Jul 24, 1932

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Dear Miss Driftmier,

I was deeply touched by your letter and I have thought
of you often, often. I realized today that I still have
pangs over Fleta - I don't know why. It is intangible,
incredible, and there is no desire now on my part to ever
see her again, but sometimes there is that strange pang.

How good of you to write about Guardian Angel! I do
appreciate it deeply. Harrison Smith is publishing it
sometime with about ten other stories, short ones, but he
is anticipating losing money on the volume and puts off doing
the job. I appreciate too your lovely congratulations
about our child. We expect it during the middle of August
and tomorrow we leave for hot Chicago. It is so strange
and wonderful to be looking forward to the experience, having
forgotten my hideous inadequacy in the face of the most tri-
physical
vial/pain. (Poor Fleta! - You never had anything real...)

This is only a note. I can't seem to write anything
these days. It is all inadequate. And I can find nothing
adequate to read.

I am thinking of you - and I can't say anything more
than you would say and already know - that we must let our
bondages be to those who give life, not death, and we must be
dependent upon those, those life givers - Yes? Every other
sort of suffering brings compensation except that Fleta kind.
And with that one can never feel like saying - "O strange and
beautiful life!" Thank you for writing to me.

Faithfully,

Margery Latimer Toomer

69 East Division Street
Chicago.

Cicero,

O East Division Street

Margery L. Timmer, Dean

Taffiness,

Pointful file! Thank you for writing to me.

And with that one can never feel like saying - 'O strange and sort of antlering prancing companion except that Flea kind.'

Dependent upon those, those file files - Yes! Every other

bundled be to those who give file, not heard, and we must be

adequate to read.

These days. If it is all inadvisable. And I can find holding

these days. If it is all inadvisable. And I can find holding

air/bain. (Four files! - You never had anything real...)

Physical

forbidden my Rubezahl in the face of the most cru-

the job. I appreciate too your finally congratulations

is anticipating losing money on the volume and but not doing

some time with about ten other stories, a sort one, but I

appreciate it deeply. Harrison Smith is planning if

How good of you to write about guardian angel! I do

see her again, our sometime there is just a strange hang.

And there is no desire now on my part to ever

It is intangible, It is intangible.

often.

I am deeply touched by your letter and I have thought

Jul 24, 1935

To Yvonne Duper

Portage, Wisconsin

Dear Yvonne,

Yes, it is so nice to say your name. Please do say
mine. There is a nice cottage outside of Portage. You go
through a wood where the Indians had a camp. You come to two
nice gates which must be opened and shut. Then you see a tiny
white farm house with a big tree in front and a creek running
past it. In the back an old sallow barn tumbling down on its
knees. Vegetables about to grow. Green-ness about. The sky
showing. I wanted so very much to come to Chicago and then I
thought, "Why not use the fare money to rent the house for a
week for about five people. Mr. Toomer, you, Mr. and Mrs. Grove,
and one other." There are three bed rooms and on the stairway
place for a couch for the fifth. There is a cunning dining room,
a small rather hot kitchen, no bath room, no electricity - nice
lamps that scare me to light. It is a lark for some one who only
knows city. Then there are fish in the creek and it is almost
as close to the screened porch as - I mean one could almost fish
from there. I don't like to fish. Perhaps you do. I thought we
might get acquainted and have a good time. I thought too I might
bring an offering of vegetables, flour, eggs, and perhaps a
chicken. How about it? The place hasn't been rented yet but they
are advertising in the Nation and the other city papers. It is
about seven miles from Portage. I have written to Mrs. Grove.
I would like to write to Mr. Toomer but I feel upset still about
having said that, still.

I have read my Scribner story and I loathe myself. I
believe so in loyalty and respect for a person's being and grati-
tude. I can't believe that I have done it. I can't believe
that it is about her. I had to write it. I had to speak or
go insane and nothing else would do, I had to write it and get
it published. But now I cannot accept it completely. I want
it to break everything off completely. But why did I have to
get in that mess in the beginning? Why? I want to be a differ-
ent person, different name, being, soul, everything new, not my-
self, not this tormenting division. It won't hurt her. She is
safe. Because her intentions are really good no matter how it
turns out. I feel like a ghastly hideous pumpkin, a Halloween
face tearing things apart. I couldn't have stopped myself from
it. I had to do it. But I cannot say wholly - You are an evil
person. I say instead - You are innocent. Shirley sent me the
notes from Mr. Toomer's lecture. "All our lives we have seen
ourselves as the Queen and not the Skunk....." I thought only
I was that way. It is a relief to know that others too.....
I say this I suppose as this miserable cry I can never stop -
always this explanation - this desire to be understood and ad-
wired - Oh, please like me everybody! Horrid. I had to explain.
I hope you'll think seriously about coming.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

April 3, 1932

Dear Margery;

Thank you for your letter- you are over-ap-
preciative. I wish I could have prevented her writing at all.
It was rather outrageous. She didn't mean what she said or the
way she said it of course. She was so worked up over Ray and
his job, of course that she forgot about everyone else. Every-
thing has quieted down by now and will all blow over. Most of
it was ridiculous. What Bruce would call a psychosis I suppose
seized the town. Don't feel too badly about it. Everybody up
there feels as always and you mustnt pay any attention to it.

there feels as always and you mustnt pay any attention to it.
You and Bruce have been through some hard
times- everyone is so untellably sorry. You were fine in what
you said. I am so glad you are in a place you like so much
and that I knows likes and appreciates you both. It might
have been some dreary town. We all want you back soon and
are all working on a plan which could help to make it possible
if it comes off. It is a venture and one can never tell wheth-
er such things will be a success or not. But I think something
will come of it.

If you get a clipping in which I am quoted as
having said certain things about last summer please dont take
it as true. What I said was twisted in certain places and w ays
that made it something quite different. I am sorry. But you
know all about newspapers by now.

know all about newspapers by now.
How are you? Are you alright? No one seems to
have heard from you for a long time. I read your story by the
way and liked it extremely- a good story most sensitively
done. How comds the novel? It is tantalizing to hear about and
not actually hear. You must have a busy life.

Faithfully-

1447 North Dearborn Street
Chicago Illinois.