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Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 15 February 1917
Manuscript letter
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
My dearest Family,
After a week of cotton-battening in true Louisville hospitality, I feel like a veritable soft-boiled egg, as Miss de Long expresses it – massaged in every pore, shockingly well-fed, and entertained within an inch of my life!
Honestly, you can’t imagine how good they are !!
In the first place, Dr Brandeis and her sister, Miss Belle, have taken me in like a
[written cross on L margin and top]
miserable shame!
I’m off for an electrical back massage such as Ede gets! Did you ever know such a sybarite! Best love to you all from your ex-pioneer Bun (p.2) daughter, calling me “dear child” “little lady” and “Erica” at the first go-off, petting and spoiling me in every conceivable way – special dishes to make me feel at home, special sleeping indulgences, etc. etc. – till I’ve forgotten that there ever was such a person as “Miss Thorp” or such a problem as discipline ^in the world!^ They’re just like sweet, little ladies in a book or play. In fact, the whole thing is so book-like, so absurdly lucky, that neither of us can believe its true!
And Ede is gaining so!
2. (p.3) Two weeks after the tonsils, she had five teeth taken out, which were badly infected and since then, she’s gained a pound and a half, and can eat and sleep as she hasn’t for months! It’s so wonderful to see the change in her. And she’s so comfortable and happy here! I spend about half the day with her, then go out to Fannie Brandeis’s or round to various entertainments as the guest of wonderfully kind Brandeis and Wehle relatives. They’re so good! And as Miss de Long has urged me to stay over for a full two weeks, I’m going to –
(p.4 ) Mamma, all my various garments have arrived, for which I’m so grateful. I’ve been to a concert, a picture exhibit, Keith’s automobiling, and even antique-furniture-buying with Harry Wehle’s brother! And to crown everything – while I was at a charming bride’s luncheon the other day, along came a telegram from one L. A. Morgan, saying that he was aiming to spend Sunday I L’ville en route to Cincinnati!! – Did you ever hear anything more wonderfully, adorably Morgan-esque !!
-- You can’t imagine (p.5) how exciting it was to have old Les [Leo?] appear, so good-looking and so gallant and so bubbling over!
If it hadn’t rained, we would have taken a wonderful all-dy country walk thro’ a gorge -- but as it was we got in a long walk in various parks in the A M. had dinner here (the Brandeis sisters were thrilled, and of course Les [Leo?] made a tremendous hit!) and went out to Fannie’s for more walking and supper.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to be strolling along a country road again with Les [Leo?], singing the medley at the top of our (p.6) lungs! And we talked Cambridge and Pine Mt. till not an incident of the past five months was left undiscussed. Wasn’t it a strange, thrilling coincidence – just at Washington’s Birthday time, too, when all the rest of the clan was gathering at Manch. Les seems awfully pleased with his business and enjoying Milwaukee greatly. Isn’t it fine! To me, that seems so much more characteristic a job for him.
Well, it certainly was delightful to be gallantly escorted and stood up for and car-fared again – and the surprise made it ten times nicer!
(p.7) With such sudden excitements, and constant variation life seems very dazzling and wonderful – but I guess two weeks of it is enough.
Fannie’s family and home are so fine! The house – a beautiful great stucco one on a hill above the river – is all that an ideal house should be – Cotton -or Garfield – esque, with great, spacious, homelike rooms, exquisitely furnished, yet so simple And I’ve had the joy of playing 2-piano duets with Fanny, and hearing her and her mother play – oh the bliss of it! Then we walk with (p.8) the dogs – Jean’s blessed Beppo sheep-dog – and recline on luxurious sofas, and I drink whole pitchers of milk at meals and wear silk stockings and Ede’s lynx coat and just revel in being well-dressed and clean and airy again!
Mrs Brandeis is just like a mother – so wonderfully kind and sweet – and Fannie is so Jean-like and dear! Well, you simply can’t imagine how I appreciate it and revel in the luxury of a private room and bath and such “purely” kindness all around!
(p.9) Two concentrated weeks of it thus are blissful – after leading such an utterly different life. But with Spring coming and warm weather and flowers, won’t I be glad to sight the crest of Pine Mt. again!
Think of Tuk coming down in the end of March ! And Sitoo and Al and perhaps Mamma later !! – -- Life is so thrilling!
-- I’m longing to hear of March doings –and about all the war excitement at home. Here its impossible to believe – either people (p.10) are indifferent or else it’s surpressed [sic]. At Fannie’s the topic is scrupulously avoided. Dr B. is not pro-German, so we talk a good deal – but it’s strange to see how little is made of it about the city.
Papa, did you know Mr Albert Brandeis in your class ’79 --? He’s their brother – no longer living.
The O.C. Book Store sent me a bill for “The Little House on the Marne” which I didn’t get. I told them to take it up with you, but they don’t seem to have & have sent another bill. Will you see about it?
Mamma dear, I’m so sorry about your ankle .. I hope it isn’t troubling you much!! What a
[letter finishes on first page]
My dearest Family,
After a week of cotton-battening in true Louisville hospitality, I feel like a veritable soft-boiled egg, as Miss de Long expresses it – massaged in every pore, shockingly well-fed, and entertained within an inch of my life!
Honestly, you can’t imagine how good they are !!
In the first place, Dr Brandeis and her sister, Miss Belle, have taken me in like a
[written cross on L margin and top]
miserable shame!
I’m off for an electrical back massage such as Ede gets! Did you ever know such a sybarite! Best love to you all from your ex-pioneer Bun (p.2) daughter, calling me “dear child” “little lady” and “Erica” at the first go-off, petting and spoiling me in every conceivable way – special dishes to make me feel at home, special sleeping indulgences, etc. etc. – till I’ve forgotten that there ever was such a person as “Miss Thorp” or such a problem as discipline ^in the world!^ They’re just like sweet, little ladies in a book or play. In fact, the whole thing is so book-like, so absurdly lucky, that neither of us can believe its true!
And Ede is gaining so!
2. (p.3) Two weeks after the tonsils, she had five teeth taken out, which were badly infected and since then, she’s gained a pound and a half, and can eat and sleep as she hasn’t for months! It’s so wonderful to see the change in her. And she’s so comfortable and happy here! I spend about half the day with her, then go out to Fannie Brandeis’s or round to various entertainments as the guest of wonderfully kind Brandeis and Wehle relatives. They’re so good! And as Miss de Long has urged me to stay over for a full two weeks, I’m going to –
(p.4 ) Mamma, all my various garments have arrived, for which I’m so grateful. I’ve been to a concert, a picture exhibit, Keith’s automobiling, and even antique-furniture-buying with Harry Wehle’s brother! And to crown everything – while I was at a charming bride’s luncheon the other day, along came a telegram from one L. A. Morgan, saying that he was aiming to spend Sunday I L’ville en route to Cincinnati!! – Did you ever hear anything more wonderfully, adorably Morgan-esque !!
-- You can’t imagine (p.5) how exciting it was to have old Les [Leo?] appear, so good-looking and so gallant and so bubbling over!
If it hadn’t rained, we would have taken a wonderful all-dy country walk thro’ a gorge -- but as it was we got in a long walk in various parks in the A M. had dinner here (the Brandeis sisters were thrilled, and of course Les [Leo?] made a tremendous hit!) and went out to Fannie’s for more walking and supper.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to be strolling along a country road again with Les [Leo?], singing the medley at the top of our (p.6) lungs! And we talked Cambridge and Pine Mt. till not an incident of the past five months was left undiscussed. Wasn’t it a strange, thrilling coincidence – just at Washington’s Birthday time, too, when all the rest of the clan was gathering at Manch. Les seems awfully pleased with his business and enjoying Milwaukee greatly. Isn’t it fine! To me, that seems so much more characteristic a job for him.
Well, it certainly was delightful to be gallantly escorted and stood up for and car-fared again – and the surprise made it ten times nicer!
(p.7) With such sudden excitements, and constant variation life seems very dazzling and wonderful – but I guess two weeks of it is enough.
Fannie’s family and home are so fine! The house – a beautiful great stucco one on a hill above the river – is all that an ideal house should be – Cotton -or Garfield – esque, with great, spacious, homelike rooms, exquisitely furnished, yet so simple And I’ve had the joy of playing 2-piano duets with Fanny, and hearing her and her mother play – oh the bliss of it! Then we walk with (p.8) the dogs – Jean’s blessed Beppo sheep-dog – and recline on luxurious sofas, and I drink whole pitchers of milk at meals and wear silk stockings and Ede’s lynx coat and just revel in being well-dressed and clean and airy again!
Mrs Brandeis is just like a mother – so wonderfully kind and sweet – and Fannie is so Jean-like and dear! Well, you simply can’t imagine how I appreciate it and revel in the luxury of a private room and bath and such “purely” kindness all around!
(p.9) Two concentrated weeks of it thus are blissful – after leading such an utterly different life. But with Spring coming and warm weather and flowers, won’t I be glad to sight the crest of Pine Mt. again!
Think of Tuk coming down in the end of March ! And Sitoo and Al and perhaps Mamma later !! – -- Life is so thrilling!
-- I’m longing to hear of March doings –and about all the war excitement at home. Here its impossible to believe – either people (p.10) are indifferent or else it’s surpressed [sic]. At Fannie’s the topic is scrupulously avoided. Dr B. is not pro-German, so we talk a good deal – but it’s strange to see how little is made of it about the city.
Papa, did you know Mr Albert Brandeis in your class ’79 --? He’s their brother – no longer living.
The O.C. Book Store sent me a bill for “The Little House on the Marne” which I didn’t get. I told them to take it up with you, but they don’t seem to have & have sent another bill. Will you see about it?
Mamma dear, I’m so sorry about your ankle .. I hope it isn’t troubling you much!! What a
[letter finishes on first page]
Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-005#006
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1006/004.006.002-005#006
Public domain
Erica Thorp deBerry Papers (1006/004.006), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Correspondence, Outgoing (1006/004.006.002), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1917 (1006/004.006.002-005), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Correspondence, Outgoing (1006/004.006.002), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1917 (1006/004.006.002-005), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
NPS Museum Number Catalog : LONG 27930
Title: Finding Aid to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) Family Papers, 1768-1972 (Bulk dates 1825-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLFP
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLFP
2016-01-30
02/15/1917
Manuscript letter in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Family Papers, Erica Thorp deBerry Papers, Correspondence, Outgoing. (1006/004.006.002)
Public Can View
Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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