Anna Dickinson Family Correspondence [1876]No. 35 East 39 New York .3.14.76. My dearest Maumee,- There is no news to relate,- & I jog along at a very even pace,- busy over my writing,- or I would send thee oftener. - Still I might forward a line every day, if it is to say "how-de-do, -" & that "I love thee". - It has been beautiful weather here, but today it is very cold & wintry again, tho'brilliantly clear. Poor old Pa Curtis fails visibly from time to time of my coming here. - I believe the Dr's think it softening of the brain - He is still quite himself at times, & full of business & work, but his "good" times are soon over, & he is lost & depressed. It has been a great drain on Laura who is not half so strong in consequence, as she used to be. I see divers & sundry people, of whom, as I said to thee I think before, - that thee does not know, or I would tell thee about them. Did I write thee that Joaquin Miller I have seen, - & find him one of the quaintest, queerest fish that ever sailed in strange waters. - He is a sort of half savage, & seemingly not at all to be judged by the rules applied to ordinary folks & life. - not at all good looking, & very interesting, or very uninteresting, as the fit takes him. I am sorry to see from my little Maum's letter of this morning that she has a cold again, - but hope it will soon go over, & that she will be brightfor the bright spring weather. I wrote a note to Dr. Thomas giving him a settling on the score of his unmanly & unprofessional conduct in talking about his patients & their concerns --with the result that has ensued. The truth galled him so, that he has not attempted to write me a line in answer, & has not had the courage or the audacity to show himself at 1328.--I suppose he thought I told thee & Dickey what I had done.-- My heart to my Maumee AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. N.Y. 3.23.76. Dearest little Maumee, as I note to Dicky I have no news to relate, or I would write far oftener. - & my love my Maumee knows that she has always. Hal Spofford was in town for a few days, looking oh how old & changed. Not sick, specially, but anxious, & careworn & aged. -- She asked a hundred questions about the dear little Mother & Dickey, & wondered if they would ever again come to New England & see her "on her island", & send a store of love. She & Dick bought an island in the river near Newburyport, with a rambling, comfortable old house on it, & there the whole of the two tribes (Spoffords & Prescotts) abide. -- tho' Dick & she are, as usual in Washington for the winter. There has been a veritable epidemic of colds, & everyone here has fallen a victim, but we are all friskey once more. But my poor dear old Papa Cheney is dead,died a few days ago of pneumonia, - alas how comparatively few years I have lived, yet how many friends I have seen in this world for the last time. Laura sends her love to my Mother, & I send Maumee my heart AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. N.Y. 3. 26. 76 Dearest little Maumee, No news to set forth, - Libby is just as she has been, & Bernardo is lively, & Laura is "as usual," & they all send love to thee & Dickey, - & I am friskey after arespectable elephantine fashion, & do not need to send my love because my Maumee knows she has it always. Of course thee has seen that Carl Schurtz has lost his wife. Mrs. Austin writes me that she was a very lovely & superior woman, & that he will only be half the man he has been without her. I saw Bret Harte the other day & he looks not well. Poor fellow, he ought to have lived in the day when rich men were the patrons of genius, --If he could be put into a great library & be fed & clothed, & have all his worldly wants supplied, & beallowed to write & work unrestricted & unhampered he would do what is in him to do, but will never now come out of him. Is my Maumee reading anything that interests her - & what? I am glad she likes Dr. Lini, & how is she & the small Dickeys? Love thee. - & send Maumee my heart AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. New York. 4.5.76 Dearest little Maumee, Betty was over yesterday & told me all about her visit, & the two small, dear folks she had seen. She said Maumee was wrapped up & propped up in blankets, & was a sick little woman.--Bad, bad Maumee!--What has thee done to get a cold.--She has notbeen out for ages, not even into 1326, as Julie tells me.--She says they have been waiting a long time for my little Maum to come in to dinner, & she has not got even so far, so what could give her a horrid cold. I must come over for a day & see after it & scare my Maumee into being a "little lion" again. How did Betty look & seem to Phila eye?--I am so glad she got to Phila, & she thinks she will come over again. She wants to see you all,--& she is of the mind that the change does her good. Laura sends her love,--& I send my whole heart to my Mother. AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. New York. 4.9.76 Dearest little Maumee, --I am so, so sorry to hear she is sick again.--Poor, dear, sick, weak, bad little Maumee. What is to be done to make her stronger,--& why will she take such colds & get so ill. Betty was used up by her prowlings, & is sick in bed, - Pa Chatfield wrote to me, & Betsy wished endless store of love sent to thee & Dickey when I wrote, & she hopes to see you before long. I have no news for my little Maum, - But Laura wishes her love sent, - & I carry my dear one about in my heart all the time, AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. New York. 4.11.76 Dearest Maumee.-- Julie writes me word today, that thee is more comfortable,-- which is an infinite relief to me.--I was woefully afraid it was to be one of thy dire attacks that would pull thee down so as to make it a very long while tillthee "perked" up again. --This day is so bright & fine that I begin to hope something from the weather, tho' it has seemed as tho' thy spring would never come. Geo. Warner was here but I was out driving with Laura,--but hope he will call again.-- & Sam Bowles, looking thin, & grizzled, & old, but with all his ancient fire burning in his eyes was in on First day,--& wished his love sent to "Anna's Mother."--He is greatly exercised over the "Campaign", & hopes for Bristow.--I confess my weakness is for Washburn. Poor old Henry Wilson converted me soundly to that faith two years ago. Laura sends her love, & I sendmy whole heart to my Maumee. Anna New York. 4.12.76 Dear little Dick,--this letter, with its request to give introductions to men of whom I know nothing is so ridiculous that I must send it for thine & Maumee's perusal, & for the edification of 1326. Dear love AnnaNo. 35 E. 39 St. New York. 4.12.76. Dearest little Maumee, --I hope the day is as pleasant in Phila as it is here,--& that the little Maum is having a breath of fresh air through her windows at last. Laura & I went last evening to hear Moody & Sankey--& wentexpecting little, & finding nothing. Moody is a coarse, common, commonplace, vulgar, ignorant being.-- without eloquence, or training, or zeal, or personal magnetism-- neither spiritual nor impassioned. Believing, I suppose what he says but certainly not feeling it,--as indeed how should such a lump of clay feel anything. --Nobody seemed moved or even interested, tho' there was an immense crowd. Sankey sang reasonably well, with a good, natural voice that he does not know how to use Altogether it was the greatest proof that could be given of the power of stupendous ecclesiastical advertising. The people I think were there for a free show, & to look at one another morethan for anything else. Certainly they had no edification from what he said, for it was disconnected swash, nor pleasure from the manner of saying, for it was in a horrible high nasal twang, without grace or force.--I was fairly exasperated before I got away. Enough of him. I hope to hear better & better news of Maumee from day to day & send her my heart. Anna Love to Dickey Revere House Boston 5.4.76 Dearest little Dick,--I am busy, busy,--Too busy to write very fully. All goes splendidly. Every thing in the house was sold within an hour after the office was opened & people are paying, on the street, $5 for a seat. And they are buying for all the week.--The house is almost entirely sold for the first matinee. Pretty wellfor an untried cast! Mr. Waller, Mr Cheney's stage manager is an old love.--An actor of the old school & so all the better for me as my danger will never be over doing, but rather the reverse. A gentleman, a generous, noble, helpful, dear old fellow. Full of suggestions, & knowing just how to look after & mount the piece. One or two of the actors, at the first rehersal, tried to turn dirty, thinking they had a novice to deal with,--but I perceeded to sail in,-- take possession, & conduct my own rehersal --as Mr Waller said--as though I had been accustomed to it for twenty years,--since which they have behaved. The papers are nice as nice can be,--& so are all the people I have seen.--Please keep all the clippings I send, as they are the only ones I have. Is thee well settled?--& how is thee? & when does Mother come up.--I havejust written her--& what is Edwin's address, --I must write to him. Give my love to Mrs. Davies & the "boys" & take care of thy small self.--More anon. Anna[*Will send clipping from "Post" tomorrow, It is very favorable. Anna is all right.*] Boston May 10 '76 Don't let the N.Y papers deceive you or Anna's friends. She has made an unquestionable hit-- a magnificent triumph-- & is deemed between each not vociferously. She inspired wonderfully last night on the first night's performance, & that was even better than her most sanguine friends expected. Alls well. O.G.B. Mis. Susan E. DickinsonRevere House Boston. 5.16.76 Dear little Dickey,-- I have been so busy, & so awfully tired, & so generally overwhelmed that I could not see my way to even a note. All gone well here. That is to say I have made a success, & will do ten times better in the not far off future.--The New York papers were simply infernal, & the reactionis setting in against them everywhere.--Mr. Murray (Rev) says his exchanges are turning right face about all over the country.-- Bernardo will send the Hartford Courant which has just about the state of the case except that I was so nervous my voice was all pressed out of me, I felt as if I had a hand on my throat all the evening till the last act. I didn't do what I wanted to do, but all things considered I really think I worked a sort of miracle--& as to my play, it is just about up to the mark.--I have been beset by requests for it, so I know well enough whether it has money in it or not. I am too tired now to write anything straight.--Have been writing so many scrawls all day, will do better tomorrow. What is the word with thee & with Maumee.--& does she know, & what is Edwin's address. Love to the Davies. Dear love to Dick AnnaRevere House 5.26.76 My dear little Dickey,--I hope Bernard has kept thee posted in divers & sundry matters,--& that thee knows I think of thee & I do not write. I have not been playing since last Saturday.--Am getting ready to go next week with partof the Globe Theater company for a night each at New Haven, Hartford Springfield &c.--10 New England towns.--Of course thee knows I made no money here.--Mr. Cheney not informing Bernard of certain matters in connection with the business management of his house by which $350 have to be in the house before the theatre & the star begin to count --& after that I had to play up to $500 before I could touch a penny. I reached the margin --$850, every night, but of course made next to nothing beyond. I do not know whether I am making it plain,--& it is no matter, perhaps,-- suffice it, that it was an abominable piece of sharp practice on the part of Cheney.-- I had to play out the fortnight, but would not go into the thirdweek. What I need is time on the stage, & money, & I shall get some of both in this New England prowl. I have a lot of good offers now for next season; & one from Daly for New York through June but I will not go there --It is too late,--it will be too warm, & I am not going to New York till I can go just when, & as I like to go--If I hold out I will get my own place & terms there. I know that. As to my being a failure,--if it had not been for winter & [?] diabolism the thing would have been heralded as the greatest success ever known at a debut, which, dispassionately-- was exactly what it was. I am a thin beast, --as I have lost fullyten pounds since I came here,--but fortunately it doesn't show in my face.-- & I am picking up again.--I couldn't eat or sleep for a fortnight--none to speak of--& the result was "wearin''" but I see pretty smooth sailing ahead. --The Arch St theatre offers me 40 per ct-- enormous terms--but I am not going to Phila till I can go to the Acad. or the Walnut. --& not for the Centen. I am very glad that thee is having so good a time, & that Pittston is already doing thee good.--I expect to hop up there for a little visitation when I get through here.-- --What of our little Maumee?--Love to the Davies--& when does Mrs Davies go away. I do not know whether thee can read this acrawl. My pen & ink are simply infernal.--& I have been inwardlyswearing with every step of the way. Bernard will send tomorrow, the exact route we go,--(will not know the dates till then)--& also the Sunday papers,-- Dear love from AnnaAtlantic City, NJ. 9.4.76. My dear little Dick, I have been too lazy since I came here to write to any one, & as I was waiting to hear from Charlotte I did not muster sufficient energy to write to say that as yet I had nothing to write. Mother will have to arrange with Mary or Rachel Brownetemporarily, Charlotte will not have her rooms free till October, she has divers & sundry Centen. people there at present,--so I leave the writing to them to be done from that end of the line. I am glad Louise is with you.--give her my love, & tell her I will send her tomorrow, to Richard Davies care some things that I am done with.--How is she? I congratulate thee on getting back to Mrs Davies.--She is here now, but will go up this afternoon, & sends her love, as do I, to all the house. I snipped these notices for thee of Bret Harte's work.--I suppose thee has seen them--but perhaps not the Times. I never read anything more brutal,--&more markedly personal. Brooks, or Twain had to do with it, or I am mistaken. Certainly some one who is jealous of him, & has a grudge to serve out,--for there is no shadow of fairness in it. What is Edwin's address? & what is Mary's address?-- Dear love to Mother. Always affectionately Anna SueCleveland Ohio 11.16.76 Dear little Dick,--I have treated thee like a beast, but I have done no better by any one.--I have been so overworked.--& so disinclined to write to anyone, as to make me hate the sight of a pen. The Electionrow, of course hurt business, but I have covered my expenses, & this week I shall make something over, & next week I am sure to do still better, so I suppose I have no reason to complain.-- Everywhere the report of wretched houses is the same. People are in a great state in this region over the Election --Every one you see is reading a paper or wrangling over one,--& matters look more than squally. The worst of any new trouble is that if there is to be fighting, some of it will be in the north. The papers have generally been fair & kind,--but I have run against a dirty snag here, in the Herald.--The Leader is very nice,--the Herald is owned & edited by a friend ofMark Twain,--& his influence is as plain "as the nose on one's face." & if the one happens to be Mark Twains bird-of -prey-beak, it is very plain indeed. I have written to Mrs. Davies that I want you both to come to Phila while I am there.--I will know next week when the new play is to be brought out, & will write from Pittsburgh about it.--If Mrs. Davies only stays a few days I want her to be there so as to see both it & the Crown of Thorns. Of course I turned green in St Louis--as I always do.--but am a little better now.--When I get Miss Davies pills I shall be better still.--I might as well jump into a tomb as into this western climate. Otherwise I have got along very comfortably. The Companies at Cincinnati & Louisville, were admirable, & very kindlydisposed towards me. The St Louis company was so so, but so friendly that I was very sorry to get away from it. This at Cleveland is too vile to be permitted to live.-- Rude, coarse, illiterate, mean, boorish, jealous, brutal.--There are but three decent people in the whole crowd.-- I began by being polite to them. I go on by not knowing they are about me, any more than if they were so many cock-roaches.--Mr. Macanly warned me of it in advance.--For some reason this manager (Mr Ellsher) always does have a shabby set of people about him, & it is certainly not because he deserves them, for he is a very liberal manager, & a very nice old man. The new piece is a modern piece,--& will be one I think to take at once with the "great vulgar"--& since I need money more than anythingelse at present I have had an eye to them in writing it. What is thee busy about, & how is thee--& where is thee camped in Mrs. Davies stronghold. --& how do things go on--Tell me all thee cares to & know me to be always thine from the heart Anna Dick. I shall be at Pittsburgh next week.