Emily Hale to T. S. Eliot

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
MS EVE
Fernside,
Princeton,
Massachusetts
July 5th, 1948
Dear Tom,

Thank you for your last letter just before going to Oxford – arrived June [?12th], as I have not your letter with me. It was sent to Andover, but of course forwarded to no. 90. I did not make it clear, apparently, but I did not go to Abbot when my furniture did, butFoss, Mary;a4 spent the weekend in Concord with Mary Foss before going to no. 90 on the 10th. Your carefully checked list of addresses for the summer all right on the whole, I shall not go to Manan, actually till August 9th, asElsmith, Dorothy Olcott;b9 I have decided to wait over Aug. 7th , for Deborah Gates’ wedding at Woods Hole. She is Dorothy’s youngest child, has just finished her college career at Mills College, Calif, and marries a young man whom she met in her academic year at Zurich – a fellow from a wholly different background than herself, entering Harvard Medical School, for an [illegible] year before following his plan to become a medical missionary in a far-off field! Dorothy herself is just back from her long, long travels since October, but I do not expect to see her until the time of the wedding. AbbotAbbot Academy, Andover, Massachusetts;a8 Academy opens Sept. 21st, but the faculty must be there by the 18th. Whether the newly made over apartment will be ready for occupancy then, I do not know, but I am going to the school on Weds to go into the house, at any rate, as I have not yet seen the interior. The architects’ blue prints promise most delightfully – two floors – and ample room – really more space than I have furnishings to fill – but it is pleasanter not to be crowded than otherwise.

MeanwhileMilne, Alan Alexander ('A. A.')The Dover Road;a3, I came here, where I was three summers ago, as a hostess – to be the entertainment over the 4th, for the small & very varied group of working women here. I read them ‘The Dover Road’ (cut still further than my earlier reading in Concord) & one or two poems – strenuous, but I think satisfactory – evenThomas, BrandonCharlie's Aunt;a1 for those who would prefer Charlie’s Aunt!1 I return tomorrow & shall stay at 90 except for a possible 2 night trip [to] Northampton to see my dear Miss Allen. TheThorps, the;e2 Thorps are happily settled in Cambridge andMonk, Samuel Holt;a1 I have had two pleasant visits with them and one of their permanent summer guests, Sam Monk from Univ of Minnesota, whom you met last year, I believe.2 IPrinceton Universityand TSE's Institute for Advanced Study position;e3 am concerned, by the way, at the news that you have not lodgings furnished you by the Institute next year. The Thorps spoke to me of one or two possibilities they know of, and on which I tried to give suggestions, as I thought best for you! I think it very too bad you are not given rooms. I thought that was part of the plan? IEliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law)EH reports on;e5 called on Theresa one afternoon before going to the Thorps. She looks very well – was cordial, and dispensed cooling drinks on a hot afternoon with taste and charm, as usual. She seems to have little professionally paid work at hand, but has a p.g. both for this summer, and next winter, too. I believe she is not wearing black any longer, tho’ she was in a delicate black gown in the house. EleanorHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin);d6 I have spoken with on the phone twice – I hope to get there this week. IWelch, Edward Sohierdies suddenly;a3 wonder if anyone will write you of the death of Sohier Welch – very suddenly – a week ago? There were long obituary notices about him – his many [?activities] as a trustee, his social life, etc etc. The three sons are named trustees & executors. I am supposed to look very well from the comments of all who see me & I feel so too. If the weather stays fairly comfortable, we shall all manage at no. 90Perkins, Edith (EH's aunt);i5 pretty well, but the two are pretty frail, tho’ Aunt E. keeps her activities & her will to do – quite intact. The oculist’s last exam, showed from his point of view a slight falling off, of vision – but nothing alarming. She keeps her courage very well on the whole, but there are very bad moments of course, and he is much affected by it all & tires very easily. I can be useful naturally in many ways and am very happy to be so.

SoOxford Universityawards TSE honorary degree;b2, you now have your final honor from a leading university – in Oxford. I await eagerly what will be your rather sparse description of it all, I fear – and the Légion d’honneur. To my amazement I read a review of the collected essays [?gathered] on the subject of one T.S.E., just out in this country!3 HasMirrlees, Emily Lina ('Mappie', née Moncrieff);g4 your dear friend Mrs Mirrlees gone? – I presume so – and you will really miss her. ThatEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister)abortive 1948 summer in England;f5which comes as relief;a7 MarianSmith, Theodora ('Dodo') Eliot (TSE's niece);c8 & Theodora are not coming is, I know very privately – a relief to you, andCocktail Party, TheEH begs TSE to continue;b6 I beg you once again to take time to work on your play, and give yourself a really quiet vacation somewhere. How do you feel lately? You have not said for some time. MyKnowles, Sylvia HathawayEH spends week with;b1 week with Sylvia Knowles was as agreeable as ever, and rested me nicely. The country there is very pretty indeed and the air lovely. Only the motor road by the house spoils its perfect rusticity. Well, no more now, except my love and good wishes as usual, your old friend

Emily Hale

1.EH evidently chose to read from The Dover Road (1920), a play by A. A. Milne, rather than Charley’s Aunt (1892), by Brandon Thomas. Both are comedies.

2.SamuelMonk, Samuel Holt Holt Monk (1902–81), Professor of English at the University of Minnesota; author of studies including The Sublime: A Study of Critical Theories in XVIII-Century England (1935).

3.T. S. Eliot: A Symposium, eds Richard March and Tambimuttu.

Abbot Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, offers EH short-term employment, EH's career at, EH on her situation at, offers EH permanent position, EH on joining, TSE offers signed books to, EH's wish to leave, EH on leaving, Eleanor Hinkley on EH at, EH's retirement from,
Cocktail Party, The, copy inscribed to Miss Swan, Martin Browne's preference for a popular play, plot ruminated, still a distant prospect, deferred by war, at last begun, being written, EH begs TSE to continue, stimulated by the Martin Brownes, titled and nearly drafted, interrupted, attempts to reconcile EH to title, to be discussed with Brownes, to be continued in Princeton, end in prospect, TSE rewriting, alternative titles, its star appeal, 1949 Edinburgh Festival production, Martin Browne to produce, production schedule, the Martin Browne collaboration, 'reading' for, reviewed, cuts made during rehearsal, TSE's opening-night impressions, stage-set for, copy to be sent to EH, EH on, TSE disavows autobiographical basis, post-Edinburgh prospects, 1949 Theatre Royal, Brighton run, its fate, closing, 1950 New York transfer, TSE skeptical of, its fate, being negotiated, fixed, revisions made in mind of, alarmingly successful, royalties from, prospects beyond 1 June 1950, final act still being rewritten, its reception, EH's second opinion on, 1950 New Theatre production, preliminary week in Southsea, its fate, opening night, to close with provinicial tour, comes off at New Theatre, Mrs Nef's reading-group reading, in which TSE reads Reilly, and casting for Confidential Clerk, its first draft, difficult to produce in France, 1954 Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier production, reception, Muriel Spark on, EH detects hidden meaning in,
Eliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister), described, her reading habits, not a suitable confidant, TSE reflects on reunion with, Symphony concerts with TSE, to the cinema with TSE, delighted with first Norton lecture, recommends TSE hairdresser for baldness, attends second Norton lecture, hosts birthday party for Margaret, remembered in St. Louis, worried by Dodo's manner, TSE's pride in, vigilant on TSE's health, on Randolph family holiday, congratulates TSE on separation, 1934 summer in England with Dodo, July arrival anticipated, arrangements for, visit to Chipping Campden, off to Salisbury, walks to Kelmscott, returns from Winchester, forces Regent's Park on TSE, excessively humble, next to Ada in TSE's affections, protects TSE from overbearing Hinkleys, supported Landon over FDR, co-hosts Murder party, 1939 summer in England with Dodo, trip in doubt, Southwold week planned, due 19 June, taken to Dulwich, ballet and dinner with, Southwold holiday with, given to post-lunch naps, sends Christmas supplies to Shamley, as correspondent, easiest Eliot in Ada's absence, experiences crisis, importance as sister, Henry's fondness for, devoutly Unitarian, ignorant of Henry's true condition, undernourished, abortive 1948 summer in England, cancelled, which comes as relief, hosts family dinner-party, letter about Nobel Prize to, TSE leaves money with, 1949 visit to England with Dodo, June arrival anticipated, plans for, EH bids 'bon voyage', visit to Cambridge, return from Southwold, Borders tour, Basil Street Hotel stay, Thanksgiving with, reports on Dr Perkins's funeral, efforts to support financially, tethered to Margaret, joins TSE in St. Louis, 1954 trip to England with Dodo, visit to Ely and Cambridge, in light of Margaret's death, invoked against EH, TSE to Theresa on,

1.Marian/MarionEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister) Cushing Eliot (1877–1964), fourth child of Henry Ware Eliot and Charlotte Eliot: see Biographical Register.

Eliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law), witness to the Eliots in 1926, draws TSE, co-hosts Murder party, remembers TSE's intention to marry EH, her immaturity, expresses solicitude for EH, careless of Henry's health, inflator of rumours, apparently ill, a 'lovely person', as correspondent, more agreeable than an Eliot, TSE on, unsuited to resist Margaret, and Henry's mania for Eliotana, wishes to take Henry on holiday following illness, made fretful by Henry, relationship with Henry, ignorant of Henry's true condition, on EH and TSE, after Henry's death, sends TSE Henry's old greatcoat, EH reports on, visits lawyer with TSE, avid for Eliotana, star-struck, undergoes operation on ear, for which TSE bears cost, hosts TSE in 1952, hosts TSE in 1955, custodian of Henry's collection, hosts TSE in 1956, visits England, on whether to return EH's letters, on TSE not marrying EH,
see also Eliots, the Henry
Elsmith, Dorothy Olcott, issues invitation to Woods Hole, TSE and EH to stay with, now living in Boston, invites TSE again to Woods Hole, thanked for hospitality, on TSE as nurse, attends Kind Lady, reports on Kind Lady, in New Zealand, taken to dinner at Garrick, EH in Grand Manan with, EH visits during Christmas holidays, present when EH learns of TSE's death,
see also Elsmiths, the

4.TSEElsmiths, theseminal Woods Hole stay with;a1Elsmith, Dorothy OlcottElsmiths, the andAmericaWoods Hole, Falmouth, Massachusetts;i2TSE and EH's holiday in recalled;a2St. LouisAmericaBostonAmericaCaliforniaAmericaCambridge, MassachusettsAmericaHollywoodAmericaNew EnglandAmericaNew YorkAmerica EHElsmith, Dorothy Olcott were going to visit a friend of EH’s named Dorothy Olcott Elsmith (a graduate of Smith College), who lived with her family in a white clapboard house by the seaside at Woods Hole, Falmouth, Mass.: see Biographical Register.

Foss, Mary, EH's holidays with, lunched at the Connaught,

1.MaryFoss, Mary Foss was an old friend of EH: they were contemporaries at Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT, where they acted in plays and were members of a Shakespeare club. EH would often visit the Fosses at their home in Concord, and she taught the daughter, Sally Foss, while at Concord Academy.

Hinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin), announces presence in London, TSE regrets speaking lightly of, un-deracinated, compared to TSE, TSE shares EH's frustrations with, less perceptive than her mother, gives party for Eva Le Gallienne, unworldly, theatrical success might improve, takes TSE to football match, dances with TSE, at second Norton lecture, as EH's friend, unflattering photograph of, and EH attend American Murder, suspected of writing by the book, to Aunt Susie as Hope Mirrlees to Mappie, pursues adult education, prejudices TSE against George Baker, cossetted, TSE feels remote from, explodes two Stearns family myths, reportedly writing novel, and life after Aunt Susie, turned carer, passes up EH's invitation, recollected as girl, TSE attempts to lure to England, her impersonality, invites TSE to stay in Boston, reports on Margaret's funeral, TSE's improved relations with, as 1956 hostess, reports on EH, informs EH of TSE's health, engineers correspondence between EVE and EH, adaptation of Emma, central to TSE falling for EH, Charlotte Brontë play, TSE presents to London Play Company, TSE's verdict on, compared to Dear Jane, Dear Jane, to be produced in New York, consumes her, TSE happy to dodge premiere, but hopes to catch over Christmas, well reviewed in certain quarters, White Violets,
see also Hinkleys, the

5.EleanorHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin) Holmes Hinkley (1891–1971), playwright; TSE’s first cousin; daughter of Susan Heywood Stearns – TSE’s maternal aunt – and Holmes Hinkley: see Biographical Register.

Knowles, Sylvia Hathaway, TSE tries to place, at 'Bleak House', EH summers with, EH spends week with,

2.SylviaKnowles, Sylvia Hathaway Hathaway Knowles (1891–1979), of New Bedford, Mass. – a descendant of a long-established merchant and business family based there – was a friend and room-mate of EH from their schooldays at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Vermont.

Milne, Alan Alexander ('A. A.'), controversy with TSE over pacifism, not TSE's nonsense model, The Dover Road,
Mirrlees, Emily Lina ('Mappie', née Moncrieff), taken round the Tower, invites TSE to Shamley, described for EH, offers to house TSE gratis, her religion, as horticulturalist, concerns TSE, her distress on animals' behalf, not an irritant, secures better gardener for Shamley, circumstances in which she offered TSE refuge, indifferent to enlarging acquaintance, engineers solitude at Shamley, surprises TSE with lobster and cigars, reduces TSE's rent, celebrates 80th birthday, abed and anxious, anxious about North African campaign, going deaf, boosted by son's promotion, receives offer for Shamley, theatrical by nature, TSE prefers being alone with, TSE's sense of responsibility to, spoils TSE on his birthday, aflutter over Christmas turkey, delighted by recording at Shamley, takes in hopeless cases, collector of recipes, pleased by TSE's lawnmowing, hankers after life in Menton, dreams of leaving Shamley, pulls out of selling Shamley, as landlady, frustrations with gardener, her aura, summons TSE to Shamley, during TSE's final Shamley Christmas, dying, still just living, dies following operation, Wishful Cooking,
see also Mirrleeses, the

3.HopeMirrlees, Emily Lina ('Mappie', née Moncrieff) Mirrlees’s mother was Emily Lina Mirrlees, née Moncrieff (1862–1948) – known as ‘Mappie’ or ‘Mappy’ – see Biographical Register.

Monk, Samuel Holt,

2.SamuelMonk, Samuel Holt Holt Monk (1902–81), Professor of English at the University of Minnesota; author of studies including The Sublime: A Study of Critical Theories in XVIII-Century England (1935).

Oxford University, TSE's time at, and English intellectual hierarchy, TSE dreams of professorship at, refreshingly austere, how it miseducates, in TSE's memory, TSE's student literary club at, and the Nuffield endowments, TSE's Romanes Lectures nomination, awards TSE honorary degree,
Perkins, Edith (EH's aunt), her relationship to EH queried, to accompany EH to Scripps, asks TSE to dinner, at first Norton lecture, shares pew with TSE, accompanies TSE to Symphony Concert, in audience at Milton Academy, catches cold in Florence, in TSE's private opinion, TSE's occasional poem for, her relationship with EH analysed, dislikes Jeanette McPherrin, explains EH's breakdown to TSE, on the Harvard Murder, as Campden hostess, and TSE's wartime instructions to EH, gives lunch at American Women's Club, gives TSE balsam pillow, requests English edition of Cats, as horticulturalist, without Campden garden, compared to Irene Hale, gives TSE photograph of EH, attends Ada's funeral, reports on EH's Millbrook situation, pressed for ham and pineapple recipe, sight affected in one eye, gives lecture, sight failing, sight deteriorates in other eye, thanked for 1946 hospitality, gives to Books Across the Sea, according to EH, asks TSE to present slides to RHS, which TSE does, on EH and TSE's relationship, and Hidcote House, friendly with Marion, TSE pitches her book to publishers, depressed by the heat, somewhat recovered, approaching 80th, faced with husband's death, letter of condolence to, sent birthday poem, visited in Boston, has sciatica, reports on EH's dramatic activities, Miss Lavorgna on, in her old-age infirmity, suffers 'shock', sacks nurse, EH preserved from, sends funeral tribute to Cousin Will, and the Hale letters, nursing home sought for, moved into nursing home, where TSE writes to her, suffers stroke, deteriorating, relations with EH, her legacy to EH,
see also Perkinses, the
Princeton University, according to TSE's fantasy, TSE engaged to lecture at, and Ronald Bottrall, TSE on his trip to, its architecture, compared to Harvard and Yale, Alumni Weekly print TSE's More tribute, possible wartime lectures at, and Allen Tate, among American colleges, extends wartime invitation to TSE, invites TSE to conference, Johnson lectures revamped for, confers honorary degree on TSE, and TSE's Institute for Advanced Study position, EH's information on, and Herbert Read, and EH's bequest,
Smith, Theodora ('Dodo') Eliot (TSE's niece), 1931 visit to England, described, to lunch with Lucia Joyce and Barbara Hutchinson, TSE's almost fatherly affection for, in contrast to her sister, at Eliot family Thanksgiving, attends second Norton lecture, TSE reports on from Boston, TSE cultivates, and Marion's 1934 visit to England, visit to Chipping Campden, visit to Salisbury, walk with TSE to Kelmscott, Regent's Park visit, TSE on, 1935 visit to England, taken to the ballet, at the Russian ballet's Aurore, to tea with cousins, her way of addressing relations, TSE tells Trevelyan about, 1936 visit to England, ballet outing, taken to Cheetham's pageant, taken to Kensington Gardens, returns to America with TSE, 1938 visit to England, with Chardy, and Marion's 1939 visit to England, in doubt, Southwold week, taken to Dulwich, taken to ballet and dinner, writes to TSE, visited in Baltimore, 1949 visit to England, taken to Cambridge, then to Southwold, tours the Borders with TSE, 1950 visit to England, taken to The Cocktail Party, due for the summer, recovering from operation, arrives from Scotland, 1953 visit to England, in Edinburgh for Confidential Clerk, 1954 visit to England, 1955 visit to England, reports on the American weather, 1956 visit to England,

2.TheodoraSmith, Theodora ('Dodo') Eliot (TSE's niece) Eliot Smith (1904–92) – ‘Dodo’ – daughter of George Lawrence and Charlotte E. Smith: see Biographical Register. Theodora’sSmith, Charlotte ('Chardy') Stearns (TSE's niece) sister was Charlotte Stearns Smith (b. 1911), known as ‘Chardy’.

Thomas, Brandon, Charlie's Aunt,
Thorps, the, EH brings to TSE's notice, to tea chez Eliot, take flat in Lincoln's Inn, attend TSE's Poetry Bookshop reading, VHE invites to party, host the Eliots to tea, grow on TSE, host the Eliots for claret, cheesecake and Ombre, invite VHE to supper, compared to the Noyeses, take offence where none intended, called on in Princeton, appear in Campden, worth discussing American politics with, TSE imagines living with, TSE against leaving letters to, likeness to the Webbs, EH on, differentiated, take in worthy Chaplin exhibition, unrelaxing hosts, advise EH over terms of Princeton bequest, and EH's 'recording', pushing EH to write autobiography,
Welch, Edward Sohier, Barbara Hinkley justified in leaving, marries again, dies suddenly,

3.EdwardWelch, Edward Sohier Sohier Welch (1888–1948), lawyer, had married TSE’s cousin Barbara Hinkley in 1909. TheyPearmain, Margaret were divorced in 1926, and he married Margaret Pearmain later the same year. See Elizabeth F. Fideler, Margaret Pearmain Welch (1893–1984): proper Bostonian, activist, pacifist, reformer, preservationist (Eugene, Oregon, 2017).