A collection of letters from A. E. Housman - Mallhams Auction (The Oxford Library Sale, Lot 701)

Wharton (Edith Newbold) 1862-1937 American Writer

Correspondence:-

 1.

29 Feb 1928. A.E.H. to Mrs Stewart (see note) ... your beautiful tulips.... m/s from Trinity College (Cambridge). 1 side - transcript:

To Mrs. H. F. Stewart

Dated 29 Feb 1928

Trinity College

Dear Mrs Stewart,

When you see the address of this letter you will regard me as having obtained your beautiful tulips under false pretences; but still let me thank you for your kindness in bringing them.

Yours sincerely

A. E. Housman

2.

19 October 1939. A.E.H. to 'Stewart' correcting an inscription. m/s from Trinity College. 1 side - transcript:

From A. E. Housman

To Dr. H. F. Stewart

Trinity College

Dated 29 Feb 1928

In the “D.V” of the inscription there should of course be no full-stop after the V, which is a numeral and not an abbreviation. The memory of my retina is that there was one, and if so it is no wonder that your thoughts strayed heavenward.

Yours sincerely

A. E. Housman

3.

7 January 1934. A.E.H. to 'Stewart' '... I now send you the hymn which I have written to be sung in the College Chapel at my funeral service if you do not disapprove... ' m/s from Trinity College. 2 sides - with stamped envelope plus m/s of hymn 3 verses,' O thou that from thy mansion...' (XLV11) signed by A.E.H. 1 side with heading, in stamped envelope - transcript on line-plus Order of Service for the Funeral of Alfred Edward Housman, Trinity College 4th May 1936, annotations on reverse (AEH?). Transcript:

From A. E. Housman

To Dr. H. F. Stewart

Dated 7 Jan 1934

Trintiy College

Cambridge

Enc MS initialed A. E. H of funeral hymn

Dear Stewart

These recent deaths have recalled to me a conversation we had some months ago, and I now send you the hymn which I have written to be sung in the College Chapel at my funeral service if you do not disapprove.

The printer will probably alter place to space.

Yours sincerely

A. E. Housman

PLUS printed annotated (by HFS?) order of service for Housman’s funeral service on 4 May 1936

PLUS First edition of Wharton’s ‘French Ways and their Meaning’

4

13th May 1936. Edith Wharton to Rev. H.F. Stewart expressing her love of poetry ( AEH) ...and now comes this unknown and beautiful thing to store with other memories of him ' in the deep hearts core' with the things I much love...m/s two sides on Sainte-Claire Le Chateau, Hyeres (Var) notepaper with envelope. Full transcript:

2) WHARTON, HOUSMAN, ETC

From Edith Wharton

To Dr H F Stewart

Handwritten

Dated May 13.36

Sainte-Claire Le Chateau

Hyeres (Var)

What a very kind thought you had, dear Dr Stewart, in sending me the form of service with that beautiful hymn and the ms of the Vulpius melody! I wrote to our friend Lapsley when I heard that Mr Housman was ill: “If you have the opportunity, tell him what his poetry has always been to me.” And now comes this unknown and beautiful thing (?) to store with other memories of him “in the deep heart’s core, “ with things (?) I much love; and I shall never have the chance that I so often wished for when he was alive! It is a pity that such natures are soften walled-in. I liked him so much, and he was always so kind and friendly, and yet so bristling with the “Es ist verboten” beloved of German sign-painters. But I am glad he came to St Brice also, and wandered about in the garden, and seemed to like it.

I hope to see you there again when you next some abroad. I shall take it as a friendly ask if you will let me know, and will come to the Pavillon Colombe.

With very deep gratitude, believe me, dear Dr Stewart.

Yours ever sincerely

Edith Wharton

5.

4th September 1936-Elsina Royall Tyler 1878-1959, Founder and Editor of 'The Englishwoman', a feminist monthly journal, on behalf of her friend Edith Wharton to Dr H.F.Stewart, expressing regret that she (EW) cannot see you (HFS) and discussing a biography of AEH.- 2 m/s on two sides , 'Pavilion Colombe' ( EW's home) notepaper with envelope. Transcript:

From Elsine Royall Tyler

To Dr H. F. Stewart

Sent from chez Edith Wharton

Pavillon Colome

St Brice-sous-Foret (S and O)

Dated September 4^th 1936

Handwritten

Dear Dr. Stewart

My name is unknown to you, but I am an old friend of Mrs Wharton’s and also one of the oldest and greatest admirers of Professor A. E. Housman. Mrs Wharton has been ordered by her doctors to take a week of absolute rest in bed. She will be unable, therefore, to see you next week, and se has asked me to tell you how very greatly she regrets it.

Another point I must mention to you from her. She has received a latter from Mr. Cyril Clemens (son of Mark Twain) in which Mr Clemens asks her to help with information for a life of Professor Housman which he is about to write. Mrs Wharton feels emphatically that Mr Clemens is not the right person for the task, and she was very much surprised that there was any question of his undertaking it. She wonders if the family know and approve this plan.

I am leaving Mrs. Wharton to-day. Mr address is

Chateau d’Antigny

Par Arnay-le-Duc

Cote d”Or

As Mrs Wharton cannot write herself, if there is any message you wish me to give her, I shall be happy to transmit it to her.

With my kind regards

Yours very truly

Elsina Royall Tyler

(Mrs Riyall Tyler)

6

23 November 1936-Edith Wharton to Dr H.F. Stewart referring to 'The Berensons' and 'Gow Housman' book. m/s on 2 sides. 'I Tatti Settignano Florence' notepaper with envelope. Full transcript:

From Edith Wharton

To Dr. H. F. Stewart

Dated Nov. 23.36

I Tatti Settignano

Florence

Handwritten

Dear Dr. Stewart,

Thank you so much for your note, which has followed me here, where I ham spending a delightful fortnight with the Berensons before “re-integrating” Hyeres.

How very odd about the Gow Housman book! Who can have sent it me? If you find out, please let me know. Your article will doubtless be kept until I arrive at Hyeres, as I gave orders that only correspondence should be forwarded. I shall be so delighted to read it, and am most grateful to you for sending it.

I am very much better, thanks, and so vexed that my stupid relapse happened just when I might have had the pleasure of welcoming you at St. Brice.

Yours ever sincerely

Edith Wharton

7

21 January 1937-Edith Wharton to Dr Stewart thanking him 'for your beautiful article on Houseman (sic) in the Cambridge Review' and expressing her admiration for Houseman (sic). 1 side typed and signed on Sainte-Claire Le Chateau, Hyéres (Var) note paper with envelope - full transcript:

From Edith Wharton

To Dr. H. F. Stewart

Dated January 21^st, 1937

Sainte-Claire Le Chateau

Hyeres (Var)

Typed and signed

I am very late in thanking you for your beautiful article on Housman (sic) in the Cambridge Review, for as soon as my Christmas labours were over, I took to my bed with a touch of flu- hence the necessity of dictating this instead of writing to you.

My admiration for Housman (sic) is so great that I am delighted to see him worthily spoken of, in a way which only you, who combine all the necessary qualities, can speak; and I am very much touched at your remembering me among those who would be sure to appreciate what you have said.

I have never got over my disappointment at not seeing you last summer, and hope so much for better luck in 1937.

Yours very gratefully

Edith Wharton

8.

Wharton (Edith) 'French Ways and Their Meaning' Macmillan, London 1919. First Edition, original blue cloth, some tears and discolouration (8 +)