111.
1927:
Rapid City, Man. February 9,
1927
Dear A.L.P.,
Do you know that "Alp" means meadow? The place where cattle
graze - I am one of the cattle.
Well, as for the Tribune, I've been on the point of sending
them to B...more than once. They don't realise that, if they
want my stuff, they should take it as they get it. Instead,
they accept one things and decline another: whereas I have
to whip everything into shape for them whether they take
it or not. The trouble is I need the money, and so I keep
slaving away, writing, or adjusting, 2 articles for every
one they take. But do the want my stuff, that is the question.
Or do they only "take" it? Well, they have enough till end
of March now. After that, I'll see what I can do. From Dec
1 st till Feb. 1 st I have nothing but Tribune stuff, working
evening, morning, noon and night.
As for the man who is interested in my work, I have an idea
that his name is A.L.P.? Right? For I have long since ceased
to believe that there is anybody else who really cares - Kirk
excepted. However, the "report" is simply this, given orally: "There
is an old injury to the spine, embedded in scar-tissue. We
can't do anything for you, but you should have your tonsils
out." They claim that that old injury of mine should not
give any trouble. The trouble is, it does. However, I will
say this that I do believe there is some progress. It is
slow. But, on the whole I move somewhat more easily. I might
consider going to W'peg at Easter, with Mrs. G. - for I don't
think it advisable for myself to travel alone. I have been
at Mayo's - but not during the last 9 years. I'll try to
get hold of the X rays at Brandon - the doctors have so far
taken every cent of the Tribune money; and there remains
a last payment of $25 to be paid in March. Then I'm through.
I've been revising an old novel and, partly, resetting it - shortening
it above all. There will be at least another year's work
on it. But I'd like to know whether it will cork the last
year's work. I don't want to send it just yet - but, would
you - it isn't nearly finished in the type-script, by the
way - have time, in spring, to read it without too many breaks?
I'm typing something new in technique. I'd have to have the
Ms. back since I make only one copy (started typing on Feb
1 st , lying in bed, working with one finger, doing 14 to
16 pages a day) - for I haven't much paper to spare for it.
It's what I mentioned to you under the title. The Hostile
Brothers. I've re-baptized it "Dame Atkinson". Sometimes
I think it's enormous - sometimes the reverse.
However! I've sent out 120 postcards to Can. & U.S.A.
universities and colleges, asking for calendars - if they
come in, there will be the names and addresses of 20 000
professors. Don't you think if Miller circulates them all,
he'll get 100 subscriptions? he thinks he'll get 500. But,
of course, I don't know.
Yes, Kirk has been pretty good with regard to books. Here
is a strange thing. He's been sending since October: just
once did he send a vol. I had. Which seems to show that a
systematic "education" counts for something, after all. I,
poor "lick", don't seem to have anything of importance. I
feel like a little soldier beginning to get his A.B.C.'s
into order. A lot of what I'd carefully thought out and written
up becomes mere triviality when I find others have systematically
exhausted the subject. There's only one of my pet ideas that
has stood up: that of what "tragic" means: I'm going to write
a thumbnail essay on that shortly.
Your talk of "another" book to be put together from Tribune
stuff: but the trouble is I can't bring those out that I'd
want to publish - though Miller seems taken with "Our Daily
Bread" - I have an idea he'd have printed that instead of
the Search if I hadn't offered him the blasted thing. But,
you know, that's your fault. Don't you decline responsibility
now!
By the way, hasn't Deacon made rather an ass of himself
in that Wilson Macdonald affair? Though I know you won't
answer that question. Just between "you and I" as they so
beautifully say here, I think less and less of Deacon, the
more I know of him. I mean, of course, in a literary way.
Now there's one more point. How about that blurb for the
Search jacket? Miller seems anxious for you to do it. I am
more than anxious, because I feel sure, Miller would make
a mess of it. Just as Deacon made a mess of his. I am more
than anxious, I am supplicant. Behold me on my skills - metaphorically,
for literally I can't do it, owing to my spine.
From what you say about Ann at the theatre, I inter the
animal to be O.K. and well. I hope Mrs. P. is the same?
By the way, I believe, Mrs. G. has sent Ann a little sweater.
Now we are all convinced that it is too small. If it is too
small, please, send it back. Mrs. G. will knit another one
which otherwise is to go to a niece of hers for whom the
one she sent would be amply big enough.
I am looking forward to the time when the roads will be
open again. Then, you'll come with the family, won't you?
By the way, I've not heard from Marshall, you make me quite
curious.
Well, Yours,
F.P.G.
