A few letters by Mary MacLane

[ c. August 1902 - to her friend, author Harriet Monroe ]

Dear Harriet Monroe -

I remember you.

I remember you on a summer forenoon.

You were there and I was there.

We went out to walk by the lake-shore.

The lake-shore was very beautiful.

You were so fascinating that day. You were so strong. You were so true.

Particularly you were so true.

I loved you.

I had infinite faith in you.

And you were kind.

You were kind - so that I felt it without knowing it.

Which is a wonderful thing and goes far.

Surely no Pharisee was ever yet kind like that.

For a summer forenoon:

My love to you - oh, my love to you.

Dear Harriet Monroe. -

At any rate - good-by.

- My love to you, always. -

[ c. 1906 - to one of her publishers, M. Elijah Stone ]

September 26 - Rockland

Dear Mr. Stone -

Your letter came a few days ago. I have read it a great many times. It refers to money, and money is so - nice!

In accordance with it I have put off going to that Great City, New York to have a good time - a good time - a Good Time, say rather - till after Oct. 1. Then I shouldn’t wonder if October 7-8-9, or 8-9-10, - 2 days and a night - saw me on or about that Crowded Thoroughfare, Broadway.

- A Good Time, with me, differs from an ordinary time in that in the latter I’m nearly always Heavily Chaperoned and in consequence demoralized and flighty; whereas in a Good Time one is never chaperoned - and in consequence, if hilarious, level-headed. Chaperoned, you can very easy go to the Demnition Bow-wows, if you ask me, but unchaperoned, you’re quite Safe - wherever you go. Unchaperoned I could slink around the Streets of a Great City at Nightfall, picking up things, - but Chaperoned, - what can a Poor Girl do? -

- October 8-9-10: my face-fixing friend, my hard-headed author, and lunch with you. Money is so - nice!

My $9 dwindles sadly.

Truly yours,

Mary MacLane

I’m glad you suggested the name alimony for what you’re going to send me - it sounds so much more luxurious than plain money, which however is so - nice! -

P.S. If you send me the money for the Good Time I shall certainly ask you to eat luncheon with me - at my expense - when I get to New York - if you’re there. - New York is a large alluring spot. - Would you like that? - M. MacL. -