DLA018-0035  Transcription

[23d?] Jan. 1931

My dear Friend: – I was much disappointed at not seeing you at the wedding and worried when learning the cause of your absence;^[1] but in such a crush I suppose we could have had no talk of any length. I wish we lived in the same part of the town and that we could meet oftener. As it is, we are more than a thousand miles apart in reality, although not more than fifteen in miles. That is the worst of city life. It is impossible to keep up with a friend unless the two happen to live near one another.

Many thanks for the P.C. The picture is of your best. The one of the new bride [possibly 11084] pleased me very much especially after Judge Turner^[2] had turned it toward the light. He consulted only myself about doing it but as I said he could not be more than shot at dawn once, he might go ahead. The music at the wedding was the best I have ever heard in and [sic] church. Mrs. Judge Turner^[3] and I sat together as His Honour did not show up in time – and besides he had lost his top hat, a misfortune he blames upon her.

I fear I shall miss the Paris exhibition which makes me very angry, as I expect it will show your work better than anything we have yet seen in London. I had thought to see these canvasses in Paris either going to or coming from Mallorca where I go on the 6th Feb, leaving there the 13th March, making both voyages by German boat which stops at Palma – a great saving in trouble and annoyance. I procure two weeks on the seas for a total expense of £18.0.0. which is not far from pre–war rates.

I have just finished a three year job and sent it off to

[Page 3]

the U.S.A. insured for £2000, but I have not arranged for any shipwreck although the thought had occurred to me.

I must have called you up twenty times only to learn you were away or engaged – so you see how hopeless it all is and I suppose you will always be gadding about with the whole world wanting your work. The only way to stop is to STOP – and I don’t think you can do it and be contented. The HABIT of daily work seems to give about the only contentment of which we are capable of procuring here in this mortal life – so I suppose we shall both go on as long as we live and drop – if we have that much luck.

Kindest regards to you all – and send me any reproduction you ever have of any of your works.

With the highest respect and the greatest admiration

Frederick Chamberlin

Pee Ess: – Here is one letter of merit which you can decipher!

Editorial Note:

Frederick Carleton Chamberlin (1870-1943), American-born writer and historian

SMDL

18/05/2018