Letter 4: Millet to Stoddard: June 9, 1875
My dear Charlie: -- Your last with the letter to Donny Adams [nickname of Charlotte Adams] came the day before yesterday. The A’s [Charles Francis Adams and his family] were booked for going away on Saturday, and not having received the letter I went up to call on Mr. Warner on Saturday last and on my way home dropped in on the Fletchers. Found Mrs. F. out and Dudee [Julia Constance Fletcher] at home spooning with a young man.[1] As I was evidently de trop [superfluous], I skimmed off on my ear as soon as I could and left ‘em alone. But I, in the course of my short chat asked Dudee if I might present Donny, assuring her it was your desire etc. etc. that they should know each other. Dudee of course “would be only too happy” and I was [page 2] going to accomplish the deed this week but your letter came as I have said and I immediately sent it up [evidently, to Donny/Charlotte Adams] by Toni. Donny got dressed to go and present it [to Dudee/Julia] then got scared and concluded she would not heard the lion in his den and came trotting down here to consult. After much begging she succeeded in persuading me to accompany her that evening.
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Took the gondola, went up the canal, found Dudee [Julia] starting out on a spoon with a fellow – the same one – they didn’t see us. We turned about, got alongside and fired the whole broadside at once. Mutual interchange of compliments between the young ladies, much soft soap and entertaining chatter for a few moments. Engagement to meet and swap letters on Wed. (this afternoon). We turned about [page 3] and drove on, gaumed about [hung out] a little and came home. So after very much talk about it Donny at last has met her idol!! --- Speriamo [Italian: hope] that she has not created too exalted an ideal.[2]
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Mr. and Mrs. Warner have gone to the Harris’ to stay as I found and as I went to call last night. I haven’t seen ‘em yet, left your letter and was to call when they were in which wasn’t last night. Now I suppose mother Harris will tote ‘em down here.
Gossip:--
Rosenberg has married Mrs. Van Hamm, the mother of the little sculptress he was so much interested in. Mrs. Harris has spent all winter in getting her (Mrs. H’s) [Mrs. Van Hamm's] property transferred or twisted about so I could be of service to [page 4] them here and now. The poor Mrs. Harris is in agony because she has spent all her time and efforts to help the Van Hamms and has only feathered the nest of Rosenberg whom she hates most cordially.
Gossip # 2. Someone has written Dudee [Julie Fletcher] that Miss Adams is engaged to Will Green. It is to my mind only a mistake in the Miss Adams. They meant Donny [Charlotte Adams] & not the Tickor Adamses.[3] Donny doesn’t look displeased at the reception of the rumor.
“Bless you my children.”
Ben comes down every night now.
I’ve been sick. Began a week ago Sunday and could not work or anything until Monday last so lost a [page 5] straight week. Was in bed or rather on top of it most of the time. Couldn’t stand it any longer and went to see a doctor. He said it was rheumatism and gave me something to rub on and now I am all O.K. I got this rheumatism from working out on the loggia [a roofed open gallery especially at an upper story] in the draughts and too the damn winter has foiled it up I suppose. I didn’t know what was the matter, suffocation, pains etc. That’s why I didn’t write you last week.
About meeting in Brussels, I must be there about the 10th of July. The best way to do is this. You plan now to take the Harwich boat on Friday the ninth of July and on the morning of Saturday the 10th I will meet you at the dock in Antwerp. The boat leaves Harwich on Monday, Wed. & Friday and this is the best route [page 6] by all means. You go to the Bishopsgate Station. Train leaves about 6 p.m. and you buy a ticket to Antwerp simply enough second class is good enough unless you want to come swell.
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If by any mischance I am not there, go direct to the Hotel du Americain, Rue aux Lits, where I used to live and they will fix you up. You will find Americans there too. But I shall be there on that date unless we make a new appointment. If I have to change this date a few days sooner or later I will let you know in time enough. If you can’t come then let me know and if you fail at last moment direct to me care of American Consul, Antwerp. I see no reason why I cannot be there on the 10th but as I’ve said if I cannot I shall know it long enough beforehand [page 7] to be able to give you warning.
I have lost all ambition and am only anxious to get away.
Since I got your last letter I have passed two good nights dreamless and waking only in the morning. I recon it was the influence of the letter or the prayer.
The Adamses say I am always thinking of you – they ought to know.
Write me often . . that’s a good boy. I’ll do the best I can. All send regards. I send more than the sum to the whole with a sandwich of love between the slices. Eat and be happy.
Love with all my heart
Frank
[Additional note included with above letter]
Thursday, June 10
P.S. I open this to tell you that it is a damned scirocos [windy] day and that yesterday the Warners called; also Miss [Julia] Fletcher came to the door to inquire the way to the Adamses. [Charles Dudley] Warner [a journalist] says he shall write you soon. He’s got heaps of stuff on hand, lots of newspaper work etc. Wishes he could transfer some to you. He will stay here three weeks to write up his Egyptian trip.[4] Benson came day before yesterday. Ben, Arthur, the Adamses and I gaumed [hung out] in the moonlight last night until 11 p.m. then came in and ate strawberries & cherries and sucked all the eggs in the house. [The saying, "teach your grandmother to suck eggs" is British & Australian, and means to give advice to someone about a subject that they already know more about than you.][5] They will send regards. Miss F[letcher] sends love and “I will write.”
The A’s think they may meet us in Bruxelles after all. I don’t believe it. Yours [Millet here adds a drawing of bleeding heart with arrow through it] How high is that! ["What do you think of that?"[6]
Frank
Notes
- For the identification of Julie Constance (Dudee) Fletcher see Katz, Love Stories, 211. The verb "to spoon," as used by Millet and Stoddard, had a variety of meanings for them. It approximates the contemporary term "making out."
- The relationship of Donny and Dudee is discussed in Katz, Love Stories.
- This may be a reference to George Ticknor, an associate of Charles Francis Adams, Senior, and his family. Further research is required.
- Charles Dudley Warner, a Hartford journalist, wrote a tongue-in-cheek account of a trip he made to Egypt in 1874-1875 titled My Winter on the Nile Among the Mummies and Moslems (Hartford, CT: American Publishing, 1876).
- See: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/teach+grandmother+to+suck+eggs
- See Katz, Love Stories for "How high is that?" meaning "What do you think of that?"