19th Century American writers : letters, manuscripts, & correspondence

Pages That Need Review

Letter from William Dean Howells to Edmund Clarence Stedman

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4 Louisburg Square, Boston, Sept.24, 188[0?]

My dear Stedman:

I have been reading your paper on [Longfellows?] work a curious [?][Sch?], for I lived over the whole course of my liking for the [verse?] and the man as I read. I believe I should on the whole rate him higher than you do; with all his simplicity (and even superficiality as regards passion) he was such a [underline]great[/underline] artist. I think that whoever [else?] of our day shall live to after times he is

Last edit over 1 year ago by MaryV
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[underline]sure[/underline] of [surviving?]. Those later sonnets! - I don't dispute your estimation, and your criticism has a reverent beauty that I should not know how to praise [aright?]

You remember, you dear, good fellow, that I too was once a poet! That is very good of you - very friendly and sweet! I [made?][every?] wish to see you and thank you.

I hope you are well.

Yours sincerely

W. D. Howells

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Letter from James Kay Jr. to John Sullivan Dwight

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Philad., 14 March 1845.

My Dear Friend,

Your letter and communication by Mr Alvord came to my hands on the 5th init., and were read as speedily as possible You know, I presume, that I had supposed it necessary to return the copy of the constitution which had been sent to me; and hence, to my great regret, it was not in my power to determine whether a portion of that document might be erased or lifted out to make room for you, or not; and I was obliged to rely on a memory which is but frail for refernce, to it. Mr List aided me in the perusal and criticism of both projects. He has promised me to write to write to you about it; but whether he do or not, I know his thought.

It is not easy to express an opinion on the subject you have so kindly placed before me which shall lead to any action. I cannot say that your view should prevail, to the exclusion of the one reported by the Committee; not only for want of means of comparison, and of counsel, but because I feel a conviction that the cooption of the reported Constitution (in all respects substantially as it stands) is only one of a series of progressive reforms which will thereby be rendered both necessary & attainable. The fundamental law of your Phalanx cannot remain stationary; it need move onward, in even pace with the advancing science & experience of the body. I fear not that the present opportunity is the only one which will ever or for a long period of time offer for the presentiment of your proposition; and therefore I do not feel very anxious that it should win the victory now.

I cannot easily express my admiration of the beautiful structure which you have erected. If it were simply a literary exercise, with no practical object, it would win universal applause for its author. I have examined it as carefully as has been in my power in my isolated state; and my conclusion is, that you have not affirmed more than you prove, when you say, that your government would

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be one of spontaneous providential growth, and that every office under it would be strictly functional. I doubted for some time whether the Heads of the 3 Councils would not be of arbitary constitution; but the doubt, I think, has subsided. Your division of functions in the department of Finance I do not well understand; and I presume that we may acknowledge nearly equal ignorance on the details of this branch of knowledge: but the subject could be made clear enough by the aid of one or two friends of financial experience. My opinion generally is, that the great thought which stands embodied in your paper (irrespective of details) is the one to which Brook Farm Phalanx and all other Phalanxes must come at last; and that its parent, like Fourier, may well submit to wait, not until men are willing to acccept it, but until men & circumstances have grown up to it. How I should like to give a month to the fullest & free-est, and most deliberate & thorough discussion of it and its practical tendencies; and I believe that the occasion will yet present itself. I hope meanwhile that you wil labour to perfect your conception, and continue to preserve your faith in it. I am glad to believe, from what you say, that there is not much doubt of the adoption of the new constitution, with or without your amendments. I had feared that its advocates might be defeated; and with that defeat lose hope for the Association. Its success is the herald of the acceptance, at no distant day, of your scheme of government by all; and is perhaps the necessary precedent step. And what a magnificent step it is. Our associate Theophilus thinks that you have producd about the finest state paper in the Annals (?) of Association; and I have not denied myself the pleasure of lending it to your friend Lowell & his lady, whose admiration has likewise been elicited.

It is with profound regret that I state my inability to be with you at this time. Little as is the interest I feel in my business, and the attention which I bestow on it, a desire to extricate myself from it & to prepare for Association leaves me no alternative but to remain here at present. And this, notwithstanding the reference from Brook Farm of matters to my judgment which probably I ought not to have attempted to determine except in person & viva voce. As it was, what could I do? It was impossible that I should sanction, by indifference even, the adoption of

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measures, whose faulire would destroy the Association, whilst their success was almost beyond the bounds of possibility. Besides, where are the men who are to carry these projecst into execution? They do not, they can not, [underline]come[/underline] to you; they must belong to you; in your own words, they are of "providential growth." In no other way can you have them. My future for Brook Farm is development - slow, even imperceptibly slow - a quiet, silent, unobtrusive, enduring, waiting on God. Thus will the process of crystallization complete itself. I give five years to this work. And then the movement will widen and deepen in a manner which shall astonish those who at once lead and are [borne?] on it. If I possibly can, I will endeavour to be with you in the course of a month; but again, I am opposed, as I write the words, by the importunate claim of the hydropathic treatment not less for the soul's than the body's weal. I should commence at once, & give myself to it for four months. Well, we shall see. I write with great haste; as I hope to send this sheet tomorrow by Mr. Robert Owen, who will probably deliver it to you in person. I commend the venerable & gentle enthusiast to your love and good offices. He looks on Association with no evil eye.

With best memories of your mother & sister (all of whom are talked of with affection by my Hannah & Mary), and regards for your father, and most especially for Frank, I am, as ever,

Your affectionate friend and servant,

James Kay, Jr.

I am so glad to hear of any progress which Ally makes. I hope that your patience will be equal to his wilfulness. Phrenology prophesies a change (which must be favourable) in him in the lapse of the years. At least so Fowler said.

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[?] Mr. Robrt Dale Owen

John S. Dwight, Esquire Brook Farms West Roxbury near Boston Masachusetts

James Kay fr. March 14 1845. (3.)

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Letter from James Kay Jr. to John Sullivan Dwight, May 10, 1846

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Phila., 10 May 1846 My Dear Friend, Your favour of the 24th ult. has lain by me so long, from a dire necessity, owing to the water cure, I have so little time & so little power of concentrating my thoughts even on favourite subjects, and moreover I have so much to do, that I feel as if it were unavailing to make an attempt to get it out of the way. Is it not singular moreover that, after staying away so long from Brook Farm on account primarily of variolosis, I should have returned to Philadelphia & the water cure, to be plunged into the midst of it. Our water doctor, & every one in his family, except myself & the only two other patients, are or have been sufferers from it. But enough! My health has much improved. In fact I felt better in two days after I treated myself hydropathically. I have still some trouble in my throat & lungs, although less; but the horrid nervous trouble is nearly gone. Cold water would have relieved you of your biliousness also; but labour, if equally effective, was probably the shorter course. I assume Mr Channing's disease to be nervous - and both spiritual & bodily. If our Doctor was continuing here for 2 months longer, & if it were March & not in May, I should certainly invite him to try hydropathy. It would soon restore him; for the water cure produces, in my experience, still higher spiritual than even physical restoration. If there was only a fitting work for him, when he was restored! The information conveyed in your letter of your movements at B. F. is certainly very hopeful. You have accomplished much - more than I thought you could. Perhaps there is no hope that a lady will change her opinions; but, as it seems, abundant hope that she will change her measures. I feel as if Mrs Ripley had saved her life by accepting assistance in the school. To accomplish this end was

Last edit almost 2 years ago by acmwitz
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was my primary object in urging the measure; but I soon saw that additional good would grow out of it, by the union in cooperation of several competent persons, whilst the relief thus obtained by Mrs Ripley (without the sacrifice of the laudable purpose which she had in view - the restoration of the success & reputation of the school) could be availed of by her to operate in its favour by occasional incursions into civilization. I have myself more confidence in the worth of the education now - a confidence not at all diminished by the pleasure which you feel in meeting your class. I am truly grateful for what you say with respect to Ally. I cannot convey to any one the strength of the sense which I have [inserted]of[/inserted] responsibility to him for his progress; but I may say, how rejoiced I shall be to find that my love of Association is compatible with the retention of Alfred within its influence. He writes to me in a spirit of determination and devotion which has never manifested itself before. I shall prize exceedingly the instruction he may receive from you in music; it will be so far above & beyond any thing that can be done for him by any one else. I have only to add respecting the school, that it seems to me indispensible that some improvements & purchases should be made in its behalf. I cannot subscribe to the idea that all other interests are to be preferred in your expenditures. My opinion is precisely the reverse. At all hazards the school should be provided with suitable apparatus & instruments of instruction. It should be made to present an attractive exterior alike to pupils, members & visitors. I do not know how much money will be required for this purpose; but a beginning should be made. I have not [inserted]had[/inserted] time to attempt any small collections in your behalf as yet here; although I have two or three promises: but I feel free to offer my subscription of $100 to be devoted to this object & to be expended by or under the express direction of the school group, not for current expenses, but for the purchase or manufacture of such apparatus & instruments as may be needed. This sum I will send when I shall be able to collect something to add to it; or if you want it at once, you can draw for it at one day's sight. It will be convenient to part

Last edit over 1 year ago by catslover
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with it now as at any other time. I feel malicious enough to make you a further donation of a loan which I made to the Fancy Group of the same amount, to be very sacredly devoted to the same purpose. For this sum you can apply to two very attractive ladies of our acquaintance - the Lady of the [Eyrie?] & the [Divine?] Fanny. If they refer you to the Association, as doubtless they will, I will hope that responsible & solvent body will admit the justice of the claim & honour it by prompt payment.

You have got rid of some persons who were burthens, although not without their good qualities. I must [illegible, crossed out] urge the continuance of the winnowing process. It must be done of necessity. It will be most agreeable if private obligations should harmonize with imperious fate in the case of each & all of them. In justice to myself I must say, that I have not in view a single individual when I make this reiterated suggestion. The rule which Mr Ripley laid down before the Association that each person should consider his fitness to continue with you dependent on his pe- cuniary ability or his ability to support himself, is the true & just measure. Exceptions doubtless there would be, as there should be. It is truly pleasant to find that you have friends in Civilization willing to help you; "but it is not pleasant to think that you are eating this money up daily" - indeed it is [ruin?], & ruin [undeniable?]. For if you fail to hold your ground after this public appeal which you have made, you can [crossed out] never open your mouth again. And you [underlined]can[/underlined] hold your ground; if you will be impersonal enough to prefer the cause for which you are working to private fancies & whims, I repeat Mr Emerson's words, so prophetic of the good which awaits you if you be faithful - if you will let your Angels go, Archangels will come in their places.

Have you yet dismissed those 3 or 4 boarding scholars who are living with & receiving education from you at half the fixed & publicly advertised price? I urge this measure also; or that they be at once, by communication with their parents & friends, placed on the same footing as other scholars. It must paralyze your ex- ertions to know that you are not receiving the cost of their physical support from

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these children. No business in civilization could withstand such a drain; and my own experience ]has made [inserted]me[/inserted] exceedingly careful that we do no business by which loss is incurred. Beside which it is a wrong done to those who place their children with you at your advertised prices - particularly to those who are influenced by the compound motive of giving help to the Association and obtaining culture for their children.

I have one remark more to make, & that is, respecting the presence of impure children. My views, I know, are well understood; but I must claim the privilege of friendship to insist on them - if you will, "in season & out of season". Little importance as you attach to them, I am a true prophet when I say, that [?] difference or contumacy in this matter will break you down, if all other conditions were excellent. You cannot know how much harm has been done to you from this cause already; nor do you seem to be aware that the public are perhaps over-well informed of past events. I have heard much from time to time on the subject in [Massa[chusetts?]; and strange as it may seem, more than a few here are better informed than they are willing to say. I know not where or from whom they procured their knowledge, nor whether it is of [crossed out] truths; but the story is here. I say that this ernormous evil ought to be abated.

Having disposed of criticisms which I hope will be not be unacceptable, I would remark, that I entirely approve of the report of your Committee on the Industry. I am in favour of retaining every person of worth who can support himself, every branch of industry which can show a barely living profit. These industries have cost too much in their establishment to be lightly thrown away. The printing can certainly be safely enlarged - but ever so gradually. Mr Treadwell can conduct the process admirably, if force be given to him by conference wth him & interested manifested in the subject. [in square brackets:] Let me mention (what I had forgotten) that Mr Shute of the Boston Type & Stereotype Foundry wishes to subscribe to the Harbinger. Please send him the whole of the first year's numbers. After I parted with you in Boston, I barely saved my

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