Letter from Elizabeth Stoddard to Julia C Dorr

Sag Harbor

July 8th -96 Dear Julia

Here we are since the 4th I brought your letter and the magazines, your poem is very good I meant to quote you a line which struck me as so original, but I have sent off the mag -- and cant do so- It is a comfort to recognize the excellence of your work. I hope you will not suffer as I do, with a mistrust and loss of faith which keeps me from writing. Stoddard will notice your little book. For some weeks I have had the foreboding that the glasses promised Stoddard would not do as much for him as we hoped -- and it is so -- He never will have any general sight to speak of. A certain narrow

focus obtained, with them will enable him to read and write. He ought never to spend his days in writing for his bread -- such work has worn out the nerve of the eye first operated upon entirely.

We have had execreble weather ever since we came and find it very dull -- The changes are very great since we first summered here, by death, suicide and removals - so that I do not care to be here very much, but Lory likes it, he owns five or six acres on the shore opposite Skeeter Island, which he bought thinking we might build, but he has not got money for it yet to own great disappointment. I wish we could have let Hary have the money he wanted. We did not

[C-9 114 13]

nor have it - and we have no rich friends to help us The two men once devoted to us who were rich are dead. I think if I were to go over some of my life, I would not only accept more, but demand it. When I watch the foremost poet in America -- see him growing old and infirm -- crippled in his right hand blind of one eye and purblind with the other - and by necessity for labor - as severe as when he was thirty -- then I think, I would say to the men of money. Help this man - and darn Foreign missions!

Do write me about Harrys affairs I am interested in them and in him. There have been so many collapses in mines, so much

swindling and 'salting' that people are afraid to invest -- but I should like to gamble that way -- for where gold has been gold is!

I have not had time to read your little book but shall soon.

You feel as I do about age -- I am not old at the bade I wont have it, why do people think so, if they must as I do, see so -- I hate my looks absolutely, -- I would not look in the glass, but for my fear of my bonnets being awry and I wish I could believe as a certain olf woman did that the glasses were not as they used to be in her day? No I know I am far wiser in soul, though weaker in body and understand human life its terrible shortness, the awful mystery as no youth, happily, ever can

yours ever E D B S

[C-9 114 13]

[COPY]

[Stoddard, Mrs. Elizabeth Drew (Barstow) to Mrs. Julia Dorr]

Sag Harbor July 8th 96

Dear Julia

Here we are, since the 4th I brought your letter, and the magazines, your poem is very good, I meant to quote you a line which struck me as so original, but I have sent off the Mag. and cant do so -- It is a comfort to recognize the excellence of your work. I hope you will not suffer as I do, with a midtrust and loss of faith which keeps me from writing. Stoddard will notice your little book. For some weeks I have had the foreboding, that the glasses promised Stoddard would not do as much for him as we hoped -- and it is so -- He never will have any general sight to speak of. A certain narrow focus obtained with them will enable him to read and write -- He ought never to spend his days in writing for his bread -- such work has worn out the nerve of the eye first operated upon entirely.

We have had execrable weather ever since we came and find it very dull -- The changes are very great since we first summered here, by death, suicide and removals -- so that I do not care to be here very much, but Lorry likes it, he owns five or six acres on the shore opporite Sheeter Island, which he bought thinking we might build, but he has not got money for it yet to our great disappointment. I wish we could have let Lorry have the money he wanted. We did not have it -- and we have no rich friends to help us -- the two men once devoted to us, who were rich are dead. I think if I were to go over some of my life, I would not only accept more, but demand it. When I watch the foremost poet in America -- see him growing old and infirm -- crippled in his right hand, blind of one eye and purblind with the other -- and his necessity for labor as severe as when he was thirty -- then, I think, I would say to the men of money. 'Help this man.'-- and darn foreign missions!

Do write me about Harrys affairs I am interested in them, and in him. There have been so many collapses in mines, so much swindling and 'salting' that people are afraid to invest -- but I should like to gamble that way -- for where gold has been, gold is!

I have not had time to read your little book but shall soon. You feel as I do about age -- I am not old at the core, I wont have it, why do people think so, if they must as I do, see so -- I hate my looks absolutely, I would not look in the glass, but for my fear of my bonnet's being awry, and I wish I could believe as a certain old woman did, that the glasses were not as they used to be in her day. No, I know I am far wiser in soul, though weaker in body, and understand human life -- its terrrible shortness, the awful mystery as no youth, happily, ever can.

Yours ever E D B S

[Envelope addressed to Mrs. Julia C R Dorr; 'The Maples' Rutland Vt]