121.
1928:
En route Ottawa-Toronto March 20,
1928
My Dears,
From Ottawa "Society News":
"The Hon. William Phillips, Extraordinary
Envoy and Minister plenipotentiary of the U.S.A. to the Dom.
Of Canada entertained at luncheon in honor of Frederick Philip
Grove, the distinguished author of "A Search for America".
Other guests were the Hon. Mr. Forbe, the Hons. Martin Burrell,
Dr. Duncan Campbell Scott, and Mr. E.C. Grant. The Hon. Wm.
L.M. King [?] to be detained the last minute".
Or words to that effect - not having the sheet handy, I
quote from memory -
When I left, today, a crowd came to the sta., and several
people (Brig, General McLaren among them) said, my stay at
Ottawa had been a triumph all through. I have made many friends.
It was like a revival of old days in Europe. One lady - widow
of the late Dir Joseph Pop - kept scolding me for living
in the "beastly west" - I had tea with her yesterday - tête-à-tête - a
terrific woman, but quite in the old-country French style.
She is 65; but acts like a woman of 30, only with the added
freedom of age.
Grant & a few others are working on
a scheme to get me to Ottawa. I made no promises. Having
a night ride up (boarding train at 2:23 a.m. at Trenton)
last Saturday, I came near breaking down at night, during
my talk to the women; and I cancelled Montreal . In Toronto
the date did not sort.
So I'm just stopping off here for 1/2 day. Speak at Hamilton
to-morrow, Wrigham day after. This trip is costing a terrific
sum of money. Grant, by the way, is son of Sir Wm. Grant,
friend of Queen Victoria . Dr. Harriss who lives in Sir Z.
A. Macdonald's house, Earnscliffe, Ottawa , and who entertained
in my honour on Sunday night (that's where I was introduced
to the Hon. Mr. Phillips!) is a friend of King George. That's
how high I have risen at Ottawa . What is Eastgate to me
now!!!
The Hon. Wm. Phillips instructed me to cancel negotiations
with Howard McCaws, N.Y. since they gave an opening - I consulted
a lawyer about it. He (Mr. Ph) said, I could do better by
waiting for a larger firm to come aboard. Ottawa , I was
told, has bought 3/5 of the copies sold, of the Search .
Now, "Settlers" is selling well, there. This morning, I saw
25 copies of each book in Hope's window, 12 of Search in
Thorburn & Abbot's; 3 copies on the news-stand at the
Chateau Laurier.
I was, by the way, guest of E. C. Grant from Sunday morning
on. Now all this sound s like abominable bragging. But it
is the raw [excitement?] bubbling over. I had to decline
dozens upon dozens of invitations. I'd have preferred a room
at Duncan Campbell Scott's who told me (bragging again) that
he admired my work immensely. But I thought it good policy
to swim with the current. Sat. afternoon my phone kept ringing:
bankers, [?], generals, politicians, etc. calling me to see
whether I could dine with them, etc. I barely managed to
shake them off, pleading complete exhaustion. To some people's
disgust I stepped out on Sunday afternoon to spend over an
hour at Lloyd Roberts'.
Exchange of words (Howard McCaws):
"Paragraph 4 essential" (Option on 3 further vols. Which I had struck out before
signing)
Grove: "Your contract unessential to me. Withdraw offer."
Not very polite, I suppose. But I was getting tired of their
haggling.
Well, I must close. We are getting there. Did I mention
before that I have Jonathan Cape in London ? Seems good to
me.
Hope you are well, all three? Had 2 copies of the Search
bound in leather, for Catherine and myself.
Bye-bye,
F.P.G.
My black hat gave out.
Phillips tried to make me believe that he was typical for
the U.S.A. American. I laughed in his face. Afterwards I
heard that he was educated in England and had spent a considerable
time as attaché of the Embassy at London . That explains
why we met as equals at once. Not a single time did he mention "a
million" or "dollars", though he spoke of an "American nationality." I
forgave him that and told him so. But the porter is collecting
the luggage.
