Transcription
"Dear Joe: if you have not already been informed, I can give you information of Robert, his theatrical prospects. He has come to an agreement with Frohmann* [sic], viz: a retaining fee of $15.00 weekly, with liberty to engage under other managements if not immediately required in a Frohmann [sic] Combination; of course, by courtesy of, or kindness, or however they put it. While actively employed he is to have $70.00 weekly, on the road, and if in New York, $60.00. What is expected of him, is to me unknown; I don’t even know the kind of thing Frohman conducts. Must say I am happy to escape the clutches of Disgustin D. Madame and the Court approve of the Frohman engagement.
I am almost afraid you will not be able to come see me, when you get home, because this climate is excessively cold, and requires a kind of Corin outfit, sheep-skin leggings and such. I have lately been investigating the winter costume of these regions, and I find it is something like this. [Sketch] It is beginning to get cold already, snow has been hanging on the mountain since the last of Sept.; and we have had a very respectable snow-storm in the valley.
There is some hope of my going to New York at Christmas, which merry meeting, may God [not] prohibit.
I enjoyed your letter exceedingly. I feel almost culpably provincial, hearing of these bits of news from foreign climates, and (as Mr. Stephenson has it) the Modern Baghdad.
The putting of H. Christian Andersen's "Snow Queen" into a little operetta does greatly tickle my fancy; I should have liked exceedingly to see it. It has inspired me with the notion of making some pen and ink drawings in illustration of the story.
I began a landscape a couple of weeks ago; and was beginning to get rather interested in it, when one night a great wind arose, and the following morning the scene was changed from full autumn colors, to bare twigs.
I had a little house built to paint this picture from; and now this is to be transferred to another spot, and a more constant model: a very interesting old hemlock; a botanical rather than an artistic study, but one that pleases me.
I have also painted a portrait of Toby, which I want you to see very much, as I have reached a point of painful uncertainty respecting the next thing to be done.
I enclose you Arthur Carey's cards, which Bessie Evans sent Florence, and Florence me [...]"Transcriber
Kathleen GarretLanguage
EnglishNotes
*Charles Frohman (1856-1915) American theatre manager.
