Letter from Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard to John Eliot Bowen

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This is a scanned version of the original document in the Abernethy Manuscripts Collection at Middlebury College.

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Hawthorne praised her "Morgesons" 29th Oct 1889 Dear Mr Bowen Thanks for your word. I will try to have my sketch ready for you - the time of it is about 1835 - place Mass. I mean it to be faithful to the habits of the county people of that time, and if possible to get the atmosphere of all that is local - but as you know I am no tale bearer, as stories, my work amounts to little. I lack invention - and my readers must

[written along left side of page] while they last that they must have their course - and die by their own laws.

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
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take me on other grounds entirely - In reference to your note of the 18th you surprised me with your idea of The Morgesons. I did not intend them to be, (my characters) anything except what they were, if you think them outre etc. it is because of your opinion, and because you have never pondered over certain phases of being - I affirm now that my characters did not interest you enough to make you understand the true relation between Cassandra Morgeson and Charles Morgeson and that with the capacity between them of a magnetic and

[written on right side of page] & I allow all the time that my style is so concise and

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profound passion, the pressure of generations of Puritan teachings and examples, + prevented it from being in result, nothing. More then then nebulous particles vainly striving in the universe to come together and make a new world. After Charles is killed, Cassandra creeps down to his wife, and tells her, that then she hungered for the kiss he never gave her - To me this seems more like genuine human nature, that than it seems to [unclear]Jere, eved] cold and outre' - and regarding the critic of Crawfords [unclear]Ziller[/unclear] if, as he says, that my every character is permeated with vulgarity. I could not

[side note :] + [within] the immediate hearing - or surrounding circumstances abrupt that I must be observant a reader.

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create them so, unless innately [ ?] myself - Man, saith the Bible was created in God's image, and so again, Mor's idea of Jehovah is that of a powerful person with will to do good and evil. Now that I am one of the Independant contributors I read it more carefully - I see that somebody has got a sorer head than I, but how foolish to answer or re-but a criticism in print - makes it of more importance than it is worth. Why do you with your taste and knowledge of art in verse, print such poor verses as you sometimes do? - it cant be necessary to do so; you see I am going to take up critical business [ ?] in case our Maurice comes

[on right side of page] that no power can change or -

[on left side of page] for I loved that the human soul has emotions

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out with a work? I shall not use his favorite word, of "filth." Two of the closer women I know spoke to me of a notice of his on Tolstoi, in almost the same terms of indignation about his language. I meant just now, in speaking of your opinion of the Morgesons to quote from a letter I have received from Mrs Amelia Barr a novelist, and a stranger to me. She had just read it - "I cannot tell you what a fresh mental pleasure you have given me - you have shown me genuine New England life. I am now

Last edit over 2 years ago by shashathree
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