Sunday in the Chicago Tribune (they are going to run it here only Sundays, in New York and elsewhere daily) They say they have sold it to a paper in Buffalo and one in St. Louis already. I hate to see it actually in print, but I am awfully glad to get the $50 per. The trouble is they are clamoring for the next month's installment, I will have to spend all the rest of the week concocting it. Sent the didactic and bombastic theatre article off... Just want the fun of imitation. Not in style, but in action.

I suppose you know what very deep good wishes I have for you- I certainly do not have to say what you must know. When I think of what you are doing and what you want to do and what you have written - what you have said and how you have said it- from what an extraordinarily pure and vital spring it so apparently- so obviouslysprings, and how you have to wait about for some chance to get someone to print it- well, both some feeling of anger- really hot- and some very deep-essential I am certain- good wishes-is the idyllyphrase I can get hold of- take possession of me. Of course you touch most people that way- produce some- kind of ache in them that you feel for something very rare. I don't know what it is- reverence or love or what- but you will know, thank goodness! Which saves me much thinking!

I am enclosing some papers which might interest you. I dont know why I nevdr did before. You may have seen them. If not, would you like me to send them along from time to time? Much of it you may not even care to read. Other things may interest you. They are surprisingly all and clearly worded. I cannot tell you anything about them; you read more of them you will find out more. I think you might find it worth your while to see them. These are just preliminary; but there is a definite order. One person gets more from them than another, of course, depending on his vision. You would find many things I know nothing about- I thought that in Canada you might have a few more minutes to read. But let me know. And if you send me back the pledge will you also return the paper called Necessity of Reserve? I have no copy and will have to make one.

Warm regards to Douglas- tell him to take even extra good care of you- tell him too I have been reading Adler and it hits me very much in the solar plexus. One feels after reading much of him that the whole world, especially oneself, is absolutely neurotic! I am beginning to receiver a bit by now, and the ideas make some things in people very intelligible; but I cannot stay in such a world too long at a time.

And real love to you- you were very good and cross and sweet to me- I am very, very grateful. By the way, do you get New Republics up there? Did you see the article on Gurdjieff in this week's issue?

June 17, 1929

Dear Bruce;

Our letters cross beautifully. It was fun to get yours- you sounded as if you were having not only an interesting time but a jolly one. Of course the beer and other liquor you must have from time to time makes me frightfully envious. I entertained royally one evening with the remainder of the Benedictine and the London cigarettes- Mark Tobey and David were so impressed!

I wonder if you have been up in the air yet. Do tell me about it. I am curious to know how it seems to you. I presume Douglas keeps the same rhythm even in the air. It would be amusing to see him.

Last week was very rainy and cold- this week is so hot and damp one can hardly breath, only for a little wind that now and then comes up from the lake and which is surprisingly but ineffectually cool. I have been working very hard. Written many begging letters for Weisenborn, from which I am getting good returns- it means about one hundred and fifty to two hundred for me, so it is worth the trouble; and a good vacation for him. Done some more publicity for the Mad King so that I can sell one or two of his paintings I am working on- to make it easier. This will be mild compared to the other, however. Just brief notices. Finished all my Numerology charts, rewrote again the theatre article- I simplified the style a good deal, it having come back from one magazine with a polite "heartily sorry" note. And now I am working on the next month's, Numerology articles. I will enclose Sunday's article. There are all sorts of printer's mistakes; but perhaps by next Sunday they will get it all straight. We had so much discussion about the name that they left off one altogether. But that will also be remedied by the next edition. In all the other papers- New York Buffalo, St. Louis and Detroit, they are run as daily articles- one a day. Don't you think it is funny for me to be having an actual column? Let us hope I keep it long enough to get all my debts paid. It is a marvelous feeling, this seeing a way to actually get caught up and then perhaps get ahead. I can hardly believe it is true.

I still have not been able to collect the $11 due you on pledges for present- but I will soon, Bruce. Dolly owes you $10 from last month which she is going to send you. And I hope soon to be able to do likewise.

I have written all kinds of letters to people also about Chaunsey- Drackman- to see if he cannot get something. Everything is still dragging on with him and it is getting very much on his nerves. He is in the throes of moving now- tomorrow. Eugenia is going to lend him her large truck, in her usual thoughtful and good way. He is writing you himself, however. I will enclose some cuttings he gave me for you, and some I saved myself.

The group goes on merrily, according to reports. Paulenne goes, and gives me the news. The south side group- no -Herman and Nena seem to be doing their best to keep the thing going.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Saturday June 29, 1929

Bruce dear;

Will you do something? Could you write one of
your special kind of letter to Drackman so as to pep him up a
bit? He is so low in mind, and looks so thin and run down
physically that it is very sad to see. He not only looks on
the verge of tears any moment, from nervousness, but he has a
most distressing, pained, and rather wild look in his eye -
you know, the way animals look sometimes when they are in
pain. I don't know how much he non-identifies. He has been
out and not in here for the last two or three days, feeling
ill. Your letter would remind him.

Julia has taken it upon herself the last two or
three weeks to come in to town daily and get a job. It is all
very well, only she has to have money to run around with, and
be given meals here; and of course she has not been able to
make any money, and I fear me cannot. Drackman is willing to
let her- we all think it is a good plan, only she has taken
such a poor time to start out- because he thinks she will
learn a great deal, which is inevitable. Also while all the
housework falls on Toma,- and as Anne has the measles it is
a great deal- Toma prefers it this way. Julia goes into town
early in the morning and does not come back until after din-
er. Of course she loves it, and also feels that she is going
to make thousands of dollars. But it does not make it any eas-
ier for Drackman. And I think it adds to his sense of defeat
and incapability. Toma prefers it, because while she has to
work all the time, she is very capable, and says that her moth-
er is now not so cross to the children when she is at home,
and does not pity herself quite so much. Of course she is at
home practically not at all because she comes into town on
Sunday also, her first venture being to try to sell land for
some sub-division firm.

Mercy- what a tale of woe! But if you could
write him a cheering kind of letter, or whatever you think best
and get his mind off just the particular problem he is in, it
would do him so much good. He misses you to talk to so very
much. He is trying all kinds of things. But each person he
sees tells him that to change from one business to another at
his age is just about impossible- which is nonsense, of course.
But he is getting to almost a hypnotized state. He moved a
week ago- they have a much nicer house, with a wonderful gard-
en- and did all his own carrying, which was stupid. He has
not felt well since. But he got into an obstinate state where
apparently Mother could do nothing with him. With the except-
ion of Mrs. Walcott's boy's helping him with the piano and the
side-board, he and Gordon packed and lifted and carried every-
thing else.

Well, & have certainly made it seem hectic! It
is not so bad- I am trying to put it all down quickly and get
this off air-mail today. A word from you to him would mean a
great deal, and be so diverting and cheering and -more. I know
you will probably write him anyway. But I thought if you knew
the situation you might do it more quickly.

I will write something more general next time.
I have not seen many of the group lately. Elise telephones and
Dale, but I have been too busy to see many people, and not

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

especially inclined. The group has decided to have weekly parties, rather than work groups, and try to get some psychological data about themselves from the parties, I believe.

Clio telephoned on Tuesday and said she would be in some day this week; but so far hasn't turned up. Had tea yesterday with Lucile Swan. She had had a talk with Hugh Ferriss about the Gurdjieff work in New York, and is very interested to know more. She says he stopped drinking for a long time, and apparently very easily; but that she heard he was doing so a little now, only not so much.

I am pegging away at the newspaper articles. I am a month ahead, anyway, which is something. The weather is gorgeous - neither hot nor cold. I think I will take Mother and perhaps Gordon and go down to the shack for a couple of weeks. I will try to get away next week end, if the family situation is such that it seems possible.

With love and many, many thanks for anything you
can do for Drackman-

1447 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, Ill.

July 10, 1929

Our sweet Bruce;

Thank you for your letter about Chaunse,
and your letter to him. The latter was especially
darling, and a great help. It really cleared the horizon,
and is helping very much to put him on his feet. Also it made me
really wish I were a man! I insist you never would be quite
as nice to anything feminine- too much on guard. You have
had reason to be, 'goodness knows.'

The last week has been so hectic that I
am not as clear about Chaunse as I might be otherwise. I
had a long talk with him last night, however, and think
the vacation thing will perhaps not be necessary for a
while. He has been ill for about a week, seems to have
strained himself with the lifting. But he is beginning to
feel energetic again, and may in a few days begin to stir
around a little about a job again. I cannot tell you wheth-
er he should strike bottom or not. I will certainly watch
and keep my eyes open. He is absorbed in the Julia affair. No
that he sees only a little of her in the evenings he is
forgetting that she is in any way difficult, and is feeling
sorry for her and definitely antagonistic to the family be-
cause he thinks they try to separate them. We are being very
careful to say nothing about her at all. It is the only way.
I had to ask him however to try to keep her away from Mother,
however, because she comes in and demands money from Mother,
which Mother has not got- and considering that we have been
carrying them for six months it is obvious on the face of it.
And Mother gets frantic. He thinks nothing actually about
sacrificing the children to Julia's whims. Mentally once in
a while he says that all the housework is too much for Toma,
with the care of the children. And yet actually he does not.
But we will have to see what develops the next few weeks.
Elaine will do nothing about him, I fear. But I will see
if there is any other way. She herself is in the hospital
at present for observation. She should be. I have my opinion
of what is happening- too many sleeping drugs- but will see
what the doctors discover.

I got home last Wednesday at seven o'clock to find Dolly, who had been feeling badly for a couple of days, had gone to a doctor in Winnetka, who had hurried her down to the Evanston hospital, saying she had appendicitis, must stay there for a couple of days, and be operated on on Friday for it. I telephoned around, to the doctor and to the hospital, and by the time I had gotten in touch with him and Dolly it was eight oclock, and the doctor discovered her blood count was going up, and that he must, he thought, operate immediately. Will said he would go down and I got a taxi and went up, arriving after she had gone into the

operating room. One of Eugene's children had died and the family had gone up to Oconomowoc to the funeral and had not yet returned. Dolly was in the operating room for over two hours, and I had a very difficult and trying scene in the middle of the operation with the doctor and Will and Elaine. Elaine acted like one possessed, and Will had not enough sense not to let her have her way. They wanted to do all sorts of things which I would not agree to. It was not at all a matter of life or death, and I would not agree, knowing how Dolly would feel. I finally won out, after a strenuous battle, It took much observation, and left Elaine furious at me. It simply got to be a matter of her having her way because it was her way. Dolly is getting a long beautiful, however, and should be back at home in another week or ten days. Paulenne is off on a motor trip with another girl, and when she gets back we are planning to have her and Dolly take a small cottage at Saugatuck where she can convalesce for a few weeks before going back to the library. She was to go out west with Will and Elaine, but that is simply out of the question, though Will is still insisting.

I don't know why I should write you all the harrowing and dull details both. Still full of it, I suppose.

Your Miss Rowe telephoned one day when I was out and left no telephone number, telling the operator that she would write me a note. I have not heard so far, however, so I presume she went right through. I am awfully sorry I missed her. Perhaps on her way back she will try again.

Mr. Biggs said she had such a nice letter from you, and asked me would I tell you so and wish you all sorts of good wishes for this summer, and say how happy she was that she could have helped. She is a darling. I had a tea party for her and the two Marks and Lucile Swan. She and Mark Tobey have been wanting to meet for some time, and I finally arranged just the day before she left. It was a shame to have it so late, for they were interested in each other, and simply had no time to develop it.

I spent the first few days of Doll's operation at the hospital, and Clio and Mike came by one evening there and rescued me for dinner. Elise was over at Dale's, spending the night, and the two of them came over after dinner for a little before they drove me back to the hospital. It is the only time I have seen them in several weeks. Elise is really cross at me because I do not go to summer group. I really cannot at present. I am revelling too much in the feeling of vacation not from the work, but from all the people. The south side group, Elise included, feels certain it is just because I am not running it- but I cant help that. They will have to draw their own conclusions if they will not accept my reasons. Dale has been going the last two weeks- she is intrigued at the idea of parties, and frank speaking. Lyman seems to have fallen away from the groups for the time being- personally I think it is just as well, because what they are doing would

have very little meaning to him, or any new student, I imagine

I wonder how the New York contacts go. And how Ess-
entials grow. Wouldn't I love to hear some of them. I have
begun to miss you. That is my usual slow curve. If you need
more money do let me know, wont you. Not having a report before
the 18th makes it difficult for you if you are to sail then.
Such good wishes! By the way- have you ever sent anything to
the Forum? Dont you think they might handle some of the
Essentials? Or the American Letter? If you dont see the maga-
zine regularly, buy a copy and look at it. It is really very
surprising. That and Harper's are more your kind, I should
think. Not for fiction- but other things. Of course the Amer-
ican Letter might go in the Atlantic. Do you think so? That may
be more widely read than the Forum, anyway. But the latter is
very interesting.

Some day when you have a moment, be again as good as
only you can be and tell me something I should work on espe-
ially this summer- some constructive thing to encourage in fri
friend Yvonne, and some destructive thing to endeavor to erad-
icate. Couldn't you? I would be very grateful. Dont do it un-
less you have an actual spare moment- for after all I myself
do know of a few things that I could better in her, or try to.
And you are crowded, I know. Is the gay Douglas still with
you? A crime about the border seizure. Did they fine him?

I am thinking soon of looking up your Phyllis. If so,
I will write you of how she seems.

And thanks so much about Drackman, Bruce dear. It was
and is, kind and good and helpful beyond my words. I will keep
you posted.

With love to you-

Could you read any of the Mad King's letter? He always means so
many cryptic things which are absolutely unintelligible as he
puts them. That is, one never gets what he says he means by
them. He is a great relief without his beard, anyway. David is
working hard at his Northwestern Marketing course, preparatory
to one in advertising. He goes twice a week, in the evening,
and it takes him all the rest of the week to prepare the work!
But I think he rather likes the feeling of stretching,

What about these falls? Or leave
you to time to read these. Return
them if you did them. But
you? One is out of scope to

July 15, 1929

Bruce dear;

Dont know where to commence. Chaunse and Gordon
are here, and it is confusing. Chaunse seems to be getting
panic-stricken because he cannot get up any feeling about
anything. Hates to get up in the morning- wants to go to bed
as soon as he gets up. Mr. Knight- the man Russell Walcott
sent him to - says he will try to help him get into some other
air-plane business if Chaunse will find out which he wants to-
connect with. But Chaunse does not know how to go about find-
ing out what are the companies. The trouble is of course that
he does not at present want anything. I think we will have to
find some place for him to go to for a vacation. He rather
hates the idea of going somewhere alone. But we will see.

Good for Eugenia! I supposed she would do some
thing. Such a darling! And properly (!) devoted to you.

Dolly sends you her love, her thanks, and good
wishes for the summer, and says she will recover as quickly as
she can. She will be back from the hospital in a few days- has
had a very good recovery. Dr. Christopher says she has made al-
most a perfect one. She says to tell you she has managed some
observing.

Paulenne is way up in Wisonsin, somewhere north of
Rhinelander, among Indians, bears, and deerx, on a motor trip
with a friend of hers. They are camped now for a week. CHENIX
IX EXKIINGX.

I am enclosing the remaining $11 of present. Slow!

You mustn't feel anything about the Viking Press.
As a numerologist I must remind you that it was inevitable. XN
You must remember that everything happens to you twice. When
one publisher refuses you must take it for granted that the
next will, and pay no attention. Supposedly, for some reason-
and doesn't it work out? - it is quite automatic. Now that's
over, you have a better chance of finding some publisher that
will. That is from your numerologist! Are you leaving your
manuscripts with anyone? Who? Everyone must push it for you
while you are away. It must not be allowed to drop- too im-
portant. Isn't Knopf really the person? People should approach
him personally, without manuscript first. If he is properly
interested, and then sees manuscripts, he can't resist. He has
more daring and more vision than the rest of them. Even if he
has refused something of yours - and that I don't know - he
wont refuse the short forms or Essentials anyway. Isn't it
possible to divide? Why not get Mr. Tobey to take Essentials-
ANNUAL and try Knopf for the other two? At any rate, do leave
the manuscripts, and get some of your important friends and
acquaintances to work while you are away. It would be a priv-
elege for them. These two refusals mean nothing- except what

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

you already know - that your whole approach is so different, so unusual, that the conventional publisher may hesitate. All fine literature has difficulties. Everything not mentally mediocre has a devilish time -- in America, England and Germany - different.

Do you know what I think you ought to do? I feel a "fool rushing in" - but having an impression I might as well voice it. I think you ought to write for a while in a very sensory way - much about sounds, colors, smells, sensations-instinctive and emotional imaginings and impressions - leaving practically all ideas. Very consistently using just 1st and 2nd centres, and emphasizing first. Then later on go back to ideas and the two will combine, in a form that will be easier for the average person, and really enriched; and it will be a rest for you. I think you have been working long enough from mental centre primarily. I may be wild- but that's my impression. Anything you do will reveal yourself to people, and change and better them in consequence. Your emotional and instinctive selves-sides - are also full of things that ought to come out-things of amazing beauty and instinctive insight just as keen as your psychological penetration. I think you ought to forget even the presentation of Gurdjieff ideas-in writing - for a short while, to give yourself a rest. Almost forget ideas and the necessity of presenting them. And then come back to them-to your own formulation. I think you need for a time to work in another vein. You have been holding yourself in leash. That one centre has had control and been used as an outlet, as long as it should for the time being. I keep feeling other worlds in you you would like to be at. Don't laugh. Perhaps it was the remark- "I've been promising myself sometime to write something offpure lyric beauty". I really think there is something in what I'm saying. It has nothing to do with the extraordinary quality and essence of what you have done. Essentials has enough matter and beauty and quality and revelation, for a life-time. As literature and as understanding of life. There is nothing comparable to it. But as I said, it might make the next book of ideas easier for the average man; it is a part of you that also should be released in literature- just sheer sensation-and it would rest you. Perhaps I have the centres wrong-perhaps they are sub-centres. But you will probably see what I mean, if you can bother to read through it.

I can see Douglas short-leaping about New York! Greetings to him if he is around. Did he learn to fly, and is he going back? Does he behave the same in Europe, I wonder? By the way-.Claire has a poem in the July- Good Housekeeping, I think it is. Clio saw it.

I certainly will watch for the Bookman. Exciting! And reviews of the Third Caravan.

Good by, Bruce dear- much love to you, and the very best of summers. Fontainebleau seems a long way off. It takes forever to get word, and I presume you won't have much time

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION
FISK UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
No. 618

Sept. 2, 1929

To: Sweet Bruce;

I wonder what you are doing and how the novel goes, and just what is in it - most, how I wonder about that! Do you suppose I can wait to find out?

By the way, I read the final proof for youx on the 3rd Canavan. I did not see how I could send it away to you and have it get back in time - they wanted it immediately. I corrected some mistakes in proof, letters transposed, etc., took out a few 'thens' - truly just a few - changed 'good' to 'well' in 'Nathan looked good in his suit' to Nathan looked well etc.' - isn't that right? - and introduced a man to a lady instead of vice versa, which I thought you wouldn't mind and had not noticed. I hope you won't die of irritation and apprehension - truly, that is all that I did. It was very meaty reading....

What rich stuff you are gradually feeding us- the present day world... By the way, couldn't I have a copy of the Bi-Fur number with your article in it? Couldn't you mail me one from there? I would so love to have it.

I am mailing you today the volume out of your 'Man and His World' series with your article in it. I will try to get you another Bookman. If I cannot, that will keep. I read your Race Problem article again, and it impressed me tremendously all over again. The range and quality of your thought is extraordinary. I hope this won't sound absurd to you, this comparison. But I saw the huge German Zeppelin today - the most astounding sight I ever saw. As large as the Palm Olive Building, sliding so quietly and easily over and between the buildings, like an enormous silver-grey fish. It gave one a terrific shock - it made the earth, the buildings, everything else on it, seem so minute - it simply upset one's scale and was overwhelming. But magnificent! Every now and then your mind does that to me!

Keyserling has an article- I think I wrote you- in your August Harper's- about the 'Animal Ideal of America', that is fairly good. But what is more interesting is an article he has in the Atlantic Monthly, called Genius Locii, in which he talks of the different cities of America. What he says about Chicago you will agree with. It is not much - brief, and does not cover or compare with anything you say - but you will be interested and will agree with it probably. Why dont you send him a copy of the French magazine with your American Letter in it, with a note? You promised him something. He would like it very much. Perhaps you had better not, until his book is actually out, however- me might borrow a few ideas.

Well, are you going to Vienna, do you think? I hope you can.

I forgot to thank you for telling me about the 'darling child' with the name that was somewhat indicative, and at least had much charm. How can I be your numerologist if you don't tell me her birthday, however? You should have found that out. Probably she will be in the novel: Heigh ho! How many since? Or was this actually serious? By the way, I have discovered psychologically (!) why you have so many affairs. How do you think I did it? By - numerology! At least I have a beautiful theory.

Philip Nesbitt and Erffa were here the other even-

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

ing, being numerologized. The former won my heart by saying you
were the most sophisticated person he had ever encountered. Of
course I thought that was fairly decently keen. Erffa is going to
college- Harvard - to study architecture for two years, to get a
Ph. D. By the way, Francis Buzzell died the other day, down in
Santa Fe. Very suddenly.

I have so little news. I am working hard, observing
more, after a terrible slump, and feeling consequently more self-
respecting. I felt actually badly for two or three weeks. Went
and had an old prescription for glasses filled, use them for read-
ing, and find it rests me very much. I have a new room, very
large, on the same floor, in front. They moved me in when they
decorated my room, and I liked it so much I decided to stay. It
costs a little more, but it has four windows and a fire place and
a private bath, and I simply cannot resist, for the time, anyway.
You really ought to have it. If I were noble I would give it to you
when you get back. Perhaps I will have to, if my column stops...

Mrs. North died the other day- it leaves Dorothy
free, and in a year with even much , much more money. I have a
notion she will go to Europe.

Mark Tobey does nothing but drag me to fortune tell-
ers. Terrible pastime! Saying which, here goes -

Sept- for you- social, many engagements, trips, mov-
ing about.

Oct. Delays, indecisions, some pleasant living con-
ditions, and romance!

Nov. A little lonely, reflective, some difficult
money conditions- nothing terrible-

Dec. Much activity. management, and money!

Jan. Reflective again, slow money.

Feb. Again much business and money.

March. Hectic- emotional extremes.

April. Some new conditions, or something new commenc-

ed.

How is that? Do you think you are coming back, Bruce?
<u>When</u> do you think you are coming back?

Love-

by the way.

Lucy and her Frenchman were married the other day,

Claire is a little better, though still diffucult.

Sept 13, 1929

Bruce dear;

Your four line note yesterday. Glad to get it. What
a tour de force, the novel! Good wishes and a good rest after it.

Fred and Lucy and child are back. They seem very well.
Fred is revolutionizing the Trading Post, and has scared himself
almost to death in so doing. He discharges people, and then regrets
and blames himself, though he knows it was a sensible thing to do.
At least that is his temporary state. He will be glad of what he
has done, I think, and come out much better.

Shirley called me up a little while ago and said she
had had a dream about you, you trying to say something to her. She
said she concluded you must need some money, and that she and Max
wanted to send a little now when they could, as they had been be-
hind last winter anyway, and now could. I suggested that Herman had
sent out a letter suggesting that each person send him something
to be sent to you each month, and why did she not send it to him.
But she firmly said that if I were writing she would rather send it
to me. So that I gathered there is some feeling in that quarter.
Herman certainly was not very tactful or skillful about the summer
group. I am afraid that he antagonized everyone. But then.. We will
probably begin to meet again the end of the month, to get ready to
welcome you. When are you coming, Bruce? Have you the slightest
idea? Perhaps you can keep this check toward getting back, if noth-
ing happens immediately with the book. Though if you want to go up
to Vienna- or down- why don't you anyway. Dorothy says Kollar may
be away in September taking a cure in Germany. If you are consider-
ing it, why don't you write him first. I hear indirectly that
Bertha did not like England. Curious. She writes Tennessee once in
a while, and some man at the theatre. By the way, Harriet is mar-
ied, or about to be immediately, and they are coming to Chicago this
fall to be in the groups. Thrilling! I presume you know, however.

Chauncey is still up in Oconomowoc. Mother has writt-
en him telling him he had better come on down here to the hotel and
see what can be done, leaving the family up there. I hear Russell
and Eugenia are flying. Dolly went over with Elaine and Will the
other day and Eugenia was just to go up for her first flight. But
probably, or undoubtedly, she writes you about what is happening
with her.

Again I opened one of your letters, and again I am
sorry. I drew the conclusion from it, however, that the publishers
still had some copies, and wrote to them inquiring. Apparently they
have, so I am going to get a copy. Lots of other people would like
to own one. I must tip them off, and you may get another five or
ten as author! Isn't it ghastly how little the actual writer makes.

I am feeling awfully well, better than in years, and
getting actually fat. In spite of being in town all summer and in
spite of rather a hectic time. Dolly and Paulenne look marvelous.
Dolly better than before her operation, and Paulenne, having put
on about ten pounds, looking better than in years. They had much
out door life.

David wrote an article which he sold to the News mag-
azine section, and which they garbled by cutting everywhere into

the present enclosed version. They started it off with the Gurdjieff reference! Had you seen his original version? It was extremely good

Did I write you, I wonder, that Mrs. North, Dorothy's mother, died the other day- about two weeks ago? She left one million dollars, to be divided up equally between the four children. The money left to the two girls is only left in trust, however, and. I presume reverts to the two men, or their children, when Helen and Dorothy die. They can use only the interest from it. Fortunately Mr. North left them all very comfortably off when he died. It is a mean trick, really. Helen cannot leave it to David, her adopted son, XXXI. I imagine it is Mrs. North's retort to the Kollar situation. She never could do anything about it. But at least she has so arranged that he cannot, by Dorothy's wish or otherwise, get any of the principal ever! It really is an unpleasant criticism of the two daughters.

Elise had given up her apartment and is moving down next month to hers in 1400 Lake Shore Drive. It will be crowded but comfortable otherwise. She is much pleased and excited, now that she has finally decided.

I saw Journey's End the opening night, last Monday, with Mrs. Stevenson- remember her? - and Maurice Browne. It is his play- he is the manager, that is, and part owner. It has played for a year in London, and is expected to play for three more. There are already ten or fifteen companies in different parts of the world playing it. London, Paris, Berlin, Sweden, Canada, New York, Chicago, and goodness knows how many more before it ends. Maurice Browne bought it accidentally, and has already made a quarter of a million dollars out of it. After nearly starving for years. We were talking about it, and I asked him how it actually happened. He said it did not and could not until he got to the point where he actually gave up everything. He was in London years, go a pupil of Orage's. The latter seemed to have been his mentor and hero. He said Orage had sent him various messages, and asked me to give him some when I saw him. Apparently he does not wish to look him up- he wishes their meeting to just happen. He said Orage was at the time a most brilliant and lovable materialist. That they both have gone a long road since then; but he thinks they will find that it is more or less the same one. If the play is in Paris do see it. It almost kills the audience, it is so tremendously dramatic and moving. But it is the most effective anti-war propaganda imaginable, because it is so simple and direct and honest. Do see what you think of it. It is at least very fine drama.

With love to our dear Bruce-

JEAN TOOMER COLLEGE

Bruce dear;

I have been trying to write ever since
Monday last, when I had your letter. But I couldn't
caught in a 'jam', -for some reason or another that I
cant exactly figure out, the newspaper ran out of
copy, which I figured would not happen for at least
ten days more, and I had to write day and night to
get copy for them. I am thankful to say it still exists-
the column, I mean. The last few days a German girl
a friend of mine, came through on her way back from
Califomia, and has been staying here. Which added to
the disturbance, She is still here, but I have enough
newspaper stuff to let me stop for a moment and
breathe.

Elise got very busy Monday and sent your
money off- she sold a stock that was not especially
good to keep - so that part of it it is alright. She
was glad to do it. The novel sounds - marvelous, and
certainly exciting. The best of luck with it - I hate
not to be seeing it. Dont write it too fast - you will
wear yourself out, and why? Why dont you go to Vienna
around September 1st, and join Douglas and Bertha? You
could see Kollar and Adler, and have an interesting
time. They may never be there altogether again. And
you have never been to the gay and brilliant Vienna.
Couldn't you seize the opportunity? There would be
all sorts of possible literary contacts worth while.
I will add at the end Kollar's new address- it is
quite elaborate. Do consider it. Even if you went for
only two weeks, it would be worth it.

Here in brief is the news. Chaunz and I
are up in Oconomaowoc, staying with Eugene for a
couple of weeks. It will do Chaunz good. Still nothing
doing for him. Hard to know what to do with him. Toma
is visiting Julia's sister up there, Gordon is with
Paulenne and Dolly over in Saugatuck where they are
for a month while Dolly recuperates. She seems to
be doing nicely- very well, in fact. Dale back from
New York and I'll be out.

after two weeks of gay vacation. Lyman gone to see
Dorothy to see what is doing, where he stands, (this
according to Dale) Mrs. Bigg's still purring. Nite
Clio back from a vacation with Mike in north woods.
Mark just back from Michigan where he has been visit-
ing his family. The Theosophical World Congress is
on here now, and he has a very good Seattle friend
who is a wife of one of the leaders, and he took me
down last night to the opening reception. Very inter-
esting looking people, from all over the world. The
most marvelous to me, Krishnamurti not being there,
is young Mrs. Arundale- a Hindu about twenty three
years old- the one Mrs. Besant has picked out for
the 'World Mother'- some to set a standard for women
and to help women or mankind by urging women to take
care themselves of their children, etc. She is the
most attractive woman I have almost ever seen. You
would have been extremely interested in her. Starry
is the word for her. Beautiful to look at, extremely
vital, and with more style than any woman I've ever se-
seen- a sort of Spanish and French style combined.
Some day you and she will have to meet. Something in-
teresting would happen.

David is busy on some articles about Chicago
poets which he is hoping to get some newspaper to tak
Fred and Lucy still away. I presume he has written
you. He looked marvelous after his four or six weeks
trip- has an interesting time in Santa Fe. And really
discovered something about himself. He shows it.

Molly is back in Winnetka, looking ill rath-
er, so Eugenia tells Chaunz, and a little interested
in someone she met in China, which causes her to think
that she might like to study medecine there for a
while. I dont believe her aunt will think China quite
the place to pursue medecine, however. Your friend Mi
ss Howe- is that right- writes she is coming through
the first of the month. Phyllis is in Europe with
her mother- which I presume you know. My mother I
have put to bed for a couple of weeks to see if I
can get her rested after a hard winter and summer of n

2

many people on her hands. Your 'Man and His World' series has arrived -tempting books, each with a different, very gay cover on it. I will keep them for you until you get back, with the exception of your volume, which I will send on. See how interestingly it reads. Am enclosing what mail has come for you - one you will see I opened by mistake. I am sorry- it was with a lot of mine, and I tore it open and didn't discover until I started to read it. I was glad anyway to see it had a check in it. Did you get the copy with your American Letter in it? They sent you a copy of the magazine here, but it is Volume Two, and yours seems to be in Number One. The Third Caravan has not come yet. The summer group here discontinued. Hope we will send enough money to make some difference - it is doubtful, but it will be something. The Bookman article is out - it is all very complimentary about you- just a small section, wondering why you are silent. He evidently has not read 'Winter On Earth.' Each person has just a small amount of space. There is one bit you won't like perhaps- but it is really very good, and establishes you further as one one the small handful of outstanding writers during the last decade. I will send it to you.

"When you say 'I am here', I do know what you mean. But do you think it is wise, after a long winter in-doors, to spend a summer also? You know are probably able to take care of yourself, and certainly wise enough. But shouldn't life in Fontainebleau be out of doors? Remember you have at least I hope you have a long winter in bleak Chicago ahead of you. Please be careful.

Cannot write any more, but will soon.

With love to you,

Do remember me to Miss Gordin and the nice other English person. Kollar's address on other side.

agents there are- better than Brant and Brant-
or however the latter spell themselves. Lots
of Gurdjieffians on staff. Why dont you consid-
er them for the short forms and Essentials any-
way? If someone was really pushing these they
could have a publisher- I am certain of it. No
non-professional agent will do the thing as thor-
oughly. I cannot bear to have all the kind of
thing published that is daily and see those un-
published... The Third Caravan is curious- but
York Beach stands up and stand out beautifully.
Thanks awfully much for the book.

I had a note from Orage not so long ago
in answer to one of mine about Maurice Browne,
who wanted to get in touch with him. He said
he hoped you would be coming through soon and
that he would see you, but that he was afraid
you would simply rush through the Grand Central.
He must have a better opinion of the attractions
of Chicago than some of us. Mark Tobey is in
New York, by the way- you will probably see him
if you see Muriel Draper. He is anxious to talk
with you. Tried to find you at the Brevoort a
couple of weeks ago. He packed up and left here
without a word of goodby to anyone! I knew he
was going sometime soon- but! Such a funny pattern
as he has ... repeating and repeating and repeating
- like everyone else's. His is too startling
for my taste, however. What a thing to do! I
have not been able yet to bring myself to answer
any letter of his- but in due time I probably
will.

Of course I can hardly wait to have you
come and tell us at least some of your news-
you have had a very busy and varied summer and
been quite non-loguacious about it! So I hope
you can see something about the present coll-

Nov. 5, 1929

Dear Bruce;

Just back from day in Geneva-
found your letter and telegram, and have just
sent you telegram. Began to be really very
worried about you, because mail came for you
from Europe, forward from Fontainebleau
from the Brevoort- thought ship might have
gone down, but did not know for certain what
 boat you were on. But all is well...

I am enclosing this with the mail
and taking it out immediately so that perhaps
you may get it tomorrow night. I suppose the
Caravan is what you mean by letter from Maca-
ulay. And here that is.

I hope you will come back, goodne}
knows- and yet I have really been wondering if
there are enough of us here for you- enough
to make it worth all your effort and ability.
This is not just pessimism- it really truly
is just so. So many have departed and what is
left seems a somewhat dull collection. It
might be better for you, if you could manage
financially, to stay in New York until the
first of the year anyway, and push your books.
It might be a great deal more valuable for you,
and certainly more interesting. Why don't you
consider? The group would all understand.
By the way, do you know anything about Mac-
Intosh and Otis as agents? I believe Orage
swears by them, from what Harriet said; and
Herman has them. They are said to be the best

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION
FISK UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
No. 621

Monday, Nov. 11, 1929

Dear Bruce,

Just a few lines - a la you! - because I am going to send your money by letter instead of telegram, because the telegram will cost $1.50, and they assure me that a letter mailed before 4.30 here at the main postoffice will reach you by 10.30 tomorrow. So I am taking a chance on it, and on inclosing money itself. I would wire it anyway, only you may need all of the $25 and I have not a $1.50 at the present moment, and do not know whether I could get it before tonight. I do hope this reaches you in time, and intact.

Another thing - your own room will not be vacant until a day or two after Thanksgiving. It is a shame, for you wont have as light and open a room, and also you wont be able to settle down when you know it is only for two weeks or so; but there does not seem anything to be done about it. I picked out one of two rooms for you - the best seems to be one in the north entrance, on the second floor. It has windows in the court, about the middle of the building, and has no bath. But it is fairly large, and fairly light, and more cheerful than the other one vacant. Mrs. Moran has promised that the other will be ready for you right after Thanksgiving. You can hold her to that. I don't think there will be any difficulty about it, because she wants you as a tenant, and I have told her it was very dubious whether you would come here at all unless you could have your room immediately; however, I said I would do my best to persuade you to do so if she would guarantee that you had your own room back right after Thanksgiving, and she said she would. So be very firm about it. What she likes to do is to give permanent people rooms not quite so light and etc., so that she can rent the more attractive ones on lower floors to transients - they are easier to rent, and she thinks people who have become fairly stationary will stay anyway. I had that trouble with her about the room I had here on the second floor - could not get it when I came back one year, do you remember? I am sorry - I am afraid it will not seem really as if you were getting back 'home' - but unless she breaks her word, it will only be for a few weeks - yes, money difficulties in Nov., a little lonely, very quiet, etc - your new room may account for that. And then Nov!

We will all see you at dinner Wednesday - I mean everyone will be at dinner to welcome you with gladness and affection that will - would - be hard to find in many places - most people cannot evoke it - I am afraid we really need you - I know that is the way I feel, which I am somewhat ashamed of. Anyway, we want you very badly, and love you very much.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

April 18, 1930

Dear Bruce;

The circulars came just as I was going to Gen-
eva. I think they are a great success even though the photo-
graph does not do you justice. As it is, when anyone looks at
it they say- Oh, isn't he good-looking! I am working hard on
them and let's hope there will be some result.

This is just a short note to say I wrote Mrs.
Levey- short e as in red, with accent on first syllable- Mr.
Rosenwald's daughter and suggested that if she could see you,
and remembered me (!)- which she may not do- that she let you
know at the Brevoort when she would be at home. You may hear
nothing, but if you do you will at least know who it is.

Lucy told me about the copy of book but has
sworn me to secrecy. Elise called up this afternoon and said
you had written her that you were rushed but that you had writ-
en me some information. Paulenne was there when she called
and suggested I send you a telegram saying- Please make carbon
copies for group of all letters you write me- will save me
much time and annoyance! Wouldn't that have been irritating?
Poor Elise didn't get much from me, I am afraid. I still have
Mars- until about the twenty fourth. When you return I shall
be mild as a lamb.

I called your Emily's house and the maid said
the family might be back the end of the week- this week. She
will be expected to bring in countless numbers.

The literary business sounds awfully interest-
ing and useful and productive. Good for you.

I sent David yesterday a circular of your lect-
ures, with apparently a shock attached. Not a word from him
since, though I asked him to call me! He by the way- this is
more or less secret- is writing with De La Marter a Negro Ballet
- at least he has done the synopsis or whatever it is called ,
and Wric De La Marter is working on a musical score for it.
It is interesting- De La Marter feels it as dynamite. I am en-
closing a copy of the themes. They are to be done of course
very stylistically, not at all literally.

Chuns is recovering a bit- really beginning
to feel exergetic, though he has lost lots of weight in the
last six weeks- about twelve pounds according to scales. But
things seem to be picking up.

This is all I can manage now. Thanks for a
good letter- we will hear some news from Fred, I suppose. At
least it was a relief to know you were actually coming back,
though I dont think I really thought you were not. Awful good,
- except for the white rug!

With love-

Friday, April 18, 1930

Maratier seized one of your circulars tonight to send to Mary
Widney. The Walden Book Shop is very interested. I am work-
ing first on best means of publicity such as posting at clubs
and newspaper announcements.

Color Scheme
A Negro Ballet in 8 Scenes

Decorative constructions and the plastique of the dance are
based on the marvelous architectural and scuptural aspects re-
vealed in highly magnified plants and flowers; and on the
machine. The theme touches some high points of Negro devel-
opment, from savage to sophisticate, and parallel with the
décor and music, projects a poetic and ironic synthesis of
feeling, movement, and form,

1 Black flowers in a jungle.

2 The cannibal flower. (After the myth of carnivorous flow-
ers entangling human prey.)

3 The dance of pollination.

4 Struggle under the gigantic garland of mixed flowers.

5 The cardboard Lincoln passes over the horizon,

6 Black flowers in a white city.

7 All colors of the rainbow,

8 No color,
(Machines with colors in revolution.

At A given velocity there appears no color at all, viz..
white.)

Wednesday, July 30.

Our dear, funny Bruce

u.d.

said and done with--

One thing I want to say, and then it is

It is to thank you for what I took and
take as a true and really impersonal gift on your part, out of a
deep fount of good-will and understanding. All the more of a gift
because not brought about by any great instinctive urge between
the people concerned and perhaps ordinarily not legitimate there-
fore. A very pure giving, with strong psychic effects. One gives
both vital and personal vibrations, actually something of one's
whole psyche, I still believe, whether consciously or unconsciously,
by close proximity. In your case you give of these, whether you
wish to or not, tremendously. I had a psychic shock which I am
just both recovering from and assimilating. Personally I know
more about the angel in you than the devil-- quite an angel,
Bruce dear.

You sound very lukewarm about the Chalet
and the rest of St. Marguerite. I hope your physical cycle con-
tinues for a little while longer, however. New York would be
frightful in all the heat, and there is no guarantee that is over
with yet. I am certain you need more out of doors- perhaps some in-
teresting member of the feminine sex will appear on the horizon
and making walking and croquet and all the rest of it more glamor-
our. When one is in love, out of doors makes one particularly
wish for the person to enjoy it with, and it is all the harder to
enjoy alone! red, by the way, got back and was awfully disappoint-
ed you were not here to go down south with him. He was quite ex-
cited about your trip to Michigan. "Everything is going well then"
said he with pleasure and enthusiasm. He feels the director and
creator of the affair. The south siders are back also and are
writing you. I asked each of them to send you their bit directly
so as to save the time of sending it first to me. I am enclosing a
bill for $20 which I trust reaches you safely. It is taking a
chance and yet is such a quick way of getting it off to you. I
would have to wait for tomorrow to get a money order. Do let me-
know if this reaches you. It happens to be Stella's contribution
to a summer vacation for you - with great enthusiasm and many thanks
on her part on being considered one of the old group! I hope to-
get off more next week, from myself and perhaps Elise and a few
others. This fifty may do until then- $20 Stella, $20 Max, $10
Herman. It is too bad it comes in such small installments, but
nothing else seems possible. And is sent with much affection and
pleasure and good wishes and gratitude by everyone.

I am enclosing mail so far, most of it
arousing my curiosity and impatience. I would love to know what
the Widneys say, and James W. Johnson says! Better be good and
tell me. Fall is a long way off!

Stella goes to France next week. I suppose
you know. I think she hopes to see you on her way back. She will
be gone only a month in all, visiting the Bartletts. Probably you

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

heard all about it before you left, however.

I have been visiting the Johnstons in Lake Forest for the last few days, and find it hard to come back and down to every-day Dearborn Manor living. I had luncheon yesterday at the Joseph Pattersons- which means much splendour. It is really a beautiful house, and looks actually much lived in - in the midst of deep woods and many formal gardens. I had forgotten about the little trick of having your bag unpacked for you, 'and was somewhat disconcerted the day I arrived at the Johnstons to go up stairs and find the rather dubious and most carelessly packed articles of clothing- one night-slipper with a hole in the sole too large to be overlooked! - folded and arranged and spread out in drawers and closet and on dresser as if they were rare and exquisite jewels! One has as much privacy in such a house as the much over-quoted goldfish. I did numbers for all of Mrs. Pattersons guests yesterday, and they felt so indebted that they thought they ought to do something about it. Instead of offering me a regular fee, which they apparently did not dare to do and which I would have accepted fairly easily, Mrs. Johnston said they wanted to know if I would not take something for present, and suggested a weekend bag! - Which will be gratefully received, however, and packed much more grandly the next time; I assure you. As it was, I was driven to the station in much state and put on the train with grandeur, and then found I had not money enough to get back on- I apparently had lost the necessary dollar- and had to pretend to the conductor that I had left my ticket on Mrs. Johnston's dressing table! We let me get by with it, for which I was grateful... but I had an amusing and pleasant time, much sun and out-door stretching, and I met several old friends and made, I hope, some new ones who should be useful next winter. Mrs. Patterson ought to go into a Gurdjieff group.

I had better get this off, with the hope that it actually reaches you. I may be moving down to Fred's Friday, and Chaunsey too, though Fred does not know the latter; but all mail is going to the hotel just the same. I am hoping for some, you see. Drackman has a grand scheme for myself and possibly Elise, and perhaps himself too, to work on - a commercializing and turning into a mail order nusiness, as it were, of Numerology. We are feally going to XEX work very hard and seriously at it, and something fairly remunerative may come of it.

A long letter from Jessmin, with greetings to you and saying how stimulated and inspired she was by the two meetings of yours she went to, and how she hopes to stay out there until Christmas, and be here sometime in the winter.

Love to you, from myself and everyone about-

like people, I am always looking forward to the time when I
can have long days, as now, all by myself, without interrup-
tion. I get some sense of being able to get things done. D.
and I have breakfast here together and then he goes to the
hotel, and I have luncheon all by myself, which I adore- in a
house without any sound in it. Dinner and evening is another
matter.

I had the funniest and most disconcerting
time getting out of the hotel- I must tell you about it some-
time- it is a good story.

This must get off now- I hope I can get a Cana-
dian special delivery- I hear a U. S. one is of no use up there.

With love, greetings, and many good wishes-
this is the time to push everything hard, according to your
fifth cycle idea, remember? Make the most of people and social
opportunities in relation to business this month, REMEMBER;
according to Numerology. Next month is rather easy, but slow
with delays and indecisions. It is a month in which to above
all keep cheerful and not worry! In which to enjoy your sur-
roundings and the people you are with, and not worry about the
delays, which cannot be hurried and which will settle themselv-
es by the end of the month. This month you can be vital and
enthusiastic. You are probably very right in going to New
York. Septembebr also is romantic!

["Sat. Aug. 23, 1930", "Dear Bruce;", "Mercy me, how time is passing!", "I am concerned about you financially. You will have\nhad by now the $25 Herman sent. Wasn't 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Fred had told Mr. Whittaker about the Cane story - the Waldo Frank preface- and also about your grandfather claiming negro blood when elected, etc. He wants very much to write a letter taking you out of any embarrassment of being so classified. He thought he could do it in an open letter perhaps better than you could since you were the person under discussion. His idea seems to be that while you have some slight mixture that you cannot in any way be so classified. I told him of course I had no idea what you would feel about it, but that it was darling of him and I would tell you of his offer. It ought to be done at once, he says, if it is to be done. Mrs. Whittaker says he could do it perfectly- he knows the people on the staff and is very tactful and adroit about expression. Would you care to let him do something and look at it before he sends it in? Let me know. Mrs. Whittaker was chiefly concerned because she said it would be apt- such classifications, to make hotel life and traveling difficult ΚΗΧΥΕΝΧ for you. She is a sweet person- they both are.

Sat. Aug. 31, 1930

Bruce dear;

This is going to be a long letter - you had better give thanks again for the invention of the typewriter!

First business. I am enclosing a cheque for five of Clio's, to make up her thirty. Also a ten from your Emily, wishing she could make it more, to add to what I told her we were doing in the way of making you a present for a summer vacation, to try to make up a little for your sending all of the group money to Gurdjieff. I hope you don't mind. She was very happy about it.

Miss Reynolds is contributing $5. I will get it quickly. There will be a little more from one or two directions, I think, soon - small sums.

The plan for the Palmer house and the World's Fair exhibition seems to be going through. At least Mr. Bendix called me today, is very interested, and wants me to meet him up there tomorrow morning to talk the thing over. I am terrified as to whether I can put it over, now that it may be under way. About the middle of October would seem, I should think, the best time. I wonder if that would interfere with your classes? What do you think? It would be nice to make a goodly sum to send to Gurdjieff - we could feel relieved of any pressure for the winter, and you could use for yourself all the money you make. I hope it can be done. And yet I do not want to do anything that will interfere with your plans.

Now about Mr. Whitaker's letter. I don't know how it will strike you, his suggestion. I could not turn him from it, and did not try much, because he was sending it to you anyway. He thinks it the only attitude to take. I told him of your own attitude - that of being an American, of not liking class, race, political divisions for anyone, of the individual standpoint. But he says that while from the standpoint of many southerners, that if one has a drop of negro blood one is a negro, one might not be able to say you were 'white' (!!); at the same time that was an absurd classification and reasoning, and that you simply are not a negro, and that you are therefore 'white', being so in your nature, your tastes, your point of view, etc. And that if it is said definitely by him, that he thinks the matter will be dropped. That it should have been done after Cane; and yet that it is very difficult to do with a book - one would have to write to every periodical in the country that publishes reviews - but that with an article coming out in any one periodical the periodical itself can straighten it out and so end the matter. The fact that your grandfather perhaps or very likely had some negro blood is not enough to stamp you. That he doubts if anyone would be vicious enough to follow the thing up and try to prove otherwise, certainly not publicly. And that a statement of this kind would then be on record. What mixture your father had of so called races I don't know, of course. He did not think it mattered. As far as you yourself go you are definitely not under that classification. So he argues. He thinks the gracious thing would be to have Miss La Follette have the writer of the article correct

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

himself what he at the time believed to be true. He says that
while all the implication in the preface to Cane is that you are
a negro, at the same time it is never actually stated and could be
taken otherwise, that it is only implication and does not read de-
finitely. He thinks you should talk to Miss La Follette, tell her
the facts, your own point of view, and have her have the matter
corrected. If you have any suggestions as to what he himself might
say in the matter other than what he has said, he will do it. He
is perfectly willing to have them print as much of his letter as
they choose, over his signature. Or he can write something else. It
is only that he thought it was more courteous, more gracious, for
the writer of the article to be allowed the opportunity of doing it
himself. As I say, I have no idea what your conclusion will be-
and you will certainly give it much thought. Such a stupid matt-
er and yet a most vital one, and probably a most vital moment, dont
you think?

Now for more trivial matters, and then to your
Emily. We are still at Fred's, though we will leave here on Wednes-
dau, as Lucy is coming home Friday and the place will have to be
put in order Thursday. I will go over to Quill's then for a month or
five weeks- until about the tenth of October. I don't know whether
Chauns can go or not. I hope he can- we will have to get some kind
of a cot for him- because he can save rent this way, and because I
can look after him while he has this rather long-houred, nervously
strenuous job. Quill has a little Siamese kitten which has been
left in my charge, and we have it over here- it is most amusing,
though a strange kind of kitten- more like a little dog or a little
monkey. We have been very comfortable here, and shall hate to leave
the apartment. Quill's will be something of a make-shift. I can
burrow into almost any place comfortably once I get there, however.
Quill has gone to Europe, you know- for a month! Dorothy North's
older brother Frank, the sort of head and mainstay of the family,
had an operation in Boston about a month ago, and it seems imposs-
ible for him to rally from it. The doctors have given up any hope-
they are trying Christian Science treatment on a chance. I am going
up to the farm tomorrow to stay over the weekend with Helen while
Dorothy is in Boston.

Have I kept you waiting as long as you can bear it?
Probably. Now for your dear Emily. By the way, she is christened
Christobel- is it alright? I think it suits her beautifully, and
she is much intrigued with it:

I should have written you immediately when my im-
pressions were strong. Many other things have come in between since
to blur them. She will undoubtedly be writing you- she wondered if
where you were. I forgot to tell her the hotel, but told her New
York. She left a book behind by mistake (with a letter in it from
you) which I mailed to her with a letter with your Brevoort address
in it for her in case you did not know where to writer her where you
were. Her address, in case you have not it, and want to write her
before you hear from her is Santa Fe care Mrs. John Evans.

First, the physical things. I met her at the Drake

Monday, Sept 8, '32

1930

Dear Bruce;

Dear Bruce, I should have sent you these checks before I have had them several days but I seem to have been so taken up with physical work that I couldn't do anything else. I got Lucy's place in order so that it would be clean for her when she got back Friday. I have moved into Quill's, where I will be for a month and that meant much scrubbing and cleaning also. It is pleasant to have a whole apartement to one's self and a kitchen where one can cook, but this moving around seems rather hectic after all. One just gets settled in a place and then has to move again! Chauns is no longer with me and I miss him. He got me into very good habits- seven oclock each morning, and I really liked it. I am afraid it won't last here! He is in a house on North State St., where he used to stay, and where George is- it is cheaper than the Dearborn manor, and he likes it better quieter, he says. He still has his rather strenuous and dull job, but other things are apparently in the offing.

Paulene went on a week's boat trip up through the Great Lakes, three days after having her tonsils out, and had a marvelous time. She says she knows now what you mean by a boat trip being a life of its own, and great fun! Doll is off with a friend for her vacation, on a month's automobile tour, down to New Orleans end through the south.

Lucy and the baby both look wonderful. Fred is expected back sometime in the course of the month- no one knows just when, not even he himself. The whitakers are her until the first of October- will they just stay with you? It will be interesting to know just what comes of his letter, wont it. They are awfully glad you sent it Good luck, our sweet Bruce!

'Christabel'- you can call her 'goose'! - said that Fred had asked her to do the Indian lectures again and that she did not want to, that she did not especially like the job on account of having to see the reporters all the time and bribe them (I don't know what is the matter with my machine- it skips letters) with bits about her friend. I told her I did not think that was really necessary. But if she does not do it I wonder if she would not like to help with your literary lectures? What do you think? I wont write anything to her about it until I hear from you- but wouldnt it be a good thing?

Which brings me to the point of this letter- to ask you about your plans. Do you think you really will be back about the first and what should I do about arranging for lectures? Shall I begin to arrange for a Gurdjieff group in the afternoon? And what about your own lectures? What shall they be and when and how? Shall we wait until you get back, or shall I begin to try something right away? Shall I begin to write to clubs and see what they can offer? What series do you want to undertake? Or is it too soon for you to decide? If they are to begin the first of October I really ought to begin to move a little about them. I have not heard anything more from Mr. Bendix. He liked the idea, only I do not think that the way he wants to do it is very practical. He wants to charge a large fee for admittance, so as to keep the general public out- and that would not be profitable enough. I am going to see Mr. Burnham about it, and if he is favorable to the plan, perhaps he can persuade Mr.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTING

Bendix to let the public in, and assure him that his precious tap-
estries, etc. can be guarded sufficiently, as they are at the Art
Institute, etc.

I here you have seen Walter- he was most enthusi-
astic about a visit he had had with you down in the village-he said
we would never know you until we saw you in your own habitat, in
your brown hat and with your cane! Wish it were possible.

I hear from Miss Reynolds that Gurdjieff had an-
other accident in the car, trying to avoid a dog. Gurdjieff himself
does not seem to have been hurt- he was writing in a cafe an hour
later. The dog got hurt anyway, and Lili got her shoulder broken and
Mume. Salzman was somewhat bruised and Mr. Toomer I believe was the
other. He was just shaken up a bit. Had you heard anything about it?
It makes one hold one's breath. Perhaps Gurdjieff has things hap-
en to him twice- let's hope this is the end of accidents.

Seeing publishers socially is the way to do it,
from whom you and your friends and everyone else says. The very best
to you! I am beginning to wish you would hurry and get back to
your home town however. I miss you now. It always takes me a time.
Betty Linly has just left. The play was pretty bad. It got into bet
ter shape before they left and they are expecting to open in New York
in a week or two- perhaps you will see it. Lou Tellegen is rather
pathetic- trying to be young and peppy and overdoing his efforts,
and burlesquing the play terribly. Betty looks very well and much
prettier. She has taken up Troward and is much more likeable and much
much more interesting and more of a person for having a religious
or philosophical interest. Gering did not come on after all-I am
sorry not to have seen him after all this time. I am curious to know
how he is developing.

Hedda is here at present, reading the Metz book.
Hedda says you will hear from Max and herself in a few days- that
means a small check, I imagine.

With love, Mr. Toomer-

919 Rush St.

919 Rush Street

Chicago Ill.

By the way, this is to be for you a fairly easy month, with delays
and indecisions and romance. You are to keep cheerful, not worry
about the delays and indecisions, and are to enjoy your surroundings
and the people about you whom you care for. There is a cozy element
in the month, art and business. Next month seems to be a little
lonely and a little difficult financially. A month in which to make
plans and to listen to your inspirations, if which there will be many,
-XXXXXX to plan rather than undertake much. The next month
is extremely active and very good financially. So perhaps you will
not commence your lectures until near the end of October or the be-
ginning of November? We will see. October is especially good for
poetry and religion. And for being our of doors!

Friday, Sept 12
1930

Dear Bruce;

I sent a wire to you last night with suggestions as to holding the literary lectures at the Petit Cornet, and not commencing them until later. We will have to find a place for the new Gurdjieff group, if they will be one. (My typewriter won't space- it simply sticks and writes one letter over another whenever it so feels like it!) The Indian Trading Post would be too small- it was last spring. I think the old group should meet somewhere else too. I don't see how we can stand the being treated like deliberate usurpers who are totally lacking in appreciation. It is absurd, but too annoying. I should think the old group could meet almost anywhere we have all met for so long- any place fairly central, that is. Mrs. Biggs would be nice, and yet I don't believe she would care to have it on account of Mr. Biggs. I think she prefers to keep it something more casual to him. If the worst came to the worst and there was nothing better and I am back in the hotel and in my old room, perhaps we- the old group- could meet there? Or down here as long as I am here. Quill won't be back before the tenth- I can tell better what address of mine to use when the time of the library lectern opening is set. I am somewhat in the air- as to just what I am going to do where to live, etc. But I will try to decide when I hear from you.

This is written especially to say that I discovered through Lucy today that Mr. Whitaker is very much disturbed and rather annoyed about your reply to his letter. He feels badly treated, it appears. He says you sent on his letter, adding a note with some corrections of facts. He feels that you have in a sequence put him into a difficult and dubious position with the Freeman, which he would not want and from one point of view cannot afford. That if there were corrections of facts, that you should have sent the letter back to him to make a new one from whatever your basis of facts were, and not done it yourself. That the Freeman can hereafter consequently doubt the authenticity of whatever he claims- that it puts him in a very bad position. That you did not even say thank you to him for what was after all a gratuitous gift on his part, something done out of his good feeling for you and his wish to assist. That his letter was not effective at all unless it stood on what it claimed in it. If the basic fact was altered, the letter itself had no point, and should have been recomposed.

I said that I could hardly explain without knowing the facts. That if you did not say 'thank you', that I am certain you felt it, and that it was your way always, as far as I knew, to show gratitude or appreciation by some act rather than in words. That I did not know anything about your corrections of facts or what you had written Miss La Follette. But that I had not seen you err very often if at all in all these six years, in a matter of real importance, in diplomacy and tact and in consideration of others. That whatever you did I was certain would not be done in any way that would put Mr. Whitaker in a difficult position; etc. I told Lucy that I was going to write you about the situation, however, and that if Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker would defer hasty judgment and be a little patient I knew that they would discover the situation to be different than they assumed. It seemed all I could do at the time.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Oct. 2, 1931

Dear Bruce;

How is the fiend incarnate? How long do
you think you must play this particular devilish role
toward me? Months or years or what is the idea? I am
for crying help, help, or whatever it is you say. Isn't
it time for some angelic attitude by way of contrast? This
is too extreme. My departure was a burlesque, even if
painful. Now I want to know the time limit. Seriously I
have had enough. If it was time for me to know ingratitude-
was that the word, for one? - it's time for me now to know
something else. Mercy! It disconcerts me.

Really seriously. If you want to prolong
the cruel role longer and feel it necessary, at least say
so. If there is any real resentment in it that is a pity
too, and I refuse to feel differently toward you. It is
absurd. After all you are the same person and I am the
same person underneath and one does not change in these
ways. If it is just a role the bargain was only for two
months, was it not, and it seems to me it is already long-
er than that. Anyway I cannot do it any longer, even if you
can.

You know what made me burst into tears? The
fact that the Blue Meridian was accepted and you did not
tell me! Really, that was too much! Be human, truly human,
for a change!

How does the romance and your new era and Semiramis proceed? And have you crystallized a bit as to your plans or have things crystallized for you? Is Zona Gale falling into line? Are you heading toward Madison- the University, I mean? What is your new era going to be, besides Portage and Semiramis? And where? I am interested, my dear Lucifer.

If you do not wish to cut off all connections
any longer- if so, why, may I ask?- or even if you do- I
wish you would send me some circulars and some envelopes
and also tell me how many books of Essentials have been
sold so far. I am your business partner at any rate in this
still, having spent too much time on it already to care
to forfeit a possible profit, mind you. And I have some
time here now to continue. If you could do this I could
try a few things.

Blanch is in Chicago- or was, and Bernadine
Szold and Sam Putnem, and Paul is venturing forth into
still more ambitious ways and Esther's plans are most radical- I presume you know about these- and so on and so on
and it seems curious to be so far away and in such a quiet
if beautiful place. Oconomowoc is even more beautiful
than Portage.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

This letter is for you and no one else, so that I will
be appreciative if you would burn it or tear it up when
you have read it.

I am grateful for this summer-but unmitigated negative
treatment need not be employed forever!

Chicago
December 3, 1931

Dear Bruce;

Thank you for all the information about Essentials. I will do what I can. I wonder if you could give me some more detail, however. I don't know whether you have all the material with you or whether it is here in Chicago. I really ought to have it. Have you the slips for the bookshops? Do you know how many copies each shop has, which had six months consignments and which three, and which were indefinite? I ought to know before I go to see them. It would help me very much. I don't remember the names of the people at the various bookshops, whom they were assigned to, or the addresses- in Milwaukee for example- though I could get these. Etc. The North NODE Bookshop has gone out of business and sold all its stock. I heard this indirectly and have written Malcolm as to where all our copies were!

Chauns is due tomorrow again for a few days, I believe. He came down a week or two ago and was looking very well again- awfully sorry to find you gone, of course. He is enjoying Milwaukee very much apparently and appreciating all Camilla is and all she does for him. She certainly is a 'true-blue' kind of person.

Of course I will write out what I can for you in connection with the book-which sounds something one cannot wait for easily. Good for you! What you ask is 'quite something' because it is so personal. I am working on it. I can write it as if it were an extract from a letter to someone. I wrote no letter that would or tried to describe my inner state in any way or that was descriptive to any degree of the life. I think I wrote one early in the summer to Mark; but it was very general and in the large and I feel certain he would not have it, though I will be glad to ask him. I don't suppose you really want many details. Just what the general life was or seemed to me and then what one learned or thought one learned? As to how- do you want that, I wonder- specific instances? I will write it and send it to you as I feel it- mm not everything of course, but a good deal; and you can then cut parts or have me add if you want. It is certainly a good stunt to have us do, from many angles. You may not be able or wish to use much of it- which is quite alright with me! It will be interesting to you, however, I imagine, because to see what each person thought they got and whether it was the meaning you meant to have derived.

Mark Tobey is in England until next August. Likes it quite well, though he is homesick for the size of America. He says there are small hills around the country he is in, but that each one is tied up with hedge-rows as if to be packed and shipped. All the traditional thing bothers him too. He says he misses the endless spaces and the sharp staccato accents of America, and something vital and necessary. He has written the music for a ballet and is making masks for it- one that he arranged, and it is to be given there where he is. Quite amusing- I wrote him as I said, early

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

in the summer about Margery and said he and she were types I thought that had some physical similiarity and that they ought to be attracted to each other. He had not apparently heard any more, of the marriage, etc., and he says in his letter- "what became of the girl? Did you give her to Bruce's charms? Damn him!" I don't know about the Agiving, but it will be dramatically satisfactory to tell him that you and she are now married.

Margery was sweet to remember everybody and write. Everybody was very appreciative of her cards and awfully glad to have them. And she did not duplicate a word, I do believe! Doesn't that put you to shame? You two must be extremely glad really to be rid of the group for a while and really able to see each other for uninterrupted periods. This Chicago way was not so good! For anyone! It wasn't a personal thing at all - just a new situation too difficult for every one. Now you can really get to know each other in marriage- when you get back here you will be somewhat used to each other and then we can all get used to each other! ? !

The place sounds very cozy and restful and very ideal. I wager you wipe the dishes! It is too bad we cannot see that! I wonder if a Gurdjieff group is materializing in a way that you would be interested in. No more news from New York- perhaps you have heard. I haven't started my group as yet. I hope to get them all together this week however. Oh for a Margery! Never was there such a group right off! Miss Hirtzel is very interested and has interested several of her friends. I am going around with bandages and a splint. I stubbed my toe, caught my balance, and then stepped on the hem of my dress, getting up on a curb (talking and paying no attention to where I was going). I came down hard on my hands and knees and broke my left arm just above the wrist- coming home from Thanksgiving dinner at Florence's. It's a dreadful nuisance. I am writing on the typewriter with one hand. A very lucky thing happened, however- it only happens once in a very long time, they say. The bone broke in a crisscross fashion, and in some way the weight of my body jambed the two pieces together better than they could have been set. So when I went to the hospital the next day for an X ray and to have it set (the doctor had put it in a splint the night before) the head surgeon said not to touch it, that it could not be improved upon. I missed all the unpleasantness of having to take gas and having it moved around and set. I imagine it will heal more quickly too.

The group is pretty scattered- not much getting together. Paulenne is enthusing about houses. That won't be difficult. I had a long letter from Dorothy by the way, explaining why she did not want to go into it just now anyway. She said she was very sorry but that she had too many qualms about the undertaking to be willing to share in any way the responsibilities. She says- "I have grave doubts whether Jean could do his best work in such a group this year in Chicago. I think it would suffer from his natural preoccupation with his own personal life, and that he would find it almost impossible to carry his personal and his teaching-guiding life on at the same time at such close quarters. It's such a dangerous ground and he should be in possession of every resource, of freedom of mind and feeling and action. I

December 14, 1931

Sunday

Dear Bruce;

Here is something at least. It is much longer than you wanted and I am afraid very wordy. But it is the best I can do for the time being and I am sending it on because you evidently want it at once. It may not be at all the kind of thing you wish- perhaps you want something more general, or perhaps something more specific. But here is something anyway, for your own perusal. If it should be quite different let me know and I will try.

I started to write it as a letter, with a description of the life, etc. But it ran into about 16 pages,

I am keeping it and working on it. I thought it might do somewhere sometime as an article. The part I am sending was to be the end. I don't know. But I am going to work on it some more and send it to you to look at when finished, if you don't mind, to look over and give me suggestions about. It's fun doing, of course,

Bravo for you! How can you do it! How I wish I could hear it.

Blessings on you and congratulations. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for your work this summer. Over and over again all the rest of my life I will be grateful.

Something is the matter with this machine- it won't space properly. So goodbye and greetings to both of you.

1447 N Dearborn St.
Chicago Ill.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

For myself, the following are a few of the significant results of a unique and most significant summer. Some I felt from time to time increasingly throughout the summer, others I am just beginning to realize.

First of all a sense of the removal of chains and weights. I am aware - and only for the first time because of its absence - that from childhood I have been in some state of tenseness. I did not know it and it would probably not have been at all obvious to the casual observer because I perhaps seem outwardly less tense than the average. Now that I have the sense of freedom from it, a sense of inner and greater relaxation, accompanied by outer physical ability to relax more and be at ease, I realize how strong and constant it was, and how each person must have something similiar. It came apparently from certain apprehensions and fears about life and my behavior in it; a certain unconscious belief that I must behave in certain ways, do certain things, or that I would not survive even in the most trivial situations. During the summer I was forced into and held long enough in situations of a type which I had unconsciously feared I could not meet and which I had kept away from or gotten out of quickly - mental and emotional situations for the most part. Having had to meet these, having gone through them and found myself still surviving, they no longer are to any extent a dread or concern to me. The sensation of relief is great.

unconsiously
I have had always a fear of being unable to function if I became ruffled in any way. I have in consequence always avoid-

2

ed situations or people who might effect me in this way. Last
summer it was impossible to so arrange things. Jean Toomer,
knowing this trait and how it handicapped me in every way,
saw to it that at the moments I wished most to appear calm
and to be poised, I was most ruffled- before conducting a
large group meeting, for instance; and also that I had to go
on to the thing I was to do in spite of it. When I realized
that this had actually happened and that nothing serious in
any sense occured - that I could do even difficult things
in a ruffled state- the spell was broken. This too was ex-
tremely releasing.

I seem, in connection with this, to have lost a sense of
fear of destroying my own position if I cross people too di-
rectly or displease them. My method has always been to ac-
complish ends by flattering, pleasing, or rubbing people in
the way in which I thought they wished to be rubbed, as far
as I was able. To get around them in some way if they oppos-
ed what I thought was necessary or desirable, to get them to
change their minds. Or I would seem to agree with them until
they were induced to change, and appeal to them as pleasantly
as possible, no matter how wrong I thought them, or how I felt.
Or get someone else to manage them; or adapt to the
circumstance and try to accomplish what I wanted in some othe
er way. Or give the thing up entirely. I could be most obstin-
stinate at times. But never could I attack any person or any
situation forcibly and directly. I feared to do otherwise than
I did. I feared I could not handle anyone except as I did. Th
That if I did not present a pleasing, gentle, ingratiating

3

attitude towards people I would lose everything. That to have
people like me I must be gentle and pleasant. That if I were
not liked the world would be an impossible place and that I
could do nothing in it. That I would not be liked without
much effort on my part. That I must also in some way be en-
tertaining or I would be seen to be really ugly in the ways
in which it was most necessary to have charm.

I saw people behaving roughly and rudely and nothing much
happening. I was treated at times during the summer roughly
enough, with sufficient injustice, to shake me into, for me,
sharp retorts. And nothing much happened to me or to my re-
lations to others. Of anything they were improved. What I
dreaded was forced upon me; what I feared to be and took
great pains not to be I was made by great pressure to become
to an extent I had never been before nor thought possible
for me. I found it difficult. But each time left me with a
sense of power and capability and firmness in my own ego
that I had no idea it was possible to experience.

If anything disagreeable happened my way was to ignore it,
to seem not to be touched by it. Often I did not allow myself
to be touched by what should have moved me. I blinded myself
through this trait to real situations.

I had always, for another thing, felt I must take a certain
amount of responsibility in anything which came up. By not
being allowed many times during the summer to take responsi-
bility, or by being held in positions where I became a cipher
and could take none, I came to realize as never before that
nothing disturbing occured if I did not. From this realization

4

came a sense of rest and freedom from unconscious anxiety
and strain that could not have come about under usual circum-
stances and which was or is equivocal only to the freedom
of early childhood. I discovered, with the surprise and joy
that Columbus must have had in discovering America, that *one*
one did not have to be careful and responsible always.

To keep out of things in another way, to be in them and
yet not in them, was another of my tendencies. To be always
practically kept out of things, as I was this summer, had a
great effect upon me. I did not mind it of course as much as
would have some natures, because it was at first and to some
degree in accord with something I like or did like. But I
was given an overdose of what I had supposed desirable. When
it was pushed to a certain point, especially in ways which
involved injustice, inappreciation, it had definite results.
I was freed to a large degree from the real desirability, or
the, for me, actual necessity of it. I am now more willing to
push in. Not altogether. This is something I apparently hold
on to most. The being kept out of things had two elements for
me - one that I liked, one that I did not. I met it at
the time by adapting to it or going still further in it. I did
not feel the being left me or kept out of things, so much as
per se. What I disliked or felt most was the sense of being
treated rudely or apparently without kindness or consideration by
someone I was fond of. I was hurt by the sense of perhaps not
being liked. But I was forced more and more into myself and in
consequence got more and more of a sense of myself and the
world. I actually felt myself cured of the habit of losing my-

self in other people's lives and projects, of the desirability of doing so. Of the habit of avoiding any of my own which would necessitate solitary action and demand. I learned that the world is a rude place, something to contend with, not just to adapt to and placate. That it was not only possible but necessary, even pleasant, to do so.

I realized also that one could be hurt tremendously in the ways one dreaded most, and released and strengthened rather than injured or weakened. That pain could be a great vivifier and not just something to avoid - emotional pain in particular. That I had been living in a strait-jacket of my own environmental making. One may know this and believe it, as a theory. It is quite another thing to actually see and realize it, through the contrast in feeling and being when the strait-jacket is even partly removed.

Here in brief are a few other realizations which came from the masterly psychological handling of last summer's

That things in oneself and in other people can be handled and changed rather than simply met. That life is more in one's own hands. That one need not be moved about and dumfounded by one's own mechanical, environmentally ideas and emotional biases, which consciously and unconsciously say for one that life must be so, that if such and such a thing happens there must be such a result. A realization that life is not the restricted thing one feels or thinks or senses it to be. That is the restrictions are made by one's own temperament. That one has from within-out shaped a house for oneself from the world, very definite in its walls and enclosures, in the ways one goes about in it, in its laws and meanings. This house we have

B

called life, each one his own. That it is a subjective thing,
quite false. That everything that has happened one has seen
through a kind of machine or a glass which allowed one to
see only in a certain way and only certain things. One believ-
es that if A takes place then B must necessarily follow. I
suddenly perceived that this is not so- that C or E or a doz-
en other things may take place or are taking place. This gave
me an actual sense that oneself and life, if handled firmly,
without fear, with knowledge, had dynamic possibilities and
experiences. That one can put oneself both physically and
emotionally in directions entirely alien to what seems to be
one's nature. With it is a sense of its being actually possi-
ble to be enough outside the nature to see the way to do it.
A deep realization that everyone has ideas about the world,
about life, about its possibilities, based chiefly upon fears-
fears of personal discomfort and pain, false ideas of what
only can make one happy, what least hurts one; entirely arti-
ficial, not based on true insight. That life is not as we
see it, that life has a thousand, a million aspects and possi-
bilities, instead of a few.

By having someone arrange happenings so that the usual result did not follow an action, one could see very plainly how hypnotized we are by our little boxes of impressions, likes dislikes, preferences, prejudices. The sight of a person being glad when he should ordinarily be angry, being angry when he should be pleased, foolish when he should be grave, serious when he should be light - not as one insane, but deliberately, for a purpose- in life, not on the stage- shatters your sense of the so-called necessities. I got a sense of the

possibilities of behavior, not according to what we ordinarily call sense or rule, but according to inner wish and will. A glimpse or sense of creative free-will. It gave me a sensation of enlarged vision, of extreme horizons. A sensation first somewhat of shock and pain, then a glimpse of a new life with amazing connotations. A sense of possible nobility and grandeur, of even great sweep. A sense that one may not be the little, worried, fearful, awkward, uncontrollably gesticulating object he most of the time actually feels himself. I had some clear realization that instead of the pitiful little machine that gets hurt in every way so easily and that is so frustrated, man might be a force in the universe.

Since then I have arrived at a recklessness in encountering people and attitudes which I had formerly been unable to conceive of meeting or of the desirability of meeting. I feel more freedom in moving about in life, as to occupations, pursuits, and so forth. Certain angles of work, or ways of bringing them about, which before seemed unsurmountable, appear now inconsequential.

I have gained too a new sense that life moves rapidly and vitally and that everyday decisions are not nearly as important as one thinks. That movement, progression forward, action that is definite, are more important than careful decisions. I myself erred very much in feeling that the latter were overimportant. I had been mistaken also in the idea that it was the mind alone that made decisions.

With it comes more ability to express and less fear as to the ways and consequences of expression. I am obviously much

more positive in everything. This came partly from not being allowed expression or certain ways of expression which I liked, partly from being forced into it - by having to give lectures for tolerance to me - large groups.

I have gained a new sense of power; a sensation of some reservoir of energy in myself that I was before not conscious of; a sense of more iron and steel - even though I do not know as yet what direction it will take. The great internal friction of the summer produced it partly. The destruction of some of the barriers I had unconsciously put up between myself and life - people - still further added to it. I find I can do more than I ever did before, with less effort, and without the necessity of forcing myself.

In relation to this is a feeling of increase in ego, of the ability to be. I have an added self-respect, a feeling of a new kind of dignity and some right to it. The feeling id of having the right to simply be, without the necessity of excuses for so being. It is apparently as if each person had a feeling of guilt of some kind. One does not know what it is he feels guilty about; but one knows or feels that one is lacking in some way and that he must therefore in some way make excuses in life for himself - either in words or in manner, or with deeds. It was as if for me this sense of guilt for the first time is removed to such a degree at least that life and my necessary behavior in it takes on a new outlook. I feel much less that I must, for my life, take great pains to seem to be something different than I am. The striving can perhaps now go towards actual being and doing.

9E

I have also as a result of the summer a realization, not a mental idea only, that the body has endurances and energies way beyond one's experience and one's knowledge ordinarily. That the more one uses it, the more one puts it to work, within bounds of real sense, the more it can do, and the more it wishes to do- to a surprising degree. That the - or my-emotions have depths and strengths of a gigantic extreme. That emotional shocks, instead of wearing one out, can energize one enormously, are not things to be avoided.

Some of these conclusions I had formerly as ideas of how which I accepted as true. This summer they became suddenly clear to much more of myself.

Box 896
Carmel Calif

Mar 26 32

Dear Yvonne,

A letter from Jerry yesterday said you were writing me, but
I will send this, not yet having heard from you.

Cats, cats, CATS - and plenty of them - though, thank goodness,
not large ones, but sufficiently troublesome. And this special
occurrence to me this year - numerology and astrology are almost too
exact!

In brief, the whole thing started in this way. Someone in Carmel
told a local reporter we were here. He came to see us, to interview
me for the local paper. It seemed quite harmless. And what the local
paper brought out was quite all right in the main. But then, feel-
ing that what I had done in the "psychological experiment" at Portage
was of wider interest, he wanted to send a story of it, with photos
of Margery and myself, to the San Francisco paper with which he was
connected. At the beginning, I had not known he was connected with
a S.F. paper. Nor, of more importance, had I known that the S.F.
newspapers look upon Carmel as a prime place to pick on for
"tasty bits". Well, I said all right to his idea of the S.F. story.
I could see no reason why not. Besides, had I objected, he could have
gone ahead away, if anything, stimulated by my opposition. He sent
in the story.

Then, according to him, the S.F. paper got hold of the informa-
tion that my name and writings were to be found in Negro anthologie
and from this - the idea that I was a Negro. They called the Carmel
reporter on the phone and asked him to come and see me about it.
But he, for some inexcusable reason, did not come - and the paper
went ahead with the negro-white headlines. They might have done
it in any case, even had he come and talked with me.

A second paper

PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL DEEMED CONFIDENTIAL

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTIO

PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL RESTRICTED

2

A second paper took over the story, but they called me to have me verify it. I told them definitely I was not a Negro. They said they would correct it. But their thirst for sensationalism was, as it always is with the papers, greater than their desire for facts. And they came out with negro-white headlines. And the thing got started and no one could stop it. The local reporter came to see us in great distress, saying he had never intended that his story start such things. But he could do nothing save beg the papers to be decent about it and to drop it. I, of course, was quite helpless - like Ghandi in relation to England. If you have never been in such a thing it is difficult to realize - though one may know it in theory - what a monster of a machine the newspaper machine is. It simply gathers enormous momentum and descends upon you, and if you try to hide they ferret you out, and if you try to run they chase and hound you. We were not going to hide or be hounded. So we stood our ground, meeting the machine half-way in its own game. And this may well be one of the reasons why the thing turned out as decently as it did.

For in certain important respects they were quite decent. They could have made it far far worse, and we would have been just as powerless.

Out here, just at present, the thing seems to have been dropped. No reporters, no photographers have been after us for the past few days, and we may hope they have had enough.

Here in Carmel our friends, and, as far we can learn, everyone has simply dismissed the whole thing as one of the many examples of the way in which large newspapers will stop at nothing to print what they call news.

Signed and unsigned letters have come to us from all over the

3

country. Some of them assuming the marriage to be as the papers have had it, a mixed marriage, have been affirming. Some have been nasty. All have been interesting.

Yesterday a letter came from Catherine Klenert, telling of the situation in Portage. Goodness alive.

And what of Chicago? Do let me know what has come up there.

"Portage Potential" was rejected by Macmillan, and is now in Melville Cane's hands for placement with Harcourt or Smith. So is "The Blue Meridian." About the appearance and the form of Portage Potential I can tell nothing definite until after we've found someone who is willing to publish it. Then I will consider everything in the new light of what has been caused by me in the public mind by the publicity. Catherine wants me not to publish it.

Meanwhile, "Time" magazine is said to be going to run a story on the "psychological experiment."

Meanwhile also, I have put aside the Chicago book and am working on my book on America. Also, I am preparing a statement of my real position for possible appearance in one of the large magazines. Should this come out, it will provide the means, the public means, for everyone who is interested in going so to affirm this position. And it just may be that we will be able to turn the publicity to good use.

But my plans are, of course, not definite. I can do nothing more just now than hold our own here, write, and try to sense the general condition. I should mention, by the way, that the Carmel group was almost violently split and divided by Portage Potential. Some greatly affirmed it. Some resisted it terrifically.

our love,

June 28 1932

Dear Bruce;

How perfectly daflring of all of you! Mother and
all of us thank you extremely. I havent written before this be-
cause it hasn't seemed possible to decide just yet whether it
could be arranged and it still is not certa in. I think it could
be decided within a week if that is not too late to get some-
one else you wish in case Mother could not take advantage of
a most pleasant offer. She will do it if it can be arranged-
it depends somewhat upon Dolly for one thing and that depends
somewhat if not altogether upon whether she can get her vaca-
tion at that time or not.

I would love to come up and spend the week-end but
I dont know that I can. I shall have to let you know about that
a little later also. I am awfully hard up and have no numerology
at present and am still trying to arrange something else as a
source of income. If I dont come,-and at present it seems unlike
ly that I will be able to- I will see you when you are down
here any way. Which is the important thing to me. A week-end in
Portage seems would mean seeing the Portage people and I dont
feel especially up to anything so energetic at present, for some
reason or another. The weather has been awfully hot and everyone
here feels very fagged, unduly so. But many thanks to you and
to Margery and to Mrs. Latimer and so much appreciation. You are
sweet to suggest it.

We are wondering of you are going to be down this
week or not, to see the apartment for one thing. Max and Shirl-
ey are hoping so, as is everyone. They may go to the farm for
a couple of weeks next week- feel they may have to. But that is
not certain. Betty and Herman go for the summer next Saturday-
this week-end. Unless Herman gets another job sometime during
the summer. I think you and Margery will like the apartment- we
took it for you definitely anyway- if you dont want it or if any-
thing better turns up someone can take it off your hands alright.

How grand about Dorothy! She certainly is a brick!
It was funny. I had the same idea and when I didn't hear from you
I wrote to her also last Friday and asked her the same thing! If
she could lend $500 for you to the group until they could do some-
thing to return it! I have had no reply so far and presume she
knows you will let me know of her answer to you. She will prob-
ably write me something soon however. That will take care of the
main things- the apartment and groceries- and we can see what
else there is to do later. It was much better for you to suggest
it to her anyway- I am a firm believer for one thing in requests
from the opposite sex always! I think it works better, certainly
in nine cases out of ten. Anyway, how splendid, and how splendid
also to have your eyes feel comfortable and to be able to write
again. That means almost everything to you, of course- and a
great deal to your expectant readers. I can see that a publish-
er might want to know how you are going to develop the novel and
around what the theme revolves and how you are going to end it.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

But you will take care of that. As will Margery. I hope she is feeling alright and that the apartment sounds good to her. Of course to spend July even in part and August in Chicago and leave the country is a hot somewhat breathless proceeding. At the same time Chicago is a cooler city than most for summer occupancy. We who are left here will certainly be so glad you are going to do it however.

I won't write more and will hope you are going to run down soon- I will get this off with congratulations that the muse is again working and that your eyes are well enough to use for her benefit. And with most appreciative and affectionate thanks to you all and especially to your very good and understanding self-

1447 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago Ill.

Fritz and Maxine are coming up to board with Elise and I am moving again. I am not certain just yet just where- I may stay in the apartment you are going to have for a week. The owner and I are on very friendly terms. But this address anyway for mail- I am here during the day always.

July 14 1932

Dear Bruce;

No, you didn't sign 'Jean', I should have been in the air! But all is well.

I am sorry I did not let you know earlier that I couldn't come last week-end. I hope you rather took it for granted. I wanted to and put off deciding hoping that something would happen to make it possible. But it didn't. Your picture of the quiet life made me want to come still more. But you will be down in about a week now and I am reviving anyway even in the city, thanks to the peacefulness of the apartment which I have been using since the first of July, having made an arrangement with the owners, and which I will continue to use until you come, according to your very good invitation. Dorothy wants me to go out and spend a week or two with her and I may go just after you arrive for say a week rather than now. I want to enjoy the feeling of a whole apartment all to one's self, if she can wait. Miss Carnduff is away for her vacation and Dorothy may insist on my coming immediately. I shall have to see. I should dislike going just as you arrive but it would be just for a week.

I have been staying at Quill's for the last few days while the Alexanders were at the apartment having it thoroughly cleaned and fixing up the extra bedroom off the dining room. I am curious to go over and look at it and see what they have done. I think you will like it, as city apartments of an old kind go. It certainly is a bargain. Rathar old-fashioned but comfortable. Of course the bedrooms are not as airy and large-windowed or pleasant-viewed as they should be. But you know how old apartments are-right up close to other buildings. You may feel very shut in after the country. But a city in July and August is something you just have to put up with, and the apartment is really cool when all open. I have enjoyed it very much- the frigid-air ice-box is exciting. The Alexanders are as nice as they can be about everything. Paulenne wrote you about sending down the first month's rent, I believe-I told them you would. They have bought new furniture for the room off the dining room- it has been a plyroom for their one child- $70 box spring and mattress. They are excited about your having it. It is certainly exciting that you are coming. Only it seems a great responsibility to decide upon an apartment for other people, especially with the arrival of a 'new one' as Dorothy said you called your future off-spring!

As to Mother and the house-Mrs. Latimer's-she is so touched and appreciative of your thought of her and of the idea. But I think as things are she doesn't see it as possible. She is going this week to Wheaton for a couple of weeks, to the theosophical headquarters where they have a very comfortable guest house and where they are having a series of lectures that she can attend and in which she is most interested. There will be some people she knows there and others that she would like to meet. There is to be a theosophical convention this month. I believe. She has been getting ready for this for some time and she thinks it is all she can do this summer. Paulenne does not want to be away in August, I think-a good renting time for her-and the library is not giving any vacuations this year with pay so Dolly is not going to go away. And I have one or two prospects that may work out and one of which would mean having to travel about for a few weeks- booking people. So it doesn't seem possible. It is too bad-it would be marvelous and wonderful for mother. But I think we should say definitely no so that Mrs. Latimer and Margery and you might perhaps make some other arrangements.

I haven't seen Bertha since she came back-I must call her up. It is frightfully hot here at present. But that doesn't last long in Chicago. Tomorrow may be very cool again. I have been moving about as you can see. And one is always kept busy by the money arrangement-either how to make some or how to meet conditions without any. I am glad Margery feels better-Camilla writes she seemed so rested instead of tired as she was at first. I do hope

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

she will find the apartment comfortable. Tell her she will have lots of material in its wall paper and general old-fashioned atmosphere for some of her vivid descriptions- in a book or conversationally!

I took mother down to Dr. Cohen the other day and he asked about you- said he should have checked on your glasses but was glad to hear they seemed alright. For pity's sake- dont wear yourself out typeing all day- you had both better get all the out-doors you can up there and store up for next winter. Because after you get down here there wont be much. I know you want to get book off- but you could finish it here too where being in-doors is almost necessary as well as more desirable in hot weather.

Your arrival is certainly being looked forward to!

We read what material Solon sent us from New York over out loud two of the three necessary times. With Betty and Herman away and Bolly and Paulenne not feeling they can afford to and Max on a small salary- two cuts- I dont know whether we can go on with it. I hope so- New York needs the money for Gurdjieff- all they have been able to send him since he left is about $1400 or less- in six months I believe. They want us to help if we can. But certainly this group is also more than in difficulties. We will try to draw others into it however.

Until you arrive- love and thanks to you all.

69 East Division Street
(That's your address!)

Mine is still 1447 N. Dearborn Street.

Friday Aug. 26 1932

Dear Bruce;

Awfully good to have your letter!

If you think the material I sent you will do I might cut out
ywo
the explanations about the Gurdjieff ideas or telescope them into a few
sentences, and send the article to Time and ask them to print it- insist
on their doing it. They have come out this week- Aug. 29 number- with a
notice under their obituary column of M. L. White, wife of J. T. Negro.
That is all- but I should like, if you dont mind, to send on xxx data from
what I wrote, for them to publish.

I think it might be well also to send it to Mr. Cerwin and
ask him to have it placed in some San Francisco paper, or whatever paper or
papers he thought best and could arrange for.

I will wait until you return the manuscript and then send it
on. To these different places. It can do no harm- it may do good. It is at
least a more correct record and ought to be on record.

I am sorry you have to be drawn in on and connected with all
this. But it seems necessary. That is the pity of it.

1

Russel Walcott was over this morning to see about an inner
vestibule for Dorothy. He looks well. He talked of you of course- with such
deep feeling and affection- and asked about your plans. It seems they tried
to reach you three or four times at the apartment, through Douglas and other
ers, but couldnt. They did not know under what name to find the telephone
number.

Miss Reynolds sends a message of deep sympathy to you.

We have dinner tonight with Esther and her aunt. Esther says

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

she had telephoned to find out how the baby was getting along and that she
was going up sometime soon at luncheon hour to get another peek at her if
possible.

I have a letter from Mrs. Alexander expressing her deep
sympathy and asking if there is anything she could do for you. She gives
who
to coast- and in Chicago.

With love,

Northcroft.

Oct 17 1932

Dear Bruce;

I haven't written because I thought I would wait
until I heard from a few people about the class and let you
know. Probably by tomorrow I will hear. Miss Hertzell tel-
ephoned- she would decidedly like to do it. Esther wants
to very much- she is just hesitating because she says she
is so hard up- though goodness knows that is a small amount
of money. The note I wrote Elsie Johns has come back with
'no such person there'. Do you remember her married name?
Or have you her telephone number? I might find out by tel-
ephoning something about her.

I ran into Emily and her husband the other ev-
ening- they were passing as I went out- and I told her about
it and she said she thought she would like to do it and that
she wanted so much to see you when you came back. Quill's
sister I think will go into the class too. And she may
know of one or two people. Could it be held at Bertha's, do
you think? I should think she would be glad to have it there.
I will talk with her about it. Havent seen her since you
left- havent seen many people, if any. Am feeling rather
low myself- cant get anything started, dont know just what
to do, feel I should move on! Such a confusion! The only
thing I know of to do at such times is to keep on going!
Which usually means just keep on existing! Nice kind of
letter to write to you! Pay no attention to it.

Had a good letter from Chauns the other day- he
looks forward to Portage very much it is evident.

I hope you are feeling more rested all the time.
I wish you could have a good long rest with no troubles for
a while, and no need to think at all. I wish- I know the
whole group wishes- that we could give you something adequate
so that you could have a little easier time for a while. It
seems sometimes as if everyone's energy was at low ebb or
high ebb, at the same time. Perhaps there will come a high
ebb moment not too long delayed.

I haven't heard how your daughter was for some
time. I imagine she is fine or we would have heard. I look
at the pictures of her once in a while and want so much to
see her and get furious at the idea I cant. But that is fool-
ish-

My love and I will write you again if I hear more
definitely from people soon. I will see Catherine Miller
in a day or so. I just sent the Persian to them so I dont
want to follow with anything else too soon. They see him to-
morrow. Then I can talk with her. Mrs. Cates letter came
back to me because of wrong address- I am forwarding it a-
gain to her and should hear from her at once.

The weather has been beautiful here after that
frightfully cold spell. We didn't have snow anyway. Were you
able to keep the house warm? I am so glad Mrs. La timer

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

feels better. I wish I could have seen her.

45 East Elm Street
Chicago Ill.

I presume you saw the enclosed before you left-
but I am sending it anyway in case you missed it. Surely
someone saw it in Portage anyway and told you about it-

Mother is back at the hotel and seems better
for her holiday though she has been in bed for the last few
days with a grippy cold. She sends her love to you and hopes
she will see you when she gets back. She is at the Dearborn
Manor again for a time anyway. It is so much easier than
anything else. And continually cheaper.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION
No. 651
FISK UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Oct 30 1932

Dear Bruce;

I got up Friday night and still no word from Malone. We called him up Saturday, found he was out of town and told his wife I had come up from Chicago just to see him and she made an appointment at their house with him for last night. We finally got there and had a not very long talk with him.

He had seen Shaughnessy but had not found out much- said Shaughnessy didn't seem to know what he wanted. Said that S. had said Julia was living on borrowed money. He doesn't know from whom. That Gordon was up in Economowoc boarding and going to school there.

Malone said that he thought there might be a hearing only on Thursday for which Chauns would have to appear and that it would then be postponed until Jan. He seemed to have no doubts about the ability to postpone it. That there might not even be a hearing. That he would see Shaughnessy Wednesday and try to find out what he had lined up and what they thought Julia could get. He may make some proposition to Shaughnessy that out family can pay $50 a month by each paying $10 a piece. I am to try to find out if this can be counted upon meantime.

He does not think there is much in the political angle at present. He believes the newspaper interest is simply that of sensational news that will help to sell copies of newspapers.

He told Chauns that the judge here would not think of giving him a sentence. That that was practically never done in Wisconsin. That if he had no money he could not pay any. He has all the material showing what has been paid and what Chauns has made and what he has tried to do. He wants Chauns to try to get a divorce as soon as possible - but he has to live here 8 months more to be able to do so. He can then get one on mental cruelty.

He seems alright- able, very Catholic, crude, sharp, quick, gruff- but nice. I am writing him today to ask him all the questions which we were not able to go into last night. He had Father somebody coming any moment and dismissed us as soon as possible.

We want to find out, after this thing is settled what Julia can do next. And what can be done about the Chicago case that is pending. And so on.

Chauns is much relieved by Malone's attitude and easy assurance. He seems in what you would call 'quite a good state'. I think things are pretty good. I think I will stay here until Thursday however and see how things actually come out. I can arrange the $50, if it can be arranged, by letter from here. I don't believe anything distressing will happen. But it might give him a certain assurance if I were on the spot. And I could find out more of the situation.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

The papers are quiet. Some reporter from the News-Downs-called him yesterday again but missed him. I dont see how they can get much until the hearing, if there is a hearing. Shaughnessy knows that he went up to Portage on the train with some girl- they think it is a Mrs. somebody or another whom Chauns doesn't know. A Someone who was a Miss Rehm, I think. The children told of a person they met which sounded like this. I trust it wont get any nearer.

I am chaperoning the two a bit. One has to pre-vail upon them constantly to keep them from seeing each other. For this week at least they must be careful or until Jan. How careful I dont know. Of course when I am here I presume it is less dangerous. But even then, now that they know of some girl on the train, they might get C's name anyway.

I dont believe there is any need of your coming up at present unless you want to for some reason. It might be just as well if you did not appear until after Thursday I should think- to save any further publicity as you said. I will let you know how things here in Milwaukee are generally as soon as I can find out. So far I havent seen anyone except the three mentioned.

I do hope your Friday went off to your satisfaction and that you feel you have material worth while for a group. I shall certainly be curious to know!

Today has special memories for you. I hope your coming year is going to be one of more healing grace to you than the last few months. One cant help at moments feeling the sadness of one's friends. Or feeling sad for one's friends. But all experience is helpful I am certain.

I will try to get some idea from here as to whether after Thursday is not a good time to commence the lecture idea. I dont see why not. It will depend upon what happens Thursday I presume. And if the case is put off it might be well perhaps to consult the lawyer as to what effect he thinks it would have upon the case, good or bad?

With love from your母 every one of us,

1425 WAXSTREET
Milwaukee, Wis.

She wasn't the wild singer- she was the other girl. She is quite
beautiful and individual and they have an interesting house in the
country they have just finished building and furnishing.

How nice you were to have Chauns there for Thanksgiving! He told Quill he was writing me in a day or so. So I was writing for the letter. I had one from Tockie this morning saying that she had run into Dan Corrigan and that he had said that the Longs in Oconomowoc had told him that Gordon was supposed to have pneumonia and hadn't been to school for several weeks- was in Milwaukee. Mother however had from Gordon after Thanksgiving, and he said nothing about being ill, except that Robert had a bad cold. So I don't believe there is anything in that. He may be too embarrassed by the newspaper uproar to want to stay in Oconomowoc, or he may not be able to afford it. Or Julia may not want him to. I imagine it is the first. He said nothing to mother about being in Milwaukee- told her to write him in Oconomowoc. So Camilla didn't know what was doing and didn't want to say anything to Chauns for fear of worrying him unduly. Mother is writing to Gordon today asking him to write her immediately. And I will write both him and Toma and see if we hear and what. Then we can plan how and where perhaps to see something of them.

It is hard on your group not to have you here. We all want and need you badly. We all long for a group meeting. But if we cant we cant and that is all there is to it. And there is certainly nothing much in it for you- financially at least. I dont know whether you ever get hungry to see the group in the way the group does for you- we are very homesick really- everyone- quite wistful about it. Everyone is harder up than ever but getting along just the same. It is curious and interesting. I wonder what is going to happen-

I have a few plans of my own but they are still not made actual yet. But they interest me a little and that is something. Anything is better than the state of removal from and nausea with the idea of doing anything of the things you might do. I have commenced the article about the Portage summer and hope I can get along with it and that it will be in anyway adequate. I had Dianna's new astrologer read a little of my astrological chart the other day- he is quite good- and he said that I had talent for writing, publishing (!), and for real-estate. That I would never find one thing and do that exclusively. That I would always be doing different things, with spaces in between. Something to do with having Uranus in my house of fortune. But that I would always be able to think up new things to do. Well- I wonder.

I am keeping at the bookshops- they are very hard to get results from. They keep promising statements and then dont give them. The Argus has taken the place on Michigan and Ohio where the Walden was- as an uptown branch- and they are so busy with that they have no time for statements. And the Walden are reorganizing at least some of the people in the old Walden area- and have taken space in the University Club Building, on the corner of Michigan and Monroe- an awfully good location. So they are much occupied too. I am keeping after them, however. Of course none of them want to pay out any money if they can help it- they keep putting it off. Abramson said he had made a display of Essentials the first week they were up in there new space- I didn't know it so that I didn't go in and see it.

More later- and all the luck in the world to Trans-Atlantic- which isn't its name, but comes first. Not to see it is maddening. I have never heard the last half of the Carmel book. Ad

Friday Nov. 17 1932

Dear Bruce-Jean-

Dont worry about the $25!

I dont know quite what to say to you about
your plans. I am not certain about what you really want- to
be in Portage or to be in Chicago. Consequently I dont know
what to suggest or what to do to be of any assistance, or
what to do here in relation to, say, the literary group. If
you were here or knew when you were going to be we could fix
some definite date perhaps and have some newspaper announce-
ments of the class which might bring people we wouldnt know
otherwise how to reach.

As things are now, not knowing when you
will be here, or for how long, it seems impossible to do
anything much about it, beyond what has already been done.
And you know how hard it is to keep anybody for anything
over any period of time.

If you wanted to be here it would of course
be possible to borrow somehow enough to come down on. But
your plans at present are evidently connected with being in
Portage. So I really dont know what to say or what to sug-
gest. I dont know that you want anything suggested. You can
probably work- write- better there than in Chicago. It may
be that you can have a group of some kind there as you planned
-but often- that would keep you going up there. Again you
may not want to be here without money on account of the extra
expense on the south side.

I suggested to Shirley that Max might get
together immediately a Gurdjieff group of say a minimum of
5 people paying each $10 a month or 10 people paying each $5.
Max is always talking of knowing so many people who want the
work. He wouldn't give them to me and apparently he doesn't
quite have the courage to take it himself. But if he could
get them together for you- and that was what he had in mind-
$50 a month would be something. I don't know how your Universi-
ty group is coming along. I don't know much about any of your
plans, remember. I don't know what you hoped for in the way
of money, beyond Harrington, when you went to Portage the
last time. Of course you could stay here with Bertha and Doug-
las, couldn't you, if you didn't want to add to the south side
expense? They would love to have you, n'est-ce pas?

I saw the bookshops in Milwaukee when I
was there. Des Forges had sold one copy out of the five I
think he had, and the other place four out of five. They are
all hard pressed for money, Will send statements by first of
year. I promised Miss-- up there who had sold four one of your
photographs- but have you one?? I am pursuing the Walden and
the Argus bookshops. I don't know of course exactly how many
actually they had- the Argus about 50, wasnt it? And the
Walden about 30? I have asked them both for statements and
they have promised them immediately. But goodness knows how
many they have actually sold. I suppose your duplicates, orders

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Jan 19 1933

Dear Bruce;

I wanted to write long ago but everything seems
to have been mixed up and hectic. Thanks for all the news.
I havent heard anything lately from Milwaukee. Mother wrote
that Chauns had had luncheon with her and that things were
postponed until June. But I presume that means only the
abandonment charge of Monday. I hope the other things are
coming out as satisfactorily. I only saw one Milwaukee clip-
ping- the first, I imagine. I would like to know what was
in the others. The Chicago Tribune had something on that
same Sunday which I also have not seen yet but which seems
from what people say to have been very decent. And I saw
an article in the Chicago Sunday Times which was confused
but also really very good. Nothing sensational.

I presume- and hope- you will be coming down soon.
Of course you havent had much money! The ten we were counting
on or hoping for from Dorothy we cant have. Fritz wrote a
letter which I composed for him and which Dorothy said- not
knowing the author, was a very good letter. But she wrote him
back that she was giving thirty a month up to March- or was
it April?- which would be equivalent to ten dollars a month
(the next two months of thirty) for six months and that she
did not feel she could do any more. I was up there last night
and she asked me about it. I told her that the group wanted
very much to do this- that you needed it badly and we wanted
to do what we could and that I had suggested that Fritz und-
ertake it for a change and that he had written her as one of
a possible number. She said that she had stepped in at a crisis-
that crises appealed to her. But that she was not much
good on sustained efforts. So that is that. We will try in
another way to get the extra ten- if not this month, at least
for next. With the hope that you have arranged the ten from
Eugenia, so making the forty a month. The news about Zee is
nice but it certainly makes another problem of money. If you
could have a literary group of twelve or thirteen people at
$2 a piece that might take care of the amount. Fritz's going
down to the apartment will help if not solve that end of
things until Dorothy stops anyway. And if they should take
Maxene too, which is perhaps possible- well, that would
bring in sufficient money but would be awfully crowded. I im-
age it will work out. Only I wonder if you have enough
money now to get down on, etc. Someone said you were having
expenses with the car--

I had a delightful visit with your darling daughter the other day. She is more captivating than ever and lokks healthier and healthier. We are excellent friends- she really seems to know me- at least she accepts me with very good grace! If you ever find her kdnapped you might know where to look...

Bill was one of the people who is sending a dollar a month. We are going to try to get ten of the group to make it two dollars a month. Martia and Miss MacDonald are others.. Everyone is delighted to do it- everyone who can.

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Why shouldn't they-- but at the same time it is good to see
and feel the devotion. Yes, Bill seems his old self. It was
awfully good to hear from him. He had me send him lots of
numbers! Nadja was in today for tea. She is going to try
to stay until you get here. I must call Bertha and find out
whether they have settled anything about your literature group.

Bruce- you must pay some attention to this! Is
there any way you can get to me the figures on the number of
books in the bookstore had? We must get statements and get
what can be gotten from them. The Walden has gone into the
hands of receivers, you know. I have asked that all the books
they have not sold be turned back. Then it will be necessary
to file a claim with the receivers for some share of the sum
for which the rest were sold. But I can't do that because I
have no memorandum of how many copies they had altogether.
I am afraid the Occult Book Shop- Malcolm Schloss' store is a
dead loss. But the Walden shouldn't be. I have to send some bill
to the other bookshop in Milwaukee. Miss MacLeod sent a check
for six dollars for three copies sold- I think this is all she
had but I am not certain. The Argus people again said they
would send a statement immediately. I will keep at them. But
neither do I know how many copies they had- a good many. Now
please tell me if all this material is in storage and whether
it is therefore impossible for you to get at a present.
Or whether you have some notes on it there. And if so send
them to me, Please. I might get a little money for you this
way. And not lose the books...

Well, as always you will be most joyfully received! Let me know if you need more money to get down with. Fritz has eight dollars on next month's fund that could go to you now if necessary. And I will try to send you the six very shortly- I had to use it the other day. I will get some money very soon for the material I am selling to Dorothy.

Love to Mrs. La timer- Dorothy and I were talking of her and of how much we admired her and of how much the real queen she was in type...

And love to you!

Feb. 21 1933

Dear Bruce;

I went out to Dorothy's over the week-end and just got back yesterday- Monday- afternoon. Your letter came the day before and I planned to answer it before I left and send you the check for the book payment. But I was very rushed unexpectedly and just couldn't. I had to spend the three dollars also and I have been waiting since for a check due me for three arrived. It hasn't come yet however and I am going to write anyway and send it to you later. I hope you aren't needing it immediately.

Had a very restful time at Dorothy's- since the burglar she has engaged a houseman- a colored man who is the best cook imaginable, who keeps the house in the most marvelous order, who can run the car and who makes Dorothy's establishment infinitely more comfortable. He sleeps in the basement and is all prepared to rout burglars though he confided to me that he didn't much like the idea of burglars. He is about fifty, looks about thirty five and moves about as expertly and as quietly as the Hindus. I was asked out chiefly to look at the curtains now that they are made. They look thrilling in the evening- exactly right. In the day time I think they are a bit strong in color. But undoubtedly they will fade. They do add a good deal to the room. And I don't mind them short as much as most curtains of a strong colour. I was really pleasantly surprised and relieved. And Dorothy likes them absolutely. So everything is well. I said to Dorothy that you had hoped she would say something about Mr. Latimer's article so that you could tell him that Mr. Latimer had known that you had sent it to her and was rather looking for some response. She said she had written to you, much letter about it than she should, and she wondered if you had had the letter. That she had sent it to the south side. I said Shirley had said something about there being a letter there for you and that you probably had. That our conversation had been when you first arrived. She seemed a little uncomfortable about you did she expect you as usual to stop off? I had an idea that she was afraid that you had heard about her letter to Fritz and that you were offended by it. I don't know. She said nothing to really indicate it. It was just something of the kind in the air- when I started out to say that you were sorry that she( it was then she looked very uncomfortable and so I surmised perhaps why) when I went on to say that had not said something about Mr. Latimer's article before he left, e. g. she looked very relieved.

You were very good to write to me quickly as to your safe arrival as you said you would. I still remember the letter you never answered. And there certainly is no point in answering it now. It makes me take every such promise with a grain of two of doubt! Bit you were very good this time and it was a relief because it was actually two below zero that Saturday you started out! And next day, before the snow came, it was quiet warm. I can imagine how Chauns behaved and looked when you first saw him!

I didn't have tea with the Hindus. I tried my best to arrange a tea for them, at Mrs. Biggs. But Bertha couldn't coo

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Sunday.

March 6, 1933

It is certainly exciting about the book- I shall be and am very eager to hear it again. I hope you did nothing to the white cabin!

I don't think we can manage the $300. Because we are not certain of the $30 a month for ten months. But I think perhaps $100 could be gotten- I am going to try to borrow it from some individual so that there would not be so much interest. If not we will get it the other way. That would pay for the whole thing, wouldn't it? Couldn't you have it stored at Bertha's? It seems a great mistake to me to put it in storage again and have it mounting it the same way here. Do think about that.

This bank thing is certainly disconcerting. The banks here are supposed to open on Wednesday but there is some idea then of one's only being able to take out 20% of what one has in, at least for the first week. I don't know whether that applies to only savings accounts or everything. Of course it may go on for longer than a week. It caught people here for the most part unprepared. Every so many people had no money over the week-end. The banks announce it as a three-day bank holiday! It begins to make difficulties seem more close at hand certainly!

Fritz will get you some of the money this week anyway, if not all. Fortunately not too much of it is in his bank.

I am enclosing the clipping from the News last Wednesday with the announcement of your class in it. I am writing

John Drury tonight and asking him to correct the twice a week part. It will make another announcement and there may be some people who would consider once or twice a week when they couldn't twice a week. I have had three letters asking for information about it already. And I have besides two new enrollments for you. One is an inmane of our house- both are beginners who want to learn to write if possible.

I am enclosing a copy of the outline I finally made from my notes on your lecture and which I have sent to the various people out of town who contributed and who would like to hear. I suggested to Martia that she might find out if some of the people out there would like to hear the outline read each month, for some fee. I sent Evelyn a copy- perhaps there would be a few in Portage who would like to contribute and have a copy or hear it read. Of course I lost your style for the most part and it is certainly dull as compared to what you actually said. But some of the main facts are there. I will do better next time- I will have more light and elbow room and start from the beginning.

I seem to be awfully busy though I don't know whether I am making much headway. I like my new room though it is pretty empty so far. But in due time I will have furniture and hangings I hope.

I am certainly shocked by Dorothy's reply! Were those her actual words? What in the world has gotten into her? Sort of interesting but amazing and to me rather horrifying.

I saw Mary Ellen last night at Bertha's Mirror.

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performance, which came off awfully well. One ballet in particular- three elderly maiden ladies in the nineties- 1990's! was artis tically very fine. Awfully clever and fine theatre. Mary Ellen was ushering and looking very pretty in a long blue evening dress and silver slippers. She was embarredded when she first saw me. I asked her if she didn't miss the baby- but she pretended not to hear, ignored the question and talked of something else. I hadn't seen her since her spectacular evening. I dont know exactly how she parted from the Groves! Shirley is a queer duck! She certainly holds onto self-pity with all of her might- she seems to feel nothing without it.

Do you think you might have another literary group on Friday the 18th? I could have that announced. I think I will take a chance anyway and have it announce it so- John Drury. I hope Bertha wont mind. Some definite date for it should be announ ced, even if it is changed.

Certainly you will be welcome in Chicago! You know, you might be able to borrow $50 on your car if you should ever have to. And couldnt you hold on to the $25 this month from Dorothy and keep it until we make certain of the $100 for your storage? With Max ene's $25 a month couldnt Shirley manage? Or course Max's job may stop any time. And they settled for the back rent by Fritz' composing a letter for Max to the agent- who had said the ninety days was up and therefore he couldnt allow them the reduction to $30 instead of whatever it was. Fritz wrote that they might be able to get together $30 within the next week and if so would he accept that for full payment. He said of course- he being the agent- that he would and Fritz lent them the money. So he will only be paying fifteen dollars a month down there for three months instead of twenty-five. So perhaps the $25 will be needed. But I think you should hold it until you get here and see. A rent we all inventive managers these days those!

With love to you- do come fairly soon-

66 East Division Street
Chicago Illinois.

April 3, 1933

Saturday-

Dear Bruce;

Here is what I think you wanted of Miss Reynolds letter- or even a bit more than you wanted. If not, you will let me know wont you and I will send the rest. I might as well send you the letter itself and you could return it. But I thought this would save your having to type it.

Quill and David Fuller and I are supposed to have dinner with Bertha tonight. Douglas seems to be away and Bertha feels like entertaining. She said she had a good talk with you over luncheon on Thursday. It was probably a better talk than you would have had if you had been up at the house where there would be always so many interruptions.

Bill called me up this morning-I dont know just what to do with him. I was busy this afternoon and there is Bertha's to-night. Tomorrow there is no dinner here and I cant afford to ask Bill anywhere else. And he knows really so few people here and it seems a shame not to welcome him warmly. Perhaps I could take him to Bertha's. His aunt is very ill and he is going to stay here three or four days and wait for news of her. He said he would look up Zifforah and that will do nicely if he finds her in..

Nothing still decided about Martha Graham. I am certainly having a hard time getting the necessary money. Perhaps I shall have to give it up after all. I will make a few more efforts about it however. I tried to get the theatre to do it with me-but Orchestra Hall still feels able to hold out for its usual price and usual deposit, etc.

I am about to have a shampoo and so mustnt try to write any more or I wont arrive at dinner. Will write more news when I either decide to do the Graham thing or decide not to.

Cheerio, as you would say- and love.

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"A s soon as the address came (thank you!) I wrote her a little note, saying that you had suggested my writing to her and asking her to call me up and tell me when it would be convenient for her to have me drop in upon her. So far I have had no answer and the letter has not been returned, as was my other note to her. So evidently she is too occupied to enlarge her circle. I am sorry but I am hoping that she may have more leisure later. This adds another case to the frustration that seems to pursue my California life. In a way it has been most interesting to watch but in another it has been disheartening. Since I came out here in July I have had the most curious series of experiences with people. I have a number of old friends and acquaintances out here but for weeks I could not get anyone by telephone, and when I did, the interest in my being here seemed slight. Trips that have been suggested haven't materialized and things just haven't happened. None of it very important but curious. I have just seemed to be in a pocket of negation and have wondered if it hasn't been due to the fact that my own vibrations have been negative- I haven't seemed capable of making a plan or of really doing anything active about my life. I am sure Christian Scientists would diagnose the situation this way. I think perhaps I simply mirror the world condition of fear, indecision and inactivity. Sometimes I get a feeling of a weight of paralysis resting upon us all and a general attitude of waiting, waiting, and for what? Did you ever read "La Terre Trembla", a story of Russia just before the revolution and just after? It gives a most remarkable picture of various social groups- the students, the aristocrats and so on and of the complete paralysis just before the crash came. Drawing rooms were full of people sitting about samovars, talking, waiting, in a kind of vacuum of slow motion thing. The students who had most wanted the Revolution were themselves terrified terrorized by the forces- whose release they had helped to bring about. It was all like watching the coming of a great tidal wave or glacier bearing down upon them-all helpless, simply waiting for disaster. I was enormously impressed by that section of the book. And sometimes we all seem to me to be sitting in much the same sort of vacuum. Do you feel this way ever?"

April 25 1933

Dearest Bruce;

I am so glad about the publisher- it must be hard to be working away so out of touch with the people one is to some extent working for- as one does when writing a book. And grand to have him give so much signs of life... And it certainly is energizing to everyone interested too! Three cheers!!! I wish you could send it in for the Atlantic Monthly contest? But that is so far off and you want quicker results of course.

And you were sweet about my 'Idyll'! That was most real criticism and I am most grateful! It seems to me that nothing could be more touching to one- more endearing- than some concentrated considered criticism such as you give. One has a feeling of having been of such real thought to some one else- I cant put it very well. But it causes a whole fount of gratitude to rush up in one. I dont know just what you mean by all of it- what, for instance, you mean by not being afraid of writing too much. Do you mean of writing as applied to one thing itself, or of writing many many things so as to get practice, or of not being afraid of saying too much? But that doesn't matter- I will find out when I see you.

David has read me what he has written of his book, and it is strangely good- it shows more of the characters and gives one more feeling for them than I think he has any idea or even intention of. Everyone that has heard it likes it so much that he is very surprised. He says he would love to come to the workshop and thanks you- he is afraid the book wont do for material. But he will have something- or perhaps even that. He is in a quite good humor, now that he has moved and is somewhat settled- his family had to move again just a few days after he got here. He looks very well and has moved forward internally quite a little, I should say. It is good to have him about.

Beer is not very good- rather raw and unsatisfying and certainly not very exciting. But in time- I have discovered a place just a little west on Division Street where one can get awfully good sea food, by the way. I had a dinner tonight for fifty cent with delicious broiled white fish. And they have lobsters and all kinds of things. You must have lots of it when you come down. Say as long as you need to- we hate to have you not here but you want to do whatever seems best for you and the book. Fritz and I will have our sleeves rolled up at all moments for any call and my skirts are already tied very tightly back. Miss Ritchie has a new pupil for you when you do come down again. Miss Hertzel must be panting with impatience. And I heard indirectly that the girl-Elsie Johns- is back in town. I presume she will want to come.

Nothing much happens here. We live along from day to day. I have given up eating at Quill's- go out to meals and hone soon to cook a little upstairs in my own room as I accumulate dishes and pans and table and things. It is cheaper. Am working along at the dance idea and also am very much interested in a new theatre group that is putting on a play of Susan Glaspells- the Pulitzer prize one- A lison's House- with the hope that they may in time have a permanent repertory company here. The players are all under the direction of Luther Greene- they are all Chicago actors and he is a white-skinned- pale, I mean- red-haired young southerner who taught direction at the University of Virginia and then directed

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

in various theatres in and out of New York. He is quite able and knows what he is about and something may come of it. I have helped him with a few suggestions and some sponsors. He will have to wait and see how the critics like the play. I don't see exactly how there can be any money in it for me personally but it is interesting and if it goes along there may be some opportunity. Lenore Thomas is working on some sets for him.

Havent heard from Chauns for some time-I think he owes me a letter. But they-he and Tockie-sent some an Easter card so I must write them. Finances are certainly getting no easier. Numerology is few and far between. But one survives by hook or crook. And it is alright. I am still trying to borrow enough money to take the house on Oak Street and then sub rent- that is my present objective though I don't know whether it will come off. If it doesn't something else will come up I imagine.

Betty is here for a week-I havent seen her but Quill said she telephoned and that he has invited her and myself for dinner on Friday. I must call her tomorrow. Shirley said that she and Herman seemed depressed and discouraged. So this may cheer her up a bit. By the way, the young man you spoke of-Margery's friend-called up and made me sort of cross the first time he telephoned. So I asked him if he would not like to see the baby and gave him the address and shipped him down there. He said he would telephone in about two weeks to find out when you would be down. I think they liked him very much down there from what Maxene said. I asked him if he would like to come and see me say on the next Tuesday evening (when Quill and his sister are at French class-I have stoppe d for the time being) and he-said "Will you have some of Margery's friends there?" and I changed the subject and asked him if he would not like to see the baby and he could then there meet some of her friends! I dont know just what he did mean by it-but it made me a bit tired! I am sorry if I did not behave well-but at the time I could not do otherwise.

I havent seen your child since you left but I hear she is growing up at greater speed all the time and getting more entrancing. Maxene says she had a little'summer complaint' last week and that the doctor took her off of some of her food. But that she is alright again now. How did Mrs. Latimer like her photographs I wonder? They must make her very anxious to see the baby.

Havent seen Bertha since Quill and I had dinner there a little while after you left, with David Fuller. Douglas was away. But I hear she is very well.

Paulenne was pleased as Punch to get a note from you about her new business venture! She said it was on a little piece of yellow paper that was just nothing but that your writing and the way you put it on made it look so important and so charm-ing. It was nice of you. Very.

Well, this is all the news for a while. The best of days to you and the book-dont work too hard. You can get it done in plenty of time-we will sit up nights typing for you-take your time. And it is marvelous-if they dont like it instantly it will be just too odd for belief! And my best to Mrs. Latimer though I doubt if she wants it.

With love-

66 East Division Street
Chicago Ill.

Friday May 26 1933

Dear Bruce;

I started a letter to you the day I received yours, wondering if you could not get some one to do the typing for you or at least part of it, for a not tooex-orbital sum. It seemed too much for you to do after working so hard and long, especially if your eyes are bothering. But I proceeded to be sick for a couple of days- had a fever and ached all over- and so the letter didn't get off. And I am sorry. But perhaps you found someone. It could be done at least in a good part for ten dollars couldnt it? In these days? It would be worth a good deal more and would save you a great deal. And how about that money that was sent you? Fritz said he had some besides what he sent you a week ago Thursday. I hope he got it off to you! He is a topical banker- he likes to hold a little back and make one go along on less if possible, and so on. But that is not always what one wants or needs or what is best..

What you have done is amazing and I do congratulate you. There is surely enough there to make decisions possible. I cannot imagine their resisting it- I only hope they take it right off without any question. They certainly should see it as something that will sell- regardless of its literary and imaginative quality- after all that is what they are concerned with. If the day ever comes when books are judged primarily by their literary ability- well, that will be your easy period, Bruce. But if these publishers dont see it, some one will- there is certainly nothing that you have done, from an ordinary point of view, that has such selling possibilities of course. And-

Of course the rumors you hear about publishers are not encouraging- that they are taking nothing new- only using what they have. But I dont believe it- there are too many actually new books appearing. And while 80% of the bookshops in the country are supposed to have closed, Bulliet told me the other day that Krock had said that books for the first time in about two years- were beginning to sell a little. Well, anyway, I have a feeling that this is going to go, this book of yours- it is a 'hunch'...

I spent the afternoon with Bertha in the park the other day. It was a beautiful summerday, the air full of lilac and honeysuckle- we enjoyed it very much. Bertha said she had spent the last two months out in the park and had found it almost intoxicating. She looks awfully well and says she feels so. And she is surprisingly touchingly sweet at present- very thoughtful and much less egocentred. Though that is not quite the right word.. She expects the baby- hopes it will arrive- any day now. They have had rather a hectic time at the house and everything is not yet altogether clear sailing. "Penny" as they call her has a tooth pulled and it started some kind of neuralgia

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3

- the Accturus ray is to press some button or do something of the sort, was very thrilling. The four bright rays suddenly came from different directions in the sky and met and shot down over some point. I wish I had seen it. That was really a sort of epitome of the accomplishments of our scientific age--

So you really have something new to look forward to here. And they say, 'they say'! - that you can see almost everything for very little. You can take a car down to 18th, walk two blocks, pay your fifty cents admittance fee, and see almost everything by walking about. One can take a bus if one wishes. And there are rickshas to ride about in. And innumerable tempting restaurants to drink beer in, or outside of, where you can get delicious meals for not so very much money. And see all the foreign buildings and temples, and so on. Almost all these for nothing. A t night it is the best... the color is a little bright red in the daytime. I havent seen or heard a peep from Dorothy since she got back from meeting Herr Brauer- must be a month or six weeks now. Wonder when she is going to be heard from and how. Of course they have been very busy putting up the exhibit. And now will be busy running in. And of course she does one thing at a time. And then she likes the companionship of one male and no interruptions to such a life. I dont mean that it must be a complete relationship-- just the outside appearance and feel of it goes along way towards satisfying something in her. Well, that is not so alien to myself that I cant understand some of it- but the complete forgetting and ignoring of others I cant quite comprehend. I like a little more variety and a little more sense of knowing what is going on in the world. One's pictures again, I presume! By the way, how in the world does one get round one's picture? I answer that glibly sometimes for some one else, in some way. But I really dont know how to get around my own. Can one break it by deliberately going against it? You've experimented with so very many things in yourself- surely you can give one some suggestion? Or give me some suggestion, if you insist on my being specific. After you get rested, give me one suggestion, a specific one too, like an angel- which you really are when you arent the reverse. I dont mean of course break it all at once by deliberately going against it- but does that do it eventually or help in anyway in the particular matter? The best way to find out is to experiment oneself probably. But maps and directions are useful and legitimate things in most discovery...

I just called Bertha and she has gone down to the dunes over Sunday so probably nothing will happen for a few days..

Sometimes I think I write you such thoughtless letters and do such thoughtless things- human beings are so clumsy, even with people they care about. I certainly do not mean to be or want to be- but I know you know that.. I hope that takes some of the sting out of any heedlessness..

July 4 1933

Dear Bruce;

I wrote you quite a long letter before luncheon and now cant find it. I want to get Mrs. Biggs small check off-I suggested a monthly one-that is probably why it is not larger-I had a nice letter from her-she and Mr. Biggs used to drive a round Whea ton when the roads were dirt ones instead of gravel and when one whipped up a horse a bit instead of stepping on the gas. I havent heard from Zifforah-she was to send one dollar for herself for you and three from her step-sister for me, to send to you. Still things are very slow for you-but the old seven month is over (even if it did produce Essentials) and now I hope the 8 will prove its financial side at least to you. In a seven month one is supposed to have extra good intuition and to be able to see how to do things one did not see how to manage before. The 8 means, remember, something done which brings in money, or money coming in, an increase in position or prestige or importance, usually through contact with people of importance, many engagements, much managing, directing, promoting, or pushing of things. And need of rest when one can get it, because of some tendency to nerve strain because of so much to do. ETC.

It usually means not only difficulty with money and solitude and much turning inward and some loneliness, but more out of doors, country, poetry, some theatre, much giving of advice to others, and taking on some responsibility. Getting many unfinished things done and out of the way, with more feeling then of leisure. And splendid intuition.

Things are still hectic here and there is very little to write about. Florence is the firebrand-she fights every step of the day and almost all day long. She resents the interest and presence of Gordon and takes it out on the rest of us and sometimes on him. Which is hard on him who is most helpless in the situation. Everyone except myself is much interested in the theosophical doings and institute. Mother has been for many years. Everyone has to pass through and by certain steps and for Dolly and Pa ulenne the step at present seems to be Theosophy. They fill Gordon with it daily-but it wont hurt him. He is going over to the Institute Saturday for a week. It is 'Junior Week' and there are some very nice young people there and it will be a change for him and good for him to get out of this atmosphere. He is very interested in the whole thing because it is something to do and because it falls in with his own favorite lines- tennis and debating. They have games over there and some English director from Rugby is there and oversees the younger debates. Gordon loves debating-as all kinds of medals for it as well as for tennis; and he thinks he would like to be amateur champion of tennis. He has all sorts of medals in tennis too. He is in fact a very talented boy, with an unusually good mind. He draws extreme ly well, and sings for us every evening or day or whenever one wants him too, with much musical feeling, and plays the piano by ear, and is off at present writing poetry, which he does whenever the mood seizes him though he is shy about showing it. He started one the other day-which he said was not very good and wouldn't be

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finished. There were just two lines- " A lover's heart is like
a bow-string

Resined with love's return." I am not certain how you spell
resin- or is it reson?

But wasn't that nice?

He and mother will go back to Oconomowoc around the first- I
don't know whether mother will be able to do what she did last
winter but she will have to try it anyway to get away from the
family and especially from Florence. This kind of life is getting
her down rapidly.

We play bridge every evening! Even I enjoy it because there is
nothing else to do and when you are tired it is relaxing and quite
impersonal. Having played cards when I was a child I disliked it
and have always played under protest since. But it really is
a lifesaver this summer and fun to play with Gordon who is amusing as well as enthusiastic about it.

I hear and I suppose you have that Zee is married. That is fine.
A nd Maxene wrote me, though she says it is a secret supposedly
and for heaven's sake not to say anything to Fritz about it, that
Fritz is much infatuated with a new girl, someone he met on his
vacation through Betty and Herman- some girl about nineteen. She
says he goes moo ning about and forgets even to be sarcastic.

Well, good by and good luck and love and much good news not too
far off. - Are you having the beautiful weather we are at present I wonder? Really golden days- good cool and golden-

1109 North Wheaton A ve.
Wheaton Illinois

If you are coming down and this is any way on your way do
stop and see us Bruce. It isn't anything exciting. But the fam-
ily could take you over and see theknixxkituxand Theosophical
place and feed you and put you up over night if there aren't too
many other people here at the time. Dolly has one of the men li-
brarians out for a week- her boss, and Paulenne and Florence have
asked various people off and on. But ordinarily we can double up
and we would all love to see you and have you here.

Aug. 7 1933

Dear Bruce;

Another titbit for you that came Saturday from Cleo. They stayed in Evanston after all instead of coming in to town. They are still without assurance of work this winter. But they seem to think things are generally picking up. Let us hope so. The fact that it costs fifteen million the first month to set the million- was that right?- men working in forestry looks formidable-

A letter from Herman asking if I could try to get him some kind of a job for the winter and repay myself by a commission each month out of it..! I am willing to try of course but Martia is coming through Chicago sometime in November.. hard up meantime on account of her operation.

Wish I could see your Essnetials. Wish I could know what your plan is for the group this winter... When you come down next cant you bring one of the copies of Gurdjieff's short lecture series that we had? I would be obliged. I gave Chauns the copy I had of the Portage summer- I imagine he and Tockie have read it by now or are reading it. He says nothing about it when he writes. But he must have read it and must have gotten a great deal out of it. He writes most affectionately and warmly and gratefully, did I tell you, about you and all you have done for him.

Gordon is up at the Theosophical Institute this week for 'Junior Week'. Much excited and absorbed. There are about fifteen young people there from different parts of the country and a young English professor from Exeter, Ritgers University. They have debates (I presume about theosophical questions) and between meeting so many people of different kinds and having a chance to talk and lecture, Gordon is excited and pleased beyond words. Cant see his family at all- looks at them vaguely from some other world! Of course I dont care about the ideas he is absorbing- some of them are fine, but there is too much emphasis on what happens after one is dead and so on and too much "at the feet of" etc. But still it is interesting and helpful to him to be there for other reasons I think..

Much love- what is the news-?

1109 N. Wheaton Ave.
Wheaton Ill.

Am enclosing Miss Reynolds postcard to make you also a little homesick for the Burgundy.. and the technochaser!

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

A ug. 9 1933

Dear Bruce-

This just came back- annoying. If you had had all the small bits near together they would have seemed more. I was to tell you for Cleo, by the way, that you were expected to stop in and see them on one of your trips up and down. That is, it was hoped that you would. They are at the Ridgeview Inn in Evaston.

Your letter was good to get and I know how you feel. An eagle with folded wings and in a small enclosure-and now perhaps the barriers are being raised and you can fly once more.. It looks awfully promising- and yet I would never dare count on anything until it happened. Of course he thinks it is an extraordinary novel-but you probably need to hear it from some such person because you have been writing so much away off from things. 'If he doesn't publish it some one will-it is great writing. I rather imagine the ethical point of view is so strange that it confuses them-strange in the sense of different. And it is amazingly subtle. But no one can fail to recognize the greatness of parts of it and the super-fire and originality and height of conception. I don't mean that only parts of it are great-but that parts of it no one can miss-

I think I am going over to Northcroft with Dorothy on Friday to stay the week end. She has promised to take me to the fair on Saturday. I think I had better seize the chance. It is hard to leave here-but I think it can be managed. I will be back on Monday, however.

Just had a telegram from Mark Tobey saying he would be going through Chicago tomorrow and could I meet him at the La Salle Street station. I would like to-but I can hardly get in if I am going to Dorothy's on Friday too much to do. I should love to see him-he must be going out to Seattle-perhaps to teach there again. He said he was getting fed up on England. He oughtnt to wait until the last minute to let one know he was coming on however. I will send him a wire on the train and hope perhaps he is going to stay more than a day and can get out to Dorothy's..

Love and a good final word soon from Harrison Smith- what ever it is it will from the part you quoted be interesting to you. What an idiot he would be to let it go by-I imagine it will be as you say.. Remember-and I hope he does-the Good Earth and all its history..

1109 N. Wheaton A ve.
Wheaton Ill.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Sept. 7 '33.

Dear Bruce;

I have been meaning to write you for sometime- though
I think you owe me a letter- I am not standing on ceremony however!

I was in town for a few days last week- saw Mark Tob-
ey, who is on his way back to England and the school. It was good
to see him- he is improved it seemed to me- quieter and sweeter
and more balanced. Wished he could see you and sent warm greetings
to you. We had a good gossip and lunched and dined and supped and
went to the theatre. He is hoping to arrange a scholarship at his
school for David this winter. Which would be awfully nice for
both of them. David's family is in a very difficult situation and
David is a bit low because Covici returned his novel- what was
written-and told him he did not think it had a chance- that it was
not important enough.

I saw your magnificent child the same week- you will
be very much surprised again when you see her. She is running fast
and vigorously all over the place. Everything is put up high on
bookcases and such places, so that she wont pull them over, and
lamps are barricaded and table covers turned up and so on! She
looks still more handsome- her head has filled out in the place it
was a little flat from birth-pressure and it is very well rounded
- quite a beautiful head. Her hair is longer and is curling at the
back of her neck where it is growing longest. And it is more gold-
en brown and more shiny and she looks bewitching. She is saying
'bow-wow' and a fewother words

I found an order from Field's for a copy of
Essentials by Jean Toomer. I took a copy into to Fields today and
the woman there said some customer had seen it at the Fair and had
asked them for a copy. I wonder where she saw it- Krock has a book-
shop there and they still have some copies- it must have been there.
It seems queer that anyone would go and order it from Field's when
they see it in another book store. But perhaps they had an account
at Fields. I was tickled to death to have them have to order a book.
It was the only book shop that didn't have copies. I am to send
them a bill and they will send a check.

What I am writing about is something else however. I
have been in town for three or four days and found mail here when
I got back this afternoon- accumulated. There was a letter from
Solon which I will make a copy of and enclose. I have written to
him and asked him what the plan is as to the amount the book is to
sell for per copy. And told him I would let you know in case you
had not heard- that you might have some suggestion. I suggested
also that he cable Orage- he probably wont like that. I said as
soon as he let me know what price was agreed upon we would see
what we could do here. But even if the book sold for ten dollars
a copy it only bring a thousand dollars.. Something else must be
done about the Prieure I presume. What do you think? Would the
Santa Fe person-you know whom I mean- do anything more? How about
the person In Colorado Springs? Mrs. somebody or another? What do
you think? I asked Solon to let me know the details when he re-
ceived the letter from Gurdjieff- I hope he will condescend to.

Will you let me hear if you have any suggestions?

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

As usual, it certainly comes at the most difficult time possible,
doesn't it! We have to leave here in a week and I personally have
the slightest idea so yet where I am going or how. And there are
all kinds of details to be worked out in regard to finances to get
away from here and to get mother started in Economowoc. But perhaps
it is best to have everything come at once. Perhaps we will all
get a good shock-?

I wonder if you got down to Economowoc. Chauns wrote me
they hoped you would. They had a wonderful time with you another
week-end he said. I wonder if you have heard anything from your
slow publisher... David misunderstood something I said- that you
supposed from a letter you had had that they might take it with
and suggest some changes- and he has been going around telling ev-
eryone that your publisher had accepted your novel if you would
make it a little shorter! He was overcome when I explained that,
as far as I knew, you hadn't heard anything definite as yet.

Hay-fever has descended upon me! It is disgusting- but
I am glad it didn't appear before.

Well, I hope you have an idea about the Prieure thing,
Bruce- do write me anyway-

With love-

1109 N. Wheaton Ave.
Wheaton Illinois

Copy.

"Postal Telegraph"

"J105 61 Cable- Paris 905P Aug. 31 1933

LC Israel Solon-

"71 W 23 St Masonic Bldg New York

"Have sent you today hundred copies of Printed First Book Stop.
Urgently ask not to wait arrival and detailed letter but to coll-
ect immediately and telegraph as much money as possible Stop Situ-
ation must be saved Præure already siezed to pay debts and will
shortly be put up for sale Gurdjieff."

What can we do? What can you do?

A n emergency meeting will be held next Tuesday evening, September
fifth, ninety-six hundred thirty three; in Room sixteen twelve, Sev-
enty-one West Twenty-third Street, New York City.

Saturday Sept. 9, 1933

Dear Bruce;

Our letters evidently crossed each other! You have had mine about the Gurdjieff situation by now- Dont you think the woman who has the school out west might give some money rather than have the whole thing lost? Wouldnt the one in Santa Fe- who gave so much to you once before, give another five hundred or one thousand rather than have it all lost? Couldnt you ask her? If some one advanced one thousand, it could be returned out of the sale of the one hundred books if they were each sold at ten dollars a piece-

By the way- I sent you a telegram on the 16th. Did you ever receive it? You say nothing about it so I wonder-

It is a shame about the <u>manuscript</u>- that kind of delay is maddening. But of course you are right. There is nothing to do but wait and be about something else meantime. Hard, though.

I hope you will be able to have the week in Michigan. You should, before you begin another winter. Some way you must have some money. I wrote to the Mrs. Morgan I told you about- asking her if she would not like to contribute to a fund so that you could write. She saw your lectures- copies of notes and was very much interested. She could afford to give something- I told her anything, no matter how small, would be of assistance. I haven't heard anything, however- I think she is out west and mail may be very slow in reaching her. But I am certain I will hear something from her eventually and it ought to be very soon now because she has two children who are in school or who must be. I telephoned Fritx yesterday about Gurdjieff's letter- to see if he could let some of the group know and find out if they could get together ten dollars each from somewhere. But he is not very satisfactory to telephone to- is so afraid that he is holding up the switchboard that he does not dare talk. He was to call me back but I have heard nothing from him. He should have a little money for you.. I will drop him a note tonight.

We have to leave here Tuesday or Wednesday- so far I don't know where I am going or how. But I am thinking hard and will do something. I should like to take a small apartment with some kind of kitchen or kitchenette- one can eat so much better that way and after a whole summer of cooking I rather like it and certainly feel better for home cooking. But how to do it or where- well, when one must one usually can. Lotothy is out of the question, I am afraid. She did so much for Chauns- and I still owe her one hundred dollars from last fall. I hate to leave the country- now is the beautiful time. I do hope you can come down to Chicago soon and that we can talk things out instead of writing- it is much more satisfactory. We can certainly start group meetings in October- and literary group whenever you are ready. Shirley and Max are planning to move to a smaller and less expensive apartment. I wouldnt worry too much about them- from what I gather from Maxene they feel they will be able to manage though they are hard-pressed. And they want to keep the baby- they realize that nothing else can be done now and any way they want to. You will find them in a much better state. But what to do yourself

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Wed. Oct. 25 1933

Dear Bruce;

I am enclosing a two dollar check from Fields for
a copy of "Essentials", and one dollar extra to go towards a
luncheon or something! A large contribution. Meantime I am try-
ing to think of someone who might be of use. But I havent been
able to so far. Can Fred not do something? He should, even if
he has to borrow it to do it. I never heard anything from my Mrs.
Morgan. I dont know whether she got the letter or not. I will
try writing her again. Only of course I dont know her very well
either; so I cant push very hard.

Of course you have got to stay there until things
are settled. It would be a shame to do otherwise. If you are
there it is very different. It What did you do about an overcoat?
Chauns says Mrs. Latimer said you went off without one! What are
you doing? Soon you will have a grand new one however!

Love and good luck- quickly- and all kinds of good
and extravagant wishes.-

Cant Shirley be gotten to take or send that baby
up to Portage? Mrs. Green would love to invite them or the baby
or to take the baby the re, if Mrs. Latimer thinks the house will
be too cold now. It is too bad. Shirley is ridiculous and diff-
icult.

By the way, I have been up in Milwaukee with Tockie
for a couple of days and while I was there, a telegram came from
a doctor- I think the one I talked with last remember?- saying
that Claire had 'escaped' and did I know anything of her where-
abouts. It was sent to the Dearborn Manor and then Dolly mailed
it here and it came yesterday and mother mailed it to Milwaukee.
So I havent actually seen it yet. But it must have been sometime
last week - the end of it. I thought I should tell you- you are
someone she would be apt to try to find, dont you think? Of course
she hardly could with you in New York. But I think you had better
know. If I hear anything more I will write you. A s soon as I
get the wire I will write to whoever sent it and find out more
of what happened and whether she has been found. Of course she
may have gone in the direction of her family. Though she was very
bitter still towards her family, I believe..

114 South Main Street
Oconomowoc Wis.

I will probably stay here for a while anyway. Moth
er doesn't seem strong enough to manage alone. And until finances
* can be somewhat arranged for her to have some one come in and
help anyway, I think I shall have to stay. Will try to do numerol-
ogy by mail anyway, or once in a while in Milwaukee. It certainly
will be an odd life if I am here any length of time. It isn't as
if I had much leisure either in which to try to write, etc. I am
fairly busy with cooking and cleaning and so on!

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Nov. 21 1933

Dear Bruce;

Just a few lines to get the enclosed off. It
amounts to nothing but may help with carfare and so on.
I hope you are abnaging without being too uncomfortable. "f course
one can sign for one's meals for a long time- but one has to have
carfare and so on, n'est-ce pas.. I am so far awa from things
of a lucratve nature and from people at the present time that I
don't know ho not be of any help to you otherwise. A queer and new
situation..

I agree with whoever it was who said you really
might try another publisher! Perhaps by now you have. Of course
all this working with publisher is useful experience I presume-
you can get at first hand the publisher's point of view and find
out just what it is they consider good and what not and why! But
after all-- I am tickled to death about the prospects of the
Gallonwerps, of course!

The best of fortune and a quick one and not too
hard times. I wish I could write more and more coherently- but
there are only five minutes before the post-office closes and it
is really more important to get the enclosed off than it is to
write m re wishes.

With love,

Hastily,

"ear your baby is in Portage at present. "Idh I
could see what was going on and see her. Imagine you do too.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Dec. 13 1933

Dear Bruce;

What a shame, the delay and all the money diffi-
culty. It is hard to be working under such difficulties. A nd
so hard to know what to do. Chauns and Tockie write they can
send $10- they will. I have written to Mrs. Biggs and one or
two others. We cant do a thing here- mother's house is fore-
closed and we cant collect any rents and that leaves us here
without any money except fifty dollars a month and I am working
on that to see if in some way things cannot be sved and some
money gotten out of the house for her. At the present moment
even stamps are hard to find a way to get. And everybody almost
writes the same story. David write that everything for his
family is a "vale of tears" and that he is ready to take any
kind of a menial job if there is one to be had! It cant go on
forever- but certainly the white collar class has the hardest
time!

I don't want to write to people you may have writt-
en to yourself- such as Shirley and Max and the others there.
They would be very offended. You will have written to Pertha
I am certain. And to the Walcotts. Perhaps to Evelyn...
Martia is very hard up until next month she writes. But we will
keep at it and get something to you- I hope enough to come back
on. At least enough so that you can go somewhere when your vis-
it is up! I am writing Chauns and Tockie to get the money to
you quickly so that you will have something there. It must be
good to be in the country and not have to worry about your im-
mediate meals, etc. What you XXXXKXKXYOUR say about your state
of mind or self is grand- for all of us, however. But these
'strippings' and these continual new problems! It almost makes
one feel like drifting- which is a negative way of saying or
feeling that one must live day by day and trust to something
Xxxxxx beyond one's own powers or in the pattern, and still use
one's own head and experience as well as one can. But let the
worst come- what can one do but let it?! It certainly is a fine
method for life to teach us all complete non-identification.
Do you think it will eventually give us outer freedom? Or is
that too far off?

I wish in a way, for yourself, that you could stay
in New York longer. There seems to me to be better chance there
for getting columns or magazine articles placed- more opportun-
ity because of connections and being on the spot. And more open-
ness to new ideas than here. I hate to have you have to spend
another winter like last- and yet if we cant get you enough
money to stay on with a fairly free mind you could do much bett-
er here, even under the trying circumstances of last winter.
Goodness knows everyone would like to have you nearer... But
that isn't the important thing.. I imagine that is all that we
can do however- let's pray that we can do that. Something may
happen, as you say. But we cant leave it to that.

eantime it is very cold- and so lovely in the
country. I don't get out much- being still a room sitter! But
I love it even i just looking out of the windows- perhaps bett-
er. I have been having the most comfortable and shielded sense

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTIO

Dec. 16 1933

Dear Bruce;

There is another ten- from the woman I told you about last summer or spring, or sometime or another- the one I gave the copy of one of your lectures to read- on the 'pression'. Remember? I hope they are coming- the tens- from all directions. I haven't heard from Mrs. Biggs yet- perhaps Monday. You really will be coming back, I imagine! Unless something specially good is in the offing. Of course it is easier to stay in a way than to get back to New York again- you know. But here is hoping that both will be if you want them to be possible.

By the way- December is 6 month for you- which means annoying delays and indecisions but these settle themselves by the end of the month. You can at least do nothing much about them and should relax and live comfortably, enjoying your surroundings and those you like. There is doing something which improves your health (the country) and an interest in art, business, educational ideas-and romance! At least you feel romantic and romantic things happen. There is luck-good luck-on the month and better financial conditions than you can foresee-it really comes out very well-if you do not worry, keep cheerful, and live more or less from day to day. Some luxury." Dont you know it by heart? I do? I assure you. It would seem to be so. There are usually in a 6 month cozy times, and home and family conditions or surroundings. Which would look like a return. "Next month is social, with changes, variety, ups and downs, much moving about, investigation, new friends, popularity with old ones, etc.- like last. And Feb. another 6 month.

No more now. I wonder how long it is safe to send you anything, if it arrives- to Lake George. Better let me know air-mail when you leave...

With love and all the luck of all the 6 months

combined-

114 S. Main Street
Oconee, Wis.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Dec. 20 1933

Dear Bruce!

This doesn't contain any check- but perhaps Bill or
Martia will have sent something. I hope so. So that whatever
you do you will have a little extra.

I had your letter this morning and wrote to Doroty and Mrs. Biggs and Mrs. Morgan to thank them. I told Doroty that you would probably be writing her yourself.

Thanks for the news about Gurdjieff and the book. I am going to try to get one after Christmas. I sent for one for Mrs. Wright. But that is as far as I have gotten. And she hasn't said much about it- nothing really, being very absorbed in reading Beelzebub! I know very little about the Douglas plan- but how ironical- to have only a handful left who go to Gurdjieff meetings and to have all the rest absorbed in some such plan instigated by Orage. Of course Solon is undoubtedly personally a stumbling block. I can tell you that from his letters. He always does the wrong thing in one way or another- or says it. He can make me so furious- But still- you know. Funny...

You sound tired and I should imagine you should
come back and rest up a bit and then see about going back. Of
you are tired you cant do much. And how you have existed and
worked so hard so long I cant imagine. To think it is three
months, isn't it, since you went east? I hardly realized it was
so long. But it must be. You cant write and write and write,
year in and year out- not at your pace and depth. But I am
writing you this, as your numerological guide - in a great hurry
if it is to go off today- That one is always at lowest ebb the
last seventh of one's year. And that- the last month before ones
birthday in particular- is a time in which to relax and take
things easily and rest. With your birthday you will feel a
picking up of energy- quite quickly and obviously. If you don't
go against the tiredness beforehand. So- you must decide. But
wouldnt you think you should have time to recuperate?

The best of luck however there- and here's hoping
something breaks a little before you leave- why does one have a
lucky month otherwise- and love to you and a merry Christmas
wherever you are- and the best and most satisfactory and soul
satisfying year ahead... to our exhilarated and cocky Bruce-
the country has done you good already-

114 S. Main Street
Uconomowoc "is.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Jan. 5 1935

Dear Bruce and Marjorie;

You were such darlings and the sweater is such a jolly one and so becoming and just the right size and a color I particularly love!

Please be thanked most warmly and enthusiastically. I wanted to write sooner but things have been hectic. And mother and Gordon and a friend of Gordon's were here at Paulenne's over the holidays and while I didn't go to Birmingham, Miss Davis came up here (leading lady and also secretary-treasurer of their organization) and took all of my time, even on New Year's day. Chauns and Tockie came down and spent the night while I went to Diana's to sleep and to make a little more room in the apartment. It was good to see them and Tockie actually seems like one of the family. I can't see why the wedding caused that but it seems to have-something in her own feeling apparently. She is a most sweet and lovable sister-inlaw and we are very happy about it. The way everybody is getting married! I presume Sarah is by now- I must write her too. And such pleasant marriages- pleasant for everyone instead of just for those concerned. (please excuse the waywardness of the typewriter. I must get it overha uled. Did you really get a new one for Christmas? They must be very spiffy by now.)

I may go to Dallas, Texas- on the bus!- in a week or two, since I couldn't make Birmingham. I can get passes, it seems. And I am anxious to actually see the work of this group I continue to write and talk and work for. Miss Davis and I got them another five thousand yesterday from the Federal government- out of which I fear I get nothing because the government doesn't pay commissions and all bills have to be submitted to them. But it makes things very sound for them for this year and they won't worry me now and from now on I can get money for myself first and then for them. I am going to start a drive for quite a little money by asking for popular memberships of one dollar a piece- through the newspapers, clubs, art schools, etc- for a theatre combining drama, dance, and music. If we could get fifty thousand we might do something.

Had a copy of something Gurdjieff had written-part of the last series - third part of third series- which he has been rewriting, and it made me so very sad. He speaks of having not more than three years to live before the Angel Gabrielle arrived and perhaps even less. He says she has always known or been a good guesser about such visits. He speaks of three former wounds-having been shot fatally at three other times in his life-once outside of Bethlehem or Jerusalem-and that these too have undermined his constitution. If it depended upon himself he could live a long time and write what might be a faster way to convince people of certain or many fantasies. But it depends not upon him

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

self, he says, but upon this Angel Gabriel who is due very soon now. And is there nothing we can do for him? It seems so terrible... I believe it- at least it is possible.

I wonder if you have seen Diana. She left a week ago- for a week or so, and I had a post-card this morning saying that she was helping Gurdjieff, I take it with getting some papers for his stay, and also doing quite a little of her own business. She must have called you at least by this time. I hope Evelyn is better.

How was Christmas in a real house, Bruce, with a wife and that darling baby and some more grown-up children? Did you have a tree and did Arjie-baby like it? I wish I could have sent her something- I wish I might have sent ever one at least cards! Or something like your notes- only one must be some one of your importance to do that. Another year should be different. I hope I am not just a Micawber in saying that. I really am working for different conditions.

Gordon wrote a character sketch of Bruce that he should send you- for his English class. He did one of Tockie that was extremely good. I am urging him to send you the one of you. He wants to but is shy about it. Perhaps he will... It is Bruce alright- seen with insight and quite unusual sensitivity and interesting expression- and some youthful extravagance also, of course. I hope you see it.

I am getting daily lessons on Social Credit and the Douglas Plan from Herman. It is quite sensible but some what involved in explanation. Herman is as enthusiastic as always- always discovering Aladdins lamp. Did I use to be that way, I wonder? Betty and Liela were at Shirly's for Christmas- we saw them once- or twice. We all went to the y ballet together and then the two were up one afternoon. Bett and I had no chance for conversation however. Diana came in and there was much family and the two boys and a cousin of ours in addition...

What is Marjorie doing? How is the book coming? Is Marjorie taking things down for you, Bruce? How fortunate you are! I hope the photography doesn't disappear into the past altogether. That would be a pity. But it won't of course, and meantime Bruce can profit enormously by dictating. I hear your house is so lovely and that you both look so well. Has the baby become a simpler part of your life yet? It must have been very difficult at first.

My love to you both and so many thanks for being such delightful and generous Santa Clauses- you were both sweet. And the best of New Years- a merry and profitable and productive one-

237 East Delaware Place
Chicago Illinois

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION
No. 686
FLIK UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Feb. 9 1935

Dear Bruce;

Before I say anything else please let me tell you both what pleasure I am getting out of the captivating red sweater. It was the nicest present! You were both darlings-

Just had a black-edged quite ugly mourning card from Jessie, with a short note on the back thanking me for my letter. Said she was quite out of phrases and just gave up!

I finally saw your Alfau- he had called me on his way to Madison, on a Sunday, and I was just going out. Then he stayed longer in Madison than he had expected. But he finally came back via Chicago and we had part of an afternoon and an evening together. He came in the midst of such a siege of illness! One of my aunts here had had pneumonia and had died. I was just back from the funeral when Mr. Alfau arrived for tea. And mother was here and awfully tired and frail. And Dolly had the flu quite severely and one had to go up to the hotel four times a day to give her medicine and put things in her eyes and ears, and so on. I invited David to come for tea, about an hour later, and I got hold of Diana for dinner at a tea room near here to which Alfau asked us. I left them together about ten and I think they spent another two hours talking and visiting some sculptor's studio. I liked him very much! It was tantalizing not to have seen more of him and discovered just how you two were alike and just how different. There certainly are resemblances. He of course is much much quiser than you and at the same time much more talkative. I should say he should cultivate fire as well as relaxation- shouldnt he? He is too sensitive to other people and their wishes and moods. But he has high hills or plateaus or something of the sort in his mind and I enjoyed very much meeting him- he is nicer than most men one meets- and thank you for the connecting. It was good of you both. He is certainly the warm and attached friend of both of yours. It was good to hear a little about you and about 'Argy'.

Please let me know what number or when your article comes out in the A delphi, wont you.

The theatre project isn't coming along so well. It causes me much trouble and sleepless nights. The last

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

five thousand which the government promised they 'renigg-ed' on-only gave 1200 of it. And the first press agent the company had was splendid in New Orleans and then got drunk and disappeared and didn't turn up for several days and started drinking again. They had to let him go and take their further dates without press-agenting. Which was of course very bad. I sent them down a new man finally-one of the best-some one who had been press agent for the Miracle, for Sarah Bernhardt, for Moissi, etc. And who had made the Globe Players at the Fair last summer.

But without the necessary extra fund to draw upon and having so late a start I am afraid it is going to peter out-through no fault of their own-simply that of the Federal Government who suddenly decided that relief money should not be given this way. Of course I am trying to make some one in the lengthy string from Washington see that to spend so much and then refuse to make it worth while by spending a little more is a great waste of the entire amount and subject to grave criticism. I had hoped to be down in Texas and back by now. But this lack of money has thrown all the plans in the air. I am going to try to salvage what can be salvaged, however.

I am sure Marjorie is a good mother! She is certainly busy. And you are having a gay and pleasant winter in such spite of all your work, I should judge. It must be great fun. You are a grand pair. I wish I were nearer the large town. In due time, perhaps...

Carol French I don't think I really knew or that he really knew me. We may have met. But I think he just knew about me-through Bill and Max mostly. I certainly used to hear much of him. It is fun making these round about connections, isn't it.

You were very good to write Gordon as you did and make the suggestions. He wrote immediately to the Association but I believe hasn't heard yet from them or from Harvard. Did you like his description of you? It was extremely good, I thought- what he got down of you. The last phrase is rather confusing-he should clarify it. It sounds as if you were his god. He means you helped him to find his own god or to approach him. But it isn't clear, it seems to me. I wish very much you were nearer. I am troubled a little about Gordon and not being on the ground troubles me still more. I should be so glad to consult you about the matter. I don't want to say anything to Chauns about it. I don't think for Gordon's sake that it would be wise. Chauns would tend to be annoyed and to show it, But I myself don't know what to do. I will give you a hint of it, and ask you to say nothing about it to anyone, not even Chauns or Marjorie-please. But this is it. How to handle it is what I would like so much some help on. Gordon has quite an infatuation for one of the younger teachers-a very pretty young thing aged twenty-five, who is much impressed and intrigued by Gordon but who feels that he is

3

after all but eighteen and mustnt be taken too seriously.
At the same time Gordon has this 'pal', a boy of sixteen,
a little dark boy who in spite of the description looks,
as far as profile goes, a little or a good deal like a
miniature Gordon. They are inseperable- came down here
for Christmas vacation toegther. Gordon bosses him with-
in an inch of his life and the younger boy sits about
and adores him. He isn't stupid, just silent and quite
shy. But I mistrust his type of affection- Gordon ex-
cuses it by saying that he had no affection or petting
from his mother when he was young and that he looks for
it from his friends. But I fear for Gordon. I would feel
it such a pity that his first expression of much affect-
ion in his first 'grown-up' years should go to some one
of his own sex. I am afraid it will make some twist hard
to unwind. What can one do? What would you suggest? The
boy is on his debatong team and they are in the same class
and he happens not to be an Oconomowoc boy but one from
Hinsdale who has been in O. just a couple of years. I-e
is therefore more sophisticated and less small, townish
than most of the others and I can see why Gordon finds him
in the beginning more of a companion. Please give me
some suggestion if you can. I would say it was a crucial
time. Chauns hasn't the slightest idea of anything of the
kind, apparently. I think Mary has, but she will say noth-
ing. I dont wish to make it any more definite than it is.
By talking about it to anyone. But you are such a speech-
less person when you agree to be that I feel I can speak
to you. And you probably can help me a little. You
know the type of person Gordon is- much too fine to let
a type of perversion touch him so early if it can be pre-
vented. For that reason- because he should have physical
work, I would prefer your place in California for him. All
All this mental work and so little opportunity for con-
structive physical work. Chauns doesn't understand the boy
very well- talks down to him and Gordon after all is very
adult in his mental processes. He has been promising a log
cabin to be built this summer and Gordon has been looking
forward to it- he loves camping and out-door life- did it
for many summers at Boy Scout camps and so on. Now Chauns
tells Gordon that there wont be any log cabin- which cant
be helped- but that he must come up and adjust himself to
a farmer's life. Gordon says "some how or other that
strikes me as funny being very funny. They seem to take
it for granted that that will be what I want as the old
ideal homestead and what not." I believe that if Chaun
and Gordon could adjust to each other that Gordon's baby
qualities would be solved. But I dont see how that can
happen, Gordon, like all the other children, dislikes his
fathers and is uncertain moodiness. He doesn't feel in any
way certain of his temper at any time, of his justness.

And so they don't get on together. But unless Chauns, as the older, can be different, and to do that he would actually have to be different, become different, I don't see how they can meet as yet. He adores the idea of Gordon and he likes the way he looks and his achievements. But he doesn't really enjoy him or get on with him personally.

Now, poor dear, for something very different. This letter will require a week to read it. And by then you will have forgotten the beginning. I have already.
This is a story I was telling Alfau and he suggested I write it to you and that either you or Marjorie - Marjorie he was certain-would have an idea or know of some society or individual or way to do the thing.
There is a man here in Chicago, an Englishman named Douglas Flintan, who used to be head man and buyer of antiques at Ackerman's, but who now - for the last four or five or six years, has had a bookshop where he sells old manuscripts and first editions and some rare paintings, etc. The bookshop has been cut off from the street lately because of the remodeling of the building. Consequently he had no business at all at present and needs help. That however is not the point. What it is, is this. He is a great - arduous- Shakespearean scholar- had been for years, among other scholarly pursuits. And through having left to him by some titled Englishwomen a lot of old manuscripts, he found, in a 16th century manuscript not printed - published- the clue to what a theory which he has, with great zeal and acuteness worked out. It gives the entire idea- it clears up entirely the mysteries of Shakespeare- who the famous 'Mr. W. H' of the Sannets was, for instance - not a man at all. It clears also all the much written-about mysteries of certain lines and sayings in the plays. It tells- or he can tell- where Shakespeare undoubtedly got his education, to what famous library he had constant resource, what of what ancient and romantic lineage his family was, what his great passion was, and how it completely changed his life. Why his sonnets were not printed until so long after they were written. And so on. There simply wont be any more Shakespeare mysteries. It is all rather amazing but quite marvelous. He is a charming elderly Englishman who makes tea for himself over his coal fire and toasts his bread so and then has an egg with it for dinner. He knew Swinburne well as a young man- lived near him and took long walks with him- and other 'great' men. Now what he wants to do is to get about six hundred dollars and go to Philadelphia where his friend Guido Bruno lives and where he can with this amount be put up in a bookshop there and live with Bruno if necessary and have Bruno's daughter take care of the shop for him, and in that way make his living and at the same time write his book. It is to be written for the layman as well as the scholar. He has a few chap-

5

finished and it is quite fascinatigngly written. The man
has plenty of charm. He would like to get this
money by selling everything he has here in Chicago for
six hundred dollars. It is worth some thousands. He has
one painting the Metropolitan said worth that much alone.
In that way he would be giving people splendid bargains
in first editions, etc. And feel that he was repaying
anyone well for doing him the favor of buying now. Or
he would like to borrow it on the strength of his book. He
cannot as yet get an advance from a publisher. It isn't
far enough along. But Mitchell Kennerley, who has gone
out of the business, saw the few chapters written and
heard his theories and said that he would, he was certain,
have no trouble finding a publisher. But that if he did
he himself would come back into the business just to public-
lish this book. That he could dispose of six thousand
copies immediately to schools, etc. I will add a copy
of a letter he had from Dr. Combs, who is the best auth-
ority on Shakespeare in this part of the world. He agreed
to see Mr. Flintan for fifteen minutes and kept him six
hours instead!

How to get this money is the question. He should be
helped. He has helped so many people himself. I could
tell you the most interesting stories in connection with
that. If some one who was very interested in Shakespeare
could know of this and of him and had some money, I should
think he would be glad to advance the money, either taking
over his valuable collection or doing it as an advance on
the book. If several people could each put up one hundred
they would get some marvelous bargains.

Alfau thought you or Marjorie would know of some Shake-
speare lovers. If there are any here they are well hidden.
There is no Shakespeare society here. There must be one
in New York. I don't believe a society should do it--there
is always such delay. But individuals who would like, for
one thing, to see Shakespeare's name cleared of the
charge of homosexuality. As Dr. Combs suggests, would
mean a good deal to some people. Alfau seemed to think
"arjorie was especially good at thinking up ways and means
for just such cases. That is my excuse for mentioning it.
It really is, as you can see, an important work and must
not be lost for more generations. When you think how many
years, even centuries, there have been such raging contro-
versies about all the Shakespeare questions- well, this
clue and these answers are so simple and so obvious- when
you know certain facts, that you wondered how there could
ever had been so much confusion and mystery and why it was
not all the time obvious. Let me know if you have a flash
either of you, wont you. It would be simply grand to get
him fixed up and free to write for a few months without

dreading the landlord's step and wondering how to get a
little coal or the next meal. I know he had to walk to
Evanston and then back at two o'clock in the night to
see Dry Combs. And that without dinner. Of course he looks
rather elegant so that no one thinks of it..

Well, I wont inflict you with more at present. I am glad
you saw Gurdjieff. I wonder if the petitions did any good,
I imagine you saw Russell. He is such a darling. He gave
me permission to have some one sign his name - he was just
about to take a train for New York. I tried to get H.
McCormick. But he was in bed and I couldn't do it success-
fully through his secretary. He has a new one now, thank
goodness. The one he had during the summer was impossible.
Fred can tell you... I wonder too if the arrival of the
birthday and the end of the seven year period which was
so trying both for himself and for others, is evident in
any way. Can he now- does he now- behave more gently or
mor reasonably? We hear nothing out here. I would love to
know something.

With love to both of you and a hug to the sweet baby Argy-

237 East Delaware Place
Chicago, Illinois

Did I tell you that Thornton Wilder- and Baker Brownell-
agreed to sign the petition for Mr. G. without any hesita-
tion? Douglas said he wasn't an American citizen- was a
little fearful of his position and what might happen to him.
Of course Thornton Wilder and Brownell don't know so much
about G. as Douglas and Bertha. Davey signed it first, with
a large flourish. He is writing a new novel - it promises
to be good- he has come through some bitter experiences this
fall. The book is to be an ironical and at the same time
serious expose of the exploiting of artists. A cry for a
New Deal for artists and their kind- that they no longer
be at the mercy of those with money and power and no talent,
that they no longer be humiliated and starved and used by
such. David is becoming class conscious! Widening his
circle. Seeing that others are in the same position also.
The first few pages have a bite that is exhilarating.

Do you think Gordon should go to a co-educational place
or is it better for him to be with just men for a while?

Gurdjieff signed and sent it back. But no word. That
seems a long time ago too...

Had a letter from Dorothy not so long
ago- she is certainly having an idyllic kind of life
staying at this inn on the edge of some large
old forest, she and 'husband' either walking daily in
the forest and about, or driving about England looking
for just the right place to buy, and only going up to
London once or twice a week for a play or an exhibit
or something! They are so comfortable in the inn that
they hate to move. And the weather has been beautiful
and there has actually been much sun so that it has
all been pleasant. She wanted to know more about your
marriage- was most interested... The Mad King went
through here last week while I was down in Tulsa, but
he is in Michigan at present and will be back here
next week for a day or so. He seems to have been in
Santa Fe, from what David said. Though it may have
been somewhere else. And he may be going back to the
school in England. How he manages to get about the way
he does is always a mystery. He can make more people
do things for him and buy or sell his paintings, than
anyone else I know, I do believe'. He was on the west
coast after a trip to China you know.

I am in the throes of a thousand and
one things, none of them going very clearly. So you
know I shouldn't be writing at all. I hope I will hear
something from you soon however... The company is
here in town- most of them- and trying to get housed
and so forth. They are at present in a place which
has a theatre down stairs and two other floors for
living quarters. It is quite nice only they have no
heat at present nor much of anything else except twenty
beds...If they were elsewhere or well taken care of it
would all be simpler. But I presume they will get
straightened out and they seem to be enjoying every-
thing anyway.

What did you hear from Alfao? I wished
he had let us know something more about his movements.
We liked him so much- Davis and Diana and myself.

With love to you all-

237 E. Delaware Place
Chicago Illinois

March 7 1935

Dear Bruce;

You really owe me a letter- as I remember I asked you about all kinds of things which I hoped you and Margery might throw light upon or make suggestions about. And not a word for a long time. It rather worries me-I hope no one in the family is ill- Do drop me a post-card anyway and let me know. You are usually very good about answering letters- in some way or another.

I have been down in Oklahoma-Tulsa and Oklahoma City and thereabouts. I went down to see the company actually play before I went any further in trying to get them established. I toured around with them a bit and enjoyed it thoroughly, though I don't think that part of the world is particularly thrilling. Lots of sun and nice bland air and blue red earth. But a bit dull, to put it mildly. The company is so good-more interesting than any other repertory company I have seen except the Abbey Players perhaps. And they are so much more in the modern tempo than the latter, even though they are playing Shakespeare and Goethe's Faust. They have been many new interpretations and play with such style and distinction and vitality that it makes one very hopeful for the theatre. And the incidental music and the dance introduced into the plays ( a dancer brought into the court some of Hamlet, for instance) make the whole thing like some new form of art that isn't theatre nor opera but something else. Very interesting. Getting them established is a long row, apparently. They should have enough money to get them through the Chicago engagement in April. But the state of Minnesota has three thousand of it tied up and wont give it to them unless they come back there. And then only under certain conditions. They can get it-but it will take months. Meantime we have to raise more money here! Which is hard beyond words.... But they are worth making the effort for.

Did Margery have any suggestions about people in New York or elsewhere who are interested in Shakespeare and who might assist Flintan with his Shakespeare project-with enabling him to get the book written? But I am so afraid you are all ill or one of you! Haven't heard a word from New York in ages-except from Jerry and that is only about Douglas thing-s. What has happened to Gurdjieff? I wrote Fred a month or six weeks ago asking him if he could get some information for me. But never a word. And I had the petition for

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

2

HELEN DUPEE
11 EAST GOETHE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

decidedly a non-success. Did I tell you
that he sent me a hundred dollars and
the nicest letter of appreciation? It
made me feel awfully good. I always did
believe in his heart, as it were... I
hope the movies haven't completely ruined
what gifts for theatre he had.

This is a long letter and I
trust not an opportunity for you to make
psychological slams at me! I take that
back- you can make what you wish- and I
receive the m gratefully. You are an old
dear always and I never forget it as you
know. How goes the Social Security or
Credit or what t ever they call it? I have
just finished bed-time reading of Ely's
two volumes on "Property and Contract" by
way of some clear delineation of the prin-
cipals of economics. It sounded terrific
but I found it, to my surprise, enjoyable
material and awfully well written. What
do you know about Nyland? He was on here
with a furniture exhibit and I liked him
very much. I hear he has been much criti-
cized. But I felt him a very fine person.
What is your opinion, if you can bring
yourself to be so rash as to say it?

Everyone is well and sends you
greetings on thanks for your nice Christmas
words. Mother had planned to send you and
Marjory and the little Margery Christmas
cards and then I forgot to leave her your
address!

With love and all kinds of more
than ordinarily good wishes to you all,

January 21 1936

No. 693
February 55

1936

Dear Bruce;

Sorry about this ribbon also- but I am using David's machine while mine is being repaired, and it happens to have this on it.

I am replying at once to your letter because I want to get things straightened out a bit about Gordon. I should never have told you what I wanted to borrow the money for. But having done so I should like to correct certain impressions my telling made at least possible.

Gordon never asked for these clothes or even expressed any wish for them- he is not like that. In fact, he protested that it didn't matter and that the money should not be so spent. He is very careful with money and very thoughtful for his age amazingly so. He has been having only the smallest amount of money to live on and has lived on it and done beautifully by saving on one thing to spend on something he considered more valuable. He never gets into debt and if he cannot have anything he never complains. He is surprisingly mature in that way- just plain sensible. He has been living on just two meals a day ever since he went to college- that without saying anything at all except that he finds one doesn't really need more than two meals a day. I am seeing that he gets a little more each month. And I wanted him to go to a few parties and decided that the clothes would last at least four years and that it would zkuuxux make for certain 'good' things he could have this first year if he could go to a few proms. He managed to do well in High school with very little in the way of clothes. But this year, for all sorts of things he would learn through the experience, I wanted him to have them and believe I know him and his life there and am in a position to judge about it.

Except for his grandmother, the boy is and has been stangely alone. Now mother isn't well enough to enter into his life or his needs and I am glad of the opportunity. He means absolutely nothing to his mother- she was on while I was in Oconomowoc and I talked with her several times and was amazed at her unconscious- at least undeliberate callousness and total lack of interest. Of course it came from too much concernation upon her self.

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

and fear about her own position always-but-
gardless of that, her attitude was such. Chauns
doesn't understand anyone as yet- you should
know that- he also cant... Of course those child-
ren are all the stronger in most ways for it. Much
more mature than either parent. They are certain-
ly independent. Rux What Gordon has done he has
done on his own- true, his grandmother got him
fed for three years and saw that he was properly
mended, etc. But as far as his work and ideas
went he has gone on alone. So that I feel if I
can widen his horizon and make him give him op-
portunities of certain kinds while he is still
open to them that it is the least I can do. As I
said before, I think I am capable enough of judg-
ing whether they are wise or not. I am not com-
pletely involved in my affections or blinded by
them.

Gordon understands his father better
than Chauns understands Gordon, and G. is very
fond of him and admires him. He fortunately or
unfortunately has been always thrown off and
made to feel unsteady by Chauns' unsteadiness of
emotion- one day frank, one day not to be rely-
ed upon for affection, the next day apparently
open and sympathetic and interested- and not just
deliberately so but actually- friend one moment,
the next a bored- not enemy but less than an ac-
quaintance. He no longer holds this against his
father because he understands him better and is
tender- amused as well as hurt by his idiocyncrasies.
But he plays something of the father/role towards
him instead .... All of which to make clear
that Gordon is not at the bottom or even particu-
larly sympathetic with the evening clothes idea.
With some of the things he wishes to accom-
plish I think it is important and certainly not
just an extravagant or foolish gesture. The mon-
ey could perhaps better go to Chauns and
Tookie, but they have made any knowledge of their
fiances or of their life impossible. We never
hear from them and have given up trying to until
they wish something. I've taken Gordon upon my
self and intend to do what I can for him. I don't
wish to involve anyone else in that- I wanted to
borrow the money myself. The mistake was in tell-
ing what it was for. You probably cannot spare
it and in that case it is alright. But don't get
the attitude of the usual person with money, for
heaven's sake- you know- who knows so much better
than you do whether it matters whether you eat
or not, or whether you really need dentistry or
not, and so on! Of course you won't- but this
bordered on it, Mr. Toomer!

Anyway, thank you for considering it and
don't think about it any more. I will try to do

March 9, 1936

Sunday evening

Dear Bruce;

I have been waiting for a half hour when I could write you properly- and it hasn't ever arrived. I am way over my head with work- down at the theatre first thing in the morning and working until two and three and even four o'clock once. We havent any where near enough people to do the promotional work and this government thing.. not only the newspapers against us but a lot of park politics fighting to 'kill' us. It's a gay life and I dont know whether it is in itself worth while, whether it will lead to anything. Now that we are in it, however, there is nothing to do but to keep going until we get somewhere.

We open tomorrow night- goodness knows to what form of success or the other. Harry Monturn is a fine director and producer and most experienced. But the papers have come out with advance notices that are already most derogatory. I think we have a good show, however.

You were so good and I was so surprised! Not at your goodness but at the check. I cant tell you how welcome it was or what an assistance. Thank you a thousand thousand times- I mistook the white feathers- angel wings, not those of any kind of a goose. I am so grateful to you and so touched.

I will write you later when things are not so hectic. Rehearsal is going on- I am writing from the mezzanine floor where I have an improvised office and the rehearsal makes too much noise. How are the plays coming? I am very curious. Saw Dr. Cohen for a minute tonight in a restaurant near here. He has a new young wife and is about to write a play himself. He asked after you and said he had told you about an idea once that he had for a play and that you thought it very good. This one he is about to create is something else, however.

Much love and you will hear pretty soon. Gordon writes that he is feeling better and getting better marks and doing a little debating. I took him to a very good doctor when he was here, because of the bad headaches he had, sometimes two and three days at a time. He said he had the beginnings of arthritis and also a streptococcus infection which was causing inflammation in his sinuses and in the nerves of his neck- probably came from the pneumonia he had had or it caused the latter. Says he can take care of it now however, and that it was causing the headaches. It was a relief to find out what was the matter- he has had eye tests and his eyes were always said to be excellent. Mother had a letter from Tockie and one from Bob- dont know what was in it- havent seen the letters, that is- mother said Bob's told all the news and Tockie's was about their difficulties during the cold weather. Hope to hear from Chauns soon.

Blackstone Theatre
7th Street, Chicago, Illinois

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

MISS HELEN DUPEE

11 EAST GOETHE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

October 1 1936

Dear Bruce:

Here are the two lecture out-
lines you wanted- at least I presume you
want both. If not, you should! They are
always extremely moving. Makes me and any
one of the group reading it, frightfully
home-sick. And would move any one reading
them to feeling <u>they were</u> for the moment
existing in a better world. The best of
luck to them - try to use them as a maga-
zine article or as two. There is enough m
material in them for ten!

I would so like to make copies
of these for you. But that means I would
have to wait a little before I could get
them done. And I imagine, from the way you
wrote, that you want them quickly. I apolo-
gize. But perhaps Marjorie would have time
to make some beautiful copies of them for
you. I don't think with your eyes and all
you have to do in a writing line that you
should spend time making copies. They are
frightfully long.

If I could have the originals
back fairly soon, however, I would be grate-
ful. I borrowed them and promised it would
just be for a little while...

If you can't have them copied
soon and can wait, send them back and I
could do them in another week. Whatever you
say. I would like to do as much as I can..
I am so grateful to you for so many things...

With love-

Remember Eleanor, at the Dear-
born Manor? She hasn't been there for some
time, but is back occasionally now, for a
substitute. She wanted her best greetings
sent to Mr. Toomer..

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

MISS HELEN DUPEE

Oct. 20 1936

Dear Bruce:

Good to get a note from you,
though I am sorry to hear you and Marjor-
ie have been ill. I presume it was these
severe colds that have traveled the length
of the country. I hope you are both
feeling top-notch now, however.

This isn't a letter - I just
want to send you on a copy of the first
lecture and to say the other is practi-
cally type-written also and that I will
send it along in a day or so. The enclos-
ed is accurate, I believe, except that
page eleven is missing. If you or Marjor-
ie can copy the part that is missing-
just about one page, and add it to the
enclosed, you will have it entire. The
other I have complete. When you get the
latter perhaps you could send on the or-
iginal ones I sent you some weeks ago
and I can return them to their owner.

I am hoping this will save
both or either of you the trouble of mak-
ing copies. If you are fagged and not so
well, you will each have enough to do with
out this typing.

Don't forget the letter that
is supposed to advise me- to take me by
the scuff of the neck, if necessary, and
speak frankly and severely. It is promis-
ed, remember- when you feel well enough!

With love- in haste-

Tuesday Nov. 3 1936

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

Dear Bruce:

It was very good to hear from you- thank you for getting the lecture notes back so expeditiously. What a long siege of eye! I hope it is quite alright by now. I wish you were somewhere near our present doctor. He is surprisingly good. A homeopath, but with special diagnostic talents and knowledge. He stopped Gordon's bad beadaches practically altogether- and he was beginning to have them quite often and for two or three days at a time. I believe he has had but two now, in almost a year. Streptococcus infection, with some arthritis, Dr. 'Grimmer' (actually his name!) said. If you ever get this far west again, do arrange to go in and see him. He has helped mother a great deal also. And I took Chauns and Bob in the last time they were here. He finds Chauns in quite good condition as to heart, lungs, infections, etc. His only real trouble was depleted nerves, Grimmer said- there was some slight gall-bladder disturbance and some slight sinus infection, but very slight- not enough to cause much trouble- (no pus, in other words). He should have rest and sleep and food. So he might save you more repetitions of your eye weakness. I hope so. And let your friends as well as the general public have more of you. Anyway, he is some one to bear in mind.

You know that- I am looking forward very much to the letter you promise. Will you write you further along that line when I hear- along a personal line, I mean. I have come to know Dr. Krausz fairly well, and his charming Viennese wife. I am trying to find out more about his methods- they seem extremely vague to me, but I havent of course heard so very much of them. He gave a series of lectures last winter- at some south side centre- which I attended. But of course those, while very interesting, were very general. Not very new to Gurdjieffians. I am interested in finding out about all the outstanding psychological methods, if possible- what one can from books and people. I ask Krausz questions and I get him to tell me stray bits about myself. Of course he does not know me very well either, and much of it has to be good guessing! He says I am afraid of being ridiculous- well, that of course is true- but in what way.. I can go further than that, I think- I mean I know more than that, I believe, about myself. He says I "pull my punches". That is expressive and of course true.. It is helpful to get various wordings- different from ones own- about such things. But none of this gets near enough to what must be changed first.. I hope you will be enough of an angel to be quite frank, even brutally so if it will serve the purpose better. I will be so grateful. You know how great a gift it is-

Today is the event we have been waiting for- for months now, and talking about and hoping and fearing as to result. Everything is most peaceful, after the days of newspaper and radio barrage. Tomorrow we shall know the best and worst and settle down again.- I hope not to a 'retroactive' America, however. I am reading Upton Sinclair's "Co-Op". It is interesting! Not so very well written, but fascinating as an explanation of what, even after being explained is still somewhat complicated for one brought up in the usual money and

Almost straight Adler- but not quite.