FPK to Margaret Lawrence, January 19, 1934
Dublin Core
Title
FPK to Margaret Lawrence, January 19, 1934
Description
Typewritten document, addresses her recent speech before the National Geographic Society before 3,000 attendees.
Creator
Frances Parkinson Keyes
Source
From the collection of Frances Parkinson Keyes Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library.
Date
1934-01-19
Contributor
Kassandra LaPrade Seuthe
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
February 19, 1934
My dear Miss Lawrence:-
I have though of you a great many times since our brief and tantalizing glimpse of each other as I changed boats in Toronto last summer. It was a great disappointment to me not to have a real visit with you, for I had looked forward to this for a long time, but I hope that is only postponed and that we may make up for our long separation by a long reunion somewhere and sometime. The roses you brought me kept fresh and fragrant for days--I carried them with me not only as far as Montreal but all the way home to Pine Grove Farm, and they were a lovely reminder of your faithful friendship.
I had been home only a few weeks--which were occupied with intensive preparations for the appearance of my new book--when very unexpectedly the way opened for me to go to Europe. I had been very anxious to do this, as the National Geographic* Society had asked me to make an address before it this winter--a compliment which here--tofore it had paid to only three women in the seventy-five years of its existence--and its chosen subject was Germany. I had almost despaired of being able to put the project through, however, when I found that I could do so after all. So I started off and returned only a few weeks ago--having visited Holland, Denmark, Russia, and Paris, as well as Germany.
The National Geographic Address came off on January 26th and was a great success. Constitution Hall--seating 3000 persons--was sold out three days before the lecture, and I was hard put to it to get seats for my personal friends whom I wanted to invite. The audience was distinguished as well as numerous, represent-ing a fine cross-section of Washington official, social and intellectual life.
The new novel "Senator Marlowe's Daughter" came out during my absence, and at my request Julian Messner, my publisher, sent you a copy of this which he addressed in care of the Canadian Home Journal. In going through the reviews which have accumulated that none has come in from Saturday Night. This omission, added to the fact that I have not heard from you personally about the book, causes me to wonder whether it ever reached you, and if it did not I will have another sent to you, for I am very hopeful that you will really enjoy it and agree with the consensus of opinion that it is by far the best thing that I have achieved yet.
You may be interested to know that my latest novel and first historical romance began publication in the March number of the Home Magazine--one of the Tower group. I feel sure you can buy this in Canada if you are really interested. Never have I seen a more attractive layout, or one which better interpreted the spirit of a story. I was especially pleased because my little foreword, which I had feared might be sacrificed in serialization, had instead been so effectively and symbolically used. The name of the novel is "The Afe Bridge" and I hope you will be pleased with it, too.
I have not seen the Canadian Home Journal lately, so I do not know whether it has ever featured an article about Ms. Roosevelt, but it it has not I am wondering whether Mr. Dawson would consent to such a feature and whether he would not let me attempt it. She has become such an outstanding figure--not only in the United States but in the world--that I cannot help feeling that many Canadian women would like
[PAGE]
to read a intimate story about her such as my unusual acquaintance would enable me to write, and the fact that she owns and has long occupied a summer home in Canada would I believe, give it an extra amount of interest to the story. In all events, talk it over with Mr. Dawson, if you will be so kind, and let me know his reaction.
With affectionate regards always, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
Miss Margaret Lawrence,
Aldine House,
224 Bloor Street, West,
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.
My dear Miss Lawrence:-
I have though of you a great many times since our brief and tantalizing glimpse of each other as I changed boats in Toronto last summer. It was a great disappointment to me not to have a real visit with you, for I had looked forward to this for a long time, but I hope that is only postponed and that we may make up for our long separation by a long reunion somewhere and sometime. The roses you brought me kept fresh and fragrant for days--I carried them with me not only as far as Montreal but all the way home to Pine Grove Farm, and they were a lovely reminder of your faithful friendship.
I had been home only a few weeks--which were occupied with intensive preparations for the appearance of my new book--when very unexpectedly the way opened for me to go to Europe. I had been very anxious to do this, as the National Geographic* Society had asked me to make an address before it this winter--a compliment which here--tofore it had paid to only three women in the seventy-five years of its existence--and its chosen subject was Germany. I had almost despaired of being able to put the project through, however, when I found that I could do so after all. So I started off and returned only a few weeks ago--having visited Holland, Denmark, Russia, and Paris, as well as Germany.
The National Geographic Address came off on January 26th and was a great success. Constitution Hall--seating 3000 persons--was sold out three days before the lecture, and I was hard put to it to get seats for my personal friends whom I wanted to invite. The audience was distinguished as well as numerous, represent-ing a fine cross-section of Washington official, social and intellectual life.
The new novel "Senator Marlowe's Daughter" came out during my absence, and at my request Julian Messner, my publisher, sent you a copy of this which he addressed in care of the Canadian Home Journal. In going through the reviews which have accumulated that none has come in from Saturday Night. This omission, added to the fact that I have not heard from you personally about the book, causes me to wonder whether it ever reached you, and if it did not I will have another sent to you, for I am very hopeful that you will really enjoy it and agree with the consensus of opinion that it is by far the best thing that I have achieved yet.
You may be interested to know that my latest novel and first historical romance began publication in the March number of the Home Magazine--one of the Tower group. I feel sure you can buy this in Canada if you are really interested. Never have I seen a more attractive layout, or one which better interpreted the spirit of a story. I was especially pleased because my little foreword, which I had feared might be sacrificed in serialization, had instead been so effectively and symbolically used. The name of the novel is "The Afe Bridge" and I hope you will be pleased with it, too.
I have not seen the Canadian Home Journal lately, so I do not know whether it has ever featured an article about Ms. Roosevelt, but it it has not I am wondering whether Mr. Dawson would consent to such a feature and whether he would not let me attempt it. She has become such an outstanding figure--not only in the United States but in the world--that I cannot help feeling that many Canadian women would like
[PAGE]
to read a intimate story about her such as my unusual acquaintance would enable me to write, and the fact that she owns and has long occupied a summer home in Canada would I believe, give it an extra amount of interest to the story. In all events, talk it over with Mr. Dawson, if you will be so kind, and let me know his reaction.
With affectionate regards always, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
Miss Margaret Lawrence,
Aldine House,
224 Bloor Street, West,
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.