NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE IRWIN, INEZ H.,1947-60, INEZ HAYNES IRWIN 240 WEST 11TH STREET NEW YORK 14, N.Y. January 8, 1947 Dearest Maud: Yours was the first Christmas card I received and it was doubly welcome for bringing such splendid news of you. What a woman|Mrs. Stantial is! How happy I am that she has you and you have her! I am sure it is so per fect an alliance that the U.N. should take note of it and make an inten sive study. I applaud your choice of works---to bring about friendly relations with Russia and fair treatment of the negroes in our own country. The second one---although I am with you in every sense in regard to the first---lies very close to my heart. I have always had Negro maids, you know, and some how I have, through them, achieved a feeling for what|Mary Mills, my favorite (who worked for us for years and still comes to us, although prosperously married, for teas or weddings) calls "the race." I sent her for Christmas, a novel called QUALITY, written by a white woman about a southern colored girl who was so white that when she went north to be educated, she permitted people to believe that she was white. The drama comes when she goes south again. Although I much prefer books about Negroes by Negro writers, this is sympathetic and understanding. Also there is a very readable book COLOR BLIND, by a woman names Halsey which is attracting a great deal of attention. I differ with her here and there, but in the main it provides a fighter, in the black people's cause, with plenty of ammunition. Happy New Year and all my love! Inez December 27, 1949 MRS. WILL IRWIN SCITUATE MASSACHUSETTS Dear Mrs. Stantial: I am apparently guilty of what seems a great discourtesy and a grave negligence. But I am innocent of either. I answered your letter within two days, but your letter -- the letter, not the envelope which got lost in the Christmas mail -- gave your street address, but not the town. I thought you lived in Cambridge and addressed you there. But when Maud Park's Christmas card came I found it was postmarked Melrose. When the letter comes back I'll forward it to you. Contritely Inez Haynes Irwin POST CARD [postage stamp] [postage seal] SCITUATE DEC 23 1220PM 1849 MASS Mrs. Edna L Stantial 21 Ashmont Street Melrose Massachusetts Scituate Massachusetts September 29, 1950 Dear Mrs. Stantial: How sad it makes me to hear that Maud has continued to become less and less herself. And how deeply I regret that I must put off your and her coming here until next spring. I am leaving for The Hatchway, Provincetown, Massachusetts very soon and we are packing. I hope to send my book Adventures of Yesterday - or rather the manuscript of that book - to my publisher before I leave here. It is the longest and most difficult book I have ever written - names, data and places by the hundred; the majority to be looked up. My greetings to you and my love to my beloved Maud. Sincerely, Inez Haynes Irwin P.S. Of course I have and have always had here a telephone W279 Scituate Cold Spring Harbor---Long Island---New York---Sunday, April 20, 1952 Dear Mrs. Stantial: What a kind creature you are, how thoughtful, how full and running over with the milk of human kindness! It was, of course, interesting and thrilling to hear about my beloved and much-admired Maud Park. How I should delight to see her! I am on something of a spot, it happens, in regard to plans for the near future. One thing is settled. On Friday, May 2, we motor back to Scituate, to spend the summer and fall in my home on Second Cliff. But, alas, as much as my sister and I want it, we cannot go into my house for certainly thee weeks, perhaps a month. This is the reason. I have a brother, Harry, living in Scituate. He will be, next November, ninety-two years old. His wife must, this month, undergo a operation, in one eye, for cataract. How long she will be away at the hospital is uncertain. My house, having only the heat of a huge fire place and a kitchen stove, would be too cold for my brother. And, so, my sister, Mrs. Thompson and I, will go straight to them on Beals Place, Scituate and stay there, keeping house for him, until his wife returns and can navigate on her own steam. I want very much to invite you two there, but it would be rather unsatisfactory as far as the joy of reunion is concerned. But I will let you decide that. Yet, surely---surely----I shall be in my own house in June. If you believe it best to come, write me and I will give you full directions as to how to get to my brother's house----all very simple. Otherwise, it must be June or in the autumn. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending me that article with so pleasant a picture of my husband and myself, working over a manuscript together. It brought the inevitable sense of agony, but I am quite willing to pay that price to possess this lovely souvenir of our wonderful life together. My warmest thanks, my deepest esteem! Inez Haynes Irwin Dear Edna Stantial: I received your thrilling letter yesterday . My head is ablaze with your project. My thoughts buzz with ideas. I will write you later about them. Alas, eighty-five years-old never leaving the house, I cannot myself do it, but I will help in any way I can. A letter follows. Affectionately. Inez Haynes Irwin MRS. WILL IRWIN 10 CRESCENT AVENUE SCITUATE MASSACHUSETTS Dear Mrs. Stantial: June 11, 1955 I did send to Radcliffe College 27 cartons of books, including my precious Brontë collection. Of course, however, I shall be delighted to receive and own the book you write me about and so generously offer me. But only on condition that you send them C.O.D. What an ace you are! As ever, gratefully yours, Inez Haynes Irwin Mrs. Will Irwin Scituate Massachusetts SCITUATE Feb 18 4:30PM 1958 MASS. Mrs. Guy Stantial 21 Ashmont Street Melrose 76 Massachusetts MERRIMADE-LAWRENCE, MASS. POST CARD SCITUATE JUN 11 12:00 PM 1955 MASS. To Mrs. Guy Stantial 21 Ashmont Street Melrose 76 Massachusetts 1. The Meeting House Inn Kent Street, Scituate, Massachusetts February 27 - 1958 - Thursday My dear Edna Stantial: Your letter is dated February 11 and I have taken three weeks to think about it. I will answer your questions and suggestions in the order in which they come in your letter. You ask me if I am "still in the business." Alas and alackaday, no! Last year, I wrote a boys' book, "God's Lion" Why a boys' book I know no more than you. But I had to realize then that it must be my last book. I have written -- I don't know numerically how many -- but somewhere between forty and fifty. How I would love to write Maud's life, what pains I would take with it! I would weigh every adjective, meditate on every word. But, alas, dear girl, in 2. a few days, I shall be eighty-five years of age. I would not even think of that if some of the more corroding, the more weakening, the more painful diseases of the flesh had not settled on me. I walk with a cane. I fell July 4th of last year and -- then -- something happened to the bone of my leg. I never go out. I cannot walk far. Often beloved friends in Scituate come to take me to ride. Otherwise, I see only what can be seen from my window of the gay, glowing, glittering world that I love so deeply. My house on Second Cliff, Scituate is a big house -- eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a huge living-room -- but it is a summer house. I live there from May 1 to November 1 and here from November 1 to May 1. But there, I can go onto one of my three broad piazzas. 3 I would not be able to make any of the many many contacts I would have necessarily to make, in writing a life of Maud. And -- putting it one way -- I have not been on a railroad train for years. I do not know who can write Maud's life so well as you. Could you undertake it? You appreciated her splendid integrity; her peerless sense of humor, her matchless fairness generosity and kindness, her all-round gift of genius. You appreciate, as many must, her talent as a writer. At Radcliffe College, our English composition teachers always gave her As, in recognition of her brilliant, forceful style. I was a poor second to her. What I had, in ocean-like richness, was creative ability. All I ask is -- whoever writes her biography -- that I may pay my tribute to her in several pages of print. She was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen and, in many ways, the ablest 4 As to Front Door Lobby, I have never, of course, read it. But -- despite Mr. Jordan and his limited conclusions -- I know that, if Maud Wood Park wrote it, it is superlative. You ask me "Would you be willing to give a little towards it from your 'charity' budget this year?" Indeed I will. But -- aside from Maud's work, there will be no charity budget this year. When my house was built, they put in iron water-pipes from the house to the road. Copper pipes were not in use then. This year the water pipes -- in a state of disintegration -- have been replaced by copper pipes. I have just paid the bill $731.09 Needless to say that that totally unexpected bill puts a big hole in my financial resources. I will give $25 towards the publication of Front Door Lobby. It's all I can give. Now, when can you come to me? If time is not of the essence, I would prefer to entertain you at 5 my own house after May 1 10 Crescent Avenue, Second Cliff. But if it is important come here for luncheon and the day. Luncheon is at 12 (noon) o clock sharp. It is not a meal to which I ever invite anyone, But it will be enough for two women in a hurry. My sister, Mrs. Paul Thompson will be with us. Dinners are ordinarily delicious. They are at 6 o'clock sharp. Kent Street, you will find by the enclosed map. (I hope.) Anticipatingly, Inez Haynes Irwin The Meeting House Inn Kent Street-----Scituate, Massachusettts Tuesday, March 15, 1958 My dear Edna Stantial: First of all, I must apologise for the pallor of this typewriter ribbon. Buying a new ribbon is not difficult in this town, but getting it put on -----ah there's the rub, as Mr. Shakspeare so feelingly said. Neither my sister, Mrs. Thompson, nor I, can perform this puzzling and delicately detailed job. It takes a machinist, a mathematician and a neat worker, rolled into one. And there is no one that I can hire to do the work for me. When new-ribbon time approaches, I consider all the less painful forms of suicide. Second of all, I emclose a check for twenty-five dollars. I apologise for the size of it, but on that I had no choice. I received a few weeks ago, a bill of $731. for an utterly unexpected expense. My house on Secdong Cliff was built in 1911. Iron pipes, for the water, were put in, at this time, extending through the house and from the house undergrounud to the road where they joined the town's conduits. Suddenly, it was discovered that they had gone to pieces and that all copper pipes must take their places. I was completely unprepared for that of course, being as innocent as a baby in regard to all expenses pertaining to the house. But I am a prudent, unextravagant, thrifty person and I never spend my whole income. $731. was something however and I have had to live small ever since. I did not of course know how to make out the check. I would advise you always in letters, asking for money, to tell how the check is to be made out ---I mean to whom. ALSO WILL YOU PLEASE CASH THIS CHECK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. people, with checking accounts, dread charity subscriptions, for the amateur collectors ----naturally enough----holds the checks until they have accumulated and then sends them to the bank. Once, I remember an organization kept my check for three months, before they cashed it----to the manifest confusion of my check-book. Some one ought to write an article on this, for the check-book people hate a charity as they do the devil. And now I come to the matter of your day with me. My beloved grand-nephew is coming here to this Inn for a week, beginning April 4 and extending about a week. I have just passed my eighty-fifth birthday and, naturally, I dont look forward, with any degree of certainty, to many more. I love Lawrence Wharton Cookman more than this pen (I mean typewriter) can tell. I would like to have every day free, while he is here, for I may never see him again. Could you, therefore, come to me any day AFTER MONDAY, APRIL 14. perhaps you will change your mind and come to me---at my own house on i0, Crescent Avenue, Second Cliff Scituate. You will have there a much better luncheon than here. However I want, as much as is possible to suit your convenience. So, if your choice is irrevocably set on this Inn, come and starve with me. I shall be delighted to see you! Sincerely, Inez Haynes Irwin [*Irwin*] 10 Crescent Avenue Scituate, Massachusetts Saturday, June 7, 1958 Dear Mrs. Stantial: How sorry I was to have to write you----or rather, telegraph you----putting off our meeting once more. But I seemed to have no choice. Helen Kimpton, who died, was an old and beloved friend. I did not expect her death, but it seems that her closest friends and relatives did. She was a great grandmother, but very beautiful and very smart. We hoped that the funeral would be on Thursday, but naturally we said nothing about our preference. And early Tuesday, we learned that it would be Wednesday. Then----and not until then----could I telegraph you. I know that you are going away soon. If you would like to put off your excursion to Scituate until autumn, please do. But if you prefer to come here in the interval before you leave, , I have engagements but for two days---Wednesday, June 11 and Saturday, June 14. All other days I will hold clear until I hear from you. I hope that you will forgive me this date mix-up, but somehow, where death----surely the blackest, iciest catastrophe in all life is concerned----we seem to have no choice. I enclose this postcard, entirely for your convenience. Forgive me anything and everything that I have done. As ever affectionately, Inez Haynes Irwin 10 Crescent Avenue Scituate, Massachusetts June 20, 1958--Friday Dear Edna Stantial: I am glad that you have put off your coming to Scituate to July or August, for some of the terrors and horrors of old age have descended suddenly upon me. My brother, Harry Haynes, who lives not far from me in Scituate, has just gone to the hospital with an attack of diverticulitis. Harry is ninety-seven years old and the doctor gives us no hope that he will live to leave the hospital. I am in addition, far from well, myself -- a weakness, which is exaggerated by my mental condition. Thank you for your kind and courteous postcard. Sincerely, Inez Haynes Irwin 1. The Hatchway; 74 Commercial Street Provincetown; Massachusetts Sunday, January 11, 1959 Dear Mrs. Stantial; Thank you for your charming Christmas card - so sprightly and gay with all its scarlets. A New Year, so beautiful as to be unbelievable, with all its happy fortunes, to you. And I must apologise for not writing you before. But in the middle of last summer, my oldest brother -- Harry -- died. He was ninety-seven years of age and, as we Hayneses pride and preen ourselves (we have Indian blood) on our long-livedness, I wanted him to reach a hundred years. But as soon as I heard from Dr Blanchard that he would suffer woefully if he lived, I wanted him to go. I grieved though. He was the head of the Clan of Haynes. Now all my brothers 2. are dead -- Frederich Charles Gideon -- who was my half-brother -- Walter the youngest; Gideon who was almost as old as Harry and Harry himself (Please pardon me that I must continue in pencil, but all my mechanical pens have given out -- the third on Page 1. It is Sunday and impossible to get a refill.) I shall be here until May 2. Then back to my home at 10 Crescent Avenue; Scituate, Massachusetts. If it is not too late to talk about our nonpareil (I hope that last word is correctly spelled) Maud Wood Park, perhaps you can come to me there. I have volumes to say about her, her great physical beauty her great character beauty and her great intellectual beauty -- her fairness, her humor, her sense 3. of the loveliness and tragedy of life, neither of us had any religious beliefs but we both believed that a life-after-death was the only fair arrangement. With this comes not only my love but these two pictures of Provincetown which I hope you will enjoy. Sincerely yours, Inez Haynes Irwin The Hatchway; 74 Commercial Street Provincetown, Massachusetts Wednesday, January 28, 1959 Your letter fills with that despair to which old age is occasionally susceptible. You are so busy and so busy on such important things But eighty-five years of age (within a month of eighty-six) is not seventy-five years or sixty-five years or fifty-five years. Alas and alackaday it takes its toll of one's vitality, as though it were ninety-six. How I wish I could help you! But let me answer your questions first. I have not seen the memorial pamphlet to Mrs. Catt, nor have I happened to hear of Elinor Rice. Alma Lutz I know -- admiringly -- by name. How I shall welcome her paen of praise of the Grimkes! I have never read Front Door Lobby and I am alarmed at your sending a copy of the manuscript. As for Maud Wood Park, I'll save my raptures till we meet at my house. Inez Haynes Irwin The Hatchway -- 74 Commercial Street Provincetown, Massachusetts St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 1959 My dear girl: I shall have to reveal to you what I have hitherto concealed from you, that I am not well. Indeed I am by no means myself. Arthritis, the dread enemy of old age, has attacked me in both my knees. ("Inez's kneeses" I call them) I never go out, except when friends come, in their cars, to take me to ride. I have not been out of The Hatchway, except when my niece has come to take me autoing. That niece is Phyllis Duganne whose short love stories in The Saturday Evening Post are my delight. I tell you, in confidence, that the S.E.P. pays her $3000. a piece for them. Not three hundred, three thousand. Also they beg, entreat, beseech, pray to her for more stories. Now let me answer your questions or 2. discuss your problems and perplexities in the order in which you have taken them. 1. I shall delight to read Front Door Lobby if you will lend it to me and let me take my time. 2. In regard to the letter from the publisher of the Beacon Press I do not understand what he means by his strictures on Maud Wood Park's style. He says, "Is it possible to edit this considerably or does the manuscript have to stand as Mrs. Park wrote it. There are many places where she is pretty girlish, etc." I can say only of this that you having read Mrs. Park's manuscript and being in her confidence, must edit it if editing is necessary. At Radcliffe College, we -- professors, assistant professors, and students -- considered Maud Wood Park's style perfect. I would never have dared, even to myself, to compare myself with her. 3. I was brimming and running over with creative energy, which resulted in more than forty books and more than a thousand short stories and articles. But as a stylist, I was not in Maud Park's class. 3. I do not know either Alma Lutz or her book, but it is likely that authors living in different sections of the country, will expend their greatest enthusiasm on the suffragists of their State or States. Then and then only, will the movement have grown up -- come of age literarily. 4. I thought Mrs. Roosevelt's letter wise, just, and enthusiastic. Although technically I am a Republican (I hate both parties with a hatred that is untinctured with charity!) I have the greatest admiration possible for Eleanor Roosevelt. To me, she is the greatest woman in the world. 4. 5. I do not understand why Alma Lutz told Mrs. Holder that the Beacon Press required no subsidy from you. There must be some mistake. If I were you, I'd write her -- a courteously trusting letter -- asking her about it. 6. You ask me if you ought to try another publisher. I can't answer that. I don't like what they say about Maud Park's style. But -- knowing nothing about Front Door Lobby -- I must leave that to you. I would believe the strictures of the Beacon Press are pure, undiluted nonsense. Don't come to me. I am ill. But anything and everything that I can do for you, by letter, in the quiet of my room, I will do. Later perhaps you can come to Scituate. We return May 1, 1959. My love and my sympathy and my understanding always, Inez Haynes Irwin 1. Mrs. Will Irwin Scituate Massachusetts Wednesday, July 8, 1959 Dear Mrs. Stantial, First of all I must tell you that I have not gone out of this house during the summer, except when friends have called, with their cars, to take me 2 to ride. I have been ill with a frightening eye condition and a general weakness throughout. I do not feel like myself and I have invited no company here as the effort always seemed too much for me. I do not know whether this is the result of being eighty-six years of age or not. It is my considered opinion that being eighty-six years of age is enough for one women to stand and is sufficient punishment for anything the said woman may have done. Yesterday your book arrived. What can I do for you? I shall delight to do it -- if you do mind the delay 3 and will put up -- after a long and healthful life on my part -- with my frequent illnesses, Otherwise, after reading it, I will send it, with a letter, back to you. There are four pages of ink-written notes. Like all notes, they are puzzling Even to their author, but utterly 4 Enigmatic to another author. Here am I -- a devout worshiper of Maud Wood Park -- of no use to you whatever. Please, please, please understand how I wish it could have been otherwise. I have a great admiration for you and I sign myself you devoted, humble servant, Inez Haynes Irwin 1. 10 Crescent Avenue; Scituate; Massachusetts May 23--Monday (1960) Dear Mrs. Stantial: I will try to answer your letter in the order in which you have put your questions. I am so grateful that Maud Wood Park had you for a friend that I don't know how to put it in English words. Perhaps that last sentence will convey to you something of my feeling. I am thrilled at the thought of Maud's book, Front Door Lobby. What a perfect title! And how like her. Remember, if you have not already put my name on your list, that I want a copy. I quote your fourth paragraph in its entirety—or entiety—I cant for 2 the life of me think of the correct word. "The director of the Radcliffe archives is at work on a biography of Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell; Elinor Rice of N.Y. is writing a new biography of Lucy Stone, and some other New York woman is doing a new life of Dr. Elizabeth." Who do you mean by "Dr. Elizabeth?" I cannot alas lend you my copy of "Angels and Amazons" I have but one copy of that book and as it is out of print, I cannot lend it—I use it for reference often. You say, "Please tell me what I should do with Maud's personal file of letters from Robert et al." I don't know what to do with those letters. I am the last person to advise you. But I cannot bear the 3 thought that a single precious word by Maud Wood Park, or by her admirers, be destroyed. Perhaps the thing to do would be to seal them and leave them (at your death) to some Votes-For-Women organization to publish. I knew Charles Park intimately. She was secretly married to him (I think) when we were at Radcliffe College together. Also I knew Edward Filene. But Robert Hunter and Cyrus McCormick I never met. My final word of advice is, "Leave the letters or documents to posterity to make the decision." But I agree with you that Maud's story—so romantic, so charming— should be written. I never heard of and, therefore, 4 have never read, Maud's The Inside and the Out. I knew that Edward Filene wanted to marry Maud but I knew nothing about Cyrus McCormick. I do not think the truth "ever reflects on her work or on the movement," (to use your words. I do not think it necessary "to wait until all of her contemporaries have gone." Maud's story is too big a one and she too stunning a woman for that. But—if advice is what you want, ask someone else—as many wise women as you can. I am still ill—not in any sense my old self. But I shall be 88 years of age in 5 March. I cannot expect it of myself or of anybody else. I think I shall send for my physician at once and try to struggle along As ever and with great love and admiration, Inez Haynes Irwin P.S. That you may know how busy an author I was, I have written forty-odd books. I met all kinds of distinguished men when I married Will Irwin—both here and in Europe. I knew Mr. and Mrs. Hoover intimately in London before he was President and, later, at the White House. The mere living of life was an enchantment. I don't have to tell you what an agonizing experience, this has been, even though after the second day at the hospital I had no doubt as to the outcome. But there were three days at home and the first two here when a little jag-pointed wheel seemed to be revolving with a terrible speed in my heart. All my love! Inez P.S. You can sign his name to it or not—whatever you prefer 321 East 17th Street New York City Dear Maud Park: Consider yourself offered greeting and assurances of eternal affection The enclosed letter, which you will please return, explains itself. You must know about the Industrial Commission I attended all its meetings in San Francisco and New York and am coming on to Boston for it. Chairman Walsh who is a Big Person is a great friend of mine and I know Weinstock pretty well. Maud Younger's scheme is great. Walsh told me that the two weeks' hearings would 2 [be held] start April first - but maybe, [he] being Catholic, he will steer away from Holy Week. I have written Maud Younger (whose place is second only to yours in my affection - Mauds seems to be my ruin) that I'll skin her alive if she does anything for the Fitzgerald faction. Anyway whenever the Commission starts, I'll be there. Did you know I was a fierce labor - fan? Yep - second only to feminism with me. As ever I shall be with Mrs. Dugan, 121 St Stephen's Street Inez P.S I suppose you know who Maud Younger is - the "millionaire waitress" - first society girl in San Francisco then does settlement work in N.Y. - becomes waitress - joins union - writes experience for McClure's becomes great labor-sympathiser - worked like a Trojan for suffrage in California got the eight-hour law for women through in California - has worked for suffrage in many states - spent a month in Nevada last year at end of campaign - inspiring speaker. your husband. It is of course prepaid. You are sweet! As ever and forever your friend Inez Haynes Irwin Mrs. Will Irwin Scituate Massachusetts Tuesday, September 29, 1959 Dear Mrs. Stantial: I am sending your life of Maud Mood Park to you at once. Scituate being what it is - a small town with none of the big-city accompaniments - the Express may arrive for it today, tomorrow or the next day, However I tried to return it to you in exactly the same order in which I received it. And I hope the express will speed. It is a great work on a great life. I am so happy that my beloved Maud had so gifted a biographer. I could and would write more but I have been ill, at intervals, all summer. Please do not come to see me now, I want to be at my best when I receive you and Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.