Gray, Robert M. 1943 - 11/13/2016 Robert M. Gray - Wikipedia Robert M. Gray From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert M. Gray (born November 1, 1943[1] is an American information theorist, and the Alcatel-Lucent Professor of Robert M. Gray Electrical Engineering at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. He is best known for his contributions to quantization and compression, particularly the development of vector quantization. Contents 1 Awards 2 Early life 3 Books 4 Notable professional service 5 References 6 External links Robert M. Gray (2008) Awards Born November 1, 1943 Gray received the 2008 Claude E. Shannon Award from the San Diego, California IEEE Information Theory Society, for his fundamental Nationality American contributions to information theory, particularly in the area of Fields Electrical engineering quantization theory. [2] He was also the recipient of the 2008 IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal, [3][4] Institutions Stanford University the 1998 Golden Jubilee Award for Technological Innovation from the Alma mater University of Southern California IEEE Information Theory Society, [5] and the 1993 IEEE Signal Doctoral Robert A. Scholtz Processing Society Award. [6] advisor Irwin M. Jacobs Doctoral Michelle Effros Gray received the 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence in students Sheila Hemami Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. This award reflects the impact he has had on engineering theory and practice David Neuhoff through his students; he has advised 50 Ph.D. students, Pam Cosman including 13 women Ph.D.'s. Eve Riskin Known for Vector quantization Amongst other honors, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007, and received the IEEE Third Notable Member of the National Academy of Millennium Medal in 2000. awards Engineering (2007) Claude E. Shannon Award (2008) Early life Born in 1943 in San Diego, Gray grew up in Coronado, California. He was a middle child in a family of five. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Gray 1/3 11/13/2016 Robert M. Gray - Wikipedia Gray followed his two older brothers to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned the B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1966, where he was a classmate of Lawrence Rabiner. Gray earned the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Southern California in 1969; his Ph.D. advisor was Robert A. Scholtz. During his graduate school years, he played guitar in the rock band "MCF". He began his career at the US Naval Ordnance Laboratory, following a family naval tradition. Books Gray has written or co-authored a number of technical texts, including: Toeplitz and Circulant Matrices (1971, revised 2006) Probability, Random Processes and Ergodic Properties (1988, revised 2007) Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing (1986, revised 2007) Entropy and Information Theory (1991, revised 2007) Source Coding Theory (1990) Vector Quantization and Signal Compression (1992) Gray is also an amateur historian and has collected together some historical letters from diplomats into books: Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age (2005) Max&Max (2005) Notable professional service Gray is currently Editor-in-Chief of Foundations and Trends in Signal Processing. He has also been Editor-in- Chief of the IEEE Trans. on Information Theory (1981-1983), and served on the IEEE Information Theory Society Board of Governors (1974-1980, 1984-1987) and IEEE Signal Processing Society Board of Governors (1999- 2001). References 1. Gray, Robert M. "Short Bio". Retrieved 5 March 2013. 2. "Claude E. Shannon Award". IEEE Information Theory Society. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 3. "IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal Recipients" (PDF). IEEE. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 4. "IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal Recipients - 2008 - Robert M. Gray". IEEE. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 5. "Golden Jubilee Awards for Technological Innovation". IEEE Information Theory Society. Retrieved July 14, 2011. 6. "Society Award". IEEE Signal Processing Society. Retrieved February 28, 2011. External links Gray's webpage (http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/) IEEE History Center Interview with Gray (1998) (http://www.ieee.org/portal/cms_docs_iportals/iportals/abo utus/history_center/oral_history/pdfs/Gray347.pdf) Robert M. Gray (https://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=59906) at the Mathematics Genealogy Project Retrieved from"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_M._Gray&oldid=744530143 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Gray 2/3 11/13/2016 Robert M. Gray - Wikipedia Categories: 1943 births | Living people American information theorists Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni I USC Viterbi School of Engineering alumni Stanford University School of Engineering faculty Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Guggenheim Fellows This page was last modified on 15 October 2016, at 20:54. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Gra 11/13/2016 ee.stanford.edu/~gray/shortbio.html Robert M. Gray was born in North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego, Calif., on November 1, 1943. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from M.I.T. in 1966 and the Ph.D. degree from U.S.C. in 1969, all in Electrical Engineering. Since 1969 he has been with Stanford University, where he is currently the Lucent Technologies Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, and Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus. His research interests are in information theory and signal processing, especially in the theory and practice of quantization, compression, and classification. He is currently a Research Professor at Boston University. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Information Theory Group (1974-1980, 1985-1988) and of the IEEE Signal Processing Society (1998-2001). He was Associate Editor for Source Coding (1977- 1980) and Editor-in-Chief (1980-1983) of the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. He was founding Editor-in-Chief of Foundations and Trends in Signal Processing and served through 2012. He was Co-Chair of the 1993 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory and Program Co-Chair of the 1997 and 2004 IEEE International Conference on Image Processing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and the IEEE and has held fellowships from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science at the University of Osaka (1981), the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation at the University of Paris XI (1982), and NATO/Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche at the University of Naples (1990). During spring 1995 he was a Vinton Hayes Visiting Scholar at the Division of Applied Sciences of Harvard University. He was a Faculty Affiliate of the Clayman Institute for Gender Studies at Stanford University, where he was a Faculty Research Fellow during the 2008-2009 academic year. He was corecipient of the 1976 IEEE Information Theory Group Paper Award and the 1983 IEEE ASSP Senior Award. He was awarded an IEEE Centennial medal (1984) and an IEEE Third Millennium Medal (2000). He received the 1993 Society Award, the 1998 Technical Achievement Award, the 2005 Meritorious Service Award, and the 2009 Education Award from the IEEE Signal Processing Society. He received a Golden Jubilee Award for Technological Innovation (1998) and the 2008 Shannon Award from the IEEE Information Theory Society. He received the 2008 IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal. He received a 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) and the 2003 Distinguished Alumni in Academia Award from the University of Southern California. In May 2013 he received a Stanford University President's Award for Excellence Through Diversity. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2007). He holds an Advanced Class Amateur Radio License (KB6XQ). He is a member of the August Derleth Society and the Praed Street Irregulars. Revised 2 October 2014 http://ee.stanford.edu/~gray/shortbio.html 1/1 Amy Heard Page 1 of 2 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 9 January 2005 This site provides the current version of the book Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age . The book is also available in an Adobe portable document format (PDF) version. Some additional related material will also be made available as I acquire it. In 2004 a photo album was found in a Baltimore junkyard. Finding Amy Heard and Max Heard named on the back of some photos, the finders tracked me down through the internet. These 1070s-1880s photos, which include pictures of Amy, Max, and Jane Heard along with several unidentified people are viewable at :hhttp://ee.stanford.edu/~gray/Baltimore_Heard/.Some of the photographs are by the most famous photographers of the time, including Mathew Brady. The book consists primarily of letters written to Amy Heard during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, especially from her friend Victoria Sackville-West, the mother of writer Vita Sackville-West, and her sisters. Extensive commentary places the letters in context and describes many of the people mentioned. Max & Max Transcribing and translations of letters from Amy's Heard's sister Max and her parents from Seoul, Korea, to Amy during the period 1891-1893 during which Amy's father, Augustine Heard, was the U.S. Minister to Korea. The main story in the letters is the romance between Max and Max von Brandt, the German minister to Peking. A second story is the difficult adjustment of an American family to life in Seoul. The letters are being included in both the original French and in translation. I am slowly adding commentary and footnotes on the people mentioned in the letters and on Korea of that period. A pdf is also available, but the photo quality is not good as my scanning talents are inadequate. Jean Brown has kindly provided three pictures relating to Mrs. Greathouse, who is mentioned in Max & Max. These are A newspaper article describing Mrs. Greathouse's adventures in Korea following her return, a short biography of Clarence Greathouse from the Dictionary of American Biography, and Chapter X on Greathouse from the Fantastic City San Francisco historical Website. Poisoning by Wholesale: A Reminiscence of China Life A manuscript by Albert Farley Heard written during the 1880s regarding the panic in China in 1857. Permission is hereby given to freely print and circulate copies of these items SO long as it is left intact, proper acknowledgement is given, and the http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/amy.html 7/13/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- February Page 4 of 4 order to call the architect or others involved with the project, each responding to a specified series of blasts on the whistle. When told that the orchestra needed an audience to test the acoustics of the concert hall before the opening concert, she was SO reluctant to let anyone see the hall before the official opening that she invited the local school for the blind for the rehearsal. Unfortunately it was raining and a well-meaning janitor carefully arranged all of the raincoats, umbrellas, and rubber shoes he found randomly scattered in the entryway. It took hours for the children to locate their moved belongings. Good biographies of her are Mrs Jack [24] and Isabella Stewart Gardner of Fenway Court[8]. Mrs Schlesinger is possibly the wife of Sebastian Schlesinger, who according to Mrs James G. Blaine was a "foreign banker." Robert M. Gray, September 23, 2005 February http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age - - October Page 1 of 4 October October 1881 Newport, R.I. October 1st 1881 1st Sat. Not out in daytime. Dined at Mrs. Marshall O. Roberts, no one but her 2 sisters, Misses Endicott & a Miss McAllister? Afternoon to party at Ida's. Mrs Craig Wadsworth, Miss Dehones. Marshall Owen Roberts (1814-1880) was a capitalist and politician who, among other things, managed many government mail steamship service contracts. These businesses were severely damaged by competition from Cornelius Vanderbilt. Roberts gained notoriety as a profiteer from his steamship dealings during the Civil War. He was an anti-Seward Whig and a Republican. He was one of the group that financed Cyrus Field's first cable venture. Mary Endicott was the daughter of the Secretary of the Navy and a friend of Victoria's who married the British Diplomat Joseph Chamberlain after his successful negotiation of the British-American Fisheries Treaty. Mrs. Craig Wharton Wadsworth is the former Evelyn Willing Peters, 1845-1885. She would later be Amy's neighbor on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington. 2nd Sun. Not out. Mrs Calvert cd. Mrs. Sturgis & Rita & Susie tea with us. The abbreviation "cd." stands for "called." The custom of calling is well described by Tehan in Henry Adams in Love [23], p. 24: The paying of calls was governed by iron-clad rules. Any lady who was or wanted to be in society must first leave her printed calling card before making a visit. Her footman presented it to the servant of the house, and if the corner was turned down it signified that the lady had come in person. The lady for whom she left the card must, within seven to ten days, leave her card in return. This ritual use of the engraved bits of pasteboard was a means of testing the social temperature before entering the water. Next came the exchange of formal calls. One etiquette writer declared, "You cannot invite people to your house (however often you may have met them elsewhere) until you first call on them in a formal manner and they return your visit. It is a safeguard against undesirable aquantances. If you don't wish to continue the friendship, you discontinue to call and no further advances are made. But it is bad manners not to return a call in the first instance." 3rd Mon. Arthur Carey, Mrs. Hopkins cd. Drove with Mr. Warren. Misses Endicott & McAllister. 4th Tues. Dr. Brackett filled tooth up. left. Mr. Atherton Blight, Arthur Rives, Miss Dehones. To see R. Sturgis, Mrs. Rob. Cushing. 5th Wed. To see Mme Outrey. Dr. Brackett general polishing. Mrs Parkinson sent us her carriage. Cd. on Phimneys, Wales, Perkins, Parkinson. Mrs. J. C. Gray, Miss Frick cd. Mme Outrey was the "winsome" wife of the French Minister to Washington. Mrs. John Chipman Gray was the wife of the brother of Russell Gray, later to become Amy's husband. John C. Gray was a Professor of Law at Harvard and founding partner of the Boston Law Firm of Ropes and Gray. Another http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_5.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age --October Page 2 of 4 brother (actually, a half brother) Horace was then a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. In her letter to her father of 15 January 1882, Mrs. Henry Adams writes of Judge Gray that Last Sunday Judge Gray to dine. Has not gained in charm of manner in the years since we last met. 6th Th. To see Mrs. Roberts, Endicotts, Miss McAllister. Mrs. Edw. Potter cd. Possibly Edward Potter is the sculptor (1857-1923) who created statues for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, did several equestrian statues, and did the lions for the New York Public Library. 7th Fri. Rita Sturgis, Mrs. A .A. Low, Miss Low, Mrs. H. Pierrepont Jr, cd. Dr. with Mr. Warren. Abiel Abbot Low (1811-1893) of Salem was a merchant and the clerk and partner (837-1839) of Russell & Co. in Canton China, the company founded by Samul Russell of Middletown, Conn., following his arrival in China in 1824. Amy's father's uncle Augustine Heard had been a partner of Russell & Co. (1831-1836) before founding his own company, Augustine Heard & Co. [16][26][10] Russell & Co. was the largest and Augustine Heard & Co. the second largest American trading firms in China. A. A. Low formed his own company A.A. Low & Brothers and eventually became the leading China and Japan trader in silks and tea. He also shared in in financing the first Atlantic cable and in the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad through West Virginia. Rita Sturgis is possibly either the wife of Russell Sturgis of Boston, who also was a partner in Russell & Co. (1842-1844) or of Robert Shaw Sturgis of Boston, another partner (1850-1857). 8th Sat. Papa came in the night. Mrs. Wetmore, Miss M. Whiting, Ida Decon, Mrs. Cunningham, Miss Hurd cd. I on the Providence. Smith's, M. Griswold, Ida where several girls came to aft. tea. Maud Legdard drove me home. It is possibly coincidence, but there was also a partner of Russell & Company named John N. Alsop Griswold, possibly a relation to Minnie Griswold. Oct 9th Ch. Papa to N.Y. by night boat. 10th Mon. Revd Potter, Min. Griswold, Emily Upton, Miss Gray, Mrs Kenuce Miss Gray is likely one of Harriet or Elizabeth (Bessie) Gray, (half) sisters of John Chipman and Russell Gray. 11th Tues. Large girl's lunch at the Russells. Cd on Whitings, Mrs Boit, Eyre, W. Wadsworth, Sands. The misses Mason cd. 12th Wed. Mamma to lunch at the Rodmans. Mrs Livingston, Woodsworth, Endicotts cd. 13th Th. To see Mrs. W. Forbes at Mrs Pomeroys. out. Cd. on Mrs Dr. King, Mrs Rich. Willing here & Mrs. Terry & Daisey! To see Mrs. J. C. Gray after dinner. The name of Forbes also enters through Russell & Co., John Murray Forbes of Milton, Mass., was a http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_5.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age October Page 3 of 4 partner (1834-1838) as were Robert Bennett Forbes of Milton (1839-1844), Paul Sieman Forbes of New York (1844-1873), and William Howell Forbes of New York and Paris (1861-1880), Frank Blackwell Forbes of New York (1863-1880), James Murray Forbes of Milton (1869-1872), John Murray Forbes, Jr., of New York (1871-1880), and Henry De Courcy Forbes of New York (1872-1880). Russell & Co. was clearly a family affair, as was Heard & Co. Many of these men made fortunes while still young and some, like Amy's father, lost most of it during the recession of the 1870s. Mrs. J.C. Gray was Anna Sophia Lyman "Nina" Gray. She became a close friend of Oliver Wendell Holmes. 14th Fri. Mr. & Mrs. Forbes & Miss Pomeroy cd. Dr. with Mr. Warren. Cd on Miss Madeleine Mixter. 15th S. Mrs. Griswold & Miss Derby cd. Boston Mr. & Mrs. Gray came today, J. C. after din. Papa & Mama dined at the Pomeroys. I at the Griswolds. Afterwards to Commerce Party at Ida's. 16th S. Ch. cd. on Mrs. & Miss Minot, dined 1.30 at the Pomeroys. Walked with Miss Erving. aft. tea. at Miss Howard's. Papa left by night boat. 17th M. Mamma to join Papa in N.Y. & go on to Washington & hunt houses with him. Mrs & Miss Minot cd. I on Mrs. Rich Willing & the Russells. 18th Tues. Drove to Paradise & Purgatory 19th Oct. Mrs & Miss Phinney, Min. Griswold here. Drove with Miss Phinney. 20th Th. Cd on Smiths & Mrs. Stanard. 21st Fri. Mr. Crawford, Maud Ledyard, Mr. Morgand. Drove with Mr. Pomeroy (Tandem). Mamma back fr. Washington. Aug. fr. Quincy to see Brachdt. 22nd Sat. Drove with Mr Warren. 23rd Sun. Not out. Mr Arthur Rives cd. 24th M. Aug. back to Quincy. Began packing. 25th Tues. Miss Ida Mason & Perkins Cd.& Mrs Russell Forsythe. 26th Wed. Miss G. King. Mme de Vaugrigneuse cd. 27th Th. Mrs Buchler & B. sailed for Havre in "Lessing." Mrs. Edw. Potter cd. Not out since Saturday nor seen anyone. Hair washed. The Lessing was a ship of 3,496 gross tons, length 375.1ft X beam 40ft, one funnel, two masts, iron hull, single screw, speed 13 knots, with accommodation for 90-1st, 100-2nd and 800-3rd class passengers. It was launched in 1874 by A. Stephen & Sons, Glasgow for the Adler Line, Hamburg. she started her maiden voyage from Hamburg to New York on 28th May 1874. In 1875 she was purchased by Hamburg America Line and continued Hamburg - Havre - New York sailings. 28th Fri. 29th Sat. Papa home. Mrs and Misses Austin, Miss Smith cd. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_5.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age February Page 1 of 4 Year? February see pg.3 February 1882 W. 1 Feb. Did not go out except for the evening to an "at home" at the Bancrofts to which Mrs Wadsworth took me. The Blaines, Dodge, Upshurs, Miss Lee, Ogdens, Josie Taylor, Carters, Pattisons, Miss Witherspoon came here. Th. 2 To receive with the Pendletons. Mathilda and Miss Turnbull here, Ginny McL. and her niece (???). F.3 To see the Cutts, Logans, Porters, Ross Bays, Rathbones, Hooker, Grace, Miss and Mr L. and Ginny. In the evening to the "Bachelor's German" where I danced with a Taft from Cincinatti, a friend of Mrs Pendleton, who took me there. Sa. 4 Snowed without stopping for a moment all day. Nevertheless I lunched with Mathilda de N. and stayed with her until after 5, playing piano. Papa returned from N.Y. Sun. 5 To the party (tertulia) at the Nogueiras_with Señora Martinez and Josefina. M. 6 With Papa "to the House" where ??? Miss Lucy Frelinghuysen, Mrs Oliver and her sisters Rathbones, Mrs McLane, Hale, Kasson, Lowndes, Belmont. We all lunched with Mr. Kasson. Afterwords we went to see the machines underneath for heating, provisions, etc. Then I went with Papa to see Mrs Basbouir (??) and Miss Dangerfield. Mrs Bancroft, Ogdens, Mrs Robeson and Minnie Stout, Miss Levy, Peabodys, Crowninshields, Mr R. Rofles and Lowery here. T. 7 Miss Hooker, Mrs Dr G. Loring, Mrs Boswell (??) Schuyler, Beale, Arth. Dester here (and Mrs Ruth, Dr Gunnell). To see Mrs F. Adam, Rathbones, Duncans, Biddles, Peabodys, Crowninshields. Mama left her room for the first time since the 27th, to go to dine with Mrs Wadsworth. Later Papa returned from N.Y. W. 8 To see Mathilda, Josefina, Peabodys, Browne, Aulick Palmer, Frelinghuysens, Hunts. Here Dr James Palmer, Schericks, Ginny McL. Monday I received from Juan a precious little edition of "Undine." An undine is a water sprite, a nymph with the ability to assume human form. As with other spirits, they lacked a human soul. According to Paracelsus, when an Undine married a mortal and bore a child, the fusion of natural and supernatural resulted in her gaining a soul. "Edicionita" has been translated has been translated as "small edition." My guess is that the item being referred to is a small volume of the book Undine by Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouqué, the son of Huguenots who fled to Prussia from Normandy after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. His book, which was inspired by the writings of the Swiss physician Paracelsus, was extremely popular during the Victorian era, although it had been written much earlier in 1811. It happens that in 1882 an English translation of the book was published by Riverside Press, a subsidiary of Houghten Mifflen [18]. The book is indeed an "edicionita," being a small volume in a green binding with attractive illustrations. In addition to the book, the story formed the basis of musical scores, operas, the Hans Christian Anderson tale of the little mermaid, one of the stories in Oscar Wilde's collection of fairy tales, and a modern Walt Disney Cartoon. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.htm 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- February Page 2 of 4 This journal entry contains the only appearance of the name Juan in the journals. The only Juan I know of in Amy's life is Juan Valera, who arrives in Washington in 1884 as the Minister from Madrid and who is often mentioned in the later letters. This is the first evidence the two might have known each other before 1884, but at this time he was Spanish Minister to Lisbon. Wed. 9 It rained all day and I did not go out until the evening for a dance at the British Legation with Mama. Mrs. Fanny Peabody who was here for several days at Mrs. Crowninshield's danced the cotillion with Charon. Misses Aldis and Schutz here. F. 10 Mrs Ashton Gordon-Cumming, Duncans & Mr Kasson here. To see Posie Mason, Miss Mercer, McFreley, Outrey, Miller (Hopkins)_ For the evening at the Lorings (Commissioner). Posie Mason is mentioned in the letters of Mrs. Henry Adams. On 12 February 1882 she writes regarding a tea party that there were lots of pretty girls, Posey Mason looking as if the ball and chain were off her ankles; she was gay and gracious -- she is paddling her own canoe as a guest of the Pendeletons. George Loring was the Commissioner of Agriculture. Sat. 11 To see the Hopkins, Ashtons, Gordon-Cummings, McCeney, tea-party at the "Wisery"_ Peabodys, Biddles, Mrs L. Carter, Dr. Shirley Carter, Miss Lela Mercer, Mrs Bingham, Ricketts, P. Parker, Miss Lee, Miss Stoughton, J. Kings, Lippetts, Dodge, Mr Ray, Rogers, Kasson here. Sun. 12 Mr Arthur Dexter, Mrs Phillips, Misses Levy, ???, Stout, McLane, Mr Strong called. High tea at the Shenks with the Hales and General Smith. And later at the Nogueiras'. M. 13 Mrs Grace lunched with us. For the afternoon at the house of Mrs J. Davis. For the evening, reception ??? (Rose Ray?), afterwards the wedding of his daughter with Mr Harrison, later to the Markol musical and to the Pendleton's. T. 14 To see Miss West, Mrs Gitting, Miss Mild, Mrs W. Moore, Prestons, Robeson, Knight. Baron de Arinos, Mrs Peabody, Mr Blaine, W. Phillips & Mrs Hannah ? here_ For the evening the last German of the "Tuesday Club." W. 15 To play the piano with Mathilde from 10 to 12. Lunched with Ginny McL. (Misses West, Lela Mercer, M. Pendelton, Posie Mason, Biddle, L. Williams. Mr & Mrs W. Moore, Mrs Davenport, General Beale, Mrs Oldfield, Mrs Big. Lawrence, Misses Chapman & Mercer. For the evening, at the Wadsworth's. Th. 16 Lunched at the Lawrence's. Misses Chapman, Mercer, Biddle, L. Emory, J Pendleton, L. Williams & Mrs Arth. Dexter. To see Mrs Robeson who was sick all the week. For the evening at the Frelinghuysen's. Misses Waite, Bissel, Meigs here. F. 17 To see Mrs Gittings, Outrey, final Bachelors German with Strong. Ida arrived from N.Y. and (???) with us. Chacon, Boca, Ida, P. Mason, J. Pendleton here. Sat. 18 Lunched at the Pendletons. To see Miss Turnbull of N.Y., Ida, Mrs Hopkins_Mr Sally McLane, Mme and Mlle de Chambrun, Miss Miller (Justice), Mrs Story, Mr Paine, Aristarchi, Count Lewenhaupt, Mrs Ferguson here. For the evening at the Bancroft Davis' (some twenty young http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age February Page 3 of 4 people for dancing). Papa returned from N.Y. The note "Justice" suggests that Miss Miller is the daughter of Samuel Freeman Miller (1816-1890), an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (appointed by Lincoln in 1862). Sun. 19 It rained SO much that I did not go to church. In the afternoon to see Mrs Willie Emory and for the evening at the Robesons with Papa and the Minots. Mrs Gitting and Ida and Maj Booth here. Mon. 20 Dined at the Ogdens. The Minots took me to the dance at the British Legation. Tues. 21 For the evening at the Bancroft Davis'. Lunched with Mrs Wadsworth. Tea at the Wisery. To see Mrs Gittings, Ida, Miss Bénard. Papa returned from N.Y. W. 22 Ash Wednesday_ At Church. Josef. Martinez, Ida, Dr Palmer, Lamb. Gittings, Mr. & Mrs Hopkins here. Th. 23 To see Dr Loring for the fourth time. He burned my eyes with silver nitrate which caused them much pain all day, more than the alum. Also he reapplied electricity. Mr. G. Dorr and A. Rives here. To see Mrs. D. King and her sister Miss Rives, Mrs Carter, Lawrence, Chapman, Mercer, H. Adams, Meigs, Brewster, Blaine, Ogden, Markol, McLanes, Robeson. Bucknam G. Dorr is George Cabot Dorr, the son of Charles Hazen Dorr and Mary Gray Ward Dorr of Boston. George would later gain fame as the founder of Acadia National Park. Mary Dorr was a distant cousin of Russell Gray, whom Amy would later marry. Mary as a granddaughter of Samuel Gray of Salem, an older brother of William "Old Billy" Gray of Salem. William was Russell Gray's grandfather. Charles and Mary were married in 1850, the year of Russell's birth.[12] F. 24 To play the piano and lunch with Mathilde. To see Mrs J. Davis, M. Storey, Bingham, Ida, the Church. For the evening at the Wadworths'. Sat. 25 To see J. Pendleton, Ida, Miss Stoughton, at Church. Dined at the Dav. Kings. Later at the Hopkins, Mr. V. Drummond, W. Blair, Dr. Gunnel, Prestons (Haiti). Sun 26 At Church. Ida lunched with us. For the evening at the Robesons. Mon. 27 Did not go out. Mrs Gordon Cumming came. Tues. 28 Did not go out. Mrs J. Morris and Miss Lee, Dr and Mrs Ch. Carter, Mr & Mrs H. Adams, Mr & Mrs Ch. Dorr, Mr & Mrs L. Irving, Mrs J. Lodge, Mrs Schlesinger, Mrs Jack Gardner. Isabella Stewart Gardner ("Mrs Jack") was the wonderfully eccentric and wonderfully rich art collector who scandalized Boston for years and founded the Gardner museum. Possessor of two fortunes, that of her father and that of her husband Jack Gardner (a cousin of Amy's future husband Russel Gray), she roamed the world in general (and Italy in particular) in search of art treasures for her reconstructed Italian villa in the Fenway, then the swamps on the border of Boston. The famous collector and critic, Bernard Berenson, arranged for many of her purchases, which ranged from the sublime to the silly. The stories about her have become legend. Some examples: Upon moving to Boston and discovering that the aristocracy all belonged to the Episcopalian Church, she announced her conversion to Buddhism. While her villa was being built, she liked to watch while perched in a nearby tree. She kept a whistle handy in http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- February Page 4 of 4 order to call the architect or others involved with the project, each responding to a specified series of blasts on the whistle. When told that the orchestra needed an audience to test the acoustics of the concert hall before the opening concert, she was SO reluctant to let anyone see the hall before the official opening that she invited the local school for the blind for the rehearsal. Unfortunately it was raining and a well-meaning janitor carefully arranged all of the raincoats, umbrellas, and rubber shoes he found randomly scattered in the entryway. It took hours for the children to locate their moved belongings. Good biographies of her are Mrs Jack [24] and Isabella Stewart Gardner of Fenway Court[8]. Mrs Schlesinger is possibly the wife of Sebastian Schlesinger, who according to Mrs James G. Blaine was a "foreign banker." Robert M. Gray, September 23, 2005 February http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- February Page 1 of 4 February February W. 1 Feb. Did not go out except for the evening to an "at home" at the Bancrofts to which Mrs Wadsworth took me. The Blaines, Dodge, Upshurs, Miss Lee, Ogdens, Josie Taylor, Carters, Pattisons, Miss Witherspoon came here. Th. 2 To receive with the Pendletons. Mathilda and Miss Turnbull here, Ginny McL. and her niece (???). F. To see the Cutts, Logans, Porters, Ross Bays, Rathbones, Hooker, Grace, Miss and Mr L. and Ginny. In the evening to the "Bachelor's German" where I danced with a Taft from Cincinatti, a friend of Mrs Pendleton, who took me there. Sa. 4 Snowed without stopping for a moment all day. Nevertheless I lunched with Mathilda de N. and stayed with her until after 5, playing piano. Papa returned from N.Y. Sun. 5 To the party (tertulia) at the Nogueiras_with Señora Martinez and Josefina. M. 6 With Papa "to the House" where ??? Miss Lucy Frelinghuysen, Mrs Oliver and her sisters Rathbones, Mrs McLane, Hale, Kasson, Lowndes, Belmont. We all lunched with Mr. Kasson. Afterwords we went to see the machines underneath for heating, provisions, etc. Then I went with Papa to see Mrs Basbouir (??) and Miss Dangerfield. Mrs Bancroft, Ogdens, Mrs Robeson and Minnie Stout, Miss Levy, Peabodys, Crowninshields, Mr R. Rofles and Lowery here. T. 7 Miss Hooker, Mrs Dr G. Loring, Mrs Boswell (??) Schuyler, Beale, Arth. Dester here (and Mrs Ruth, Dr Gunnell). To see Mrs F. Adam, Rathbones, Duncans, Biddles, Peabodys, Crowninshields. Mama left her room for the first time since the 27th, to go to dine with Mrs Wadsworth. Later Papa returned from N.Y. W. 8 To see Mathilda, Josefina, Peabodys, Browne, Aulick Palmer, Frelinghuysens, Hunts. Here Dr James Palmer, Schericks, Ginny McL. Monday I received from Juan a precious little edition of "Undine." An undine is a water sprite, a nymph with the ability to assume human form. As with other spirits, they lacked a human soul. According to Paracelsus, when an Undine married a mortal and bore a child, the fusion of natural and supernatural resulted in her gaining a soul. "Edicionita" has been translated has been translated as "small edition." My guess is that the item being referred to is a small volume of the book Undine by Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouqué, the son of Huguenots who fled to Prussia from Normandy after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. His book, which was inspired by the writings of the Swiss physician Paracelsus, was extremely popular during the Victorian era, although it had been written much earlier in 1811. It happens that in 1882 an English translation of the book was published by Riverside Press, a subsidiary of Houghten Mifflen [18]. The book is indeed an "edicionita," being a small volume in a green binding with attractive illustrations. In addition to the book, the story formed the basis of musical scores, operas, the Hans Christian Anderson tale of the little mermaid, one of the stories in Oscar Wilde's collection of fairy tales, and a modern Walt Disney Cartoon. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- February Page 2 of 4 This journal entry contains the only appearance of the name Juan in the journals. The only Juan I know of in Amy's life is Juan Valera, who arrives in Washington in 1884 as the Minister from Madrid and who is often mentioned in the later letters. This is the first evidence the two might have known each other before 1884, but at this time he was Spanish Minister to Lisbon. Wed. 9 It rained all day and I did not go out until the evening for a dance at the British Legation with Mama. Mrs. Fanny Peabody who was here for several days at Mrs. Crowninshield's danced the cotillion with Charon. Misses Aldis and Schutz here. F. 10 Mrs Ashton Gordon-Cumming, Duncans & Mr Kasson here. To see Posie Mason, Miss Mercer, McFreley, Outrey, Miller (Hopkins)_ For the evening at the Lorings (Commissioner). Posie Mason is mentioned in the letters of Mrs. Henry Adams. On 12 February 1882 she writes regarding a tea party that there were lots of pretty girls, Posey Mason looking as if the ball and chain were off her ankles; she was gay and gracious -- she is paddling her own canoe as a guest of the Pendeletons. George Loring was the Commissioner of Agriculture. Sat. 11 To see the Hopkins, Ashtons, Gordon-Cummings, McCeney, tea-party at the "Wisery"_Peabodys, Biddles, Mrs L. Carter, Dr. Shirley Carter, Miss Lela Mercer, Mrs Bingham, Ricketts, P. Parker, Miss Lee, Miss Stoughton, J. Kings, Lippetts, Dodge, Mr Ray, Rogers, Kasson here. Sun. 12 Mr Arthur Dexter, Mrs Phillips, Misses Levy, ???, Stout, McLane, Mr Strong called. High tea at the Shenks with the Hales and General Smith. And later at the Nogueiras'. M. 13 Mrs Grace lunched with us. For the afternoon at the house of Mrs J. Davis. For the evening, reception ??? (Rose Ray?), afterwards the wedding of his daughter with Mr Harrison, later to the Markol musical and to the Pendleton's. T. 14 To see Miss West, Mrs Gitting, Miss Mild, Mrs W. Moore, Prestons, Robeson, Knight. Baron de Arinos, Mrs Peabody, Mr Blaine, W. Phillips & Mrs Hannah ? here_ For the evening the last German of the "Tuesday Club." W. 15 To play the piano with Mathilde from 10 to 12. Lunched with Ginny McL. (Misses West, Lela Mercer, M. Pendelton, Posie Mason, Biddle, L. Williams. Mr & Mrs W. Moore, Mrs Davenport, General Beale, Mrs Oldfield, Mrs Big. Lawrence, Misses Chapman & Mercer. For the evening, at the Wadsworth's. Th. 16 Lunched at the Lawrence's. Misses Chapman, Mercer, Biddle, L. Emory, J Pendleton, L. Williams & Mrs Arth. Dexter. To see Mrs Robeson who was sick all the week. For the evening at the Frelinghuysen's. Misses Waite, Bissel, Meigs here. F. 17 To see Mrs Gittings, Outrey, final Bachelors German with Strong. Ida arrived from N.Y. and (???) with us. Chacon, Boca, Ida, P. Mason, J. Pendleton here. Sat. 18 Lunched at the Pendletons. To see Miss Turnbull of N.Y., Ida, Mrs Hopkins_Mr Sally McLane, Mme and Mlle de Chambrun, Miss Miller (Justice), Mrs Story, Mr Paine, Aristarchi, Count Lewenhaupt, Mrs Ferguson here. For the evening at the Bancroft Davis' (some twenty young http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age February Page 3 of 4 people for dancing). Papa returned from N.Y. The note "Justice" suggests that Miss Miller is the daughter of Samuel Freeman Miller (1816-1890), an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (appointed by Lincoln in 1862). Sun. 19 It rained SO much that I did not go to church. In the afternoon to see Mrs Willie Emory and for the evening at the Robesons with Papa and the Minots. Mrs Gitting and Ida and Maj Booth here. Mon. 20 Dined at the Ogdens. The Minots took me to the dance at the British Legation. Tues. 21 For the evening at the Bancroft Davis'. Lunched with Mrs Wadsworth. Tea at the Wisery. To see Mrs Gittings, Ida, Miss _Bénard, Papa returned from N.Y. W. 22 Ash Wednesday_ At Church. Josef. Martinez, Ida, Dr Palmer, Lamb. Gittings, Mr. & Mrs Hopkins here. Th. 23 To see Dr Loring for the fourth time. He burned my eyes with silver nitrate which caused them much pain all day, more than the alum. Also he reapplied electricity. Mr. G. Dorr and A. Rives here. To see Mrs. D. King and her sister Miss Rives, Mrs Carter, Lawrence, Chapman, Mercer, H. Adams, Meigs, Brewster, Blaine, Ogden, Markol, McLanes, Robeson. G. Dorr is George Cabot Dorr, the son of Charles Hazen Dorr and Mary Gray Ward Dorr of Boston. George would later gain fame as the founder of Acadia National Park. Mary Dorr was a distant cousin of Russell Gray, whom Amy would later marry. Mary as a granddaughter of Samuel Gray of Salem, an older brother of William "Old Billy" Gray of Salem. William was Russell Gray's grandfather. Charles and Mary were married in 1850, the year of Russell's birth. [12] F. 24 To play the piano and lunch with Mathilde. To see Mrs J. Davis, M. Storey, Bingham, Ida, the Church. For the evening at the Wadworths'. Sat. 25 To see J. Pendleton, Ida, Miss Stoughton, at Church. Dined at the Dav. Kings. Later at the Hopkins, Mr. V. Drummond, W. Blair, Dr. Gunnel, Prestons (Haiti). Sun 26 At Church. Ida lunched with us. For the evening at the Robesons. Mon. 27 Did not go out. Mrs Gordon Cumming came. Tues. 28 Did not go out. Mrs J. Morris and Miss Lee, Dr and Mrs Ch. Carter, Mr & Mrs H. Adams, Mr & Mrs Ch. Dorr, Mr & Mrs L. Irving, Mrs J. Lodge, Mrs Schlesinger, Mrs Jack Gardner. Isabella Stewart Gardner ("Mrs Jack") was the wonderfully eccentric and wonderfully rich art collector who scandalized Boston for years and founded the Gardner museum. Possessor of two fortunes, that of her father and that of her husband Jack Gardner (a cousin of Amy's future husband Russel Gray), she roamed the world in general (and Italy in particular) in search of art treasures for her reconstructed Italian villa in the Fenway, then the swamps on the border of Boston. The famous collector and critic, Bernard Berenson, arranged for many of her purchases, which ranged from the sublime to the silly. The stories about her have become legend. Some examples: Upon moving to Boston and discovering that the aristocracy all belonged to the Episcopalian Church, she announced her conversion to Buddhism. While her villa was being built, she liked to watch while perched in a nearby tree. She kept a whistle handy in http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_10.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1884 Page 1 of 5 1884 Nint, 1884 This is the earliest letter in the collection from Victoria to Amy. Letter to Miss A. Heard care of Mess. J.J. Cisco & Son 59 Wall Street, New York. note en coin: Tout le monde se réjouissent de votre arrivée. British Legation Washington, D.C. 7 Mai /84 Ma chère Amy, Enfin je suis bien contente de savoir que vous viendrez "pour sûr" demeurer avec nous. J'aurais aimé que vous fussiez ici pour les courses; cela vous aurait amusé; mais je crains d'après votre lettre que vous ne pourrez pas. Vous me demandez de vous fixer le jour qu'il me serait le plus agréable de vous avoir. Le plus tôt sera le mieux. Peut-être aurez-vous quelques commissions et emplettes à faire à New York; donc vous désirez probablement avoir un peu de temps libre. C'est pour cela que je préférer que vous fixiez vous-même le temps de votre arrivé. Nous sommes encore ici pour une grande partie de l'été; ainsi donc VS pouvez venir quand bon vous semble. Et surtout arrangerez-vous de ???? à rester aussi long-temps que possible; vous devez au moins nous donner 19 jours ou 3 semaines, si cela vous est permis. J'espère que Mount Desert ne VS attires pas trop; c'est pour cela que je veux VS. guarder. Je désire faire d'avance un arrangement avec vous: que VS. soyez tout à fait libre de votre temps, comme si vous étiez chez vous. Je sais qu'il y a des hôtes qui veulent toujours faires des programmes pour leurs invités, et de cette manière, leur être fort désagréables. Mais comme je veux que vous ayez avec nous "a nice time", j'éspère que VS accepterez cette condition et que VS vous distraierez autant que possible. Il n'y a pas grand chose maintenant; on se repose. Mais on se voit dans l'intimité; nous sommes à la maison une fois par semaine le soir pour le corps diplomatique seulement; nous commencerons probablement mardi prochaine. Nous ferons de longues promenades en voiture; Papa vient de nous acheter un petit "panier" que je conduis moi-même, comme nous aurons alors le temps de bavarder! http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_20.html, 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1884 Page 2 of 5 Au revoir, chère Ami, et à bientôt. Faites-moi savoir tout de suite quand VS venez. Votre sincère amie, Victoria Les courses commencent le 14 et durent jusqu'au 17 moi. Etes-vous temptée? Milles amitiés à votre maman. note in the corner: Everyone is delighted with your arrival. British Legation Washington, D.C. 7 May /84 My dear Amy, Finally I am well pleased to know that you are coming to stay with us "for sure." I would have liked for you to be here for the races; that would have amused you; but I fear from your letter that you will not be able to. You ask me to fix the day that would be the best for me to have you. The sooner the better. Perhaps you have some errands and purchases to make in New York; then you will probably desire a little free time. It's for that reason that I would prefer you to fix yourself the time of your arrival. We are still here for a large part of the summer; thus you can come when it seems good for you. And above all arrange things SO as to remain as long as possible, you must at least give us 19 days or three weeks, if that is permitted. I hope that Mount Desert does not attract you too much; it is for that reason that I want to keep you. I wish to make in advance an arrangement with you: that your time should be completely free, as if you were in your own home. I know that there are hosts who always want to make programs for their guests, and in this manner, they are quite disagreeable. I want for you to have with us "a nice time," I hope that you will accept this condition and that you will amuse yourself as much as possible. Jackim SEVENOAKS kee Nothing much is going on now; one rests. But we see each other in private; we are at home one night each Victoria week for the diplomatic corps only; we will probably begin next Tuesday. We take long carriage trips; Papa just bought us a little "wagon" which I drive myself; how we will then have the time to gossip! Au revoir, dear Amy, and a bientot. Let me know soon when you are coming. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_20.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1884 Page 3 of 5 Your sincere friend, Victoria The races begin the 14th and last until 17 May. Are you tempted? Notes: Mount Desert Island is a summer resort off the coast of East central Maine which now forms part of Acadia National Park. The resort first gained popularity with academics and artists who journeyed their for summer vacations, but sadly the paintings produced by the artists popularized the resort which began to draw the social and wealthy and rival Newport in its "cottages," if not in its hotels, which were notoriously non-luxurious for the time. Amy apparently accepted Victoria's invitation as she received a letter in January 1885 with "British Legation, Washington, D.C." as her address. Letter from Victoria West at the British Legation in Washington to Amy Heard at 262 Fourth Avenue, NY. Dated 23 December 1884. 23 Décembre Ma chère Amy, J'ai juste une minute avant de sortir pour vous envoyer me meillieurs souhaits pour la Noël. Quant à ceux pour la nouvelle année, je sais que j'aurai la plaisir de vous les dire verbalement. Je vous attends la semaine prochaine, et je compte que VS me ferez savoir le jour et l'heure de votre arrivée ici. Vos amis vous attend avec beaucoup d'impatience, et surtout celles qui habitent á la Légation Britannique. Monsieur Valera trépique de plaisir en pensant que VS serez ici bientôt. Je crois que Madame la femme devrait en être avertie! Papa donne un grand bal à Flora le 6 janvier. Et nous allons chez la Président le matin du er. Au revoir, ma chérie, j'ai tellement à faire que je ne sais où donner de la tête. Votre amie Victoria Mille bons souhaits à tous les vôtres. 23 December http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_20.htm) 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1884 Page 4 of 5 My Dear Amy, I have just a minute before leaving to send you my best wishes for Christmas. As for those for the new year, I know that I will have the pleasure to give you them orally. I await your arrival here next week, and I trust that you will let me know the day and the hour. Your friends await you with great impatience, espeicially those who inhabit the British Legation. Monsieur Valera jumps with pleasure thinking that you will be here soon. I believe that Madame his wife should be warned of it! Papa is giving a grand ball for Flora on 6 January. And we are going to the White House the morning of the first. Au revoir, ma cherie, I have SO much to do that I don't know what to think. Your friend, Victoria A thousand best wishes to all of yours. Notes: don Juan Valera y Alcala Galiano, 1824-1915, was the minister of Spain to the United States from January 1884 until 1886. Valera was also a poet and novelist as well as a diplomat. His novels were not known as being particularly good, but he was a pioneer of what was to eventually develop into a Spanish school of fiction. His best known novel was Pepita Jimenez. He had a reputation as a womanizer. His wife, Dolores Delavat, was twenty years his junior and remained conveniently in Spain, SO he was free to socialize extensively. One of his reputed mistresses was Katherine Lee Bayard, the daughter of the secretary of state from 7 March 1885 through 6 March 1889, Thomas Francis Bayard, and the sister of Amy's friend Mabel Bayard Warren. In January 1886, three days after Valera's transfer orders, Katherine committed suicide. Valera was born on 18 October 1824, SO he was 59 when in 20 January 1884 he arrived in Washington DC and moved into 14 Lafayette Square, close to the White House. He wrote his friend Menéndez Pelayo "y hasta me llaman handsome, que tengo heromosos ojos," observers remarked he looked younger than 50.[7] He would serve in the position until being named Minister to Brussels on 25 January 1886, a position he would assume in 11 May. Katherine Bayard, the daughter of the Secretary of State, committed suicide 16 January, apparently after being informed by Valera of his imminent departure. According to his biographer, Valera had fallen in love with Catherine soon after his arrival in Washington. Robert M. Gray, September 23, 2005 1884 http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_20.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 1886 Page 1 of 28 1886 1886 Letter to Miss Heard, 28 West 18th Street, NY, from Amalia West. dated 28 February 1886. A.W. British Legation Washington 28 Février 1886. Quel gentil petit mot Jolaille, que celui que [vous] avez mis dans la lettre de Flora. Au premier abord, elle ne l'avait ps vu, quand j'ai vu que vous lui écriviez une si longue lettre et que votre petite amie n'avait rien je me suis mes en colère contre vous en disant, que vous ne m'aimiez plus. Mais comme j'ai été vachée, lorsque Flora allait déchirérer son enveloppe y a regard\'e trouvé votre petit mot qui m'a fait tant de bien. Pourquoi Jolaille avez vous souligné "sans y penser"? Aurais je, sans le savoir, conquis un des ces coeurs masculins qui sont généralement si durs à vaincre? S'il en est ainsi vous devriez m'avertir, j'aimerais savoir à qui ce coeur appartient! Mais comme je vous l'ai dit je ne le croirai jamais. Pauvre Jolaille, je suis bien peinée d'apprendre que vous êtes inquiète de votre Papa, Cuba lui fera du bien j'en suis sûre. La maison me parait si triste depuis que Papa et Victoria sont partis ils me manquent beaucoup et serai bien contente quand ils reviendront. L'autre soir Flora et moi sommes allées diner chez Mmme Reutershiöld en famille. C'etait bien gentil de sa part de nous inviter. Après le diner nous avons chanté tous les airs de la Mascotte avec Monsiuer Pedroso et Monsieur Reutershiöld. Malgré cela j'etais bien triste. Comme Victoria est heurese de vous avoir vu. C'est moi qui aurait bien vouler être à ca place!. Au revoir ma Jolaille mille baisers de votre petite amie Amalia West A.W. British Legation Washington 28 February 1886 What a nice little word, Jolaille, that which you put in the letter to Flora. At first she did not see it. When I saw that you wrote her such a nice long letter and that your petite amie had nothing, I became angry with you, saying that you no longer loved me. How mad I was. Then Flora was going to tear up the envelope and found there your little word which made me all better. Why Jolaille have you underlined "without thinking of it." Had I, without knowing it, conquered one of these masculine hearts which are http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 2 of 28 generally SO hard to vanquish? If it is SO you should warn me, I would love to know to whom this heart belongs! But as I told you I will never believe it. Poor Jolaille, I am very pained to learn that you are worried about your Papa, Cuba will do him good, I am sure of it. The house seems SO sad since Papa and Victoria left. I miss them a great deal and would be well content when they return. The other night Flora and I went to dine at the house of Mme Reutershiold. It was very nice on her part to invite us. After the dinner we sang all of the airs of the Mascotte with Monsieur Pedroso and Monsieur Reutershiold. In spite of that I was very sad. How happy Victoria is to have seen you. It is I who would have well wanted to be in her place! Au revoir my Jolaille. A thousand kisses. From your petite amie Amalia West Notes: "Jolaille" like "gentaille" does not exist in any dictionary I have. There is a suffix -aille which adds a sense of multitude and a perjorative sense to words, e.g., mangeaille for a quantity of mediocre food; but this does not seem to fit the affectionate use of these words. Victoria later refers to her father as Jolaille. Perhaps these are home-made words based on "gentille" and "jolie." La Mascotte is Gilbert and Sullivan's Sorcerer. Letter to Miss Heard, 18 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, from Amalia West, British Legation. Dated 6 March 1886. British Legation Washington 6 Mars 1886 Vilaine Jolaille que ne me répond jamais! Si je ne savais pas que vos yeux vous faisaient mal, je me facherais! Victoria et Papa sont enfin arrivés at Ottawa, aprés avoir été arretés en route à cause de la neige, le train ne pouvait plus avancer. D'après ses lettres elle a l'air de bien s'amuser. C'est votre petite Malia qui voudrait être là bas! C'est assomment d'être la troisième, mais d'un autre coté si je me l'étais, je ne servis pas votre preférée, et cela ne ferait jamais. Nous allons nous lancer la semaine prochaine tous les soirs, depuis mercredi jusqu'à Samedi nous irons au théatre voir "Judic". Il faut aussi que nous ayons un peu d'amusement. J'aime tellement être en l'air. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 1886 Page 3 of 28 Cette jeunesse comme vous l'appelez est frivole quelquefois, mais elle vois aime bien. Tout le monde a été très gentil à Boston pour Victoria je suppose qu'elle vous aura écrit toutes les nouvelles. Comment va votre Papa? Et vous ma bonne Jolaille comment cela va? Vous ennuyez vous beaucoup? Se je vous avez vous seriez bien gaie car je ne vous permettrais pas d'être triste, à quoi cela sert? à rien du tout. Malgré ce raisonnement je le suis presque toujours. belle avance, je n'ai personne pour me consoler! Ma Jolaille n'est pas là! La vieille Endicott va bien, Flora est allée avec elle bien souvent aux bals et aux soirées. Mme Endicott n'est pas bien elle a mal à la gorge. Les yeux de Mme Boumy sont à peu près la même chose, elle ne peut pas s'en servir. Mille baisers de votre petite amie que vous aime. Amalia British Legation Washington 6 March 1886 Villainous Jolaille who never replies! If I did not know that your eyes were bad, I would become angry! Victoria and Papa finally arrived in Ottawa, after having been stopped en route because of the snow, the train could advance no farther. After her letters she has the air of having a good time. It is your little Amalia who would like to be there! It is deathly boring to be the third, but on the other hand, if I were not that, I would not be your favorite, and that would never do. We are going to throw ourselves into every night next week, since Wednesday up to Saturday we are going to the theatre to see "Judic." It is also necessary for us to have a little amusement. I SO love to be in the air. This youth as you call it is frivolous sometimes, but it loves you well. Everyone was very nice in Boston to Victoria. I suppose that she will have written you all the news. How is your Papa doing? And you my good Jolaille, how are you doing? Are you very bored? If I had you I would not permit you to be sad. What does that serve! Nothing at all. In spite of that reasoning, I am sad almost always. Good advance, I have no one to console me! My Jolaille is not there! The old Endicott is doing well, Flora went with her very often to balls and soirees. Mme Endicott is not well, she has a sore throat. The eyes of Mme Boumy are about the same, she cannot use them. A thousand kisses from your petite amie who loves you. Amalia Notes: Mme Endicott is Mary Endicott, the daughter of William Endicott, the Secretary of War. She married a British statesman Joseph Chamberlain who came in 1886-1887 to negotiate the fisheries treaty. There are several letters from Mary Edicott to Amy. Judic was a popular actress who played with the Opéra- Bouffe company, the "long established darling of the boulevards." In the Annals of the New York Stage she is referred to as "perhaps the most artistic representative of the species ever seen in this country." http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 4 of 28 She was "recognized by connoisseurs as a comedienne of the first rank. As the Herald repeatedly pointed out, she depended, not, like previous performers of this school, on winks and kicks and flirting of skirts, but on genuine comedy touches and sustained working out of character and situations." The Annals goes on to say that "On October 6th [1885] the new star made a big hit (at least with the discriminating) in La Femme á Papa " Mrs. Henry Adams refers to her in a letter also containing a diatribe against Sara Bernhardt. She mentions Judic in "Femme á Papa" in a letter from Paris to her father on 28 December 1879. She describes her as "very good," but says that she had never seen a "draggier, sillier, longer dose of nonsense" than the play. Madame Boumy is pictured with the West sisters in the photo shown earlier. Letter to Miss Heard, 18 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, from Amalia West in the British Legation British Legation Washington 9 Mars 1886 Ma Jolaille, Comme je suis gentaille, je vous écris bien souvent, bien souvent, et vous, vous ne m'écrivez plus du tutout. Nous avons reçu des nouvelles du Canada, où Victoria je vous assure s'amuse bien, elle est beaucoup fetée et Lord et Lady Lansdowne sont très gentils pour elle. Jolaille, est ce vrai que pauvre le perdre son père? J'ai lu cela dans les journaux d'aujourd'hui, Mon Dieux j'éspere bien que ce n'est ps vrai! Pauvre Dora Miller vient de perdre son pére, que c'est donc triste la mort. Ne nous en allez pas Jolaille! Demain soir nous commençons notre semane de théatre, je me rejouis d'avance. Nous commençons bien le Carême, mais vraiment il faut saisir l'occasion aux cheveux. Nous serons bonnes tout le reste du Carème. Votre bébé va-t-il bien? Au revoir Jolaille. Je vous embrasse bien fort. Votre petite amie. Amalia West British Legation Washington 9 March 1886 http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 5 of 28 My Jolaille, How gentaille I am to write you SO often, and you, you no longer write me at all. We have received news from Canada, where Victoria is having fun, I assure you, she is much feted and Lord and Lady Lansdowne are very good for her. Jolaille, is it true that poor Greger lost his father? I read that in today's paper, My God I hope that it is not true. Poor Dora Miller just lost her father. How said death is. Don't you ever go away, Jolaille! Tomorrow evening we begin our week of theatre, I am already rejoicing. We will begin Lent, but it is truly necessary to seize the occasion. We will be good for all the rest of Lent. Is your bébé well? Au Revoire, Jolaille. Je vous embrasse bien fort. Your petite amie, Amalia West Notes: There was a Senator John Franklin Miller from California who died in 1886 (b. 1831); perhaps the father of Dora. Greger was a rich young secretary of the Russian legation according to Mary Alsop. Lord Lansdowne (Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice) had been Governor General of Canada since 1883, following long service in the British Government including the House of Lords, Lord of the Treasury under William gladstone from 1869 to 1872, undersecretary of war from 1872 to 1874, and undersecretary of state for India in 1880. His wife was the former Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton. Letter to Miss Heard, 18 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, from Victoria West. The date is probably 11 March 1886 since the letter is dated Thursday and it was found with the Sunday 14 March 1886 letter. Government House Ottowa Jeudi Ma bien chère Amy, J'ai une minute à moi ce matin, aussi je me dépeche de vous envoyer un mot, écrit avec une plume à oie car nous sommes dans une maison Anglaise. Les Lansdownes sont tout ce qu'il y a de plus aimables pour nous; ils sont charmants. Les aides-de-camp aussi. Un d'eux a épuisé une nièce de Lady L., Lady Florence Anson; elle est très jolie, mais très timide. J'étais fameusement intimideée quand je suis arriveée; mais maintenant, je me sens plus "at home." Nous avons eu un grand diner de 24 personnes hier au soir; nous aurons un grand bal ce soir un autre diner demain, "a tobagganing and skating party" Samedi; et je ne me rappellé plus le liste. Vous voyez qu'on rend bien soin de nous ici; c'est si distingué; le tout ensemble; cela VS ferait plaisir à vois, vous qui aimez les choses grandioses! Je ne sais pas jusqu'à quand nous resterons, je pense que nous partirons Mercredi ou Jeudi. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 1886 Page 6 of 28 Maintenant, j'ajouterai un mot sur ma visite à Boston. Tout la monde a été très amable; nous avons diné avec Mr Guild et les Minot; j'ai rencontré une masse de monde dont je ne me rappellerai jamais les noms; J'aurait bien aimé rester là plus long temps. Quel dommage que je n'ai pas pu voir votre frère; il est venu quand j'étais sortie; Max et moi avons échangé deux mots et un baiser. She is such a fine girl, et un tint ravissant. - Je ne sais pas si nous resterons plus d'une nuit à N.Y. à notre retour; je VS tiendrai au courant. Dites à votre frère combien je regrette ne pas l'avoir vu, j'aurais bien voulu voir votre Maman aussi. Au revior ma chère; on m'appelle pour partir en vaisseau; je VS quitte à regret. Votre amie Victoria Government House Ottowa Thursday My very dear Amy, I have a minute to myself this morning, SO I am hurrying to send you a word, writen with a goose plume since we are in an English house. The Lansdownes are as friendly as could be for us; They are charming. The aides-de-camps also. One of them married a niece of Lady L., Lady Florence Anson; she is very pretty, but very timid. I was famously intimidated when I arrived; but now I feel more "at home" We had a grand dinner with 24 people yesterday evening; we will have a grand ball this evening, another dinner tomorrow, "a tobagganing and skating party" Saturday; and I forget the rest. You see how they take great care of you here; everything is SO distinguished; you would be pleased to see it, you who love grandiose things! I do not know how long we will stay, I think that we leave Wednesday or Thursday. Now I will add a word on my visit to Boston: everyone was very friendly; we dined with Mr. Guild and the Minots; I met a mass of people whose names I never remember; I would have well liked to stay there longer. what I pity that I was unable to see your brother; he was busy when I left; Max and I exchanged ten words and a kiss. She is such a fine girl and has ravishing color. I don't know if we will stay more than one night in N.Y. during our return; I will keep you current. Tell your brother how much I regret not having seen him; I would have well liked to see your mother also. Au revoir, my dear. I am being called to go. I leave you with regret. Your friend, Victoria Notes: Lord Lansdowne was the Governor General of Canada. Victoria went regularly in winters to visit them. They were well known for their love of sledding and tobaganning. In Victoria's "Book of Reminisces," which she wrote in 1922, she remembers one of her favorite games which Lady Lansdowne had taught http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 7 of 28 her-rubbing her bare feet in the thick rugs and then lighting a gas burner with her nose or shocking others with her touch. The Minot family is mentioned in both Mrs. Henry Adams' letters and in Cleveland Amory's The Proper Bostonians [4]. Max is Amy's sister, Helen Maxima Heard. Letter to Amy Heard at 18 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, from Amalia West at the British Legation. Dated 14 March 1886. A.W. British Legation Washington 14 Mars 1886 Ma Jolaille, J'ai parfaitement compres ce que vous m'avez dit dans votre lettre à propos du genre masculin, mais cela je crois ne me fera pas changer d'idée. Je suis entetée pour ce sujet là. C'est moi qui etais étonnée de voir que vous étiez à Boston! Voilà qui est ennuyeux d'être malade! C'est comme la malheureuse Victoria qui a été aussi malade au Canada et là bas la maison est pleine de jeunes gens le plus terrible de tout c'est qu'il y avait aussi Hardinge qui a toujours soin de lui dire quand elle est malade "Je suppose que vous ne sortirez pas du tout aujourd'hu avec un air de garde malade. Cela agace Victoria. Oh! Les femmes! Je suis bien contente que votre bébé ne sait pas ce que c'est d'être triste c'est bien heureuse pour elle! La maman ne peut pas en dire autant! Nous nous sommes bien amusées cette semaine. Judic est ci charmante et gracieuse. Toutes les pièces qu'elle a jouées sont très jolies et ses rôles lui sont bien. C'est dommage que tout soit fini le seul plaisir que nous avons eu on est de revoir Papa et Victoria et Monsieur Hardinge aussi, je l'aime bien, il est très gentil pour moi. Ils reviennent tous Mercredi, jour que j'attends avec impatience. Au revoir Jollaille. Mille baisers de votre petite amie. Amalia West p.s. Comment va votre père? S'est-il remis de ses fatigues? British Legation Washington 14 March 1886 My Jolaille, I perfectly understood what you told me in your letter a propos the masculin gender, but I don't think that that will make me change my mind. I am stubborn on that subject. It is I who was astonished to see that you were in Boston! See who is said to be sick! http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html. 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 8 of 28 It is like the unhappy Victoria who was SO sick in Canada and there the house is full of young men. The most terrible of all is that there was also Hardinge who always takes care to tell her when she is sick "I suppose that you will not leave at all today" with the air of a nurse. That irritates Victoria. Oh! Women! I am well content that your bébé does not know what it is to be sad. It is very happy for her! Her mother cannot tell her enough! We have had a good time this week. Judic is SO charming and gracious. All of the plays that she has done are very pretty and her roles suit her well. It is a pity that all will be finished. The only pleasure that we had known is to receive Papa and Victoria and Monsieur Hardinge also. I love him well, he is SO nice for me. They all return Wednesday, a day I await with impatience. Au revoire Jolaille. A thousand kisses from your petite amie. Amalia West How is your father? Has he recovered from his fatigue? Notes: Charles Hardinge was on Sackville-West's staff as a junior legation secretary in Washington and was reputed to be madly in love with Victoria. He later became Lord Hardinge of Penshurst. His grandfather was Governor General of India and Field Marshall, his father was a member of Parliament. Charles was later the head of the Foreign Office during the reign of Edward VII. Letter to Miss Heard, 18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass, from Victoria West, Government House, Ottawa. Dated 14 March 1886. Government House Ottowa Dimanche 14 Mars Ma bien chère Amy, Quel dommage que nous n'allons pas nous rencontrer à New York à mon passage! Cependant ce qui me console un peu est de penser que vous avez "a good time" à Boston. Je regrette tellement que nous ne nous soyons pas renontrés dans nos visites là; je vous ai déja dis cela dans une lettre que j'ai envoyer à New York et que, j'espère, vous aurez reçu. Dans cette lettre, je vous ai parlé de mes premieères impressions qui ont été excellentes mais qui sont encore meilleures, car Lady Landsdowne est la bonté même, et son mmari est charmant ainsi que le reste du "household", comme on les appelle. Pendant notre visite, que nous terminons demain, cela n'a été qu'une succession de fêtes et de diners; cependant nous sommes beacoup plus tranquils depuis le Mercredi des Cindres, car les Canadiens sont très strictes pendant le Carème. Nous serons à Washington Mercredi soir, nous arretons à New Yourk pour passer la nui de Mardi. Je suis bien fachée d'avoir manque Judic à Wash. Monsieur Roustan m'avait gardé une place dans sa loge pour chaque représentation; mes soeurs sont allées chaque soir; c'est du joli! Mai je n'ai rien dit, car les pauvres petites m'ont écrit qu'elles s/ennuyaient tout sans nous; il leur faut bien quelque distraction. Je serai vraiment bien contente de les revoir, quoique je termine notre visite avec beaucoup de regrets, http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 9 of 28 car tout le monde a été si gentil pour nous. Vous auriez beaucoup aimé la fête de ??? de Samedi le 13, c'était tout à fait féerique. Dites mille choses très aimable de ma part à Miss Minot et a mes amis de Boston, j'aimerais tant retourner parmi eux, et cela est vraiment sincère, car on a été si aimable pour moi pendant notre visite. Est-ce qu'ils ont trouvé agreéable mon fidèle serviteur, Mr Hardinge? Il est aux anges ici, avec les vieux amis de collège, les aides-de-camp! Mon Jolaille est de très-bonne humeur, car on a bien traité sa Vicky! Au revoir, ma chère Amy, mille amities à votre frère; croyez toujours à ma bien sincère affection. Votre amie Victoria Government House Ottowa Sunday 14 March My very dear Amy, What a pity that we did not meet in New York during my passage! Nevertheless what consoles me a little is to think that you had "a good time" in Boston. I regret SO that we did not meet during our visits there; I have already told you that in a letter that I sent to New York and that, I hope, you will have received. In this letter, I told you of my first impressions which were excellent, but which are still better, because Lady Lansdowne is goodness itself, and her husband is charming as well as the rest of the "household" as they are called. During our visit, which we end tomorrow, it has been nothing but a succession of parties and dinners; nevertheless we are much more tranquil since Ash Wednesday because the Canadians are very strict during Lent. We will be in Washington Wednesday night, we stop in New York to spend Thursday night. I am quite angry to have missed Judic in Washington; Monsieur Roustan had saved me a place in his loge for each performance. My sisters went every night; isn't that nice! But I did not say anything, because the poor little ones wrote me that they were sad without us; they have to have some distraction. I will be truly well content to see them again, however I end our visit with many regrets, because everyone has been SO nice to us. You would have really loved the party of ?? of Saturday the 13th; it was truly a fantasy. Give a thousand good wishes from me to Miss Minot and to my friends in Boston; I would like to return among them; and that is truly sincere, because they were SO friendly to me during our visit. Did they find agreeable my faithful serviteur, Mr. Hardinge? He is with the angels here, with his old college friends, the aides-de-camp! My Jolaille is in very good humor, because everyone has well treated his Vicky! Au Revoir, my dear Amy. A thousand good wishes to your brother; believe always in my very sincere affection. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.htm 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 1886 Page 10 of 28 Your friend, Victoria Letter to Miss Heard, Commonwealth Ave., Boston. from Amalia Dated 27 March 1886. British Legation Washington Samedi Soir (27) Ma Jolaille, Voilà bien longtemps que je n'ai pas causé avec vous, on dirait que je deviens paresseuse! Mais cela n'est pas, j'attendais une lettre de vous tous ces jourc-ci qui n'est pas venue à mon grand regret. Quand je vois votre écriture Jolaille, je suis bien heureuse, vos lettres sont toujours si gentilles. Nous sommes de nouveelles tous ensemble, je suis joliment contente, je m'ennuyais à périr quand, tout notre monde était au Canada. Aujourd'hui, je suis gaie comme un pinson je ne sais pas ce qui va m'arriver mais c'est mauvais signe avec moi que cette gaité folle Tant pis j'en profite. Comment va votre petite santé Jolaille? Vous étés vous amusée où vous restez? Nous jouons tennis avec Bouton et Monsieur Hardinge toutes les fois que le temps nous le permet. Je m'en donne avec mon partner qui est comme de juste Mr. H. Tout nouveau tout beau! Terrible femme que je ferai si je continue! Il est vrai qu'il est fort gentil pour moi et je ne sais pas pourquoi je ne lui rendrais pas la pareille. Ce soir Miss Meigs donne une partie de théatre en l'honneur du Comte Leyden qui va partir pour Athens la semaine prochaine. Ses jueunes gens payent les loges et les jeunes filles le souper. Toutes doivent sont habillées soit en bleu ou en blanc les couleurs de la Bavieère je crois. Chaque jeune fille lui a travaillé un petit ouvrage quelconque qui sera donné au souper. C'est assez gentil n'est-ce pas? Comte Sala s'est embarqué ajourd'hui pour l'Amérique de sorte qu'il sera ici bientôt. Je serai contente de le revoir. Avez vous lu dans les journaux que Secretary Manning est très malade et qu'on craint pour sa vie? Ne serait- ce pas terrible s'il venait à mourir? Toutes ces morts m'effrayent térriblement. Demain soir nous avons 4 Anglais à diner au grand ennui de Victoria je ne descendrai pas j'en suis pas fachée! Mme Boumy a été voir Dr Loring l'autre jour qui lui a dit que ses yeux allaient beaucoup mieux. Pauvre femme, je suis contente pour elle car elle venait à ne plus voir que deviendrait elle? Elle a demandé de vos nouvelles je lui en ai donné avec plaisr ça me faisait du bien d'entendre votre nom. Votre père est-il remis de ses fatigues? Jolaille, vous devez m'écrire maintenant et ne pas tardez à le faire. Flora Victoria vous envoyent un bon http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 11 of 28 baiser et Mmme Boumy bien des choses. Le "Jolaille" qui est a coté de moi me charge to be remembered to you. il est toujours le même et me demande bien souvent si je reçois de vos nouvelles. Je vous embrasse bien fort. Votre petite amie Amalia West British Legation Washington Saturday Night (27) My Jolaille, Well, here it is a long time that I have not spoken with you, one might say that I am becoming lazy! but that is not it, I was waiting for a letter from you all these days which did not come to my great regret. When I see your handwriting, Jolaille, I am very happy, your letters are always SO nice. We are all newly together, I am extremely content, I was bored to death when everyone was in Canada. Today I am gay like a finch. I do not know what is going to happen to me, but this crazy gaity is a bad sign with me. Too bad that I profit from it. How is your little health, Jolaille? Are you having fun or are you resting? We play tennis with Bouton and Monsieur Hardinge every time that the weather permits. I give myself some with my partner who is like the sharp Mr. H. Tout nouveau, tout beau! What a terrible woman I would be if I continue! It is true that he is very nice for me and I do not know why I am not the same to him. This evening Miss Meigs is giving a theatre party in the honor of Count Leyden who is going to leave for Athens next week. His young men paid for the seats and the young women for the dinner. All were dressed either in blue or in white, the colors of Bavaria, I believe. Each young girl wrought some little work for him which was given at the supper. That is nice enough, is it not? Count Sala embarked for America today SO that he will be here soon. I will be happy to see him again. Have you read in the papers that Secretary Manning is very sick and that they fear for his life? Won't it be terrible if he dies? All of these deaths frighten me terribly. Tomorrow night we will have 4 Englishmen to dinner to the great worry of Victoria. I will not descend. I am not angry about it! Madame Boumy saw Dr. Loring the other day who told her that her eyes were much better. Poor woman, I am happy for her because she was beginning to no longer see. What was becoming of her? She asked for news of you. I gave it to her with pleasure. It makes me feel good to hear your name. Has your father recovered from his fatigue? Jolaille, you must write me now and not wait to do it. Flora and Victoria send you a big kiss and Madame Boumy good wishes. The "Jolaille" who is at my side charges me to be remembered to you. He is always the same and asks me very often if I receive news of you. Je vous embrasse bien fort. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 12 of 28 Your petite amie Amalia West Notes: Miss Meigs may be a daughter of General Meigs of Washington. A daughter of General Meigs married Archibald Forbes, an English war correspondent who knew the Blaines and Oscar Wilde. Count Casimir von Leyden was a secretary in the German Legation who arrived in Washington in 1883. Daniel Manning (1831-1887) was the successor of S. J. Tilden as leader of the NY Democrats in 1877 and was instrumental in gaining Grover Cleveland the nomination for Governor of New York and U.S. President. He was appointed secretary of the treasury in 1885 and resigned in 1887, supposedly because of ill health. The real reason, however, was reputed to be Manning's continued friendship with Tilden, who was trying to be the power behind the throne. Letter to Miss Heard from Victoria West, British Legation, Washington. Dated 31 March 1886. Washington 31 Mars 86 Ma bien chère Amy, Je me hasarde à envoyer cette lettre chez Mrs Dorr, quoique j'ai bien peur que vous ne soyez plus chez elle; mais enfin, je pense qu'on vo l'enverra. J'ai été bien occupée depuis mon retour; je trouve toujours tant à faire à la maison. L socieété reste beaucoup chez elle, mais je vois davantage nos amis; il y a encore pas mal de diners; on en a donné une masse au Compte Leyden.. Vous avez peut-être entendu parler du souper Miegs; toute la ville en parle, car la pauvre fille a eu la maladresse d'inviter 6 jeunes fills (dont une et Mme Cameron) et 6 Messieurs à un souper chez elle pour le Cte Leyden en les priant de payer chacun leur part. C'est maladroit, petit et commun, n'est-ce pas? J'etais de cette partie. Le souper était très bon et très gai; au dessert, on a fait une distribution de cadeaux au Cte Leyden qui est devenu très nervuex et a failli en renverser la table. Nous avions fait chacune une petite ouvrage comme souvenir; le mien était une petite pélote en pluche rouge, avec ses initiales, sa couronne et la date brodée dessus. Une autre chose dont on a beaucoup parlé st le bal poudré de charité que Mrs Whitney devait donner demain pour le Mi-Carème. Il parait qu'elle était dans tous ses états car personne de la bonne société ne voulait y aller; bien des personnes ne voulaient pas avoir l'ennui de se poudrer; les 5 dollars qu'on devait payer pour y aller passaient encore! Heureusement que la grand-mère de Mrs Whitney est morte hier, et qu'alors le bal n'aura pas lieu. J'en suis joliment content. Nous avons eu un diner d'Anglais dimanche; parmi eux, un très jeune Lord Russell que vous verrez http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 13 of 28 probablement à Boston, car il y va plus tard. Il était Samedi chez Mrs Loring qui était dans la fou de pouvoir le présenter à tout le monde, car vous connaissez sa manie. Voil'a quelques-une des nouvelles; je suis bien contente de celles que vous m'avez données de vous, et qu'on soit si gentil pour vous à Boston. Je sais par experience commen on peut y être aimable; vous pouvez dire et redire pour moi à mes amis de Boston combien je leur suis reconnaissante de tout ce qu'ils ont bien voulu faire pour vous. J'ai écrit à Miss Minot pour la féliciter; ce n'est pas le coutume en Angleterre d'envoyer des fleurs comme à Boston; je vous le dis de la part de Mr Hardinge, avec ses respectieux hommages. Je viens de recevoir à l'instant un joli paravent que Lord Lansdowne vient de m'envoyer comme cadeau; c'est bien aimable à lui, n'est-ce pas? On peut y mettre 3 douz. de photographies. J'aimerais tant en avoir deux de vous, chère Amy. Au revoir, ma chère et bonne amie; croyez toujours à ma trés serieux affection. Victoria Washington 31 March 86 My very dear Amy, I am taking the chance of sending this letter to the house of Mrs. Dorr, however I fear that you will no longer be staying with her; but I think that it will be sent to you. I have been very occupied since my return; I find always everything to do at the house. Society remains at the house, but I am seeing more of our friends; there are yet enough dinners; a mass of them were given for Count Leyden. You have perhaps heard tell of the Meigs supper; the entire city is talking about it, since the poor girl made the blunder of inviting 6 young girls (of which one was Miss Cameron) and 6 young men to a supper at her house for Count Leyden and asked them to each pay for their part. It is maladroit, petty, and common, is it not? I was with this party. The supper was very good and very gay; at dessert a distribution of gifts was made to Count Leyden, who became very nervous and knocked over the table. We each made a little work as a souvenier; mine was a little red plush ball, with his initials, his crown, and the date embroidered on the outside. Another thing which has been much talked about is the charity powdered ball that Mrs. Whitney was supposed to give tomorrow for mid-lent. It seems that she is beside herself because no one in good Society wants to go; most people did not want the bother of powdering themselves; the 5 dollars that one had to pay to go was even more! Happily the grandmother of Mrs. Whitney died yesterday, and hence the ball will not take place. I am very content. We had an English dinner Sunday; among them, a very young Lord Russell whom you will probably see in Boston, because he goes there later on. It was Saturday at Mrs. Loring's who was in the madness of power presenting him to everyone, because you know her mania. There you have several bits of news; I am very content with those that you gave me, and that people are SO nice to you in Boston. I know by experience how friendly they are there; you can say and resay for http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 14 of 28 me to my friends in Boston how much I recognize all that they wanted to do for us. I wrote to Miss Minot to thank her; it is not the custom in England to send flowers as in Boston; I tell it to you on behalf of Mr. Hardinge, with his respectful compiments. I just received this instant a lovely folding screen that Lord Lansdowne just sent me as a gift; it is very friendly of him, isn't it? One can put 3 dozen photographs in it. I would SO love to have two of you, dear Amy. Au revoir, my dear and good friend, believe always in my very serious affection. Victoria Notes: Miss Mary Cameron was the daughter of Lizzie Cameron, , a niece of General Sherman and a good friend of Victoria's. Flora Paine Whitney was the wife of William C. Whitney, the Secretary of the Navy under Grover Cleveland. He was on the cabinet with Secretary of State Thomas Francis Bayard and Secretary of War William Endicott. The Whitneys were reputed to be the most fun-loving of an otherwise conservative and sober administration. They were elegant and rich enough to entertain lavishly. She was supposed to have entertained over 60,000 people during her stay in Washington. She, along with M. Roustan, was later to be one of the few to see the Sackville-West's final departure from Washington following the Murchison affair. Letter to Miss Heard, 18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass, from Victoria. The envelope is marked "urgent." Dated 13 April 1886. British Legation Washington 13 Avril 86 Ma bien chère Amy, Juste un mot pour vous demander un rensengement: ce serait de me faire savoir quand Miss Minot va se marier, si c'est vrai que ce sera la semaine de Pâques? Comme elle a été tout ce qu'il y a de plus aimable pour nos à Boston, et que je voudrais lui montre d'une manière ou d'une autre combien j'ai apprécié sa bonté, j'ai pensé lui faire venir une éventail simple, de Paris, comme "wedding present". Donnez-moi votre avis là-dessus, chère amie; vous savez combien j'aime faire quelque chose d'aimable pour les gens qui ont été gentils pour moi. Continuez-vous bien vous amuser? Écrivez-moi ce que vous faites et quels sont vos projets. Nous avons toujours l'idée d'aller en Europe au mois de Juillet; comme j'aimerais vous revoir avant notre départ! http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 15 of 28 Je viens de finir un livre qui peut-être vous amuserait: "nos grandes dames d'aujourd'hui"; cela parle des plus grandes dames chiques de Paris, la manière dont elles vivent, etc.; le tout ensemble est très distingué; cela va avec nos idées extravagantes; c'est si bon, le grand lux, n'est-ce pas? Nous nous entendons si bien là-dessus. On me dit que le mariage de Miss Minot est plutôt un mariage de raison que d'indiclination; est-ce vrai? Vous et moi ne voudrions pas nous marier ainsi! Et peut-être peut-être que nous le ferons un jour! Au revoir, ma bonne Amie; dites-moi que je VS demande pour le mariage et le petit cadeau. Toujours votre toute dévouée Victoria British Legation Washington 13 April 86 My very dear Amy, Just a word to ask you for some information; it is to let me know when Miss Minot is going to be married, is it true that it is going to be Easter week? Since she has been as friendly as possible to us in Boston, and since I would like to show her in one manner or another how much I appreciate her good wishes, I thought to arrange for her to receive a simple fan, from Paris, as a "wedding present" Give me your opinion on it, dear friend; you know how much I love to do something nice for people who are nice to me. Are you still having fun? Write me what you are doing and what are your projects. We still plan to go to Europe in July; how I would like to see you again before we leave! I just finished a book which perhaps would amuse you: Our Grand Ladies of Today, it speaks of the grandest chic ladies of Paris, the manner in which they live, etc.; all together it is very distinguished; it goes with our extravagant ideas; it is SO good, the grand luxury, isn't it? Underneath we understand it SO well. I am told that the marriage of Miss Minot is rather a marriage of reason than of inclination; is it true? You and I would not like to marry so! And perhaps perhaps we will do it one day! Au revoir, my good friend; tell me what I ask for the marriage and the little gift. Always your devoted friend, Victoria http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 16 of 28 The Misses West left Washington for England for the sumer with their companion, Mademoiselle Louet. They returned to Washington in the early autumn. Journal entries. Bar Harbor Juillet 1886 V. 16 Juillet Quittai le Belmont aux instances de Mme Dorr, chez laquelle j'allai passer quelque temps. Mme A.A. Low, sa mère, y est. F. 16 July Quit the Belmont at the insistence of Mrs Dorr, to whose house I went to spend some time. Mme A.A. Low, her mother, was there. H. The Belmont was built in 1879 near the corner of Mount Desert and Kebo Streets. It burned down in the great Bar Harbor fire of 1947. Mrs Dorr was Mary Gray Ward Dorr, the wife of Charles(F. Dorr of Boston and the mother of George B. Dorr, who later founded Acadia National Park. The Dorr house was called Old Farm, it was reputedly the first well-built house in Bar Harbor. The guest list of the house is in the Bar Harbor Historical Society. In addition to Amy Heard and Russell Gray, the list includes Chester Arthur, Julia Ward Howe, William James, and the elder Oliver Wendell Holmes, who wrote a poem memorializing the house [13]. The house looked out over what is now Dorr's point and its foundation is now Acadia Park land, a short work from the Nannau-Seaside Bed and Breakfast. The house was torn down by the Park Service in 1951, ostensibly because the wiring was bad. The Belmont Hotel in Bar Harbor The Old Farm Sam. 17 Arr. M. Russell Gray. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.htm 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age 1886 Page 17 of 28 Sat. 17 Russell Gray arrived. L. ou M. Arr. de M. Low qui emmène sa femme & ses enfants ds un jour ou deux. M. or T. Arrival of Mr Low who brought his wife and children for a day or two. According to the membership list for the Mount Desert Reading Room kept in the Bar Harbor Historical Society, Russell Gray joined on 19 July for one week with the sponsorship of G. B. Dorr. The club had been formed in 1881 from the old Oasis Club for the promotion of "literary and social culture," but it was best known for its providing a means for the visitors to evade Maines prohibition on alcoholic beverages[13]. Members were reputed to sit around, sipping highballs while discussing the stock The Newport Hotel in Bar Harbor market and gossip. Writing in the Boston Transcript of 1896, Professor Barrett Wendell of Harvard described Bar Harbor as having the "best conversation in America" 9] Russell Gray's brother John C. Gray, a Harvard Professor of Law and cofounder of the Boston Law firm of Ropes and Gray, also was a member for the summer. Amy Heard's father Augustine became a member in August, giving the Belmont as his address. The final location of the Reading Room is now subsumed by the Bar Harbor Motor Inn, and the restaurant of that establishment maintains the name. Sam. 24 Ascension de "Newport" avec M. Gray. Sat. 24 Went up to the "Newport" with Mr Gray. The "select Newport was built in 1869 on site just south of the present-day Agamont Park, near the parking area." [13] It was torn down in 1938. Mar. 27 Dép. de M. Gray. Mon retour au Belmont. Tues. 27 Departure of Mr Gray. My return to the Belmont. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 18 of 28 Jeu. 29 Tableaux vivants au Rodick pr l'église Catholique. Moi en Jeanne d'Arc au supplice. Souper Del Monte après. Thurs. 29 Tableaux vivants at the Rodick presented by the Catholic Church. I was Jeanne d'Arc, supplicant. Dined at the Del Monte afterwards. The Rodick House was the largest hotel in Bar Harbor (and Maine), housing some 600 guests at peak season. During the peak of Bar Harbor in the Gilded Age, reservations for high season were typically made two years in advance. The Rodick was particularly reknowned for its lobby, called the "Fish Pond," where young people met members of the opposite sex. Contemporary accounts suggest that Bar Harbor gave young people a far greater freedom from chaperones than did Newport [13]. It deteriorated into seediness in the 1890s and was demolished in 1906. The Rodick Hotel in Bar Harbor Sam. 31 Dr Longstreth me fait commencer une cure de lait. 2 cuillerées a ??? par heure exclusivement. Ds deux ???, double dose. Ds 8 hours, recommencer à manger nourriture simple & surtout très régulierement. faiblesse extrême Sat. 31 Dr Longstreth made me begin a milk cure. 2 spoonfuls per hour exclusively. After 2 ???, double dose. After 8 hours, begin again to eat food that is simple and above all very regularly. Extremely week. Août August Sa. 14 Retour de M. Gray fiancelles. S. 14 Return of Mr Gray engaged M. 17 Dép. de Russell. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 19 of 28 T. 17 Russell's departure. Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge, East Point, Nahant to Russell Gray, Esq, Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert Maine congratulating him on his marriage to Amy Heard Aug 17th 1886 - East Point Nahant Dear Russell -- I cannot say I am surprised: Your extremely convivial manner when you were here awakened all my worst suspicions. But I am greatly delighted & congratulate you most heartily & without stint. From all I hear & know I should say that you were one of the luckiest of men of course most deservedly SO. Please give my kindest regards & warmest congratulations to Miss Heard also for although I would not flatter you I think she too is to be congratulated. I should also insist that without the tedious formalities of acquantance Miss Heard at once place me among her oldest & most devoted of friends. That this will be strictly logical your philosophical mind however beclouded now will readily discover. We are hoping to see you both very soon. Always affectionately & Sincerely Yrs H.C. Lodge Letter of congratulations to Russell Gray Barr Harbour, Mount Desert, Maine from Justice Oliver Windell Holmes Beverly Farms Beverly Farms Aigust 18 1886 Dear Gray I am interestested not only in Miss Heard but in you and I am delighted at the news you SO kindly write http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 20 of 28 me. If I could have played the matchmaker I would have done it and I congratulate you both on what I hope and believe will prove the most fortunate as well as greatest steip in both your lives. I look forward to the winter with greater happiness for what you tell her and congratulate myself as well. ???? OWHolmes Russell Gray P.S. As I do not trust "Bar Harbor" -- the only address you give -- I shall send this to Boston. Later Mrs Holmes says trust it -- after my letter had been directed. J. 26 A Nahant Th. 26 To Nahant. V. 27 Quitté Nahant rejoignant Papa & Mama à B. & venant à N.Y. 28 W. 18th F. 27 Left Nahant. Rejoined Papa & Mama at B. Left for N.Y. 28 W. 18th Letters from Isabella Stewart Gardner to Amy and Russell congratulating them on their engagement. Letter addressed to Augustine Heard for Amy Heard 39 Nassau St, New York, from Vienna. Address crossed out and replaced by The Belmont, Bar Harbor, Maine, which was in turn crossed out and replaced by the original address. Vienna August 30 Yours, I have just received, Amy, very dear & altogether delightful cousin (that is to be). I want to write to you a few red hot & immediate words, althought in one moment they must go to the post. I am SO glad, that I feel you must know it, & my brain is continually busy with fancies about the future, in all of which I see great happiness for two people I care much for -- you & Russell -- & in which I hope I see that your liefe & mine will be much together. Please tell me your plans, everything. Not one but will be of the greatest interest to Affy yours I.S. Gardner http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 27 of 28 Eliza Glamlee entered as cook 12 AM at $5 a week. 1r ou 2 Déc. Mary Endicott déj. avec moi. 1 or 2 Dec. Mary Endicott lunched with me. 4 Sam. Diner Powell Mason (M, Mme, Mlle), Mme Whitman, Mary End., Mess. Whister, Percy Lowell, Johns, Whister me cond. 4 Sat. Dinner Powell Mason (Mr, Mrs, Miss) Mrs Whitman, Mary End., Mr. Whister, Percy Lowell, Johns, Whister took me to table. 8 Mer. Diner John Gray avec les Jack Gardners., Amory G. & Swift. 8 Wed. Dined at John Gray with the Jack Gardners, Amory G. & Swift. The Jack Gardners were Jack, Russell's mother's nephew, and his wife, "Mrs Jack," Isabella Stewart Gardner. Fri. 10 Dined at the Dorrs. (Dr and Mamie Watson, the Barrett Wendells, Dr Wendell took me to table, Geo. Dorr on the other side). Sat. 11 Morton Prince dined. (Clara Bayson, Peabody.) Aunt Alice to lunch. Tues 14 First time at the Sewing Circle "Centenniel" at Nora Lear's. Thurs 16 Dined at Roger Wolcotts. So invited by the Lowells. Mmme Vaughn, her brother H. Parkman, Mr and Mrs Cabot Lodge, Mr and Mrs Teddy Wharton. Henry Cabot Lodge was the senator from Massachusetts and close friend of Teddy Roosevelt. As a small boy, my father broke into the Lodge compound in Nahant. When caught by the Secret Service and hauled before the Senator and President Roosevelt to be asked what he had come for, he replied that he wished to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and he was seeking an appointment. An amused President suggested he try again in a few years. He did, and was subsequently appointed to Annapolis by Lodge. Mrs Teddy Wharton could be Edith Wharton, who married Edward Wharton of Boston in 1885. Often referred to as "the female Henry James." I prefer to think of Henry James as the male Edith Wharton. Fri. 17 Dined at the Cabot Lodges, Misses Mottey & Clara Payson, Miss Sargent & Hooper. http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.htr 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- 1886 Page 28 of 28 Dec. 21 Dined at Madame Lowell's. 25 Sat. Dined with the John Gray family. 26 Sun. Lunch Frank Amory (the Cabot Lodges). Fanny Mason and Will Otis. 28 Tues. Dined with Arth. Robet at the Somerset. (Mme. Wil. Fay, Annie Rotch, Dr Bigels. 30 Lunched with Miss Jack Elliott, Mrs Geo Lee, Higgenson, Arth. Cabot. 31 Dined at Frank Lowell's. Robert M. Gray, September 23, 2005 1886 http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_22.html 10/21/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- References Page 1 of 2 >re References References [1] Henry Adams. Democracy. Farrar, Straus and Young, New York. [2] Mrs. Henry Adams. The Letters of Mrs. Henry Adams: 1865-1883. Little, Brown, Boston, Mass., 1936. [3] Susan Mary Alsop. Lady Sackville. Doubleday, New York, 1978. [4] Cleaveland Amory. The Proper Bostonians. E.P. Hutton, New York, 1947. [5] Mrs. James G. Blaine. The Letters of Mrs. James G. Blaine. Duffield, New York, 1908. [6] Gamaliel Bradford. Wives. Harper Brothers, New YORK, 1925. [7] Carmen Bravo-Villasante. Biografia de Don Juan Valera. Biblioteca Biográfica. Editorial Aedos, Barcelona, 1959. [8] Morris Carter. Isabella Stewart Gardner and Fenway Court. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, 1925. [9] Sargent F. Collier. Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park: An Informal History. Down East Books, Cambden, Maine, 1978. [10] Robert B. Forbes. Personal Reminiscences. Litte, Brown, and Company, Boston, Mass., 1882. Second Edition. [11] Otto Friedrich. Clover. Simon and Schuster, New York, 1979. [12] Edward Gray. William Gray of Lynn, Massachusetts, and Some of his Descendants. Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1916. [13] G. W.Helfrich and Gladys O'Neil. Lost Bar Harbor. Down East Books, Camden, Maine, 1982. [14] Helen Huntington Howe. Gentle Americans 1864-1960: Biography of a Breed. Harper and Row, New York, 1965. [15] G.L. Lessen. Balance of Intrigue: International Rivalry in Korea and Manchuria, 1884-1899. University Presses of Florida, 1982. [16] S.C. Lockwood. Augustine Heard and Company, 1858-1862. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1971. [17] Joan M. Maloney. George bailey loring: A matter of trust-s. Essex Institute Historical Collections, 122(1):35-60, January 1986 1986. [18] http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_27.html 10/24/2005 Amy Heard: Letters from the Gilded Age -- References Page 2 of 2 Friedrich Heinrich Karl La Motte-Fouqué. Undine. Houghton-Mifflin: The Riverside Press, Boston, Mass., 1882. Translation from the German of 1811. [19] Nigel Nicolson. Portrait of a Marriage. Atheneum, New York, 1966. [20] Nigel Nicolson. Lady Curzon. Harper & Row, New York, 1977. [21] Virginia Tatnall Peacock. Famous American Belles of the Nineteenth Century. J.B. Lippincott, New York, 1901. [22] V. Sackville-West. Pepita. Hogarth Press, London, 1937. [23] Arline Boucher Tehan. Henry Adams in Love: The Pursuit of Elizabeth Sherman Cameron. Universe Books, New York, 1983. [24] Louise Hall Tharp. Mrs. Jack: A Biography of Isabell Stuart Gardner. Little, Brown, Boston, Mass., 1965. [25] Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner. The Gilded Age. American Publishing Co., Hartford, Conn., 1873. Second Edition. [26] T.G. Waters. Augustine Heard and Friends. Newcomb and Gauss, Boston, Mass., 1916. Robert M. Gray, September 23, 2005 References http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amy/amy_27.html 10/24/2005 Page 1 of 2 Epp, Ronald From: Robert M. Gray [rmgray@stanford.edu] Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 5:03 PM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Amy Heard & Mr. Dorr Dear Ronald, It turns out we will be passing through NH this month and I thought I would check if it might be mutually convenient to drop by for a chat. I will certainly understand if the notice is too late. Anyway, our plans are: On Sunday, 13 November, we will be driving from Connecticut to our daughter's house in Meredith NH and on Wednesday 16 November we will be friving from Meredith to Boston. It looks like Merrimack is pretty much on the route we will be taking. We would not have much time either way, SO we would not be much of an imposition. Probably things will be more flexible on the Wednesday as our departure time is not fixed, we do need to get to Boston in time for dinner with friends. So my guess is that early afternoon would be a likely time. My best guess for the sunday pass by is late afternoon. Regards, Bob On Oct 21, 2005, at 10:31 AM, Epp, Ronald wrote: Dear Bob, Again your web pages have resolved a long standing piece of uncertainty in my research on the friends and family of George B. Dorr, son of Mary Gray Ward Dorr. Your information constituted an unexpected birthday surprise for me as I now enter my 63rd year. Let me explain. There is a common misconception in the secondary literature that Mr. Dorr was overcome in the mid-1870's with the beauty of a Ms. Peters while at Lake Nemi, an ancient lake located east of Rome in the Alban Hills where the temple of Diana once stood. She the widow of Craig Wadsworth. Dorr's "Memoirs" refer to her also as "Lina" which was unproductive until I googled "Peters" and "Craig Wadsworth" and came to the Amy Heard website and your October 1 1881 Newport entry where her correct name is identified. Do you have any additional information on her other than that she was Amy Heard's S Massachusetts Avenue (Washington) neighbor? This is no small matter to me since Dorr's memoirs reveal his infatuation with her likening her to "some Greek goddess," someone "whom men delight to honor." She had married Craig Wadsworth of New York but had no children, nor should have had for she, like the Greek goddesses again, seemed to stand out alone, the embodiment of beauty." Others have extrapolated from this a tale of unrequited love, of disapproval of her by Dorr's mother, of a smitten man who remained a lifelong bachelor because no one could ever live up to his romantic standards for fMrs. Wadsworth. I'd like to respond to these conjectures and any insights or 11/3/2005 Page 1 of 1 Epp, Ronald From: Epp, Ronald Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 1:31 PM To: rmgray@stanford.edu Cc: Epp, Ronald Subject: Amy Heard & Mr. Dorr Dear Bob, Again your web pages have resolved a long standing piece of uncertainty in my research on the friends and family of George B. Dorr, son of Mary Gray Ward Dorr. Your information constituted an unexpected birthday surprise for me as I now enter my 63rd year. Let me explain. There is a common misconception in the secondary literature that Mr. Dorr was overcome in the mid-1870's with the beauty of a Ms. Peters while at Lake Nemi, an ancient lake located east of Rome in the Alban Hills where the temple of Diana once stood. She the widow of Craig Wadsworth. Dorr's "Memoirs" refer to her also as "Lina" which was unproductive until I googled "Peters" and "Craig Wadsworth" and came to the Amy Heard website and your October 1881 Newport entry where her correct name is identified. Do you have any additional information on her other than that she was Amy Heard's S Massachusetts Avenue (Washington) neighbor? This is no small matter to me since Dorr's memoirs reveal his infatuation with her likening her to "some Greek goddess," someone "whom men delight to honor." She had married Craig Wadsworth of New York but had no children, nor should have had for she, like the Greek goddesses again, seemed to stand out alone, the embodiment of beauty." Others have extrapolated from this a tale of unrequited love, of disapproval of her by Dorr's mother, of a smitten man who remained a lifelong bachelor because no one could ever live up to his romantic standards for fMrs. Wadsworth. I'd like to respond to these conjectures and any insights or information you can provide would be most appreciated. I'm completing some ancestry work on Mr. Dorr and his relationship to the Gray's and will send it along to you. Hope to see you here in New Hampshire in the months ahead. Ronald Epp 47 Pond View Dr. Merrimack, NH 03054 603-424-6149 G Dorr visits Any, 1886 Mary Doll His distant cousin of Russell gray whom Any would later Marry. MGWD grandocable of Someal gray GRD sponsored Ressell Group for verberling in llt Descet 7/17/86 Stay at Oldform See guest book. Ansy Heard is houseguest at 18 Commonwealth Ave. mid August 1896 at time when she is about to become spouseof 10/21/2005 Russell was sponsored by g.B. DORR for stay at Reading Mt. Desert Room: Russell gray. Visited earlier in 1886, Earlier that year Epp, Ronald From: Robert M. Gray [gray@eemail.stanford.edu] Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 5:06 PM To: Epp, Ronald Cc: Robert Gray Subject: Re: Two Versions of Heard Letter's Preface? Dear Ron, The two versions of the prefaces to the Heard letters should now be the same. I have spent quite a few hours during our recent trip to Canada and since our return in revising and updating the two books. In particular, I have finally begun transcribing the original French in all the Sackville-West letters and that has led to the discovery of several translation errors. I am not yet up to the Dorr material (I am still in 1886), but when I get there I will add the material on his wife's Gray connections, which I never noticed before you brought it to my attention. I also hope to start going though the non-Sackville-West letters of the same period and to add those that are relevant to the story. Regards, Bob 1 Message Page 1 of 5 Epp, Ronald From: Epp, Ronald Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 10:16 AM To: 'Cornelia Nini Gilder' Subject: RE: Acadia National Park Dear Nini, Just back in office after a trip to Pennsylvania with my wife to check up on my 88 and 94 year old in-laws. More than a bit tired after 15 hours of driving. I am so delighted that the guest book material was helpful. I also very muchg appreciate the name spelling corrections. I'm sure you realized that there is only so much one can do with some handwriting. I have just written to the Curator of the Bar Harbor Historical Society Museum to see whether she will make a rough photocopy of the Anna Ward photograph and send it off to me so that I han forward it to you. All that I remember of it is that it is cameo-sized with dark hues of a woman who appeared to be in her 40's. I appreciate the background information on the Bowditch-Rockwell families. Recognizing that Rockwell died in 1888, five years before Charles Hazen Dorr, what would be very useful is to know is the extent of his personal correspondence to "Nellie" for the last five years of his life, but most especially during the 1887-1888 timeframe when the Bowditch's were Old Farm guests. It seems reasonable to suppose that Charles Dorr's will may well have been written prior to Judge Rockwell's death. Could you briefly characterize what you know of Anna Ward since I've gathered quite a bit of manuscript material recently on the Thomas Wren Ward family, both ancestors and descendents, at the Massachusetts Historical Society, documentation received from the estate of Mr. Dorr. Best wishes for a most pleasant summer. I've yet to visit Yale to look at the Edith Wharton Papers but hope to do it the last two weeks of August. Perhaps I could "swing by" and say hello to you enroute back to New Hampshire? Ron Epp Original Message From: Cornelia Nini Gilder [mailto:cbg@gilder.com] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:41 AM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Acadia National Park Dear Ron, The guest book material is fascinating to me because of the many Berkshire names (pianist Frederick Rackemann with a musical offering, Clemence (not Clarence) Haggerty Crafts and her husband, various members of the Ward family, the Godkins, Emily Vanderbilt Sloane of Elm Court). Thank you SO much for sharing this great document! You noted a picture of Anna Ward, can you remember that and describe it to me? She is a big figure in all my Lenox talks and writings. One spelling correction I detected was Anna Ward's grandson Ward Thoron Now about the Bowditches and their link to the Dorrs. I am SO interested by that, and the answer to their relationship could be found if someone had a year to dedicate to sifting through the HUGE collection of Judge Julius Rockwell correspondence which is uncataloged in the Lenox Library. I was part of an archiving session to begin the work but haven't been able to do any sustained cataloging. From what I saw there are almost daily letters to his daughter "Nellie." 7/19/2005 Message Page 2 of 5 I really would love to know more about this. But am currently in the process of getting photographs for my Berkshire country House which Acanthus Book is publishing next spring. All the dullest work, permissions, index, bibliography, scanning photos are on my plate. Please do keep in touch though and if you had a particular date that might be pursued with the Rockwell papers we might be able to work something out. Unfortunately Rockwell died in 1888 before Charles Hazen Dorr died. Best wishes and once again thanks for this great glimpse into the Old Farm guest book!, NINI On Jul 13, 2005, at 3:45 PM, Epp, Ronald wrote: Dear Nini, I apologize for not communicating with you more regularly. I've been very busy these last few months with the Spirit of Acadia planning, writing papers and presentations on Mr. Dorr (I'll send you the most recent article on his horticultural interests), and trying to flesh out the personal and social dimensions of his years prior to the establishment in 1901 of the Hancock CountyTrustees of Public Reservations. Next week I'm off to examine the archives of the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations to compare their early years with the first three decades of their Maine offspring. You may be able to assist me with a Lenox-based historical question. In 1893, wealthy anthropologist Charles Pickering Bowditch (1842-1921) was the executor--and sole beneficiary--of the will of Mr. Dorr's father, Charles Hazen Dorr. Yes, the will of Mr. Dorr's father does not direct his property to his wife or his son but to his friend, Charles Bowditch. Mr. Bowditch was married to Cornelia Livingston Rockwell (1841-1930) in Jamaica Plain (where George Dorr was born in 1853); she was the daughter of the Lenox family of the Hon. Julius Rockwell and Lucy Forbes Rockwell, according to my secondary sources. Could you determine whether there is additional information available locally that would help me to more fully understand the Bowditch-Dorr dynamics. In trying to "follow the money" I continue to be perplexed at the terms of Mr. Dorr's will and hope that by understanding the Bowditch's (who were guests at Old Farm) better, I might account for this social anomaly. A contemporary Harvard physician has suggested that during the Gilded Age such arrangements were often intended to circuitously funnel resources back into the family but I remain unconvinced. By the way, to answer your query below, the Nurseries were profitable for many years but were frequently mortgaged in the 1920's and they disappeared from property records in the 30's. In their heyday the local papers report that upwards of 300 men were employed there in the summer season. Knowing of your interest in Old Farm, I've attached a listing of the guests who signed off in the Old Farm guest book which is jealously guarded by the Bar Harbor Historical Soociety, whose curator was most reluctant to have me page through since "that hasn't been done for decades." Still hopeful that we can meet some time. I'm trying to arrange a couple of trips to Cambridge in August. Any chance you'll be in the Boston area then? With best wishes, Ron Epp Original Message From: Nini Gilder [mailto:cbg@gilder.com] Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 9:47 AM 7/19/2005 Epp, Ronald From: Robert M. Gray [gray@eemail.stanford.edu] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 12:59 PM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Amy Heard & Dorr's I should have mentioned that I can copy the appropriate pages from the Edward Gray book. Now that you mention it, I saw Mary Gray not Mary Gray Ward - - but it did say she was the wife of Dorr. I will take a closer look and check my other references over the weekend as well as compare the other information you mention. I do have fairly extensive Gray geneologies thanks to interested ancestors. bob 1 Epp, Ronald From: Robert M. Gray [gray@eemail.stanford.edu] Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 6:49 PM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Amy Heard & Dorr's I am surprised SO few take advantage of such a priceless resource. Windows into the past are hard to come by. I have built up a fair collection of email correspondents of writers and historians over the years who have also stumbled onto my stuff. It has led to many mutually beneficial exchanges of informations, documents, and occasionally photographs. I will check into the Stanford library system, I would like it to be as available as possible. It does well in many search engines on many of the names it contains. I will also try to check through some of my stuff during the next week or so to see if I can find anything on the Dorr connection. The main treasure trove of stuff relating to the Heard family is at Harvard. It was in the Baker Library when I spent my sabbatical there over a decade ago. There are many personal letters as well as business records of Augustine Heard and Company. I will be sure to let you know when next we are in the area. We usually pass through once or twice each year. Our daughter was just here, so it will not be before fall. Regards, bob 1 Epp, Ronald From: Epp, Ronald Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 3:00 PM To: 'Robert M. Gray' Subject: RE: Amy Heard & Dorr's W DorrGuest0705.doc (29 KB) Dear Robert, Many thanks for your illuminating response. Your information will help make my biography of Mr. Dorr a success, I am sure. I've just completed a name-date list of everyone who signed the Old Farm Guest Book. I've attached it and sent a copy off to Deb Dyer, the Bar Harbor Historical Society Curator--to enable other visitots to see what names are included. Ms. Dyer is extremely protective of this document--which she views as the heart of the museum--and I'm the only one to have examined it since your last visit. Are you aware that "Letters from the Gilded Age" is not indexed in the Online Computer Library Center database of 50 million bibliographic records? You may wish to approach Stanford's catalogers to see that they create an entry for it so that it becomes known and searchable by the scholarly community. Fortunately, I googled it. I'll do some spadework here to see if the Dorr "Gray family" and yours are related. Please do let me know in advance of your travels to and through Manchester. I'd make every effort to meet with you. I can be reached at home at: 47 Pond View Dr. , Merrimack, NH 03054 (603-424-6149). Ron Original Message From: Robert M. Gray [mailto:gray@eemail.stanford.edu Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 4:16 PM To: Epp, Ronald Cc: Robert Gray Subject: Re: Amy Heard & Dorr's Many thanks for your email. I have not had much time for the Amy letters in a while, but I hope to do some updating and revising during my upcoming sabbatical. I do not have any information on Mr. Dorr past what I mentioned in the Amy book, but I recall being very impressed by what I found out about him and I hope your project is successful. My wife and I visited the Bar Harbor Historical Society and I went through the guestbook when we were visiting Maine for my daughters wedding, about 15-16 years ago (our oldest grandson is about to turn 14) I remember we tracked down the ruins of the Dorr house in Acadia park and I was told how it became a ruin because the park had no money to maintain it. As I recall, Russell Gray proposed to Amy Heard on the grounds, so it was fascinating to be on the same ground. I will go through my related stuff and notes during the summer and see if I can dig up anything more. Our daughter lives in Meredith so we drive through Manchester a few times every year, perhaps we could get together some time for a chat. I will check my geneological information since a Gray from Salem has a good chance of being a relation, but there were several. Our most 1 famous ancestor was "Old Billy" Gray and I believe there were six other William Grays living in Salem at the same time who were not related to each other, they distinguished among them by numbering them, Old Billy was called for a while William Gray Tertius, William Gray Jr, and finally just William Gray. Regards, Bob Gray 2