Carlotta Speaks: The Letters of Carlotta Monterey O'Neill to Gene Baker McComas, 1918–1952
2019; Penn State University Press; Volume: 40; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.5325/eugeoneirevi.40.2.0135
ISSN2161-4318
Autores Tópico(s)Theatre and Performance Studies
ResumoBefore going off to London and Paris to be educated and begin the twenty-year professional stage career that preceded her marriage to Eugene O'Neill, Carlotta Monterey (born Hazel Tharsing) spent her formative years in Oakland, California. In addition to occasional brief visits, she returned to Oakland to live several times in adulthood, most notably during her short-lived second marriage to Melvin Chapman Jr., which produced her daughter Cynthia in 1917, although she spent only about a year and a half with Chapman before returning to New York and the theatre. During Carlotta's brief marriage to her first husband, John Moffat, the couple had spent some time in Oakland prior to their 1914 divorce as they tried to recover from his financial setbacks.Carlotta's time in California did not produce a great many lasting ties outside her family, but one exception was Eugenia Frances Baker McComas (1886–1982). Gene Baker, as she was known before her marriage, was highly visible in the Oakland social and cultural scene. Her father, Joseph Eugene Baker, had figured prominently in the San Francisco area for his work on one of the oldest California newspapers, the Alta California, as well as the Chronicle and the Examiner in San Francisco, and finally the Oakland Tribune. An active hostess and club member in her youth, Gene Baker received a good deal of attention in the area newspapers. She was a conspicuous participant in activities involving music and the plastic arts, but it was theatre that most drew her attention early on. Before 1910 she was a core member of the literary and dramatic section of San Francisco's California Club, which held play readings and discussions of serious playwrights like Maurice Maeterlinck and Maxim Gorky as well as occasional full productions of local plays. Gene Baker was a central participant in the play readings, which were directed by Mrs. Will Maddern, a playwright as well as the aunt of one of the most celebrated actresses of the day, Minnie Maddern Fiske, and her younger cousin, Merle Maddern. Gene Baker, like Carlotta Monterey, was a close friend of Merle Maddern, and often gave teas and lunches in her honor when she was in the area.Unlike those of Merle and Carlotta, Gene's theatrical career did not get beyond the amateur level, but in her mid-twenties she began to pay serious attention to her talent for painting. In 1912 she began studying with Xavier Martinez at the California School of Arts and Crafts, and she received conspicuous notice in several reviews of the annual shows. A year later, she began a romantic affair with Francis McComas, a prominent artist and friend of her mentor. After McComas's messy and well-publicized divorce from his socialite wife, he and Gene were married in 1917 and lived in an atelier in Monterey before buying a comfortable house and studio in Pebble Beach, the upscale resort on the Monterey Peninsula, where their life was divided between the artistic community and the famous golf course.Francis McComas was one of only three California artists invited to exhibit in the 1913 Armory Show, and he had an entire gallery devoted to his work at the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. His was the dominant career in their life. During her marriage, Gene Frances, as she signed her paintings, tended to leave the larger landscape paintings to her husband while she focused on smaller subjects like still lifes and flowers. After Francis's death in 1938, however, Gene returned to two of her early loves, the landscape and the mural, with considerable success. She continued to receive commissions for murals throughout her career, and her work appeared in a number of gallery and museum exhibits, including a solo exhibit of her drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1942.Carlotta Monterey's letters to Gene McComas span a long period in Monterey's life, from 1918, when she was an up-and-coming Broadway actress, until 1952, when she was suffering in the last throes of her marriage to Eugene O'Neill. That they tended to be written at crucial moments in Carlotta's life and often exhibit an uncharacteristically unguarded writer testifies to the trust that she shared with her old friend, despite the fact that she never seems to have visited her, even when the O'Neills lived in Danville, less than a two-hour drive up the coast from Monterey. She offers no convincing reason for this, but it probably stemmed from the same anxiety that kept her from seeing almost all of her relatives and old friends from the area when she lived at Tao House. The story of her past that she had told O'Neill was far from the past that would be revealed if he talked to these witnesses.The letters to Gene McComas bear witness to a major tension in Carlotta O'Neill's life, her desire to connect and remain connected with a few chosen people in constant conflict with her increasing mania for privacy. As Carlotta's letter of May 1, 1927, shows, Gene McComas had been candid with her about the toll her artistic genius of a husband was taking on her; and, later, Carlotta revealed her similar troubles with a similar candor. It is clear that her friend responded with generosity and wisdom to Carlotta's suggestion that she leave O'Neill and come to live in Monterey when her marriage foundered in 1948. Carlotta speaks with equal candor about her new hopes for the marriage when the O'Neills moved to their new Marblehead house in 1949, and about her bitter despair as she feels trapped in Boston's Shelton Hotel with O'Neill in 1952. These are the letters of a narcissistic woman—the dutiful gestures of interest she makes toward her friend's life and career are almost laughable amid the dramatization of her own self-concern—but they show a real need for human connection and affection for her friend as well. They offer a revealing glimpse into the inner life of a woman who is not easily understood and who has often been oversimplified and dismissed in the narrative of the O'Neill saga.The following letters were written and signed in their author's hand. The originals are held by the Huntington Library in the Gene Frances McComas Papers, call number mssMSS 1–151.Alexander Pettit assisted in the preparation of the texts. The transcriptions approximate their author's placement of salutations, paragraph indentions, complimentary closes, signatures, and de facto postscripts. Dashes are set as em dashes or two-em dashes, in approximation of Monterey's original strokes, which vary considerably in length. Ampersands replace the modified plus-signs that Monterey sometimes used instead of “and.” Passages that Monterey crossed out are indicated by strikethroughs. Monterey's additions are flanked by arrows, as is one instance of a marginal addition, identified thus in a note. Several uncertain transcriptions are accompanied by bracketed question marks.Professor Pettit and I have honored Monterey's habit of using more or less emphatic forms of underscoring as follows: singly and doubly underscored elements are set thus in the edited text; trebly underscored elements are set with double underlines and in italics; instances of more profuse underscoring are set like trebly underscored elements and specified in textual notes.The copy-texts have required only minimal emendation. Real or apparent Anglicisms—for example, “colours” and the possessive “it's,” respectively—have posed a challenge on several occasions: Monterey studied in England from 1906 to 1908 and was married to an Englishman from 1911 to 1914, and the size of the present sample does not in most cases allow a determination of her usual practice. All emendations are recorded in textual notes, using standard bibliographical format: lemmatic (left of bracket) readings reproduce words or passages from the edited text; stemmatic (right of bracket) readings provide the copy-text readings.Whenever possible, headnotes present the following information: dates of composition, which appear intratextually in the originals; affirmation of the letters as signed autograph (manuscript) letters; information on original pagination; cataloguing information; the recipient's and sender's addresses; and dates and times of postmarking, with verbal elements spelled out and regularized. Addresses are set in conformity with the principles enumerated herein, although no attempt has been made to replicate fonts and scaling from printed stationery and envelopes.Mr. Gerald Eugene Stram, Carlotta Monterey's grandson, has generously authorized the publication of the letters.BRENDA MURPHY is Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut and a past president of the Eugene O'Neill Society. Among her twenty books on American drama and theater are The Provincetown Players and the Culture of Modernity (2005), the Cambridge Plays in Performance Series volume O'Neill: Long Day's Journey Into Night (2001), and, with George Monteiro, Eugene O'Neill Remembered (2017). Her latest book is Becoming Carlotta: A Biographical Novel (2018), a fact-based historical novel about Carlotta Monterey O'Neill, who was Eugene O'Neill's third and final wife, among many other things.Letter 1. December 30, 1918 (ALS, 12 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 1, MS 84Address: Mrs. Francis McComas, | 308 Laine St. — | Monterey —— CaliforniaPostmark: Dec. 31, 1918 (New York, N.Y.), 2:00 p.m.Gene dear. —I love hearing from you as you know — but please take none of my letters seriously — for I am moody to a degree & dash off pages of “excess” to rid myself of the weight!First I must tell you — that Merle1 is doing splendidly — & at last is free of old pot belly H.G.F.!2 I really feel she is rid of him — thank God! And Gene she is “finding herself” — of course that pleases one almost more than it does Merle herself! Gilda3 — the angel — is playing in ↑The↑ “Little Journey”4 — in the next street to me —. I am going tomorrow to the matinee to see her. Of course Gilda has always fascinated & charmed me. She has written a play —— she is so intelligent — clever — & — Italian!I —— well —— I am just hobbling along playing a “vamp” — unimportant & unnecessary in “Be Calm – Camilla” —.5 I meet many people — Francis de Croiset6 is still here — but I've heard nearly all his stories thrice over — so he's less amusing. Have met some wonderfully clever but impossible Russians!So you saw the picture in “Vanity Fair” — there is one in Jan. “Harper's Bazaar” — also a three year old one in this month's “Theatre” —— I don't know why, but they are always asking me to sit for them & I try always to find time — because it is freeadvertisement!!!So you dined with Tully7 — He's all right in his way — only horribly untruthful — I can't stand a liar! To my face he was always one thing, — behind my back another —. I hated his play & begged every few weeks to leave — I'vekepthisreplies! However that's all past & gone —. I hear the Morosco office8 say I wanted to leave because “I was having an affair with Tellegen!”9 They've got their dates mixed!Am so happy to hear of Francis' being awarded the “Chas. E. Dana” medal10 —— my congratulations —. He is a dear!Thank God Xmas is over —— then my birthday came —— Merle & Gilda supped with me — we drank bubbles & laughed & appeared joyous!New Year's Eve tomorrow night — I am going to a Ball Masque in black lace (Spanishy) gown & white wig.Gene — I wish you were here too — It would kind o' seem complete then. You know I'm fond of you — & love being with you — however I suppose you & I will take turn about at residing in California.Love to you dear —— I'm so tired & sleepy —Did you read Henri Barbusse's “The Inferno” —?11 What did you think of it ——?Love to Francis —To you a kiss ↑I know you hate them!↑CarlottaI will send the photographs.“Harper's Bazaar”] “Harper's Bazar”Letter 2. April 30, 1927 (ALS, 7 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 2, MS 85Stationery: 20 East 67th StreetAddress: Mrs. Francis McComas, | “Pebble Beach,” | California.Postmark: May 1, 1927 (New York, N.Y.), 5:00 p.m.Gene — my dear. —I adored your letter rec'd today. It was red blooded & the way I love you — woman! Don't let “conditions” make you hard “inside you” Gene. Nooneonearth is brilliant enough to do that to any woman! Oh! God — give me humanbeings! — we — who love Beauty — & are sensitive to the breathing stopping sensations of life & love are crucified again & again! It isn't fair or just — but we are “game” to make suffer, — & some natures get their greatest strength & selfconfidence in watching us wriggle!Darling, — Mr. Speyer1 & I are great friends —. He is thirty years older than I am! But the only man I have ever really respected! He is a darling, — the kindest, — most unselfish, — most charitable ↑man I have ever met, —↑ — & clever — & ↑has↑ a keensenseofhumour. And above all gentle! I adore him — but nomarriage! Ours is a beautiful & most thoroughly satisfying friendship —. Of course his being a millionaire & I an ex-actress these damned fool society reporters bleat! I suppose they must earn their livings!I was in California for Easter. But only for a week. I had all intentions of seeing you — but when I arrived there were so many family affairs to “put” that nothing else was done. Cynthia2 is really a splendid child, 10 in August. — Up to the middle of my ear! Looks nothing like me — just like her father. She plays the piano very decently for a child — Her great sorrow is that she is not a boy! Thus Life goes on.I hear so much of the sorrows & heartaches of those wed to men in the “Arts” that Gene — I am doomed to single blessedness for ever more —. I'll take the pleasant “half hours” socially — but no more the responsibility of the home ——. I sail for Europe June 15th — Going to Paris for about two weeks then to Baden-Baden for a “Cure” — (?)3 God knows!They say it is a divine spot — I am very anti French & am awfully keen to see Southern Germany.Sail for home Sept 3rd — Did you read Ludwig's “Wilhelm II” or “Napoleon”?4 Have you ever read Douglas' “They Went”5 —— A delightful thing. —I wish to God you could do a portrait of me. I think only a woman could paint me — don't smile — but someday I will tell you why — if you'll be sweet & human with me & not frighten me to death. —“Elmer Gantry”6 (as you said) is “Hal in a tantrum —!” Why— who cares?I'd adore going on a picnic with you —. God — how I love trees & flowers —. I have suddenly developed a passion for “flowers” (in oil or water colours)! What does that mean? —Be sweet & write — & don't let anyone destroy oneatom of the realyou! My best — best love alwaysCarlotta —thirty: Underscored five times in the manuscript“Hal in a tantrum —!”] “Hal in a tantrum —!^Letter 3. June 19, 1927 (ALS, 2 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 2, MS 86Stationery (postcard): On Board the Cunard R.M.S. “Mauretania.”Address: Mrs. Francis McComas, | “Pebble Beach,” — | California, | U.S.A.Postmark: June 21, 1927 (Plymouth, Devon [United Kingdom]), [?] a.m.Gene dearest. —En route to Paris. Do hope my last letter didn't offend you! I wouldn't do that for worlds! — Please write me a line to Banker's Trust Co. — 3-5 Place Vendôme, Paris — France. —— That will reach me no matter where I am. — Expect to go to Baden-Baden for a Cure about July 5th — I loathe the sea — but can't “fly” so must go thro' this torture. Returning Sept. 3rd on the “Aquitania”.Love as always dear —CarlottaLetter 4. March 16, 1928 (ALS, 8 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 2, MS 87Address: Mrs. Francis McComas, | Pebblebeach, — | California, | U.S.A.Return address: “Villa Marguerite” | Guéthary B.–P. | France.Postmark: Mar. 18[?], 1928 (Basses Pyrénées [France])[.]Gene, my dear. —Here I am! Have taken a house five miles south of Biarritz — & about fifteen miles north of Spain.1This country is really quite lovely —. The Pyrenees & simple peasant farms on the ↑one↑ hand & this divine coast & ocean on the other.This old French house with it's lovely old terrasse — it's fine old trimmed box trees & gardens, — it's winding paths & wee woods (thro' which we walk to our beach) now carpeted with primroses & wildviolets! I can't tell you what all this means to me — for, altho' I have always ↑lived↑ in cities I loathe them. A newlife, dear Gene, a reallynewone! And to say that — at myage means something. I have, with me, in all this a lovely soul — a keen brain & a beautiful person —.2 And — altho' our address must not be told now — when all this mess is over I will be proud & happy to scream it from the housetops. We saw Gilda3 in London & she is coming to stop with us later. God — what a splendid woman she is —. Each year gives her greater dignity, charm, and her brain scintillates, — with the warmth of her Italian blood giving her that great & rarewoman quality! —I know about 30 words of French — altho' I understand nearly everything. Can you imagine the effort (& fun!) getting leases signed — servants engaged & runningthehouse——! Gene, the devil, won't open his mouth to them & sits back & grins at me! —Oh — it's all too lovely — He works all morning — Then we run on the beach — come back & eat like “piggies”! Read & chat out in the garden — overlooking the ocean & mountainous coast of Spain. Tea — walk — baths & dress for dinner. It's all simple & beautiful — & I adore it. —Don'tknowanythingaboutmeuntilthisisallover. Because the “Madam” is a quiet & lawabidingblackmailer!4 As Gene & I pay 50-50 on all our expenditure I do not feel that I'm doing her any injustice. But divorces are always unpleasant — particularly where money comes in! He has offered her everything but his eye teeth now! — Of course these damnable papers write such beastly lies & sob sister stuff — I nearly go mad! Gene grins & says — “Where's your sense of humour”? God — what ↑how↑ Iloathepublicity!I have the grandest cook in the world for 700 francs ($2800) per month! And so Life goes on —— & I hope to get huge — I've been skinny for such a long time!My love always dearCarlottaGuéthary] Guéithary[?]French house] french housewith it's lovely: Monterey's use of “it's” here and twice later in this sentence is retained on the following bases: the circumstance of its recurrence; the absence of the correct form in these letters; the author's generally reliable orthography at this point in the epistolary sequence; and a history of the use of “it's” in England (although the Oxford English Dictionary [OED] lists no uses after 1801). For Anglicisms, see introduction, above.words of French] words of frenchall our expenditure: Used thus, the singular “expenditure” is an Anglicism (see OED).Letter 5. January 8, 1930 (ALS, 2 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 88.Dear Gene. —Thanks for your card. — My God — are youtearing around the world too? Is there Peace nowhere? — We have been to Africa, Italy, — China, — Indo-China, — Sumatra, — Ceylon — and now Gene is planning to motor thro' Spain as soon as he finishes his new play.1 In between times I housekeep here — which is no small job — I would like to just stayput. — Starting off in boxes again terrifies me. But, I suppose, one always thinks the other side of the wood is more peaceful. Gene (not you, my Gene!) is a grand companion — he has a brain, a soul, a body & a sense of humour! Pretty much perfection. — I wish I had as much to give!Doesn't Life tear on — I wonder what it really is?! —As always —CarlottaSumatra] SummatraLetter 6. January 24, 1948 (ALS, 1 p.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 89Address: Mrs. Francis McComas, Pebble Beach, ↑Box 163 Monterey↑ | California.Return address: Carlotta Monterey, | c/o Melville H. Cane | 25, West 43rd Street, | New York City, New YorkPostmark: Jan. 25, 1948 (New York, N.Y.), 9:00 p.m.Dear Gene:If you remember me (want to remember me) please send me your correct address because I want to write to you about something very serious — to me —!Love over the years —CarlottaI've heard wonderful things about your work which warmed my heart!(The address on the envelope is my lawyer's) ——Letter 7. February 2, 1948 (ALS, 2 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 90Address: Mrs. Francis McComas, | Box 163, | Monterey | California.Return address: Carlotta Monter[ey] | c/o Melville A. Cane, | 25, West 43rd St., | New York City, | New York.Postmark: Feb. 3, 1948 (New York, N.Y.), 7:00 p.m.Dearest Gene:After thirty odd years you reply to me so soon! Bless your heart! I seldom find anything so heart warming.My dear, did I not want to see you in California? I verymuch did! Only, my twenty years with the Master1 were full of workingfor & withtheMaster — That's all I did. I never went to a Concert or any other thing to give me pleasure. I typed, designed & built two houses, moved to France & back! (Oh, I won't go on — it's too boring. If we meet I'll tell all & you can see what fools ↑men↑ can make of women!) ↑My↑ Gene would always say, “Of course, we'll go & see Mrs. McComas”! Fine. But somehow, we never got there. But, if luck brought me ↑anyone↑ near where you were, I pelted them with questions. It always ended by them saying, “If you like her so much why don't you go & see her?” True — True.I am shot to pieces. I have left Gene. After twenty years it is hard. But I have no physical strength, & moral courage left. I don't like men who slap women — accuse them of rotten things they know they didn't do. The sadistic joy of hurting some-one, making them ill — a powerof ↑over↑ them —. After I left he fell & broke his arm. All my ↑(our)↑ so-called friends friends[?] ↑phoned↑ my lawyer (not knowing where I was) & he phoned me, & I, being a sap, went up to cheer him! Oh, dear, that was five days ago & now I shan't go any more — I am too old. I simply can't take it.↑Can you make head or tail of this? I am terribly nervous.↑I have always wanted to live in Monterey!2 Hence my letter to you. The Master has all my beautiful Chinese things — & everything else. But, I have a small income of my own &, if there were a room & bath for me to live in, I'd love togo west to die. Don't worry, I wouldn't bother you — I have a great sense of privacy. But — I suppose the house problem is impossible there, too. I like very simple, very far away from a builder's idea of picturesque, or “cute”. Like the stone fisherman's hut in Europe. I must have some kind of heat — as I have arthritis. It comes to this. Would a place be there & could I pay for it?And, I do so want to see what work you're doing?Love,Carlotta“go & see her?”] “go & see her?^went up] when upcheer: Underscored five times in the manuscript.Can you make …. terribly nervous.: Written in the left margin.Letter 8. February 24, 1948 (ALS, 3 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 91Address: Mrs. Francis McComas | Monterey | California. | P.O.Box 163Return address: C. Monterey — | c/o Melville H. Cane | 25 West 43rd St., | New York – (18) | New York.Postmark: Feb. 25, 1948 (New York, N.Y.), 10:00 a.m.My dear Gene:Your very friendly letter warmed my heart. What a wise woman you are! And what an idiot I have been all my life! Am writing this in bed. Am very ill with an arthritic attack helped on by an attack of gout. Have had a nurse, who is intelligent & amusing — which has helped a lot. It is hell for me to stay in bed.My dear Gene, why is it I can never see the people I know would mean much to me? Maybe I will be able to get to Monterey someday. I could never live in Carmel. I have never liked the so-called Art Colony!1 In Europe I always loved simple fishing villages but ran like the devil from sea side resorts. God knows what will happen. The Master is still in the hospital & will be until his arm is usable again. The exercises forcing the broken arm to function again set up such a disturbance in his nervous system that his tremor (he has Parkinson's disease)2 gets so bad he goes all to pieces. He has the best medical attendance in New York & they have all spoken at length with me — objectively, seriously & kindly. They ask me to give him another chance because “he wants me so & needs me”! All this outside discussion of my personal affairs embarrasses me no end & leaves me feeling a little foolish. But having spoken with “him” I feel he thinks he has changed — & is really sorry & not proud of behaviour that was pretty beastly, to put it mildly. But, he is ill & so am I. We are both getting old.3 There has never been any “glamour” in our lives — but a great deal of hard work. Most of the money he made (or, a great part of it) went in alimony to his former wife — educating his children & a final settlement.Most of mine went in buying my clothes, doctors, dentists, etc., & paying my share of the household upkeep. So, it is a bit ridiculous &, not too dignified, to step out now. Since I have been lying here in bed, in great pain, I have seemed to be ↑able↑ to think more clearly, & feel that to not finish out my life on the pattern of the last twenty years would be false to my whole character. So, that is that. One never knows. But, I have found that one must always live with oneself — there is no getting away! So, one is forced to be able to face oneself!I would so like to see you andyourwork. How wise you were to always work. A woman should never give up her profession. The joy of it! And noone can take that from you!Dear Gene, thank you again for your warm, kind, wise letter —Love —Carlottamedical attendance] medical attendence[.] OED records “a body of attendants” as an obsolete meaning of “attendance.”household] house holdLetter 9. [April 3, 1948] (ALS, 4 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 92Stationery: Doctors Hospital | East End Avenue at 87th Street | New York 28, N.Y.Address: Mrs. Francis McComas | Monterey — P.O. Box163 | California.Return address (Doctors Hospital envelope, with hospital address crossed out): C. Monterey, | c/o M. H. Cane, | 25, West 43rd St., | New York (18) | New York.Postmark: Apr. 4, 1948 (New York, N.Y.), 1:00 a.m.Gene dear: —Have been here for eleven days1 — going back to my hotel (28 East 63rd St., “The Lowell”) tomorrow. I am on the 9th floor, the Master on the tenth. Wouldn't he be wild if he knew ↑he'd↑ been practically sitting on my head for eleven days —! He has been asking people if they knew where I am!Have been doing a lot of thinking. He, of course, is on the millionaire's floor! His room is $35.00 a day. (My room $16.00 a day) He has three nurses at $70.00 a week each. Food for nurses — his gymnasium instruction & God knows what. I was here 5 days without a nurse & then had to have one! I am asking him for less than the cost of the difference between his room and mine! If this room is good enough for me it's good enough for him. It has one window overlooking the river. His room is about the best in the house —!Well, I am losing my patience & am going to begin a fight. I loathe publicity as I loathe hell — but I have to eat! And with all the thousands I've spent on him & our homes — & all the years I have spent working for him, as secretary, nurse, housekeeper, builder & God knows what — he should be ashamed. Now he keeps saying if I came back & took care of him he knows he'd lose his tremor! He wants no one but me to wait on him! Idon'tcosthimanything & hecould have the pleasure of bullying & insulting me. Mama's sweet little sadist!Please write care of my lawyer always — it is safer. (On back of envelope)Tell me again when you will be in the East, I must see you! About so many things.Love to you —CarlottaSaturdayIt is difficult to write in bed — can you read this?[April 3, 1948]: The date is not recorded in the letter but is established by the word “Saturday” following Monterey's signature and by the postmark franked on Sunday, April 4.losing my patience] loosing my patience[.] Monterey perhaps intends “loose” to mean “to give vent to” (OED); but the repetition in another context of the apparent error of orthography argues against this possibility. See “lose his tremor!,” below.overlooking] over | lookinglose his tremor!] loose his tremor![.] It is possible, but unlikely, that Monterey intends the obsolete meaning “to set free from disease” (OED). See “losing my patience,” above.Letter 10. January 1, 1949 (ALS, 5 pp.)Source: Huntington Library, McComas Papers, Box 3, MS 93Stationery: Point o'Rocks Lane Marblehead Neck, MassachusettsAddress: Gene McComas | Monterey, P.O. Box 163 | California.Return address: C. M. O'Neill | [envelope printed per stationery, above]Postmark: Jan. 3, 1949 (Marblehead, MASS.), 4:30 p.m.Dear Gene:I was deeply touched when your Christmas card arrived. I did not send one card. We had both had bad colds, & then I had intestinal flu. What a ghastly ailment that is.Getting settled in this wee house nearly killed us — Carrying endless books up stairs & arranging them — china, silver, etc. It wasn't until I began giving all my collections away that I felt some hope of getting out from under the everlasting load of housekeeping. Now we are about “put” — (more things to be got rid of) & I hope to settle in a quiet routine.Gene (E.O'N) is eating his heart out because his disease (Parkinson's) is getting worse & worse. The tremor goes to his legs now (in spells) & makes walking difficult. I feed him more often. But the tragedy for him is that he'll not be able to work any more!We bought (I took my securities) a very small, grey wooden house on the tip-end of Marblehead Neck. We have one foot in the Atlantic. The house is built on solid rock. Then we discovered we practically had to rebuild the place because we wanted to stop here all year round. And we had to put in heat, insulation, storm windows & screens, & a chimney, roof, concrete foundation, etc. It cost so much that it was, & is, ridiculous. Dear Mr. Roosevelt1 & what has followed has left us all wondering. I was sixty the other day so I have got over caring much. Also, “1948” di
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