Tags
Andes, Billie Morton, Buenos Aires, Coliseo, Colon, dance training, Diaghilev, food, Gath and Chaves, Havana, Hilda Butsova, husband problems, Levi, London, Los Andes, Mama, Mascot, money complaints, Montevideo Uruguay, Mrs. Norton, New York, Nondas, Panama, Paraguay, pictures, Santiago de Chile, Steffa, stockings, the Hippodrome, Transaudine Express, travel, Victor Dandre, Walpurgis Night, weather
P. 1
[Letterhead:
“Gran Hotel de Roma”
de
Ramón Casal y Cía.
Cangallo 759
Unión Telef. 942, Avenida
Buenos Aires]
Buenos Aires, 14th August. de 1917.
My dear Billie (with all due respect).
I received your dear letter today and as I have just time I am scribbling you a note. We arrived here last Friday and Sat. night we played Walpurgis night with the Opera at the Colon the largest and most beautifull [sic] theater in the whole world also last night. But we only start Romonow at the Coliseo the 2nd theater of Buenos A, as Diageleff [sic] who is just behind us at Mondvedio [sic] Uraguay [sic] has already Booked the Colon so has got the Best of our Co this time. We came from Santiago de Chili [sic] across the Andes. For the first 6 [page torn—three illegible words] to Los Andes a little town of about 1000 inhabitants who live right in the mountains there we took a hotel for the night and at 7 o’clock the next morning we caught the Transaudine Express. and crawled up the mountain untill [sic] we were some 18000 feet high where all was just voids of snow we had very bad weather a regular blisard [sic] of snow otherwise the hip has many wonderfull [sic] sightbut we saw nothing but snowswept mountain and plains up there with deep [illegible] below us. The storms come so badly up there that sometimes for month [sic] the whole train trafic [sic] is stoped [sic] as the storm is so severe as to sweap [sic] a man away like a scrap of paper and whole trains have been blown over you see now is about the worst time as it is Severe Winter. B. A is lovely it
[Margin of P. 1]
P.C. You wanted to know about Steffa and well I wrote all about it but I guess the letter was lost. First after the Hipodrome [sic] season was finished Steffa took sick and went to a private hospital and Mr. Dandre had [page torn—illegible] reumatias [sic] & gaut [sic] in Havana also in N.Y. so [page torn—illegible] had to go back to N.Y. on Business and as Steffa was better he brought her back with him but dear [inset in margin—Brought Steffa back in Panama.] she [page torn—illegible] was fat as could be. And Stasia Kahn had a [page torn—illegible] in Havana from her [page torn—illegible] who cried her to come to Warsa [sic] so she left [page torn—illegible]
[page torn—illegible] Mascot
P. 2
compares more to London then [sic] any town I have ever seen It has squares & parks all over the place and the loveliest business streets & the most interesting stores [page torn—illegible] think it beats New York [illegible] there are at least a 12 streets equal to 5th Ave. here and huge [illegible] form [sic] London like Harrods & Gathes [sic] & Chaves etc. are here. The hotels are very nice clean and good food only they are expensive as a matter of fact everything is very expensive here. In fact all South America is but at least here in this town one can buy all the things one needs forinstance [sic] in Panama, Lima, & Ecuador Silk stockings were not to be had only these poor woodsilk and they were terrible [sic] expensive. Just a moment I am going to have lunch now then I will continue. Well I am back again eating a tangerine [sic]. Since how long has Nondas been going to school I thought was only taug[page torn] at home it is very nice that she mixes with other children but I cant [sic] imagine Nondas as 5 feet tall [page torn—two illegible words] how old I have forgoten [sic] how old and what date the wonderfull [sic] day is I have just dad [sic] my birthday the 20th on 1917 August 9th so your eldest daughter has become extreamely [sic] ancient. It is really very cold today and it is not somuch [sic] the cold that I mind for we have worse in the US. but the none of the houses have any heating apliances [sic] whatever
P. 3
and when it is cold one simply has to put ones heavy coat on and freeze. I am sorry to hear that you are so worked is it very hard and what are the hours? have you really never heard any news from him and cant [sic] you do something to make him support at least Nondas I know you hate to even except [sic] a penny from him but you must get over your purgedice [sic]. I think the idea of keeping the p. cards till I return & send them all in a registered pacage [sic] is very good as really they are very careless and really all registered mail gets stolen and no endemicity [sic] is paid for loss. But I am very angry with you and if I had you here I would scold you all for even suggesting the idea that you would pay for a picture and I will never write again if you ever mention anything like that again. I finally got hold of the man who prints there and manage after ages of time to get some coppies [sic] from him one of which I sent to you from Santiago de Chile I have some films that are very nice but as printing is so impossible expensive here I am going to wait till [sic] I return to the states and then I will send Nondas some of the most interesting coppies [sic] From Nondas I hear that you are not feeling well and that you are having your work Sat. I do hope you find something lighter. I cannot find the letter in which my Mama write “What a nice lady
P. 4
Mrs. Morton must be I wish she were here. I am sure we would be very good friends.” I also wish you were there for it would be nice for you and Nondas would not be alone so much also if you should take ill Mama could look after you and Nondas still have her good care. About the dancing I really do not know what to say the tuision [sic] is very expensive and shoes now too, I have asked Hilda for some of her old onces [sic] but she never keeps her promise, as I am sorry to say about all our girls as I soppose [sic] you have experience It seems to me the word [sic] is getting more advanced but in its advancement it is getting crueler & more callous and we middle class are being crushed under the weight off [sic] pressures caused by the politicians and capatalists [sic]. Would really not be possible to go into some stock Co or something and take Nondas with you for she is old enought [sic] now for after all I think one can a little more money that way then [sic] the laundry work. Well what can we say but hope valiently [sic] for the best, and pray that we also may see the more lighter and cheerfull [sic] side of life.
God Bless you and I hope you are better and your courage still strong. If there is anything you would care to ask of me please do so or of my Mama who is nearer and more able to reach you.
With Love and Kisses from Your
old daughter Mascot