Emily Hale to T. S. Eliot
Andover,
Massachusetts
Many happy returns of your birth-day. I do hope this greeting will arrive on the 26th, as I am sending a more personal word, than a cable – just as I hope you can have time to write me, instead of cabling, for the 27th of October. Buttravels, trips and plansTSE's October–November 1949 trip to Germany;g8;a7, as you are leaving at that time for Germany, perhaps you will be too busy to either write or cable – and I shall understand, since I now consider you primarily a man of affairs – poor thing – rather than a publisher. Indeed, to say modestly that you are a publisher, as is right, of course, would now be a statement startling in its announcement among your other attributes and avocations.
IHale, Emilyphotographs of;w7at Campobello;f4 enclosetravels, trips and plansTSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps;a8in EH's recollection;b6 a little picture from the past, which perhaps you have – if so, destroy it, as it will bring back memories of our California days, like many other such – are too full of memory. The other picture taken this year at the Parkers’s house on Campobello – to which the L’Aventures and I went one day for a ‘scoot in’ – as is the native expression on Nantucket island – is just to show you myself in summer rustic attire. The stalwart figure is Betty Parker; the less stalwart her sister Fanny Porter.
This morning brought the opening chapel service of the school year with 186 girls present – a very fortunate complete enrolment, as some schools have fallen in registration. My schedule does not begin until next week, so I know to date nothing of registration in my work – the three plays as usual – and I am soon on my way to Boston to do errands, lunchWhiting, Isabel;a6 with Isabel Whiting, andPerkinses, the;n5 spend the night with the P’s. MyPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle);h9 two brief visits with them to date on the day I arrived (the flight was cancelled and I came by night – twice, after all) and the Sunday following, gave me the impression he seems very far from strong, butPerkins, Edith (EH's aunt)somewhat recovered;j3 that she has ‘come back’ after the heat of the summer with her remarkable resilience, which I expect is going to keep her in this world longer than he – and under such unhappy conflict between her will to do and her restrictions.
YourEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister);g2 sister Marian certainly had an awful time with her arm. I am so sorry. I hear of her and other family affairs thro’ no 90, asEliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law);e9 IHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin);e1 seldom see Theresa, Eleanor, and even Marian. Itravels, trips and plansTSE's 1949 family motor-tour of Scotland;g7;a1 heard in this way of the visit to Abbotsford, and some sort of reception after the play. You had not spoken of either, and of the two I would prefer to know of the Abbotsford as being the really unusual.
ISherek, Henry;a3 hear too Sherek is to finance the play in hand [illegible words] in this country, when it comes.
InMurder in the Cathedral1949 broadcast;g6;a1 ‘London Calling’ was an item about the broadcast of ‘Murder’. Was that satisfactory?
YouNotes Towards the Definition of CultureEH requests inscribed copy for Marguerite Hearsey;b3 have never spoken of your portrait. Did you have pictures taken of it which would be interesting to see. If you could, before leaving London, sendHearsey, Dr Marguerite CapenTSE inscribes book for;a3 me a copy of Notes on the D. of Culture – inscribed for Miss Marguerite Hearsey – I should be grateful, as I would like to give it to her for Christmas. It is awfully good to be in my own rooms again, I assure you. ‘Rag-Dolldogs'Rag Doll' (Scottish Terrier);c8;a4’ will return this weekend. I have quite a coat of tan and am doing my hair differently from the way it was in the snapshot – a little [illegible] in front – much more becoming.
May the thing ahead of you be not too tiring, and your spirit in doing this fine work, be richly rewarded.
IHale, Emilyreading;w8Dante;a7 amDanteEH reading;a1 reading with interest your Dante essay. What else can I write you for your birthday?
Take my birthday love any way, yours
1.Marian/MarionEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister) Cushing Eliot (1877–1964), fourth child of Henry Ware Eliot and Charlotte Eliot: see Biographical Register.
1.DrHearsey, Dr Marguerite Capen Marguerite Capen Hearsey (1893–1990) was 14th Principal of Abbot Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, 1936–55. Educated at Hollins College, Roanoke, Virginia, and at Radcliffe College, she taught French and English at Georgetown College in Kentucky; and English at both Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, and Wellesley College, 1924–5, 1927–9. In 1929 she earned a PhD at Yale, where she was a Sterling Fellow and specialised in Elizabethan literature; she studied too at the Sorbonne. Before moving on to Andover, she taught at Hollins, 1929–36. She served, too, as President of the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls.
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.
3.DrPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle) John Carroll Perkins (1862–1950), Minister of King’s Chapel, Boston: see Biographical Register.
4.HenrySherek, Henry Sherek (1900–1967), theatre producer: see Biographical Register.
1.AnWhiting, Isabel old, close friend of EH’s, Isabel Whiting lived for some years at 11 Mason Street, Cambridge, MA; later at 9 Phillips Place, Cambridge, MA.