In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

163 letter 54 To Elizabeth Akers Allen March 28, [1873] [New York City, New York] East 15th St 329. March 28 Dear Mrs Akers I have been very remiss in delaying to answer your letter, but I meant to return you something in kind and so waited. I am not well. As I get aged, letter writing is more difficult especially when I am wading over paper for print. My conscience compels me to enclose you my last screed, for I think you will believe I do not agree with you about revealing private matters. Indeed I have written a serious article in Appletons some time ago, The Whims of Authors,1 protesting against the frantic fear that authors profess to feel lest they get into print. I never believe them. I have had a pretty good run with the tribe. They all want to see every word that is written about them. I do, especially which is said against me. The book you refer to could not from the writer and the subjects be deeply interesting or profound. The pleasantest form of reading to me is literary biography. Look at Miss Mitford’s letters,2 and Leigh Hunt’s delightful auto-biog.3 In his “Day by the Fire” he says we are anxious to discover how these great poets and men appeared in common, which habits they loved, in which way they meditated or talked, nay in which postures they delighted to sit & “all charming.”4 To my private knowledge Tennyson has made of himself a transcendent ass, by his fury and anger because one of our friends private letters got into the papers—by a sad mistake5 — Nothing was said, but which might have been said to the four winds of heaven. But I agree with you about petty personal revelations. My whole life and interest are in the different forms of art— and the artist belongs to his work. I hope I have not preached. I’ll tell you what made me mad—that notice by Holland in Scribners on Bulwer—it is so specious and false. Bulwer has faults enough but he belongs to the 164 century with its men of genius and should so be considered.6 I hate the everlasting introduction of morals where they have no business. We like your poem.7 Stoddard told me [days?] to tell you he had taken—he will send you a check in a few days. Aint checks nice. I am full of venality. I’ll sell my grandmothers high temper, my uncles drunkenness in articles. I think of taking Stoddard for a hero but he says don’t, your heros are so disagreeable. I wish you would muster courage to write again. Do live in the real country without society or are you suburban? Yours Truly Elizabeth D.B. Stoddard Manuscript: Elizabeth Akers Allen Papers, Colby College notes 1. “A Literary Whim” was published in Appleton’s Journal on October 14, 1871. 2. The Life of Mary Russell Mitford Related in a Selection from Her Letters to Her Friends (1870) was edited by Alfred Guy L’Estrange (1832–1915). 3. The Autobiography of Leigh Hunt was first published in 1850, but was reprinted throughout the nineteenth century. See Letter 30, note 33. 4. In A Day by the Fire, Hunt writes, “We are anxious to discover how these great men and poets appeared in common, what habits they loved, in what way they talkedandmeditated,nay,inwhatposturestheydelightedtosit,andwhetherthey indulged in the same tricks and little comforts that we do. Look at nature and their works, and we shall see that they did; and that, when we act naturally and think earnestly,wearereflectingtheircommonesthabitstothelife”(28).Stoddarduses a version of this quote in “A Literary Whim.” 5. On March 11, 1867, Taylor wrote a letter to Stedman describing his visit to Alfred Tennyson, which Stedman then showed to Susan Dunning Power (see Letter 52, note 5). After copying or memorizing portions of the letter, Power published them in a New York newspaper two years later. Tennyson was offended at what he saw as Taylor’s breach of confidence, and Taylor begged friends such as Stedman and James T. Fields to write letters to Tennyson explaining the incident. Stoddard alluded rather clearly to this incident in “A Literary Whim”: “Through some carelessness, the letter of an American traveller, which described his visit to said distinguished poet, crept into the newspapers, and to his ears; whereat he grew violent, and wrote...

Share