The Classical course

(1980 memoirs)
Cousin Frankie went to the college [Ripon] herself when she was young and often told me what a disaster the whole thing was.  At that time there were two courses only, the Classical course and the Science.  Somehow, some way, God knows how, somebody pushed her into the Classical course where she had no roots, no feeling.  Greek and Latin grammar beat about in her poor brain where it had no place to be.

Go easy

(1967 March 7)
Future [at KU] sounds bright and cheerful and, as you say, if you go easy on wine, women and song, and beards, berets and sandals, all will be very well indeed.  I am not worried about the teaching because I know in my heart you are a very dedicated person.  And I am glad that you are satisfied with the library and the possibility of development.  Skip, twice you have said how harmonious it is there.

Retiree

(1992 July 10)

Jean Burkett is the girl - her face on every paper you pick up. says she's going to write a book. And will too.

Delphinium

(1988 June 30)

I like to say, "I must go out and water The Delphinium." It makes me feel so Latin. I don't know what I'd say if I had more than one, though. After all, I am Aquarius.

Trivia

(1987 early December)

I'd like to buy you a book I heard interviwed on radio yesterday called Extraordinary Origins of Every Day Things. Man said for years buttons were but ornaments until the Middle Ages, when someone thought of button holes. Do these facts delight you? I love them. Trivia so much more fun than Canon [law] data.

Dante debunked

(1978 July 9)

When I think about your new work on Dante, I am not too happy about it. I liked to think of Dante and Beatrice as two lovers from classic times. Now you will debunk them, and things may never be the same again. Beatrice will turn into a thought, and Dante just a thinker, and where will us romanticists be then? No one has got at Romeo and Juliet yet.

Nomination

(1973 early December)

Last week I was honored by being asked to submit my name for nomination for the Board of Trustees of the Women's Auxiliary of the [Wisconsin] State Historical Society. Both the chairman of the membership drive and the director of the Museum like my interest and work.

Wrong way

(1970? Summer)

You are the only medieval person I know, so I must write to tell you I have been so enjoying a little book of Daddy's called Medieval People, a paperback by Eileen Power. I read the chapter on the peasant Bobo, the one on Marco Polo, and am finishing up Mme Eglentyne, Chaucer's prioress in real life.... Then tonight on WHA-TV from U of Michigan a professor read from Chaucer the description of the Prioress - and interpreted as he went along - very easy to follow for anyone. In describing her forehead, Chaucer said it was a span - Prof. showed distance of span from thumb to forefinger and thot it a long way, but our Miss Powers said it meant the height and she probably shaved her head to make it that wide as was the fashion! I enjoyed noting the difference of opinion. Don't you too?

Plagarized

(1970 November 21)

This writing is often a rum do. Last week I got a letter from Thurman Fox saying the exhibit sparked by my article on Ada James was now on view and to try to come to the [Wisconsin State Historical] Museum to see it and stop off at the office for a little visit if I could. So then a couple of days went by and there was quite a big feature story in the [Madison] State Journal on Woman's Lib and as I read on my eyes popped as I could see someone had been researching my article! Nay, as I read further, here were whole paragraphs and sections! So I did the crossword puzzle and after while phoned ... Margaret Scott [Richland County's local historian] and told her so she could get a copy, and she was indignant I hadn't been credited. But my thot was I was not paid for the article and I gave it to the Museum so it was theirs to lend out. What is your opinion?

Scholarship

(1970 March 8)

Must comment on "Wendover's Last Annal" [Skip's article in the English Historical Review]. My opinion on this is nil as I am uninformed on this field, and therefore my opinion counts for little. I would be interested in reading his story of the Creation, but not very interested in bickering about the variations in the texts. (I suppose you are hating me for this.) It is just the type of thing we [graduate students] used to do in Shakespeare and His Contemporaries Seminar at UW and very dull it was I always thot. Tho I will admit very scholarly. And of interest to scholars. I must not have been a real scholar. "But let me make one thing crystal clear" [as Ripon historian Ed Webster used to say] - I am proud of you for being one and being published in such fine Reviews.

Hard to believe

(1965 November 12)

Along this line I remarked to Lorin after I read the very learned offprints Skip sent me, "It's hard to believe this is the boy I once explained Peter Rabbit to." We did so appreciate the articles and felt very proud.

Excelsior!

(1955 Easter)

Learn to work well and quickly and NOT MULL (the way I do). I simply could not, nor could my bottom, considered here as a separate entity, stand all that sitting and reading. You need to shake it, my love, and excercise more, mix more with the world and life in general.

Don't know it all

(1954 July 12)

We are glad to hear you are working hard [nights] on your thesis, the work behind the [day] job. I am cheering for you. I, too, would be fed up on what happened in 1225. And I think that the sooner you start teaching to see if you can teach and if you like it and are liked, the better for you, and learn more later on if you find (just killed a silverfish) you can't get along on what you already know.

Another of those damned, fat, square, thick books!

(1994 April)

I keep reading your book [Dante's Christian Astrology] and admire the weight. What a volume! Skip, I shall be a long time reading this one. It's a beautiful book, a ponderous one.