The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-12-15
LOVE LETTERS
OF OSCAR TO
Ills AFFINITY
Miss Lee, Would-Be Opera
Star, Gives Out More
HammerStein MiSSives.
NOBODY succeeds IN this tportd
IN anything ne attempts unless
he keeps things to himself
Oscar Ham rteTStetn 10 F1'!urs.

The ruling axiom OF success IN Oscar
Tnnimerte.ns story OF his liee at the
Frfars' banquet was shown to Miss
Frances Lee tho Texas Patti" who Is
suing the inpresarlo for 500, 600 for al
legged breach OF contract in failing to
make her n grand opera star, us she re-
turned to her Riverside Drive apartment
after n horseback ride through tho park
with her sister and q woman companion
to-day.
'Shucks. Oscar is a great teacher
hut q poor pupil" she said. plying her
whip vigorously against the sides OF her
polished boots. Her handsome figure
was doubly impressive in her riding
habit The golden hair mentioned in
many Of the 800 letters Mr.. Halnrl srstein
admits writing. was prettily tied over
her right shoulder.
More OF His Letters.
Another chapter of the interesting love
letters OF oscar Hammerstein shows
that he was far from keeping all of his
secrets to himself. According to many
Of the 500 letters received by Miss Lee
in the period of seven years, lea lousies
We're rampant among his song birds. ~
money was borrowed In great sums and
theatres built, his health was impaired
by the nightmare" of worry, and above
all his love for the Texas Patti" seemed
the ruling Inspiration of his life. Only
last year he wrote:
My Adored Bruce-I am in my room
alone after massage: my back pains
fearfully and l won't go out until Tues
them and wonder at them. You are such
a peculiar creature. Well, Boose, every
body IS dissatisfied with me. 1 Just
lad l h6on,n from n M s and insists thst
writes that her position in my operas
demands that she receive superior at
tention; l wish all OF them had my
ba ckache YOUR OSCAR"
The day before this he wrote:
Dear Golden Bruce-l am keeping very
| quiet owing to my back. 1 visit nobody.
I think. I plot. act. In days gone by
knew thore was one girl who thought
surmiss. 1 shouldn't wonder but that
you will send me an announcement OF
your ensssement. Perhaps; later. l will
my rat hole in tho Victoria for co, couple
Of days TIL l feel well again. As l have
neither wife, nor child, nor any other
woman that feels for me. to tend to me,
by fate-tend to myself I hope the air
to make You happy. YOUR OSCAR"
-Four Letters a Day.
Earlier in his correspondence Oscar
would find time to wire a charncteris-
tic telegram. often enigmatical. as:
How much better and brighter tho
world looks TO me tonight I'm living
soF wat 6a is and s,wav, Will, b OSCAR ~,
first thought ana my last dollar
OSCAR"
In 1900, after Miss Lee says Mr.. Ham
merstein had hailed her az the Texas
Patti" and painted her future in glow
ing colors az the queen OF the opera
she received letters three and four
times day. and often kilograms. Many
arrived when she was spending the
summer in the Adirondacks. On read:
My Dearest. Dearest Bruce-Away
from you. nevertheless / have been
with youth spirit And / thought Of
you-how you were spending the sun
day. Do you go out at all? You saw
little Of yourself in your letters, Don't
you see any one at the house? Do get
exercise! Is the sojourn in the country
making any .perceptible change In your
health and throat? These things inter
est mo.
Your spirit turks about my room.