The Selected Letters of Elizabeth Stoddard

Letter 78. To Edmund Clarence Stedman, April 1, 1897

227 letter 78 To Edmund Clarence Stedman April 1, 1897 [New York City, New York] April 1st 97 Dear Stedman. We are happy in concluding since we have heard from you, that you did not get cold Thursday night, as Judge Daly, and Mr Whiting did.1 More than once Dick has said that it would have made him miserable if you had taken a chill, and the grip—When Lorry got home that night, he said it was the happiest day of his life, there was not a flaw or blemish anywhere, every thing wheeled in its course perfectly. I am thinking I have not been grateful enough for myself— I was dazed. Was ever an old woman toasted directly before?2 Your speech was as fine as steel, and as smooth as ivory—and so generous—I wish you would give me your miniature in a little frame I want to bring back the old beauty of my throat, by wearing it. Do give it to me— It certainly was the happiest thing. Mr Hitchcock has made himself past master in management—talk no more of your Depews or your Potters3 — I could not help thinking after all those men came up to the gallery and kissed me—of the woman in Montaigne—who thanked God when the soldiers came, that for once she had had her fill without sin!4 Why didn’t you come up, Laura was very kind to me. Mr Dorr5 thinks or says there is a call for a pamphlet about the dinner, in case you want the above anecdote printed in it—send it. Did you ever know anything like Tess.6 The cry is, still they come— This week we have three magazines unknown to us—with notices praising Lorry, one quite good by a Robert Stoddart in Town and Country.7 Mary Bradley was chagrined when she heard of Edith Thomas’ poem,8 and has written some clever doggerel to “Dickey bird”— 228 Well my dear I thank you forever. Is there to be no let up in Wall St for you—Can you not, you do make more money by literature than Dick—would you not be contented to live poor as we do, and not be torn by dread and anxiety—it is all wrong some however. Ever Your Lisbeth The pictures have just come—quite effective, only you must have stirred— Manuscript: Edmund Clarence Stedman Papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University notes 1. On March 25, 1897, the Authors Club of New York hosted a dinner at the HotelSavoyinhonorofRichard’scareer.Stedmanhosted,whileRipleyHitchcock (1857–1918),ajournalistandartcritic,mademostofthearrangements.Morethan one hundred and fifty guests attended, including C. G. Whiting (??–??) and the former judge, C. P. Daly (??–??). 2.Despitebeingseatedinanalcovewiththeotherfemaleguests,Stoddardwas pointedoutthroughouttheeveningandherworkwascommendedas“theequalof Poe and Charlotte Brontë.” See “Honoring Mr. Stoddard.” Drama critic Laurence Hutton(1843–1904)madeaformaltoasttoStoddard,whichwasrepliedtobyLorry. 3. The Depews and the Potters were both prominent families in nineteenthcentury New York. 4. Stoddard refers to “A Custom of the Island of Cea,” in which Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) cites numerous instances in which women have killed themselves rather than subject themselves to sexual assault. He goes on to write, “It will perhaps be to our honor in the centuries to come that a learned author of this day . . . takes pains to persuade the ladies of our time to make up their minds to anything rather than adopt the horrible counsel of such despair. I am sorry that hedidnotknowandinsertamonghisstoriesthegoodoneIheardatToulouseofa womanwhohadpassedthroughthehandsofsomesoldiers:‘Godbepraised,’she said,‘thatatleastonceinmylifeIhavehadmyfillwithoutsin!’”(Montaigne257). 5. Probably Seneca Dorr, Julia Dorr’s husband. 6. Lorry’s stage version of Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891) by Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) premiered at the Fifth Avenue Theater in early March, 1897. Minnie Madern Fiske (1865–1932) starred as Tess. 7. Though the exact reference is not clear, it is worth noting that this is not a reference to the magazine whose predecessor was the Home Journal, edited by 229 Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–1867). The Home Journal was renamed Town and Country in 1901, four years after Stoddard wrote this letter. 8. The American poet Edith M. Thomas (1854–1925) was unable to attend the dinner, but sent a sonnet she had written in honor of Richard. It began, “O most revered of all the singing throng, / Yet hasten not, although our evening star, / To fields of heaven beyond the twilight bar; / But with thy voice...