Early Letters of George Wm. Curtis to John S. DwightGeorge W.C.
III
My dear John,--The Lady Emelyn swears by Venus and all the G.o.ddesses that our party at your house must be postponed until Friday evening, that she may bring with us Miss Anna Loring and Miss Augusta King. What can mere men do? They submit. And they walk across the fields to look at a beautiful woman, at a Poet's wife.
We are all very hot and very happy down here, and wonder if your ashes are white or quite invisible, for of course, in the city, you have become ash.
Present us most kindly to your wife, and forget not that our coming will be much more enchanting with Mrs. S.'s proposed addition.
Yours aff.,
G.W.C.
NAHANT, _Wednesday morning Aug 12, '51._
IV
My dear John,--We are tapering off. Mrs. Story is not well, and we have not our young ladies yet. Also C.P. Cranch goes to Quincy, where his wife is. So I fear you will have only William and me, and very probably his proof-sheets will retain him. I expect Cranch to come, but he is quite unwell.
Yours aff.,
G.W.C.
_Friday, Aug. 15, '51._
V
PROVIDENCE, _Friday, Sep. 26, 1851._
My dear John,--This morning I received the enclosed. If you can shed light upon the darkness it indicates will you please do so, sending me what information you have.
I am up to my ears in a book I am writing in continuation of the "Notes,"
"Syrian Sketches"; and shall stay here perhaps two months. I shall hope to slip down to Boston occasionally and see you all. I was there a few hours on Monday, and saw William by chance. Burrill has reached England, and is very much pleased with Malvern.
Give my love to your wife, whom I would be glad to hear sing once more.
Your aff.
G.W.C.
VI
PROVIDENCE, _25th Nov., '51._
My dear John,--I had intended to see the B. when she came. I have sounded her trumpet here, for auld lang syne. If I can do so heartily I will write a notice of her concert, as I always do when I am here, at the request of _The Journal_. I enclose my last effort in that kind, apropos of Catherine Hayes.
I would gladly come to Boston, but I cannot think of it just now. Should Jenny Lind threaten not to sing in Providence I shall very likely run down with my cousin Anna and hear her for an evening. We are trying to have the Germania here, but for music in the general we go hang. My cousin, however, is a very accomplished player, and I enjoy with her Mendelssohn's songs and Liszt's arrangements and "Don Giovanni" and eke Schumann. I see Fred Rackemann has returned.
My book is written; but I am now very busily revising it. Hedge much prefers what I have read him to the other. He lives just across the street from me, and we have many a cigar and chat. He preaches superb sermons.
Give my heartiest love and remembrances to your wife, and forget not the faithful. I have a line from the Xest of Xtophers the other day, who is painting away for dear life. Tom Hicks, ditto. The latter lives with Charles Dana.
Ever your aff.
G.W.C.
I have unluckily forgotten your no. so I'll put the street, not being quite sure of that!!!
VII
TRIBUNE OFFICE, N.Y., _19th March, '52._
My dear John,--Your most welcome letter has been received, and its contents have been submitted to the astute deliberations of the editorial conclave. We are delighted at the prospect--but--we do not love the name.
_1st. Journal of Music_ is too indefinite and commonplace. It will not be sufficiently distinguished from the _Musical Times_ and the _Musical World_, being of the same general character.
2d. "Side-glances" is suspicious. It "smells" Transcendentalism, as the French say, and, of all things, any aspect of a clique is to be avoided.
That is the negative result of our deliberations; the positive is, that you should identify your name with the paper and called it _Dwight's Musical Journal_, and you might add, _sotto voce_, "a paper of Art and Literature."
Prepend: I shall be very glad to send you a sketch of our winter doings in music, especially as I love Steffanane, although she says, "I smoke, I chew, I snoof, I drink, I am altogether vicious." You shall have it Sunday morning, and I will address it to you simply at the P.O.
My book is ready, is only waiting for the English publisher to move; and I have other irons heating, of which anon. I've had a long letter from Wm.
Story, who is happy and busy in Rome--who wouldn't be?
VIII
I wish you could run on and see us all. Tom Hicks is right busy with his great portrait of the ex-Governor. Indeed, we are all so busy that I have only time to remember--rarely to say--that I am
Your ever aff.
G.W.C.
_J.S. Dwight, Esq._
Give my kindest regards to your wife. I wish she could sing in your paper.
IX
N.Y., _Sat.u.r.day, 24th April, '52._
My dear John,--I have been so busy in the last throes of my "Syrian Howadji," which is to be born on Tuesday, that I have not sent you an intended letter about the Philharmonic and the Quartette; and I presume from to-day's number that you have other notes of them. I think, however, I will still send you something by Monday's mail if you will promise not to use it if you don't truly want it. There is rather a flat and barrenness just now in the world of music, but, with the Academy exhibition, Brackett's group, and the Paul Delaroche picture we can make out something.