Wichita eagle., 1889-06-02
MRS. ATHERTON'S REJOINDER.
She Writes a Letter at Ella Wheeler VIII
cox TO The New York Sun

She Writes Letter at Ella Wheeler VII
cox to The New York Sun.
Many readers of the newspapers have been
waiting ever since Ella Wheeler Wilcox gave
out the now famous correspondence between
herself and Gertrude Atherton, to see what
the latter, now in Europe, would say when
she heard about it. 1t was thought in some
quarters that she would maintain a silence
as cutting as undesirable to Mrs Wilcox,
who doubtless considered the matter an ex-
Eemely good lad, !" but not so. Here is Mrs
Atherton's rejoinder sent from Paris to The
New York Sun:
"You will allow me 10 thank you, no! for
your kind article upon my correspondence
with Mrs Ella Wheeler Wilcox, which, it
appears, she has published.
Poor, struggling little creature! Mrs
Ella Wheeler Wilcox seems to grasp at every
straw which carries her before the public
eye. Although had no time to more than
glance over her letters when received them,
it occurred to me then that they were written
for ultimate publication. Her elaborate
enumeration of her exalted sentiments re-
garding mankind In general and myself in
particular, as well as her systematic
review of my charms (which, by the way,
are unimpaired), looked very much as Il
dress parade were in prospect. Twas there
fore as cold and guarded as possible In my
replies not having the same craze for vulgar
notoriety which appears to agitate Mrs. VIII
COX, and not Wishing to lower myself to her
undignifed level That should quarrel with
her is impossible. am half a southerner,
and southerners have very stringent canons
On the question Of duenng.
81 am surprised that woman Of Mrs VII
cox1s noble sentiments should not have printed
the letter with which finished the CORE
spondence. II Is perhaps charitable to sup
pose thai this letter was lost in the mail; but
it is a remarkable fact that the rest of the
correspondence was not published until was
safely on this side Of the Atlantic. It read
as follows:
"My DEAREST Mrs WnCpx-Your letter was
feminine and interesting and all that was TO have
been expected, but you win pardon me if l do not
reply TO il never yet have descended to Dandy
ing words with a woman, and cannot begin nov.
This is the nearest approach have ever made TO
It, and / feel 1t TO be both ridiculous and con-
temptibie. Very sincerely,
''GEarRrDE AFHERrox
81 also find that she has Instructed Mr..
Box to state that was friend II hers, and
that abused her friendship. This is wholly
false. I called upon Mrs Wilcox once BE-
cause could not svoid doing 80 without
more rudeness than Il was worth while
to show. I did not go again because l
found nothing In her or her surround
ings 10 inspire my interest. She called
upon me once, and:I met her tuice afterward
on the street That is the extent Of the &C
quaintanca She sent NE several invitations
to her house, and my refusal Is probably one
secret Of this tempest In teapot When l
commented upon he1 In The Argonaut / did
50 as would upoa any nosoriety who passed
before my notice That bad ever met her
personally had quite forgotten
This Is all l shall ever say tn regard 70 the
matter It may be to Mrs. Wilcoxs interest
to keep the nstter going as long Is possible,
but shall take no further notice OF her.
"GRTRUpE ArEERroS."