Bertha Ballou – Page 3 – BERTHA BALLOU LETTERS

The leeriness of the lower part of his face and thickness of his lips would seem to indicate strong appetites

EDITOR’S PICK

To Cora Hendricks from Bertha – September 3, 1913

Art Students’ League of New York
215 West Fifty Seventh Street
6265 Telephone, Columbus 6266

Dear Mamma,

I had three letters from home yesterday when I was not expecting any at all. I know you must miss Senn but I very much hope he will be benefited by the school experience. I rather think I’ll be with you in August just the same. It’s hard to decide and either course may bring regrets but when you are so far away, I don’t feel quite right in staying here. Certainly, I have gained a great deal here. I am glad that you are so well situated at Balangas and find the people pleasant. Yes, I met Sumpter Bratton at a hop last fall and he was very pleasant, though to tell the honest truth, his face did not greatly impress me. I know that one often makes mistakes but I do rely a great deal on faces.

[Note: Colonel Rufus Sumter Bratton (1892-1958) was Chief of the Far Eastern Section of the Intelligence Branch of the Military Intelligence Division when the United States entered World War II. A character based on him was featured in the move Tora! Tora! Tora!]

Bratton played by E.G. Marshall in Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

Sumter’s is not a strong face to my way of thinking but neither, in the other hand, is Francis Newcomer’s, though in a different way, and knowing Francis as well as I do, he is one of the few men whom I have entire confidence in. So I give Sumter the benefit of a doubt. What I mean about Francis’ face is that the leeriness of the lower part of his face and thickness of his lips would seem to indicate strong appetites, and Francis is most abstemious, apparently.

[Note: Francis Kosier Newcomer (1889-1967) rose to the rank of Brigadier general. He is most noted for his service as a Governor of the Panama Canal Zone from 1948 to 1952.]

As I have written you, General Simpson is or was, still living when I last heard, and was much improved. I’m rather afraid Captain Guthrie is on the bad _____, or rather at Galveston, as I noticed that M. Company of the Engineers is there.

Mr. Godfrey has not been seen or heard of in a long time. I regret to say, I dare say he is very busy and there is plenty going on at West Point. I was amused at what you told me of him but I can see how he might impress people as rather trivial at first, for he did me except for his lovely voice and manner but then even a perfect gentleman can be found at West Point.

[Note: We cannot know for sure who “Mr. Godfrey” was. However, only one “Godfrey” graduated from West Point around this time: Stuart Chapin Godfrey (four years prior, in 1909. However, an American Society of Civil Engineers membership list indicates that he still lived in West Point, NY in 1916.) Born in 1886, he would also be the right age to be Bertha’s love interest. Stuart Chapin Godfrey rose to the rank of Brigadier General and by 1945, he was Commander of Geiger Air Field near Spokane, WA. He had directed construction of airfields in the China-Burma-India Theatre for use by B-29 Superfortress bombers on raids against Japan prior to assuming command at Geiger Field. He was killed in a plane crash as he was returning from a conference in San Francisco in October 1945.]

I don’t understand Mr. G. at all thought sometimes he seems childishly simple. That’s the most confusing part of it. His apparent simplicity with his fine brain and beautiful manners, I’m inclined to be very suspicious of such innocence but I believe he is sincere. The question in my mind is how can he be as wonderful and show it so little? I don’t think he talks particularly interestingly or ordinary subjects, well enough but nothing more, I have a suspicion when I talk to him that either he is stupid or he is inwardly laughing at me which the latter seems more probable though on the occasion of our last meeting, my general impression was the former. Isn’t that funny? And yet when I had talked at some length on the subject, quite condescending, he quite inadvertently admitted an embarrassing knowledge of that branch of art. I should like to see more of him for he is full of interesting lessons to the inexperienced. I can’t tell you how hurt I feel at his not coming to see me again but I am calmly and fearfully learning how much less our friends think of us than we do of him. I reckon that I give each one a very large place and “out of sight, out of mind” seems particularly true of men.

Moreover, I don’t think men and women can ever deal fairly with each other. I used to think they could and tried to act accordingly but honestly seems peculiarly unattractive to the male human being at least when women are concerned. I’ve no idea of hurting men or women either but I certainly have no idea of ever again being a rashly frank in my friendships with men. It seems to them to be a new and startling eccentricity.

“Sister” Larghbrough is in Cincinnati, I believe, starting up a manufactory of _____, cheese and other _____ meat dainties. The best _____ in the world has been on leave helping set the business on its feet.

He said if he couldn’t stand the office work for two months, he’d put an overalls and go out in the yard to help leave the shoulders of beef around. He is greatly grieved about Sister, I think, though he didn’t talk about it often, only a sort of undertone in his conversation which I know meant that. He told me among other things that I had too much intelligence to marry a ruffian but dwelt on the extremely foolish marriages of many very intelligent girls. The rest of his family in this country pleases him. “Sonny,” Sister’s Sonny, is a very attractive boy and “Little Brother” six-feet-two and pronounced by his physical construct to be the most perfect specimen in the United States. Bill Loughborough is fatter than ever, _____ is a better wad, lean faced, getting thin as to the top of his hair and very boyish still. I don’t think he approves of the step mother for he did not make the slightest mention of his father which is unusual. What else was I going to tell you? Well, I don’t believe there were any more questions.

Here I am back in Washington and so glad to be here

To CC Ballou from Bertha – September 13, 1918

1724 20th St. N.W.  Washington, D.C.

Dear Papa,

Here I am back in Washington and so glad to be here. We have been gone for a month and it has been a very pleasant change but it’s nice to be home just the same. Senn and I came on ahead of Mamma and Sally from Dallas, where Aunt Addie and Uncle George live, and arrived last night about nine o’clock. Major Hester is still _____ although Mrs. Hester has gone back to Atlanta. Everything is in excellent condition and I can see that they have taken a great deal of pains to care for things. I have not done very much today _____ have been busy all the time, nevertheless and will have dinner to prepare as soon as I finish this letter.

A short time before leaving Homly, I received a letter from Hazel Clark. She has accepted a position in Pittsburgh – testing chemistry. It will give her rather short hours and a salary of eighteen hundred for eight or nine months work. That is better than anything she could secure here. She inquired about you and sent her kindest regards. They are all well, the family still at _____ and were expecting their son who has been sent back to this country – disabled from shell _____.

You will know before this reaches you of General Newman’s promotion. It is a pleasure to be able to write the General. I have not seen them yet but Senn ran across him last night – not being like me tired enough to go to bed after traveling all day. It is a disagreeable trip from Dallas. We were obliged to go for about half an hour by trolley – walk some distance to the station and make the rest of the trip in crowded day-coaches with two changes. Of course that’s not very terrible but twelve hours of it _____ all the excitement that _____ system craves in the course of one day. Senn found three letters from you awaiting _____ here and there is also one for Mamma which I will not forward as I suspect her to follow in a day or two and might miss her. I observed in the Army and Navy Journal that Mrs. ______ with the old lady and Marjorie have gone to Detroit to remain for the period of the war. If you see the Colonel, give him my love – one never really know how much on things of a friend until afterwards. Now I am surprised sometimes to see who are the ones who stand out in my memory as satisfactory recollections. They are not always the ones that I would have expected – but he is one.

Well, goodbye for this time and keep well. We are all so encouraged by the gains this last month that I dare to hope that the war will not last so much longer as I had feared. If you can only head out and keep your health!

Love from,

Bertha

September 13th, 1918

Today I started on a four-foot canvas and in the afternoon began modeling

To CC Ballou from Bertha Ballou –

238 Hemmingway Street , Boston

Dear Papa,
I am sorry that I did not telegraph you about the concours. If I had known that you would be as distressed about the candlesticks I would have done so in order that you might have the concours as an offset for other disturbances in Christmas – as I had. I’m not surprised that Lenn and Emily were delighted with their candlesticks – anyone might well be. I was with mine. It was a lovely gift and I appreciated your desire to make one a beautiful present and one that you knew I had greatly admired more the less because they came in _____ condition _____ while I _____ __________________________________________________________________ …and the makeup and will _____ _____ little box and ship them as soon as I get a reply and my letter.
I am glad Lenn and Emily are home. I liked the little things I sent them _____ they were not expensive. I ______ is wasn’t a very useful present but was at least one more permanent asset and not hard to send. I wondered how my gift could have reached you so soon. I did not finish it until too late as the days were very dark and cloudy and I could not work long in the afternoons. I’m afraid, too, that it has been very slow in reading you.
My holiday was quite uneventful. A _____ _____ sent me to the dentist ________________________________________________ …but on the ______, I had a pleasant time. General _____ and Mrs. Hersey is _____ called Sunday afternoon is ______ of receiving a card from you. They are all looking quite well. I _____ intended to call on Mrs. Page on New Year’s Day but the eight or ten inches of snow under foot was added a _____ rain and that was too much for my resolution. I will get over there very soon however.
Today I started on a four-foot canvas and in the afternoon began modeling. I think it will all be valuable.
With much love to yourself and all the family.
From,
Bertha
January 2nd, 1923

Two or three beautiful young girls as bait for two or three handsome young artists

To Cora Hendricks from Bertha – March 7, 1923

[Note: Bertha is 32. She is living in the building below in Boston.]

238 Hemenway Street
Boston

Dear Mamma,

Busy days! I am almost swamped but am getting used to a full program so my head is still above water. Your interesting package containing so many welcome articles arrived yesterday. All will be most acceptable. I had been thinking I must buy a few handkerchiefs and paint rags are always thankfully received. As to the smock, it is a beauty. I shall perhaps be mobbed if I appear in another new smock. This year, having already become a joke for my cleanliness, but after all, cleanliness has its advantages and I sometimes thing that looking a little nicer than the other women in the class might have some bearing on the fact that Hoffman, a genius, has fanned me with many little attentions as of late, including the privileges of working with him in the afternoons when I don’t model, on portrait sketches. Hoffman is a great artist already at that. Nobody else has ever seen anyone except Sargent and De Camp and a few of the big men who could do better than Hoffman. Every day now he is turning off little “masterpieces,” well they are good. So it is fine to work alongside although I am so plodding comparatively. Presently, I shall pick _____ and do better as is though I lack the divine spark.

[Note: Irwin Hoffman who was allowed to enroll at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School when he was only 15. He had his first solo show at the age of 19, and was was referred to as “a prodigy in portraiture” by the press. He would have been a decade younger than Bertha when the letter was written.]

Today I painted in the morning, modeled from two to three and drew from three to four. It was a terrible day. Last night it began to snow and blow. It is blowing yet but the sky has cleared. This morning after three days of Spring, we were in a raging blizzard, the worse of the winter. Even I balked and had breakfast with Miss Fisher, then I waded out to school. People are trying to clean the walks but the wind swirled moving the snow in the air but the snow that should have been on the ground that it wouldn’t stay put and there was no keeping the ______ cleared until after morning. It was horrible.

Added to my other miseries I have been put on a committee and must have two posters by Monday and everybody declines to do posters. I cannot see my way to do two. At present, I am up against a blank wall but am beginning to see daylight after all for I’m _____ the making of lots of posters and if worse comes to worst, I think I’ll invite two or three men and dine with two or three other girls and myself at the Union next Sunday, and make them all work. I think it could be done like an old fashioned “bee.” How’s that for an idea, and old maid to get things going and two or three beautiful young girls as bait for two or three handsome young artists. I’ll bet it works if all else fails me. I know two or three flapper _____ who would work like beavers for the chance of dining with Hoffman. “J’ai une bonne idée.”

Am glad Mrs. Jackson is better. She certainly has had a time of it! I trust Papa is entirely recovered now as you wrote that he was all well his but for the soreness in this throat. I think it would be a fine thing if he could take a leave and get away for a little while. Thank you very much for all the things you sent me. I appreciate you’ve thought of me greatly. Am wondering when I’d better start home. When do you think? I want to go home and I want to work, too. From the standpoint of work this is the best year I’ve put in in many years. I’m putting in more hours and pulling ahead steadily. Wish I could work there. “I wish I were dead, this is such an awful world and sleeping when you’d rather be working.” I’m not quite that enthusiastic but I like to work in the new class. Everybody takes on a new lease of life in it. Well, time to close.

Love to all.
From,
Bertha

“Portrait of Kitty”

(Date is approximate)