SD2264. William Page to Charlotte Cushman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 357 (in part).
Rome
May 4th ’59.
My dear Friend
I thank you for your kind promptitude in writing to me from Paris, and suppose that I had no right to expect anything but just what you told me about the Venus and I only wonder that in the press of your own anxiety on your sister’s account you should have been able to give so much thought to my affairs and the time to write me not only what concerns myself more immediately but also to remember Pietro and his advantage all of which I thank you for most heartily. And hope that your fears may prove worse than the truths, when you get to your sister’s side. At all events be sure that Providence who rules all does often her best blessing in a form wherein we can discern nought but sorrow.
I took your note with me to the Brownings last evening and had a talk with them—and this morning I went with it to Hooker who treats me rather like a charity-boy for whom he has already done too much, more than he was able in reality to do—and says he would do what I ask if he could but in short that he can use his money much more productively than by lending it to me—and the upshot of the matter is that he can’t advance me the money without writing to ask his Partners—which means that I must go without it—perhaps or else wait too long to accomplish the end I have in view. He says why dont your friends help you—you have friends—but they expect the Banker to do it. When I see the rate of compound interest all this seem very odd to me. I only wanted $500 with less than which I can’t leave as some things here must be settled before I can go away—besides doing certain things for some of those I should leave behind.
I should think it my duty to go immediately if I had the money but if Hooker will not let me have it I must leave the tide to ebb again for after all I thank God that I am more anxious to deserve success than to secure its possession– I thought that I would pack up my flight into Egypt (I sent the Bacchus sleeping by Stark) and take it with me either to Paris or London & there finish it & perhaps do something else in the way of work should it offer—but I fear it will be too late before I can bring it about. I saw Mrs Filton yesterday and she seems to be pretty well. I hope her sister is also well and not troubled about the War. The Brownings spoke very kindly of you. Sophy & the bay (baby) have a cold divided between them and we are all more or less suffering from the African Wind—still I trust what ever blows we shall be able to weather it out having an anchor of Hope somewhere though it be not fixed in the mind with many kind wishes to your & yours, I remain your obliged and not wholly ungrateful Friend
Page
Sophy sends her kind love.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Library of Congress.
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