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51 letter 17  To James Russell Lowell January 12, [1860] New York City, New York January 12. New York Dear Sir. Mr Stoddard received a line from you several weeks since respecting a story which I sent to you hoping it might go to the Atlantic.1 He answered it, but has heard nothing from you. Will you oblige me by sending said narrative back with your opinion of what I should do with it—as you suggested in your note. It is a trouble of course, but if you are an editor how can it be helped? I have an idea that my story is ricketty, round shouldered and big headed—it may have fine eyes and a good complexion. I believe my subject makes me feel sometimes as Bunsby2 felt under the ringbolt treatment—it knocks me on the head, and I am senseless—However it is really the first story I ever attempted, and although I am an old woman3 I am a young writer— Yours respectfully Elizabeth DB Stoddard Manuscript: James Russell Lowell Papers, Houghton Library, Harvard University notes 1. At the time of this letter, James Russell Lowell was in the third year of his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly. (See biographical note.) In November 1859, RichardStoddardsentStoddard’s“MyOwnStory”toLowell,askinghimtoconsider it for publication in the magazine. The story “has some faults of construction, I believe,” Richard wrote, “but it seems to me that its good parts more than balance these: at least I hope so, for I would like to see it in the magazine” (November 7, 1859,JamesRussellLowellPapers,Houghton Library,HarvardUniversity).Healso asked for assistance with a title for the as yet unnamed story. 2. Reference to Jack Bunsby from Dombey and Son (1848) by Charles Dickens (1812–1870). During his apprenticeship Bunsby was purportedly beaten about the head with a ringbolt for three weeks. 3. Stoddard is thirty-six years old at the time of this letter. ...

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