The Selected Letters of Willa Cather, Page 3

  As ever, Stout thanks her husband, Loren Lutes, for being a sustainer of and an active contributor to everything she does. She also thanks, without naming them, her eight adult children, sixteen grandchildren, and numerous friends for having refrained from saying they wished she wouldn’t be always talking about this Willa Cather person.

  PART ONE

  The School Years

  1888–1896

  How can I “do anything” here? I have’nt seen enough of the world or anything else.

  —WILLA CATHER TO MARIEL GERE, May 2, 1896

  Willa Cather about 1894, when she was a student at the University of Nebraska (photo credit 1.1)

  THE FIRST KNOWN LETTER by Willa Cather was written on August 31, 1888, when she was fourteen years old. This letter reveals—like the few other letters that survive from her childhood in Red Cloud, Nebraska, and her college days in Lincoln, Nebraska—how precocious, witty, and provocative Cather was as a young person. In her teenage years, she resisted most signs of conventional femininity, shearing her hair dramatically short, wearing masculine clothing, studying science and classical literature, and signing her name “William Cather” or, sometimes, “William Cather, MD.” There is little sign, however, that these daring expressions of independence made her an outcast in her Red Cloud community. Just the opposite: the letters reveal a robust social life with the most elite citizens of the town. Many of her early friends mentioned here, like the Miner family (James and Julia Erickson Miner and their five children, Carrie, Charles Hugh, Mary, Margaret, and Irene), Silas and Lyra Garber, and Dr. G. E. McKeeby would one day inspire major characters in her fiction. Three of the “Miner girls”—Irene, Carrie, and Mary—were lifelong friends of Cather’s, corresponding with her until her death.

  In addition to friends like the Miners, in these early letters we begin to meet various members of Cather’s family, notably her six siblings: Roscoe (b. 1877) was Willa Cather’s next younger sibling, followed by Douglass (b. 1880), Jessica (b. 1881), James (b. 1886), Elsie, often called Bobbie (b. 1890), and John, usually called Jack (b. 1892).

  In 1890 Cather went to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska, and most of the surviving letters from this period were written to college friends while she was home for summers in Red Cloud. These years at the university were tremendously important for her; in My Ántonia she wrote that the university had “an atmosphere of endeavor, of expectancy and bright hopefulness” in those days. Her five years in Lincoln helped her begin to find her mature personal identity, provoked her literary ambitions, gave her valuable writing and editorial experience, and (readers will soon be grateful for this) taught her how to spell.

  Willa Cather’s earliest surviving letter is to a Webster County neighbor, Helen Stowell, who reportedly came to Nebraska from Boston and had a ranch house with a piano and a library, making her a sophisticated presence in Cather’s childhood. Like many that follow, this letter is dotted with names as Cather shares news of her community and family.

  TO HELEN LOUISE STEVENS STOWELL

  August 31, 1888

  Red Cloud, Nebraska

  Dear Mrs. Stowell

  When I recieved your letter I was much pleased for I had begun to doubt your intention to write.

  Grandma [Rachel Seibert Boak] is much better now though we do not think she will ever walk again. Her son from Va. [J. S. Boak] spent six weeks with us. He, papa & Mama went to Denver Col. and had a very pleasant time.

  We do so hope that you and Alice will come with Mr. Stowell, do come. You may not have the chance again, the Whites have moved here now & Mrs Sill is here and I know you would have a pleasant time.

  School begins Monday & I suppose I shall go though I dont feel boyant over the prospect, I have grown so attached to my work & place in the office & to my little labratory & dissecting outfit & my stuffed animals it is hard for me to leave them. Then here I am “Miss Cather” & govern, there I am a child & am governed. That makes a great difference with frail humanity.

  I had quite an adventure yesterday. A man came in & tried to sell papa a bogus paper on some poor farmer. Papa could have made $50 on it but he thought perhaps the man was a snide & did not like to in any way help defraud an honest man so he told him to return in an hour. Then when we were alone told me he was going to hitch up the buggy & go see the farmer & when the agent returned to hold him at all costs.

  In an hour the man returned & I never had such a time. Of course I had to talk the fellow to death to keep him. His buggy was ready & if he got away goodbye. Papa & the farmer returned & tackled him, he made for his buggy & escaped. the sherif caught him at Amboy.

  Carry Miner has gone to college. The Metzcars [Metzgers] from Beatrice are visiting Anson [Higby], the[y] will live here & run the new paper. Anson & his wife live where Mrs Roe used to live so you see we are near neighbors. I do not think they are very happy togather (but happy is a word few of us realize or are) nothing he can do seems to pleas her & she is cross as two sticks.

  Fred [Winifred Richardson Garber] & Suard [William Seward Garber] are still happy in the blissful illusion that they love each other as no one but “Ouida’s” heros ever thought of. They still amuse the town by their pranks, such as gong swimming togather, takeing endless rides at night in closed hacks, acting “Princess Napraxine” [an 1884 Ouida novel] on the medow by Garbers & spending Sunday in the woods with claret & “Ouida”

  I should think there would be a good deal of ennui in such romance—especelaly on $1200 per year.

  Molliee, Bess [Seymour], Lillie Letson & Nellie Atdelshime [Nellie Adlesheim] had a picnic the other day.

  I have been stuffing some birds lately. Tell Alice that Jess [Jessica Cather, Willa Cather’s sister] often speaks of her & would love to see her again. We children have a great many picnics, parties & circus’ this summer & would love to have she & Jessie Moon to help us enjoy them.

  Hoping to see you all with us ’ere another Xmas, I remain

  Your affectionate friend

  Wm Cather

  While growing up in Red Cloud in the 1880s, Cather encountered a number of adults who perceived and appreciated her intelligence and originality. As she reports in the following letter, she was reading Latin with some proficiency by age fifteen. She studied Latin and Greek with William Ducker, a well-educated Englishman who worked in his brother’s store in downtown Red Cloud and served as an important intellectual mentor for the young Cather.

  TO HELEN LOUISE STEVENS STOWELL

  May 31, 1889

  Red Cloud

  My Dear Mrs Stowell, and Gorgie

  I suppose that of all the varied emotional phases of human life there is none so exhilarating as that of triumph and it is a caprice of fortune that under such I write to you. This day closes the school year and I am favored with the class honers and bare off the prize for best Latin translations, & consequently I feel rather cheerful.

  My grades are as follows

  Latin - - - - - - 95

  Physics - - - - - 100

  Astronomy - - - - - 100

  Retoric - - - - 90

  Ancient History - - - - 100

  100 is perfect and all grades 90 or above are excellent.

  On the back of my report card Prof. wrote

  Friend Willa—I hope your naturaly aquired taste for the parusal of good literature—a taste through which you have been one of the most pleasant companions & most through students I ever knew—may continue dureing your life, that the fruits of it may, at all times, especially in your mature years render you attractive intellectually and socially.

  Your respect for your teacher will, at all times be kindly remembered and your name upon his list of special friends.

  Your Sincere Friend & Teacher

  Jno F. Curran

  My card was the only one he wrote apon and I can tell you [I] keep it in a safe place.

  I have rigged up my room of the office anew, a regular library it is now, here I read and study. I am deep in “Caesar�
�—poor vetren, who are we that we should censure Brutus when in youth we do the dread dead dayly,—murder Caesar.—Translateing the Latin Bible, reading Astronomy, geology, history, Homer, Milton, Swinburne “Ouida” & Gorge Sand.

  By the way have you read any of Swinburne’s poetry? Some of it is fine I inclose a line or two from “Locrine.”

  Had good memorial exercises yesterday at the opera house. Jessie took part, forty two little girls represented states and they had good music. Two weeks ago Mrs Bloom, Padden Briggs and Johnston of Superior [Nebraska] were up. Mrs Curran had a big dinner and Mrs Platt a tea. We had a high time I assure you.

  Yesterday Mrs [Fanny Meyer] Weiner, Higby, [Lyra Wheeler] Garber, Mama and their husbands and a lot of the boys went on a big picnic, they go very often but seldome take their husbands, they take Ryland, Dave, Tom, Mr Beechy and a few girls. They go to a place in the country, Mrs Smiths, where he has made a big pond filled it with fine fish and has two lovely boats, they take fine lunch and beer, have a regular “picnic” in the full sense of that expressive word. Anson declares he and papa and Mr Miner, Mr Curran & Garber will get the girls and have a picnic as well as their better halfs.

  I had a big card party last week, all the younger “set” of girls & boys.

  I see a goo[d] deal of [music teacher] Mrs [Peorianna Bogardus] Sill for she is at least a imatation of the things I most lack. She is as self satisfied as ever and her narrations are pretty much the same as they were some four years ago when I met her first. I am, to say the least, familiar with them—say, some things look better at a distance, dont they?—A continental tour is a test of character, some men it makes, some it mars. I am very egar to “press with my profane pedals the native soil of heros and poets,” but when I return I dont want my whole life to be “a European Souvenir.”

  Mary Miner is really doing splendidly at her music, she play Listzs “Spinning Song” adapted I beleive, from Wagner’s “Flying Dutchman” beautifuly her expression is unusual for a girl who has heard so little. But Mrs S— has actualy given the child of 16 Listzs 14th Hungarian Rhapsody!! the idea. What next I wonder? [Beethoven’s] “Moonlight Sonata” or Mozarts “Requiem” perhaps. say, that is profanity, the old masters will turn in their graves.—I dont mean they will turn the music for her.—If Rubenstine [virtuoso pianist Anton Rubinstein] comes to Omaha Mrs S— will take Mary & Lo Bellow [Loua Bellows] her best pupils an go up. She has told me her plan. They will purchase the music he will play and when he to whom the crowned heads of Europe bow in reverence strike the keyboard. Pythagaras and her disciples will follow him

  “with a critical eye,

  “Nor pass his imperfections by”

  nodding approval when he does well and frowning when he blunders. Truly they burn strange fire apon the alter of the Gods in these dgenerite days.

  I may go but not with that intellectual crowd, I shall go as a pilgrim to worship in a far country. I have a lot of musical book and try to kee[p] abrest with music & muscal things and any one who can feel can tell when one play well. Poor “Richard” how tired and sick he must be of it all, what a fortunate thing he is not brillint, for himself. But Heaven and earth “talk of the Angels”—you know the rest—here he coms himslf to see about some loans & chattels and I dont want him to see this. In Haste

  Yours Truly

  Wm Cather Jr.

  P.S. Mama send love to you & Gorge. Bess and all the girls join in the latter. The children send many message to Alice but I am in a hury. How is Gorgie’s health now? I think I could cure her soon.

  P.P. Mrs Stowell

  Our house as usual is a regular “Grenta Green” for the younge folks, they are there always and I flee every night to the office for philosophical solitude. Molly is—well—she is “Molly”—that is the only way to discribe her.—Mr Harris & Crane who take Highland’s & Welch’s places are “sweet young men” the girls say. I dont know much of them though they are at our house almost every night with Bess, Mollie, Nellie Weiner and Mine Johnston & Miss Benett. Gorgie must come to see us all, she would have a good time I can promise. When she tiers of green peas and chocklate cake (I beleve she like them?) and “tailor made” young men she can console herself with my chemicals, stuffed birds, bottled snakes, philosophys, shells and Latin Bibles. I mean it, though no other girl in town dare medel with my “hobbies”, you know I allways thought lots of Gorgie though I seldom care for gir[l]y[?] girls.

  Yours truly

  Willa Cather

  The spelling and penmanship of this epistel are copyright

  All Rights Reserved

  Wm Cather Jr.

  Gretna Green was a noted destination in Scotland for young couples eloping from England beginning in the mid-eighteenth century.

  TO HELEN LOUISE STEVENS STOWELL

  August 28, 1889

  Red Cloud

  My Dear Mrs. Stowell,

  We were all much alarmed by the report that dear little Alice had been bitten by a mad dog, pray is it true and how is she? We heard that you had taken her to Boston, from another quater that you went to New York, again that you were at the sea side and lastly that you had gone to Paris to see Pasturé. Which is correct and at which quater of the globe shall I next address you? I have been studying Greek this summer and have enjoyed it very much, I like it even better than Latin though it is harder for me. I have been reading a good many of [Edward] Bulwer Lyttons & [Charles] Dickens novels. Did you ever read “The Light of Asia” by Edwin Arnold? It is a masterpiece in its way. Who is “On the Hights” by? by the way have you read [H. Rider] Haggards latest work “Cleopatra”? You must for though it has some decided faults it has some acual virtues and is the best thing he has written so far.

  The Firemans State Tournament that met here was a big affair. Mrs Sill had an art exhibition of which I send you a catalouge. Roscoe was foreman of the Tomlinson Juvenile Hook and Ladder Co., which called fourth so much applause. The visiting firemen made a pur[s]e of $18.00 and gave it to the little fellows, really it was a fine run, Roscoe & Douglas [Cather’s brothers] pulled off the ladder (a 16 ft ladder) and held it up in the air while John Cumings mounted it. Gov [John M.] Thayer said it was the best run made and he would have come all the way from Grand Island to have seen it alone, all the papers in the county blew about it. they ran 100 yds. & mounted a 16 ft. ladder in 21½ seconds.

  Do you take the Republican? I wish you did as I am on[e] of the staff reporters and gaurentee it to be the newsiest paper printed in town, you know I have a natural propensity for knowing the business of the town in general. Doctor McKeeby is editor and that insures the intellectual & political items as first class, if you want to know all the social ins & outs, Take the Republican, only $1.00 a year and remember that I am an agent allways ready to recieve subscriptions. Mrs. Stowell I have been to fifteen picnics in Garber grove this summer, and such fun. Mr. Harris, the man who takes Mr. Welches place at the depot looks just like Mr Beechey, one can hardly tell them apart, he is very soft on Nellie Wiener (I mean Nellie Adelshime [Adlesheim] you know), soft did I say? is there no word which means softer than soft? it is posatively awful, they will stand in Weiners store when any one is in there and hold each others hands and kiss, last night I went rushing into their parlor, I never knock you know, and he lay on the sofa with his head in her lap, she had her cheek laid against his, her “ivory fingers toying with his raven locks, which are rather thin on top of his head.

  At the last picnic in the grove Mrs Jester lost a spoon, when she asked if I had seen it I glowered at Nell & Harris & remarked “No, but there are more “spoons” than one in this grove” he only laughed and kissed her. Bah! some women are like a wet sponge, just let a man squeeze them once and all the sense they ever had runs off. (the metaphor is more true than elegant) The late cantata “Queen Esther” was very good, Jess Roscoe & Douglas took part. Jess was Zerash’s child, Bessie made her costume and it was very pretty.

  The probabilities are that Mr Hougton will be married soon
to the star of his amorous existance.

  Carry Miner is in Chicago with her father.

  I was in Superior for a week in July. Next week the Omaha & Superior Base ball teams play at Superior. Mary & Hugh Miner & I will probably go down.

  But I fear you will say like a friend of mine in Florida, “My dear your letter would no doubt be delightful if one could only read them.” Beside that there is a dance in Garber grove tonight & I guess we will go, they have a fine platform down under the trees. Bess & Mollie send love to Gorgie.

  Yours Truly

  Willa Cather

  P.S. Jess said to tell Alice how we have missed her at our picnics this summer. Roscoe & Douglas had a drama in the barn this afternoon. they rendered “Robinson Crusoe” to a large and apreciative audience.

  Left to right: Mary Miner, Willa Cather, and Douglass Cather on bicycles (photo credit 1.2)

  In September 1890, Cather went to Lincoln and enrolled in the University of Nebraska’s “Latin School,” a college preparatory school designed to supplement the irregular educational experiences of students from different parts of the state. She enrolled as a freshman at the university in September 1891. The Gere family—father Charles, editor and publisher of the Nebraska State Journal, mother Mariel Clapham, and daughters Mariel, Frances, and Ellen—were important friends of those days in Lincoln. Cather’s first serious publication came in March 1891 when her professor, Ebenezer Hunt, submitted her essay on Thomas Carlyle to the Nebraska State Journal without her knowledge. Years later she remembered, “Up to that time I had planned to specialize in science; I thought I would like to study medicine. But what youthful vanity can be unaffected by the sight of itself in print! It had a kind of hypnotic effect. I still vaguely remember that essay, and it was a splendid example of the kind of writing I most dislike; very florid and full of high-flown figures of speech.” She was soon hired as a columnist and reviewer for the newspaper and published dozens of articles there while a college student in Lincoln.