ALS, one page, 4.5 x 7.25, January 23, 1907. Handwritten letter to Arthur Edward Stilwell, who founded the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad and Port Arthur, Texas. In full: “Friend of my Youth: How I would like to make the glorious pilgrimage once more with you, but simply cannot: Neither leisure nor health permits me anything now but work or worry—when overworked, I worry, of course; and when overworried, I’ve got to work to get rid of the worry.—Surely a bewildering state to be in—most any other old state’ud suit me better,—specially Texas or the Mexiques—any of’em, so you and your eternal your eternal [sic] youth were along. The voiceful socks you sent me from Paris are now under treatment at a throat specialists’ here—having strained their vocal chords in Oratorio work, trying to fill the vast auditorium of Tomlinson Hall—the dreadful accoustics of which, over and over again, have reduced the most thundrous vocables of a sheepskin band to a sigh no louder than a lisping gas-leak. Want to see you again, in full melodious panoply of verseful composition, and hear you likewise, with Brown strollin’ up and down the main street of the organ like he was the only maestro on the Keyboard! Best New Year’s greetings, cheer and godspeeds to you and yours always." He adds a quote as a postscript: "Wouldst have a friend? Wouldst know what friend is best? Have God thy friend: He passeth all the rest." In very good to fine condition, with light soiling, edge toning, and a crease to the upper left corner.
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