Letter from Emma Stebbins to Anne Whitney, June 19, 1878
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Emma Stebbins to Anne Whitney, June 19, 1878
Subject
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882
Whitney, Anne, 1821-1915
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Arts--Literature
Gossip--Private
Italy--Rome
Arts
Artists
Description
Emma Stebbins responds to Anne Whitney's reaction to reading Charlotte Cushman: Letters and Memories of Her Life.
Credit
Wellesley College Archives, Papers of Anne Whitney (MSS.4): Correspondence. 2010.Creator
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882
Date
1878-06-19
Rights
This Correspondence is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers of Anne Whitney (MSS.4) at Wellesley College Digital Scholarship and Archive.
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
My dear Anne Whitney,
I am very pleased that you wrote to me about the Book, and glad that you like it. There are few whose approbation I could more covet, because I believe you would never say pleasant things purely to compliment me - that at +++ you could in conscience say approvingly, I might depend upon both in +++ and judgment. +++ that you have promised to say ++++ to me +++, when you have had time +++ into it +++ +++. I recognize the justice of your dis +++, in your remarks about Biographies in general - but dear friend I am sure you recognize in this direction as well as every other, that there is a divinity which shapes our ends [?] and that ++++ writer can even say 'so I will do, or so' - and the +++ to the end that dedication - This seems to me more the modus operandi of mechanics - than of creative art in [p. 2] whatever direction. If we have anything of the divine gift – whatever we do must be more or less a creation which as often surprises ourselves as others. +++ +++ than me - if the kind appreciative letters I am now daily receiving[?] the same thought occurs - " I do not believe you know what a beautiful book you have made" . which is very true - if it is [underlined] beautiful - , so we "build better than we know" and so our work must be something out of an +++ which we cannot +++ and determine +++++ – I remember in Rome the discussions we used to have on this topic [?] - and how the idea of building better than we know - was laughed at +++ by Mr Gibson, Miss Hosmer and that ilk. I should like much to discuss all these questions with you - but I cannot see when it may become possible all business with publishers, except that one visit I made +++ I saw [p- 3] you - seems to be +++ ++++ by mail and there is not present likelihood of my getting to Boston . we are much bound [?] to getting just +++, and tied as I always am by feelings & circumstances, I am contemplating the necessity of going to Lenox - for a month or two - to +++ my little hours by living in it - and to make a home for my ++++. his holidays +++ I do so +++ regret - but I had to leave my sisters - and my uncertain health makes me badly wanting in energy & purpose. - Perhaps this time may come if not here, then hereafters, when we may compare notes of our experiences and our thinkings - meantime many thanks for the kind wish in your +++ & do write to me sometimes. […]
I am very pleased that you wrote to me about the Book, and glad that you like it. There are few whose approbation I could more covet, because I believe you would never say pleasant things purely to compliment me - that at +++ you could in conscience say approvingly, I might depend upon both in +++ and judgment. +++ that you have promised to say ++++ to me +++, when you have had time +++ into it +++ +++. I recognize the justice of your dis +++, in your remarks about Biographies in general - but dear friend I am sure you recognize in this direction as well as every other, that there is a divinity which shapes our ends [?] and that ++++ writer can even say 'so I will do, or so' - and the +++ to the end that dedication - This seems to me more the modus operandi of mechanics - than of creative art in [p. 2] whatever direction. If we have anything of the divine gift – whatever we do must be more or less a creation which as often surprises ourselves as others. +++ +++ than me - if the kind appreciative letters I am now daily receiving[?] the same thought occurs - " I do not believe you know what a beautiful book you have made" . which is very true - if it is [underlined] beautiful - , so we "build better than we know" and so our work must be something out of an +++ which we cannot +++ and determine +++++ – I remember in Rome the discussions we used to have on this topic [?] - and how the idea of building better than we know - was laughed at +++ by Mr Gibson, Miss Hosmer and that ilk. I should like much to discuss all these questions with you - but I cannot see when it may become possible all business with publishers, except that one visit I made +++ I saw [p- 3] you - seems to be +++ ++++ by mail and there is not present likelihood of my getting to Boston . we are much bound [?] to getting just +++, and tied as I always am by feelings & circumstances, I am contemplating the necessity of going to Lenox - for a month or two - to +++ my little hours by living in it - and to make a home for my ++++. his holidays +++ I do so +++ regret - but I had to leave my sisters - and my uncertain health makes me badly wanting in energy & purpose. - Perhaps this time may come if not here, then hereafters, when we may compare notes of our experiences and our thinkings - meantime many thanks for the kind wish in your +++ & do write to me sometimes. […]
From
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882
To
Whitney, Anne, 1821-1915
Location
Hyde Park, New York
Geocode (Latitude)
41.7847232
Geocode (Longitude)
-73.9332461
Social Bookmarking
Geolocation
Collection
Citation
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882, “Letter from Emma Stebbins to Anne Whitney, June 19, 1878,” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 20, 2024, https://www.archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/231.