Isabella Stewart Gardner (New York, 1840 - 1924, Boston)
Letter to Gretchen Osgood Warren from Fenway Court, Boston, 15 April 1909
Ink on paper , 19.8 x 12.3 cm (7 13/16 x 4 13/16 in.)
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Commentary
For Isabella’s 69th birthday, her friends poet and actress Gretchen Osgood Warren and founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Henry Lee Higginson organized the creation of a book (museum no. U19w40) containing signatures from more than 200 of Isabella's friends to show their appreciation the museum. Isabella wrote the letter to Gretchen the day after the book was presented to her.
Transcript:
My loving & beloved friend
That I am writing today, & that it is the 15th, proves that emotions do not kill. For I have lived through yesterday. Your hand & heart had touched everything. The wonderful basket of violets & the cable messages from you & Molly were only marginal notes on the book of love. I simply cannot thank you. All last evening at Susie Cabot’s you were there; & at the fire side by Mr. Higginson in the Gothic Room in the afternoon, when he and Mrs. Higginson & Mrs. Tyson brought the book. I have just now been re-reading your beautiful letter. I can only sit still—& cry hard! I know I can never tell you anything of it all but you do feel it. I tried to speak to dear Fiske in the evening—& I thank Miss Legge for her name. But I can’t say another word—my dear—
Lovingly yours
Isabella
Transcript:
My loving & beloved friend
That I am writing today, & that it is the 15th, proves that emotions do not kill. For I have lived through yesterday. Your hand & heart had touched everything. The wonderful basket of violets & the cable messages from you & Molly were only marginal notes on the book of love. I simply cannot thank you. All last evening at Susie Cabot’s you were there; & at the fire side by Mr. Higginson in the Gothic Room in the afternoon, when he and Mrs. Higginson & Mrs. Tyson brought the book. I have just now been re-reading your beautiful letter. I can only sit still—& cry hard! I know I can never tell you anything of it all but you do feel it. I tried to speak to dear Fiske in the evening—& I thank Miss Legge for her name. But I can’t say another word—my dear—
Lovingly yours
Isabella