mine (Cats-eyes)<.> Both of us are called “Wildcat”<.> About the Boracic Acid, she told me to come every saturday morning and made me wash my eye in one of those new-fangled eye-buckets, she calls it a (gentle) Eye-bath. I guess thats all right. I am sorry to say that I was not a good enough rower to get in the boat-club, but I am in the tennis-club.
Lovingly,
Thornton Wilder
(P.S.) Last Cricket day I made 3 runs.
(P.S.) We drill with Indian-clubs. I am just beginning to learn how.
5. TO ISABELLA N., ISABEL, AND JANET F. WILDER. ALS 4 pp. (Stationery embossed C.I.M. Schools, / Chefoo, / N. China) Yale
Friday,
11th 1911
Dear Family
I am in doubt as to wether I did, or did not, send my sunday-letter. I remember the post-boxes were not there when I went to bed, but I could not find it in my pocket next morning so I thought maybe I had mailed it early-morning or not. I think there was nothing more important in than a mountain of love, and that is free. My sweet-cupboard in the form of Aunties box gave out a while ago but Fathers is open now. But Auntie is not forgotten even if the symbol of herself has given out. Today is bath night, I think it is my fifth bath. You told me to describe more minutely a few things. Now comes the bath. The First night I was here I had a great deal of Suprise given to me. Mr. Taylor one of the masters called out:
“All those who have not had a bath lately come up here.”
I went forward to my great imbarrasement, there were a few others too. “Allright” he said, I was to have a bath. The Bathroom is a great hall made in to stalls in which is a tub of boiling hot water, one honest inch high, I went down and tried it. From all parts of the room come shrieks of Pain. “Ow! Ow!” I was told that these were from unfortunates who had projected their toes into the brimestone. Later, after fifteen minutes for dressing undressing and bathing a prefect calls out
“One minute more!” Wild shrieks of protest greet this proposal.
“Aw, Wobbles (one of the prefects) give me so more time.”
Wobbles with a watch in his hand hollars out:
“Half a minute.”
Screams.
“All Out”
Silence. Wobbles never knows which people are in which bath and the doors are shut. By and by boys rush out their doors and run past the prefect who gives a resounding spank as the fugitive’s pass. This is the bath.
Violin begun today. Mr. Murray gives me two half-hours a week, and I am to practice as much as I like. (He’s very kind, I’m sure) He’s evidently been selftaught but he teaches alright. Thank you very much for that San Juan Fernandez stamp it is a fine one; the school is subjugated at my feet for they all wish the stamp. Had cricket again the other day; the worst game out (sorry)
Thornton Wilder
Mother—I tried my white suits today. Good fit. Mother? How about those flannel ones you made? There are more in my trunk, she says: There must be some mistake.
6. TO AMOS P. WILDER. ALS 4 pp. Yale
Just a few snatchy mid-week (on Friday night) words with two important things to say.
1st. About Amos’s birthday present sadly delayed as it is.15
In birthdays I saved up (from a interesting assortment of occupations) 2 gold dollars (pumping organs and vending programs are hard work in a dignified guise). One went to the plague that time in Shanghai, and the other I wish to send Amos. If you think that he would take it as a insult and send me Mr. Thatcher’s16 grandfathers embroidered glove with the finger holes, if I say, he would take it as a affront on his pecuniary wealth, then we might steep it in—may I say—permit me—steep it in a volume like “The Scarlet Pimpernel” (Dickens)17
I myself not being embarrased by affairs of the wallet, or being bowed down by the weight of a empty pouch, do submit and approve the present of the sum in question without as the poet says “without the garb of secret Charity.” And impress him with the overwhelming regret which floods me from the neglect and tardiness with which I seek to accomplish this duty. I have bequeathed (?) it to you to despath the bounty, but I will write him my emotions. (Samual Johnson very weak)
“It is enough.”
2nd. The subject for the Taylor Prize History exam is out.
“The Life and times of Alcibiades”18
Please try and gather something about him from some learned friends etc. I have the Plutarch’s lives (arr. for Children)19 at Hand (Charlotte20 has it in the Girl’s School). Try and get some quotations about him from Heroditus, Xenophon, Thucydides and some other old chapies!21 You live in a very mixed society maybe you have some unbusy scholars for friends.
I thank you very much for the offer you have sent me. I have chosen two. The first of Kipling, is short stories of which I have read one.22 Very eager for the rest. “The more you eat the more you Want!” (Egg-o-see?) I will give that to Charlotte when I have finished.
The next is by a favorite of Mr. Phelps of Yale.23 Mother and we read all of his other books in Berkeley. It is much heavier reading. I am glad to see the Ymca approves them. Remember Alcibiades and Amos’s birthday gift. Lovingly
Very Lovingly, my dear Papa
Thornton Wilder.
China Inland Mission Boys’ School.
China Inland Mission Boys’ School. Private Collection.
7. TO AMOS P. WILDER. ALS 4 pp. Yale
Dear Father,
I have taken care in Part I of this letter to express what I mean. Mothers letter held no words that I would not have you see. There was that part of my self that Mother shares with me: the expression of Sentimentality. If you had seen it I would feel your pooh-pooh recieval would have been sure. I have tried hard to explain, as I know it lies heavy on your mind-heart. There is the milky, sensarous, even slovenly side of affection in which I cannot imagine you partaking, the face-gazing, and silly part of it, which is to weak and light for big, powerful people.
Dear Father,
I see you were rather worried about Mother’s Private Letter. It has become a delicate subject, and it was a tactless thing of mine. But if I could explain and glaze it as it should be glazed and smooth there would still be a rankling in you, I suppose. The only thing to do is to tell of its drift. First, it was very lush and sentimental, the mood that Mother can accept, if she is ready in her mood of a letter from the son. Again I sought to make a letter show how I had grown very different in my opinion of her while I was away from her and explain that I did see a difference her being near or in far-away Europe. To make it more solemn—or more special—I also named it “Private.” You had been begging private letters for long. Mother expected none, I did not think that she would not feel a little pleased. Is this enough?
I received “Molly—make-believe.”24 I read it before, on the “Mongolia,”25 but I was very glad to get it, I have nothing but praise for the way it is written. It is so very original. Did you not think so?
The only thing that seem to cast a shadow was the falling away from Cornelia of Staunton. It was the same with “David Copperfield.” Davids ardour for both Dora and Agnes seemed to lessen his loves for one or the other, and here Cornelia enlists my sympathies to a great extant. The characters are but the types of many a story, nothing new there; but the idea of a Serial-letter Company is so finely original that it would rescue anything. I consider a book fine according to its originality. That is why I dislike Scott26 and the costume Romantists. As for the Parody and the swear word, they I suppose are the acrobatic gymnastics necessary to the atmosphere of the “best-sellers.” Just like a pistol shot in a Melodrama, or a trill in a popular song, all unessary necessities.
The last of the boys are expected soon. Yesterday another of my intimate circle arrived.
Yesterday also we were invited to
the Malpas’s for tea. After tea we took a walk. I went ahead with Mrs. Malpas and talked advanced Music. She played one of those difficult, flashy pieces in a concert not long ago, but I liked Dr Smiths singing of Shuberts “Erlkönig”27 more. He sang beautifuly, dramaticaly. Mrs. Malpas played “Alice where art thou”28 with variations, I would rather have heard a classic
Lovingly,
Todger Wilder.
8. TO ISABELLA N. WILDER. ALS 3 pp. (Stationery embossed C.I.M. Schools, / Chefoo, / N. China) Yale
Feb. 10.—<19>12
Ma Caro Donna,29
It has been said somewhere (you may know where) that “a house divided among itself can not stand;”30 I dare not say that that aphorism may have an exception but still this house has managed with help of some of the boys to keep a-going in spite of a strike of the servants!
The Revolutionary headquarters here have offered $18 a month for all men who will join the army as recruits,31
Result = All of are “boys” who work on $8 a month leave for higher wages
Result = No servants have got,
Result = Boys work.
Result = Wilder II washes dishes and cleans carrots, servs table, and carries water for other people (boys) to wash in (not himself! Oh No!).
But, my dear Mother, that is not the reason that that “cherub” Thornton does not write to his martyr Mother and Grandmother. If he is as you might say a “cherub” surely he would not neglect his folks without a very believable excuse, but again if the “little darling” has no excuse then by Euclid and common sense he is not a “cherub” but a very thoughtless youngster.
All this juvenile raillery is the desired thing for a school letter like this one, which will, “si possible” be followed by another with something above “ennui” in it (and with out any <“>bad french quotations”<)>
Directions pour la Musique
Lento á la valse And now “Believe me” as the lady said to the cocatrice
Largamente I am yours as the toad stool said to the Ostrich
Appasionate Lovingly
Humilisimo Thornton Niven Wilder
Grazioso Best Remembrances to my Grandmother and her other daughter, “My Lady of Patience.”32
(Later) Evidently, Mr. Lea our Master does not think this to be the “desired thing,” maybe he would like me to tell you how “Evan’s Bunny died” and how I lost my book and such trash.
9. TO AMOS P. WILDER. ALS 3 pp. Yale
Sunday Night
March 3—<19>12
My dear Father,
This is my first letter since you have been ill. I suppose you look to it with interest, to see how I have taken your leave. Oh, my father, of course I am very sorry that you have gone but if you needed it, may there be no complaint from here.
I am afraid you will not get this letter until you get to Madison which will probably be a long time; yet if you have stayed with Amos very long (which I hope you will have done.)33
I have no cause to complain of being left here because Amos has been left alone in the continent with no other members of the Family.
Oh, but Father, I wish I could see Mother. It seems many years since I saw her last. I want to see her very very much. When you make your plans try and let me be near her and Amos. And of course father dear, I want you too; my dear Papa—all together.
I have a little duty here now. A Doctor Jones came up here a little while ago and left his son here. When he went away I saw he was much moved by going (and remembering another farewell that was hard not long ago) away from his laddie. I came up as he was going and spoke to him a little in a friendly tone. Immediatly the man opened up and left the boy in my charge. I have just written the Father a little note about the boy.
A boy that was here in the boys school when I first came, who graduated and left last graduation Day, has come back for a little stay here. He and I have always been very familiar. We are having a fine time together now.
Avery perplexing thing has happened. In your departure you forgot to pay Miss Richard’s violin Music lesson bill. It amts. to about $43. She says she has been “advised” to send it to me<.> I of course will send it to my “men-gardians” Mr. Dorsey or Lobenstein. It is a difficult thing to settle, but I guess it will be all right.
Rowley Turbeville Evans wishes to be remembered to you. He is not yet a prefect but we all expect he will be soon. He is a fine boy.
It is communion tonight but I have firmly decided on once in two months. Mr. Lea gave a talk at Communion lately against people setting a time for communion like that. But I think unless I feel that definitly I must go, I will keep to fixed time.
Was that hint at sending me home only a false alarum. May it be so!
Remember with all affection to the Madison Friends. To Mrs. Sheldon Johnson, Stevenson, Kellog (and Miss Kellog) Whitney and above all Miss Donoghue to whom I yet will write.
Remember me to my friend Mr. Taft. Ask him when he’s going to give me my papa for good and all,34
And now good night
May love and peace attend you always
Lovingly
Thornton Wilder.
I am sorry I can have no more definite address.
10. TO ISABELLA N. WILDER. ALS 6 pp. Yale
July 14—<19>12
Sunday Evening
My Dear Mother,
You will easily forgive my writing with pencil on this school Exercise Paper? The intimate aire of these will appeal to you I’m sure?
Mr. Alty who is on duty today exhorted us boys to get our letters written before we go to bed. Not that these are the class letters to be perused by the master, but that because yesterday was a holiday (& so we were unable to write our class letter)—for that reason is firm about our writing private letters to you now.
I am going when I finish to ask him to lend me his “Elijah” or “Messiah.”35 But if I went to him now he would ask me if I had written my letter and I would very modestly (eyes on the floor) lisp “No, thir.” “Well go along and write your letter first.” That’s the way things are done!
The boys of the upper school were, this morning—in the rain, invited to a funeral. The daughter of Mr. Roe the Head of the Sanitarium, Partner in the Business Department (the store here) and teacher of Bookkeeping to the Upper Fifth Form had died of unexpected fever evening before last.
Mr. Roe came to the grave supported by strong men & deadly white. They say that he may die. Poor Mrs. Roe who walked beside—far frailer than Mr. Roe was visibly trying to comfort her husband.
There were visible effects on Mr. Murray who has lost more than five children & has only one—& the other extreme Mrs. McCarthy who has 5. Mr. Murray had his only Duncan beside him & Mrs. McCarthy was beside her Brian.
I am glad you approve of my Latin poetry researches. Charlotte hates Latin and spurned Horace Odes Book III and Aeniados I which I offered to her. I have now added to my other collection: Aeniados Books II & VIII & all of Horace Odes, Epodes, Satires (fine!) Epistles & fragments, & a book of Selections from Ovid. I have done nothing more in French or German other than learning occasional lists of words.
To continue my self-educating theory in other realms, I have been doing a good deal of Piano lately Both for Practicing in reading & general playing<.> I go thro’ the set of Beethoven Sonatas that have separate names to them viz: Moonlight<,> Pathetique, Waldstein (L’Aurore Dawn), Pastorale & a little of Charatristique & then of course I do my Mother’s, which I am preparing for Exhibition Day (although I will probably not be here.) I have also Chopin’s Preludes, one flashy one of which I am learning by heart for those people who ask & papa will not allow me to refuse. Now Dear Mother good night and Isabel & my little sister Janet (oh lovely photo!) do you feel lonely without Auntie & Grandmother? I am there, I am—Before long you will see me—no—I will see you till then.
Very, very Lovingly
&
nbsp; Thornton Wilder.
Lots of love for Isabel & Janet—can Janet understand Goodnight does she know she has a little Brother?
Just another little note to put these stamps in with the letter. These are just some of those sent me by Father not long . The others are really too good—ancient kind. But there are three real nice ones here.
I can imagine the lady as a little elderly german with bright and red cheeks. She has a shawl on and she spends most of her time in hotel corridors.
I am getting along pretty well with both piano and violin. I (by myself) am learning by heart a Grieg “Ballade” to play you.
All my examinations were above 80 out of a hundred.
Spelling 100, Cicero 93 English 87 Algebra 80 Lat. Comp. 82
In a few moments I am going to my Music teacher’s Mrs Lord’s house with my violin. She has called an assemby of most of the violin pupils with Mr. Cook (a teacher who plays viola) that we—with her husband who plays cello may have a practice on Schumanns Quintet for Piano and String. Won’t it be fine.
I am reading “Joseph Vance” over again.36 I can remember just the parts you liked.
Do you remember good old Janey and Lossie? And the Shipwreck and Beppino. It half kills me trying to say whether “Joseph” or “Clayer” is better.
Lots of Love
Thornton N.
11. TO AMOS P. WILDER. ALS 4 pp. Yale
Thacher School37
Dec. 13? Sunday P.M.38
I can ride a horse pretty well now. Isn’t this a long letter?