NEW YORK

MAY 2.

1916

Dear Henri Gans,

I have an idea that it is not so very long since I wrote to you last, and it is long since I have heard from you. But you are a poor lonely soldier (or so one romantically pictures you, (((although you may be sitting at one of your own dinnerparties eating Paris things and trying to be as witty as the other people, for all I know, when this letter reaches you))) and I am a very well entertained and completely leisurely person for the moment.

And of late it happens that a number of people have discussed you with me; the last was Dick Schuster, whom I happened to meet one evening which we completed at the Rotz talking about everything but the war. He told me a number of things he thought about you, which were rather interesting and we compared views and he cleared up some things which had puzzled me about you, and so I have been thinking about your psychology, and here I am led to write to you.

Mr. Schuster is completely upset by the war and quite pitifully unhappy. He is bitterly resentful of the American anti-German feeling having quite naturally experienced an awakening of patriotism in its most virulent form. I suppose he has consequently lost his associations here without being able to test his new German heart, and no doubt his love of France is embarrassing him too. I think the English writers have been very wonderful: clearminded, just in intention, dispassionate and honest down to the ground. They are the only ones who have

2

NEW YORK

MAY2.

1916

Thrilled me a bit.

George Beer has been very active in a pro-English sense and his house has become quite a centre for pro-Ally people Also Frenchmen. Max Lazard is there a lot; I have met a M. Auber, and latterly a M. Gillet (?) a silk merchant from Lyons favoured me with an exhibition of his flirtatiousness. All are on the same commission. The latter seems to be a friend of Charlie Thurnauers, - why don't you get sent over ? Don't you think your financial talents are greater than your linguistic and military ones ? Or don't you want to leave France

et c. Leo Stein, the art-critic, who has lived in Paris for the last 10 years or more, and had a great art Salon and made Matisse famous, and has a sister Gertrude who writes Cubist prose and of whom you surely have heard, is also one of our new friends. I am thinking of writing my next book about Art, Love and Mysticism - my first and last book has not yet found a publisher ! But I think it will, my optimism is based not on the fact that I wrote it, but that I like it. I like some of it immensely; such a pleasant feeling.

3.

NEW YORK

MAY 2.

1916

We did not get the house we adored last summer, as it isn't
for rent and we found none to suit us near the city, so
we are going up to the wonderful Adirondacks I'm sure I must
have told you about many times, to hunt for a camp, and live
a simple forest life in, with the help of a good cook, a motor,
a motor-boat, electric light and telephone.

What else can I tell you? I have had a sanguine drawing of
my ageing head made and it looks like the bust Jo Davidson
made !! I am frightened ! Did you ever get the little pic-
ture I sent you to remember me by in case we don't meet again
and why didn't you send me one of yourself. DO IT. Faites-le.

Cordially as ever

Ettie St.

JOURNAL.

CAMP MASSAPEQUA

July 25 (cont.)

1916.

## Retrospect, (copied from diary)

Millbrook

June

July 21.

Millbrook Inn.

Left New York at eleven-fifteen.

Machine climbed rottenly; go to <u>Ossining</u> tearoom for 1 o'clock lunch.

Began to rain and pour. Machine climbed better. Richard said
he had adjusted carbureter. Road good, except at one place in
the town on trolley road fierce for 1/2 mile or so.

<u>Poughkeepsie</u> very pretty; this place charming.

We hope for good weather for the Berkshires tomorrow. This inn
is very clean, comfortable with a decided air of refinement of
appointment.

Last 2 or 3 weeks filled with servants, packing, and such ad-
ventures. Delighted to get away. Am anxious for rest, lea-
sure, silence, work. Wish it were for 6 or 8 months. instead of
four minus a week.

Am cultivating a taste for the American landscape.

Lenox.

June 22.

Hotel Aspinwall

Got here at about 4. Lunched at <u>Great Barrington</u>.

Started from Millbrook in fine weather, passed through lovely
country- the whitest daisy fields ever, and white, orange and
yellow fields; all fresh and green under a bright blue and

JOURNAL.

LENOX.

June 22 (cont.)

1916.

white sky.

Before we got to Great Barrington on a bad detour it poured, but cleared as we entered, and except for wind was fine this afternoon.

The Berkshires proper, from <u>Salesbury</u> on, not as pretty as their introduction. This is a regular and awful summer hotel.

R. doesn't run our family coach up the hills properly. He claims to be saving the motor, but something's wrong, either it or his technique. - I feel rested already although I'm awfully asthmatic during the night. It's very cold still; we'll freeze at Saranac.

I feel that I ought to have a lot to write, but I haven't.

LAKE GEORGE

June 23.

Hotel Forb William-Henry

Left Lenox at 9.25; had fine but cold weather, and good roads to Albany and Schenectady, a place I always mentioned just to sound funny, so Schenectady had its revenge upon me in the form of a luncheon at the inchoate Hotel MOhawk.

This afternoon went on to Saratoga on a fine road, had soda there and found S. charmingly like an old print. Forgot to say we passed through scattered Shaker Villages in Mass. This morning, all tidy, prosperous and sparsely settled.

From Saratoga a very bad detour and otherwise a fine trip and road here to this very prettily built and situated hotel. LoVELY immense trees en route.

JOURNAL.

LAKE GEORGE

June 23 (cont.)

1916.

At 6 we took an hour's launchride on the Lake - looks just like a large Adirandack lake but isn't. It's for instance only 400 feet high, (which means that Prospero, as Carrie has named our old Methuselah, will have to call Afiel to his assistance to get up 2000 feet in one day). And the camps all more or less ugly and more or less cheap or expensive houses.

The food here is about on a par with Wanamakers or Gimbele a la carte, but better than Schenectady.

Goodnight.

CAMP MASSAPWQUA

Lower Saranac

June 24.

Not quite

CELERISALAT

But very nice; very complete, elegant comfortable and full of conventional good times possibilities. (Pianola, Victor machine, picnic hamper, billiard and pool, tennis, dows, chicken, auto, launches, boats, etc. etc.)

Am darned glad to be away from Staines, Altmens, Broadway, Columbus Ave, and 102 West 76th.

Don't quite know what I'm going to do here so I may accomplish something.

Prospero brought us here in fine shape. We had only one mishap ran over a dog and maimed it; horrible to hear (not R.'s & fault who is excessively careful). And at Lake Placid they told us a party of 5 had been wrecked and killed, so we waited 16 minutes to pass and then saw no signs of anything but the machine, so hope it isn't broke - (heard since that it is the 000

JOURNAL.

CAMP MASSAP&QUA

August 31 (cont.)

1916.

U60
too how well off we are just at present, Mother well, Carrie
comparatively so, F. apparently so, I so and all comfortably
settled.

My book has been sent to Longmans, Green by Edwin Sel. who has
read it and liked it. I have a fruitful idea for the next.

"Dayd" - a collection of days in a life, very complete and detailed - perhaps 7 given cross sections of a whole development up to maturity. I hope my first gets placed and published and appreciated, everyone says that such a consummation creates new inspiration and energy.

Carrie Wise is staying with us. Sterners couldn't come on ace
count of the epidemic. Now a railroad strike threatens for
Monday. A tremendous thing, a sort of modern revolution I
should think. - Family has returned. So will defer.

Sept. 12.

9.07 P.M.

Longman, Green have accepted "Phil." for publication. -
I am very pleased; it's a good firm - James' publishers.

The expense to me is very small - I hope they'll advertise it
decently - it's going to be clinched immediately, Edwin says,
samples and contract sent.

At last ! Tomorrow I'll begin a new one.

Camp Massapequa.
Lower Saranac Lake

Sept. 26th

1916.

Dear Florrie,

The first thing after you left - we discovered
your sandwiches in the bottom of the car - I did - surprised
you didn't notice absence and loss. I thought they were in
your pocket

took a bath, and I had Clara make up the exterior bed with
your stuff. I got in a flannel nightie and aviator cap
with a hot water bag and watch. - I finally got settled tho' the co-
vers didn't get up far enough to my throat, - the lights were put
out and not 2 minutes passed before something gave a real tug
at the mosquito net; - I took my slipper and hit, and the ani-
mal scampered away. I waited a minute in indecision bearing
in mind your heroic behaviour, and then the animal which coun-
ded like a rat scurried around the bed again and so I called
to Carrie to make a light to light me to safety, and decamped,
admiring your nerve. Carrie called in to me a few moments
after that it was the cat. I went out for my pillow 5 minutes
later and the cat was sleeping in the bed. I threw her out
but Mother said she spent the night there and only got up
at 7.30 - just like you. It is a glorious sunshiny day 39 de-
grees so far. I am up for breakfast. I haven't the remotest
idea what to do next. It's now 8.7 and presumably you are get-
ting ready for a bath.

Love
Ettie.

POSTAL.

Camp Massapequa.

Lower Saranac Lake.

Sept. 28.

1916.

Thursday morning.

Dear F. - We haven't heard from you; maybe we shall this mail. - Indian summer here- beautiful - breakfast in Monkey house - drove to Wilmington Notch yesterday - lovely road. Windy but 70 degrees - am reading Phil - no news from publisher yet. -

Love from all

Ettie

POSTAL.

Camp Massapaqua.

Lower Saranac Lake.

Sept. 27th.

1916.

Wednesday morning.

Yesterday all Calumet was here for tea - also Ruth Cook -
G's car broke down. Richard had to fetch them from the vil-
lage and take them to Saranac Inn. I went out rowing at about
9. - while out it got fearfully rough, but I'm back. It's a
warm and lovely day. We had lamb for lunch hot, for supper
cold.

Ettie.

POSTAL.

Camp Massapequa.

Lower Saranac Lake.

Sept. 30th.

1916.

Dear Florrie,

Nothing to report; it rained all yesterday and all night, -today it has stopped but it's 38 degrees. John says it snowed last night. Are you doing anything definite about curtains etc. for X? I haven't heard from L.G. and Co.

Love

Ettie.

Camp Nassapequa.
Lower Saranac Lake.

Oct. 1 st

1916.

Sunday Morning. 8.10

Dear Florrie,

This morning everything is covered with hoar-
frost and the leaves are falling fast. Last night was clear
with Northern lights but it was too cold to watch them. To-
day is sunny and golden and our car is out of order - the
girls had to walk to church. Don't know how seriously, haven't
seen Richard yet. Your letters come all right, only it takes
some longer than others. They are the events of the day, so
you can imagine how gay it is here. Carrie has regained her
normal appetite, she eats everything again,

JOURNAL.

CAMP MASSAPEQUA

Oct. 4 (cont.)

1916.

I've begun a new book to be "Days" and perhaps a subtitle "During the development of Margot" or ~~"Of the matu-~~
ring of Deborah" - Russian style; minute detail.

Also want to write an article "The Emotion of Being-Loved" and send it to the New Republic -

Florrie left 10 days ago and is getting her Exhibition ready. I am delighted she's doing it; even if the critique is adverse in part it's bound to do her good indirectly and some people will surely like her work.

The weather up here is heavenly since 5 or 6 days; - by far the finest we've had. Got René-Bloch July letter yesterday: said he was allowed to write because of what I inserted to the 'Commandant' - something to the effect that I was a Freiburg Dr. - of M.Bloch's - a harmlose Person - alte Schulfreundin' (know him rather slightly since 6 months before the war broke out) - Machen Sie bitte eine Ausnahme.'' - I am decidedly tickled to death at my success - first letter he was permitted to write in 20 months (reprisal measure)

I'm glad we spent this summer up here in this air, living out of doors constantly. But we had awful annoyances here. - Next time I hope we'll take an unpretentious place with a guide on the premises and not off. If the Ling House were for sale I should urge Mother to buy it; it's just suited to our requirements and limitations.

Camp Maconpeque.

Lower Saranac Lake.

Oct. 5th

1914.

Dear Florrie, just got your letters about the Pantomime-
Ballet - how exciting - wouldn't it be fun if it comes off.
And isn't it funny about Lee Ornetein, the French composer

Ducas wrote among other things "Der Zauberlehrling" -
and Ariane and Darbe - Bleu. The other was probably Ravel -
the latter great for it. - I am already wondering which role
I'll fill; maybe Europa or the Apache! Did Bola say anything
about Mijinsky seeing it? If you get a chance surely go to
rehearsals.

Probably Marie intends to bring the critics up from
the Cushing exhibition - privately as it were - the ones she
thinks favourable. But insist on having your Ex. properly
advertised in the papers, even if it costs extra. Speak to
her about this. It ought to be done now beforehand. I sup-
pose Avery Hopwood is out of town trying out, that's why you
haven't heard from him.

Mother says to tell Mrs. Sheridan to buy what's necessary
for cleaning, but to take a look around the house and see whe-
ther she doesn't find enough clothes and things.

The sun is shining again - Richard's overhauling the car-
We magnet's in 1.5. being repaired. Last night we took a
ride on the lake at sun-down. - Wonderful. - Too bad you're
missing this. Well, good luck -

Love
Ettie.

Camp Massapequa.

Lower Saranac Lake.

Oct. 5th

1916.

Dear Florrie, - just got your letters about the Pantomine-Ballet. - how exciting - wouldn't it be fun if it came off. And isn't it funny about Leo Ornstein, the French composer, Ducas" wrote among other things "Der Zauberlehrling" - and Ariane and Barbe - Bleu. The other was probably Ravel - the latter great for it. - I am already wondering which role I'll fill; maybe Europa or the Apache! Did Bolm say anything about Nijinsky seeing it? If you get a chance surely go to rehearsals.

Probably Marie intends to bring the critics up from the Cushing exhibition - privately as it were - the ones she thinks favourable. But insist on having your Ex. properly advertised in the papers, even if it costs extra. Speak to her about this. It ought to be done now beforehand. I suppose, Avery Hopwood is out of town trying out, that's why you haven't heard from him.

Mother says to tell Mrs. Sheridan to buy what's necessary for cleaning, but to take a look around the house and see whether she doesn't find enough cloths and things.

The sun is shining again - Richard's overhauling the car-the magneto's in...6. being repaired. Last night we took a ride on the Lake at sun-down. - Wonderful. - Too bad you're missing this. Well, good luck -

Love

Ettie.