[Letter] 1929 June 9 [to] Mr. Markham
Title
[Letter] 1929 June 9 [to] Mr. Markham
Subject
Crane-Gartz, Kate
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926
Poetry--Publishing
Scott, John Milton.
Description
Le Prade writes to Markham about the manuscripts of John Milton Scott and having them published posthumously. She expresses dismay about the situation and is concerned that she may not be able to raise the funds for their publication.
Creator
Le Prade, Ruth
Source
Edwin Markham Archive, Horrmann Library
Date
6/9/1929
Contributor
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Rights
Please contact the Horrmann Library at Wagner College for rights to use this digital image.
Format
image/jpeg
Language
eng
Type
Text
Identifier
LePradeR6
Text
June 9th, 1929.
Dear Mr. Markham:
I have been keeping your letter (as I know you are not home yet,) waiting for the Bush of Brotherhood to blossom so I could send you some of the leaves. And that is well for now I can tell you more of Dr. Scott’s manuscripts. The manuscripts have just been brought to me after being kept from me for almost fifteen months, during which time I was prevented from taking any steps toward their publication, was not even permitted to examine them, and was led to believe that I would never see them. It was very unexpected to receive the manuscripts at this time after being treated as I have for almost fifteen months. Great sorrow fills my heart. For my circumstances are very different now from what they were at the time of Dr. Scott’s passing, when I was in a position to give all the time necessary, and raise the funds. Mrs. Gartz would have helped us too. In fact she offered me the money to publish my own poems at that time which I refused, saying that his poems must come first. And had a subscription been started she would have subscribed to it generously I know. At this time I cannot see my way clear to raise the money. Unforseen sorrow has come to me and I am at present almost swamped in both work and worry. I cannot see why the great injustice should have been done of tying my hands completely at the time the service should have been accomplished. It is a deep, a very great sorrow to me. If Marcelle sells her mine, as she hopes to do soon, there will no longer be the question of money to stand in the way for she says she will have plenty to do all that is necessary. But that seems to good to come true. It is possible that Dr. Scott’s people might be able to publish the works. And if so it would seem best to turn the manuscripts over to them. Do you think we could get an Eastern publisher if the money were forthcoming? There is a trunk full of the manuscripts, in the worst chaos imaginable. Both poetry and prose. I will straighten it out as best I can. It will be a terrific job, but I must do it for I can never rest with the manuscript of this great and good man in such a shape. It seems they might have handled it with more reverent hands. Poor, dear John Milton Scott what a tragic life his was, and even in death misfortune seems to have followed him. He was too good for this world. Its harsh materialism had no place for such a noble idealist. I will let you know what is in the manuscripts when I find out. Mr. Markham, I have had so many illusions smashed the last few years I think I have none left. Sometimes I scarcely know how to find my way over the dark and difficult path of human experience. This has been a very bitter thing to bear:--that not only have my hands been tied at the time I was free to perform the service, but I have been looked upon with both suspicion and hostility because I was anxious to perform the service. In God’s name have people no other yardstick but that of selfishness and greed!
Well, I am glad I have known you dear Edwin Markham, and that I have known such like folks as John Milton Scott, ‘Gene Debs, and Mrs. Gartz. At least I have a few stars to guide me in the night. May the works of our beloved friend be given to the world that their light may shine forever—this I know is the prayer of all of us who loved him. God grant [handwritten] it may come true, in spite of all the darkness, love to the end
Faithfully,
Ruth
P.S. June 10, a beautiful rose smiles at me this morning from the bush of Brotherhood - and so I mail your letters.
Dear Mr. Markham:
I have been keeping your letter (as I know you are not home yet,) waiting for the Bush of Brotherhood to blossom so I could send you some of the leaves. And that is well for now I can tell you more of Dr. Scott’s manuscripts. The manuscripts have just been brought to me after being kept from me for almost fifteen months, during which time I was prevented from taking any steps toward their publication, was not even permitted to examine them, and was led to believe that I would never see them. It was very unexpected to receive the manuscripts at this time after being treated as I have for almost fifteen months. Great sorrow fills my heart. For my circumstances are very different now from what they were at the time of Dr. Scott’s passing, when I was in a position to give all the time necessary, and raise the funds. Mrs. Gartz would have helped us too. In fact she offered me the money to publish my own poems at that time which I refused, saying that his poems must come first. And had a subscription been started she would have subscribed to it generously I know. At this time I cannot see my way clear to raise the money. Unforseen sorrow has come to me and I am at present almost swamped in both work and worry. I cannot see why the great injustice should have been done of tying my hands completely at the time the service should have been accomplished. It is a deep, a very great sorrow to me. If Marcelle sells her mine, as she hopes to do soon, there will no longer be the question of money to stand in the way for she says she will have plenty to do all that is necessary. But that seems to good to come true. It is possible that Dr. Scott’s people might be able to publish the works. And if so it would seem best to turn the manuscripts over to them. Do you think we could get an Eastern publisher if the money were forthcoming? There is a trunk full of the manuscripts, in the worst chaos imaginable. Both poetry and prose. I will straighten it out as best I can. It will be a terrific job, but I must do it for I can never rest with the manuscript of this great and good man in such a shape. It seems they might have handled it with more reverent hands. Poor, dear John Milton Scott what a tragic life his was, and even in death misfortune seems to have followed him. He was too good for this world. Its harsh materialism had no place for such a noble idealist. I will let you know what is in the manuscripts when I find out. Mr. Markham, I have had so many illusions smashed the last few years I think I have none left. Sometimes I scarcely know how to find my way over the dark and difficult path of human experience. This has been a very bitter thing to bear:--that not only have my hands been tied at the time I was free to perform the service, but I have been looked upon with both suspicion and hostility because I was anxious to perform the service. In God’s name have people no other yardstick but that of selfishness and greed!
Well, I am glad I have known you dear Edwin Markham, and that I have known such like folks as John Milton Scott, ‘Gene Debs, and Mrs. Gartz. At least I have a few stars to guide me in the night. May the works of our beloved friend be given to the world that their light may shine forever—this I know is the prayer of all of us who loved him. God grant [handwritten] it may come true, in spite of all the darkness, love to the end
Faithfully,
Ruth
P.S. June 10, a beautiful rose smiles at me this morning from the bush of Brotherhood - and so I mail your letters.
Data Digital
2009
Digitization Specifications
IBM ThinkCentre Intel Pentium 4 3.06GHz running Windows XP Professional Version 2 Service Pack 2; Epson Expression 10000XL scanner; Master Scanner Settings: 24-bit RGB, 400 dpi resolution; File Format: TIFF; Compression: none; Reference Images resized and converted with Adobe Photoshop CS2 version 9.0.2: 8-bit RGB; 400 ppi resolution; Compressed jpeg.
Collection
Citation
Le Prade, Ruth , “[Letter] 1929 June 9 [to] Mr. Markham,” Edwin Markham Digital Archive, accessed April 28, 2024, https://markham.omeka.net/items/show/629.