38. 1925:
Rapid City, Man. Febuary 2, 1925
Dear Mr. Phelps,
Well, it's a week to-day from my debut before the public
as a so-called literary man. I begin to suffer from stage
fright.
I don't know whether I wrote you before
that I shall start for W'peg on Saturday, Feb 7. Trains here,
what with the snow-storms & blizzards have been hours
late for a week or longer: we are enjoying some Manitoba
winter: the first one since 1919 - in between we have had
the exceptions. I don't want to miss that opportunity. So
I shall arrive Sat at 5:15 if trains are on time. If not,
sometime during the night of Sat. to Sunday.
I'll be prepared to do anything in the social line - within
reason. Should some of my new friends ask you about me, make
any arrangement you like, except for Sunday morning when
I want to attend service in a Greek or Ruthenian Orthodox
church if such exists in Winnipeg .
I shall also come prepared to negotiate
with Dr. Pierce and to stay as long as may be necessary in
order to come to definite conclusions - or to arrange for
printing myself.
As for a program, I have made up my mind to read (after
the little talk)
• Marsh-fire
• Lost
• 1 st Ellen scene from the W.R.L.H.
• (if
it seems that there is time) the scene I read at Christmas
In looking over MSS., I found that some of the sketches
you have there are not final versions. When reading at your
house, it seemed to me that they were not. But I was not
sure. I'll bring the finals, of course.
As for my staying there, it being indefinite,
I don't feel that I should impose myself in the College since
it is in session now. So I'll try to find lodging at Miss
Holmes, 325 Vaughan. Should I fail there, I'd try the Y.M.C.A.
Failing there, I'd go to the St. Charles Hotel. The Bonspiel
being in progress, there may be a certain amount of uncertainty
attached to that. With Mrs. Grove I leave your address, in
case anything should happen there. That all right?
I have not heard from Boni & Liveright.
I am deep in the revision of a novel with which I seem much
pleased.
Yours,
F.P.G.
By the way, I'll let you know somehow where I am, on Sunday,
but I am not adept at knowing. In fact, phones, radio, etc
are my pet aversions.
