, especially for John who was so long are probation. (that was all over last yr. & was simply a matter of scholastic marks. I had an app't at Dr. Brocon's this morning & asked him your question. he said it was very difficult to make any plan till he had seen you, so I am to make For Alice's self For AliceWashington Sunday Morning May 2nd '37 Alice dear — It's really very early indeed, but I don't seem to be sleeping, so will give myself the pleasure of a few words with you. I had hoped to write yesterday, but have been much occupied going to the Annual Convention of the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. The high lights have been the address Friday noon by Fräulein Gertrud Baer (formerly head of German branch & now expatriated & so, head of the International Office at Geneva,) and addresses which we heard last evening after the Annual Dinner (to wh. we did not go) by her. Muste (better than I ever heard him before)and Miss Josaphine Roche and Governor Frank Murphy of Michigan. He was the best of all & his belief that the light is dawning is most heartening. The passage of the Wagner bill is, of course, a great advance. Miss Emily Balch has been doing herself proud. Darling, don’t be distressed about George & Ethel. Of course I have a few parental qualms over any of my dear ones running the risk which any indiscretion might lay them open to us that blighted country; but after all, they are competent and any spark of international friendship is worth fawning, even at some small risk I am really happy about it. And now about some one for next week end. Most of my old stand-bys have fallen by the wayside this winter, so until I get home - which will not be later than Monday, the 11th, - my only suggestion is The Household Nursing Association Newbury St. - (don’t recall number) The price there for student nurses is $18.00 per week - about $2.75 a day - they expect to get meals for the patient & for themselves & do a small amount of necessary housework. We have had them many times & found them kind & willing. I think the minimum for wh. they go is $3.50 or possibly $4.00 but am not sure of this as our engagements were for longer periods. Something has to go to the agency, but of course it’s a small sum for so short a time, & it might be included in the $4.00. I hope this won’t be too much for just once & then I’ll do all I can & shall hope to find just the right one. I am rejoicing, you may be sure, in thefact that Howard finds it not only possible but very desirable for business reasons to go home with me & have a few days in Cambridge. He needs a conference with Malcolm. Doesn't M. wear well! Guess I can go to sleep now for a bit, so I'll try again. Much love to you, dear, always, Helen Dear Alice, I too am looking forward to seeing you & being in Cambridge. Affectionately, Howard [*Helen & Howard*]B 912 Nineteenth St. Washington, D. C. April 19, 1937 Alice darling — I am deeply distress at hearing about your illness and my first thought, of course, was to come back at once. But if you are really a great deal better, I shall wait a while, because Howard really does like having me here. But when I come back, won't you please come over and make us a little visit and get a lot stronger? Please do, It is grand being with the dear children so much. We are seeing a bit of Anna, too, and altogether the days are full and their content is mostly pleasant. Yesterday was very warm indeed,[*Helen Blackwell*] but we were out at the school with George and Ethel from after church till George brought us home at bed time, so we were among birds and budding leaves and it was lovely. On the way out we drove through at least a half mile of cherry blossoms like spraying fountains of warm, creamy snow flakes. It was a far more beautiful sight than the famous blossoms around the basin. This afternoon I go out there again. Ethel’s lower school music class gives, as the culmination of the winter’s work, the “Story of Siegfried” as a puppet-show. Lane gave them some points - when he was here & Ethel has done the rest. We shall be eager for better news of you & anxious to know that Mrs. Thyne is back. The children will keep us informed - I shall see to that - but we are so grateful for your dictated letter received yesterday. Don’t try to write again. I wish I were there. Lovingly, Helen (Blackwell) Washington, [Friday] Sunday April 4 [8:30 P.M.] Alice dear - You are always in my thoughts and I had hoped to write you before now, but between gallivanting with Marguerite and apartment-hunting with Howard, the time has flown. Now I have been here six whole days and am not yet settled. It is hard to find either a room with a bath for boarding or a tiny apartment with kitchenette which is within our means but not utterly repellant, but we don’t despair. Last night at supper we ran into a Rockport acquaintance who owns a number of small apts (remodeledhouses) & who thinks he may be able to help us. We shall know by tomorrow night. Yesterday afternoon we had a delightful experience - Anna conveyed us out to call on Ms Mary Blackwell Welker, having been invited by telephone to come & bring us. She (Mrs. W.) had one of my old Cleveland friends, Miss Lena Spencer, there to meet us and it was all very pleasant indeed. The house is charming, the tea was delicious, and, best of all, Mrs. Welker was able to leave her wheel chair & walk to the dining room & back. She was must hospitable[*Helen Blackwell*] THE PIONEER 410 STUART STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS January 25th 1937 Darling Cousin — Thank you for your letter & the very interesting clippings. I have read part today & am saving some for tomorrow. This sinful luxury seems to agree with me — I scarcely coughed at all last night and am beginning to feel partly human. Your problem for thesummer shall be kept in the back of my mind & I doubt not that between us we shall find the right thing. I think you're pretty expert at that, yourself. Of course we should love to have you at #4, only I know that no other place can be quite as comfortable as one's own home. If you can bring yourself to listen to the wicked Du Ponts, Elizabeth tells me their broadcast this Wed. Ev'g, Jan. 27, is to be about Aunt Elizabeth, Station WEET 8 p. m. Love to you always — Your devoted HelenCambridge, October Thirteenth [*1936*] Darling — Your adorable verse is certainly today's high light! Nothing could have been more unexpected or more charming. I can hardly wait to show these to John — who supped away from home tonight! If there were blackkitties, about, I shouldn't last long, for I'm so puffed with pride at your praise. they would certainly mistake me for a poutin pigeon & gobble me up. How microscopic one feels when saints like you express approbation. But it's grand to be liked. Darling, I don't believe you even guess how I love you. Pretty soon I'm coming over again. Went to Dr. Brown's I thought you'd like to see this nice letter from Howard - no, on second thoughts I will save it till I have shown it to M. L. T. Sunday. Then I'll send to you. Tomorrow night Lane is having some nice infants at supper at the Princeton game & before the dance. Love again H If Mrs. Crosby hasn't gone, I send my warm greetings. I'm so glad you had her.yesterday & did one or 2 errands in the Square on my way home. Result - felt a good deal more "coldy" today but am all right tonight. I hope to go out Sunday as it's All Saint's Day. What a company we have to think of now, on the other side. And dear Kitty is the newest one for us. Goodnight, dear & lots of love with my thanks. Your exalted Helen (over)Lane & Lawrence have no more puppet engagements, but they gave a family show Sat ev'g. It was great fun. Yesterday we had a surprise call from Elbridge Thomas & his wife from Morristown. We all send much love to you Cousin K. as well as to all the family you see. I trust we shall all meet before long in Cambridge. Lovingly Helen [*Greetings to Mrs. Seangon*] Miss Alice Stone Blackwell Chilmark Martha's Vineyard Mass. [*Helen Blackwell.*]Rockport, Labor Day, Sept. 4, 1933 Dearest A. - This is just to keep you in touch with our affairs & to thank you for the good letter rec'd last week. I sent the list of Stone relatives to H. L. B. who reports great interest & enjoyment in his surroundings. Luckily, a day or two before your letters came, I had written Anna where H. had gone & asked her not to spread it. It must have reached her the day after Lawrence's. George is quite himself now, tho' it took a good week. Will Thomas spent last Wed. night here & I asked him what K's condition sounded like. He said it sounded like spasmodic contractions of the muscles around the heart arteries, a result of arterio-sclerosis. It did not in itself bring on a stroke. That is about what Dr. Duckering said, isn't it? I hope the laxative diet continues successful. US POSTAL CARD ONE CENT REPLY CARD THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS[*Helen Blackwell Rockport, August 21st 1931*] Dearest Cousin Alice:- I meant to reply at once to your letter, but there has been a good deal of coming and going in the last few days and I have just not managed it. I have not been mindful of your previous requests but have kept delaying my reply, thinking I should find exactly the right thing to say or that the right letter to send on would come. The fact is that John's letters have been forWhen I can, I mean to copy some of the best bits from the other letters. We are all pretty well, and are glad to hear that you are too. Our kitchen arrangements have been rather sketchy since Mrs. Besaw left, but we have a maiden coming Monday. It is great fun having Howard here for a few days, and we hope for more later. I enclosed George's little letter from Nova Scotia - we shall be glad to have him back Tuesday. I telephone Evelyn Barrows this morning to ask her & Esther over here today, only to find that Esther is again ill and that even with the nurse there, Everlyn does not want to leave the hotel. I am more than sorry. Here is our united love to you all, and sincere regrets over my long silence. Lovingly, Helen Lane had a grand time on his Connecticut visit. If John sends back his letters I'll send them on to you. We are reading "Lucy Stone" aloud.the most part so very personal that I think he would have felt badly to know they were passed on at all, so I have been torn between my desire to have you and Kitty share our pleasure and interest in John's doings, and my feeling of loyalty to him, for he is quite definitely in the stage where he is rather secretive. I am enclosing two which I think will interest you, though you may possibly have seen the first before you left Dorchester. On the train, Oct. 16, 1925 My Beloved Cousin Alice — I am driven to writing you on this scrap because I find I have not put in writing paper. But you will accept the loving thoughts, I know, and overlook the medium. I am on the five o'clock train for n.y., bound for the wedding after all. Howard and Anna and the two little girls are going tonight on the boat and I ought to have gone with them except that I sleep so badly when I am travelling. We are so very happy over the doctor's good account of you! I, at least, know from experience that it means "THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD" by J. M. Synge CAST CHRISTOPHER MAHON Mr. Hamiliton MacFadden OLD MAHON, his father, a squaller Mr. Harold Webster MICHAEL JAMES FLAHERTY, (called Micheal James) a publican Mr. Richard Castilla MARGARET FLAHERTY, (called Pegeen Mike) his daughter Miss Mary Hone WIDOW QUIN Miss Betty Linley SHAWN KEOUGH, her cousin Mr. James Bell PHILLY CULLEN } Small Mr. Donald Keyes JIMMY FARRELL } Farmers Mr. Edward Hale SARA TANSEY } Miss Helen Chisolm SUSAN BRADY } Village Girls Miss Caroline Swift HONOR BLAKE } Miss Sally Nye Stage Manager, Mr. A. Stuart Robblee Settings, Mr. James L. Shute The action takes place near a village, on the wild coast of Mayo. The first Act passes on an evening of autumn, the other two Acts on the following day. The management wishes to take this opportunity to thank the firms mentioned below for their generous help in furnishing the set. Clark's Art Shop for Pictures and Art Objects. Daniel Low Co. for China, Bric-a-Brac and Silverware. John C. Graham for Antiques. Evenings at 8.30. Popular Matinee, Wednesday at 2.30 On the train, Oct. 16, 1925 My Beloved Cousin Alice — I am driven to writing you on this scrap because I find I have not put in writing paper. But you will accept the loving thoughts, I know, and overlook the medium. I am on the five o-clock train for N. Y., bound for the wedding after all. Howard and Anna and two little girls are going tonight on the boat and I ought to have gone with them except that I sleep so badly when I am travelling. We are so very happy over the doctor's good account of you! I, at least, know from experience that it meansmisery, at best; but are devoutly thankful the misery is going to turn out so splendidly Miss Zilpha Smith (I think she said that was her name) called me on the telephone today and said you had written her sister in N. Y. somewhere that you were going to the hospital. I had the pleasure of giving her the good news. I think today's news of France and Germany's agreement will almost make you well of itself. We are rejoicing and hoping it may last. We shall see you as soon as the doctor will let us. In the meantime, much, much love — Helen[*Helen T. Blackwell*] THE American Theatre Incorporated MR. HAMILTON MAC FADDEN, Director "... the play's the thing ..." EMPIRE THEATRE SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS Week of August Twenty-fourth Nineteen Hundred Twenty-five [*Helen T. Blackwell*] MRS. H. L. BLACKWELL 4 RIEDESEL AVENUE CAMBRDIGE, MASS. Oct. 13, 1925 Darling Alice — You will know by this little floweriness that our loving thoughts and prayers are with you — though of course you would know that anyway. But we can't forbear sending them. We are hoping that after the first few horrid days, this is going to turn out to be just the sort of gorgeous rest we all long to seeyou have; and that you'll come out a giant refreshed. Now for goodness' sake, don't spend your time & strength saving the nurses. They're as strong as young horses, most of them, and although they're just as nice as they can be, if they find you are sympathetic they'll come & tell you their hard luck stories & you'll go home without turning over, to save them! I know you! (and them.) Well, Beloved one, if you had your deserts, you'd come through without even discomfort, but unfortunately the human frame MRS. H. L. BLACKWELL 4 RIEDESEL AVENUE CAMBRIDGE, MASS. can't be cut up and not feel it, so we'll just wish that the doctor's skill and your own high courage and ability to keep your mind engaged on affairs other than your own, may keep the discomforts at a minimum and all the blessings on top. They're there now, showering down on your head from all our loving hearts. Our feelings will really be seriously hurt if you answer this or acknowledge the flowers in any way until we can come to see you & then you're allowed to say you got 'em. Love from us all - Devotedly Helen[*Helen T. Blackwell*] June 29 — 1923 Dearest Alice — I escorted the boys to Boston yesterday & put them on the train for the Mowgli's Camp. They will be delighted to receive any papers you have time to send them. They were well & happy, and although we miss them dreadfully we believe that going is greatly to their advantage. We are about settled now, but it has been a strenuous time with painters & carpenterscontinually about. Mother has slipped into place & seems almost like her old self, barring the handicaps. Aunt Gertie is enjoying the downstairs room & lavatory. I shall love doing the bit of Spanish for my dear cousin & hope to send it soon. We sent Kitty's books & cap back from here. Mother enjoyed the book so much. I believe Howard will be able to plan to go down with you, dear, but of course I have not heard. Love to you both, Helen [*Helen's letter*] Bethel, Maine September 10, 1914 Dearest Cousin Alice — Here is the letter, done to the best of my ability without my customary props which are all in the book case at home. However there is a girl here more expert than I in the writing of French letters, and she has helped me, so I am sure it is grammatical, whether or not it is in the best literary style. I must bequick to catch the mail so that you may get this tomorrow, for already I am later than I hoped. I was laid up for a day or so but now feel much better than when I came & have gained five pounds! Later I am to be set at exercising to turn my pounds into muscle. Much love to all - especially of course, Mamma. Always your affectionate Helen Mm. Camadeo, Roldan & Tamayo Bogota Messieurs: - Aurez-vous la bonte de m'envoyer des livres de poesie de les meilleurs ecrivains de la Colombie, pour lesquels je vous envoie ce mandat de poste de valeur en compte de cinq "dollars" ou dix pesos. Il me donne un grand plaisir de mettre en Anglais la poesie Espagnole - americaine, et pour cette raison (or, "et c'est pourquoi) les[*Helen Blackwell*] Meilleurs Modíles. Je vous en serai très reconnaisante. Vauillez [receouite] recevoir, Messieurs, mes salutations Empressés A. S. B. I return your letter for your comparison - the idea is translated rather than the words. Shall be glad to try again if this won't do. H.