LETTERS 1940–1962

UJ to Frederick and Maud Clapp

Tor House. Carmel. California
January 3 1940.

Darling Clapps —

The adorable gloves! And all the lovely Christmas things you did for us! Donnan looks very handsome in his tie & h'd'k combination — & by great good luck, Edith Greenan gave him a big scarf of precisely the same color — though of different design. He will tell you about his pleasure himself.

We had no idea that Garth would be home — he'd kept it as a surprise & walked in Christmas eve on the stroke of midnight — just when my spirits were a bit low. Donnan hadn't gotten home & we'd {R & I} been at Noëls — came home to an empty house. Various people began to stroll in & I was just reading a letter from D. aloud & read the words "If I dont get home I think there will be something happen to make up for it" — I said "nothing in the world * would make up for it except to have Garth." As I said that, a tap on front door & there he was! Connie Bell & Galt Bell were here & they told Noël they had never seen anything as dramatic, — because I did let go! — & it was the sort of dramatic coincidence which Hardy for instance uses constantly & Robin always thinks doesn't happen! but it does to me all the time!

Donnan did arrive next day — having been in another strange adventure. — he is in & out of them all the time — I'll tell all about him another time. He is all right, & its heaven to have them here. Garth is in magnificent shape this time. He took three weeks off as the work is slack enough to permit it in mid-winter. He stopped in Los Angeles & bought us all presents. You should see Robin {in} the frontiersman pants. I wonder whether you have noticed the change in tone of the Living Age? It satisfies me better now that it sees more eye-to-eye with me! * Robin is noble enough to enjoy its politics whether or not he agrees!

We went to the usual Christmas day dinner & dance at the Tevises & New Years Day dinner at Noëls but not to Noëls New Years Eve as we usually do, as the boys had a dancing party engagement ( — which kept them out until 6 AM.) I was glad not to be at Hollow Hills, New Years Eve — it was just a year ago that we were so gay & happy there with Mario dancing & he was particularly charming & showing us Argentinian dances — he was much in my mind this year.

Lots of people in town. Ella Young & the O'Sheas for [begin strikethrough]dinner[end strikethrough] lunch. Ella in tremendous form with extraordinary tales of psychic things & perdictions & two long tales about Maud Gonne's Ka & a Mrs Smith of Dublin's Ka.Extraordinary tales as Ella was mixed up with both of them {(both Kas)}. Roland Young was here again yesterday. He is a regular dear. — I had * a {Christmas} wire from Mabel — from New York. I dont know much about her.

My trip to the séance {in S. F. we two alone} with Emily happened a fortnight ago. I shall write a letter to Blanche soon & describe it in some detail — {& ask her to give you.} Really very strange — inexplicable proceedings. Apparently my presence was very congenial because the results were very pronounced! We were tapped & shaken — & my hand was squeezed by a {warm} human-feeling one as soon as we got settled in our chairs — even before the medium went into a trance My father, Robin's father, Maeve, various relations, an Indian, a Lady Jessamine {& Sally Flavin} — et al came to me, {and talked very sensibly for the most part,} & all of Emily's regular communicants came. 1-3/4 hrs. I wish one of you would experience this & say what your conclusions are. I havent any —

We are having rain these last days — most welcome — we've had a drought ("what heavenly weather," have said thoughtless ones). Wind & waves & tossing sea birds out our windows. When I went in the {sea} today the rain beat on my face — feels wonderful.

All my love
Una.

Did you like the Unicorn cards Noël had made for me? Please give to Blanche when you've read.

UJ to Melba Berry Bennett

Tor House. Carmel.
Jan 4. 1940

Dearest Melba:

O I did intend to write you days & days ago about your book — Your poems show your quick & sensitive reaction to life & to beauty — and an ironic twist now & again that I like. The Quercus Press did a really beautiful job on it. Weren't you all proud of it?

I dont see any possibility of our being able to get down to Palm Springs. Garth surprised us by coming home for Christmas (walked in on stroke of midnight Christmas Eve) He stays until the latter part of next week. Certainly there isnt any chance for a lengthy stay, much as I'd like it. It will be fine to see you here later — well, & maybe April will be cool this year. {Dont try to keep any place open for us, too uncertain.} — I had a Christmas card from the Mrs. Carter in San Mateo I told you of — did you ever interview her? If you ever want to, I will give you a note to her. She is cagey — rather eccentric but used to be keen — & comical too! & is really * the only person who saw Robin & me together many times during the last tumultuous year before I left Teddie. She was a much older woman than I but extremely clever at games. {She lived next door to me on Flower St} We used to swim 3 times a week at Bimini, — she & I & often Robin joined us. We {(she & I)} played golf at San Gabriel a lot.

I had a BITTER New Years [begin strikethrough]card[end strikethrough] {card} from Alberts — first intimation I've had that he is alive, even, in a long time. Did you receive one?

Noël had those Christmas cards made for me, weren't they darling! Leslie Roos gave me a mate to the English pottery one in my dining table of last year & Lee Tevis found two silver ashtrays — swith unicorn heads — so I was lucky.

Did you know that Edith Greenan's book was chosen one of the fifty best in U. S. for 1939 — best gotten-up — a feather in Ritchies cap!

Robin does not remember Janet Nevens. (you wrote Nivens) is that right? Robin says he remembers his mother had friends close by — Ethelbert Nevin, composer. is that the family?

So glad to get the pictures of little horse. Had you ever any more information about it?

I had an extraordinary experience lately — went to a private séance in S. F.

Love & good wishes to you & Frank

Devotedly
Una

UJ to Blanche Matthias

Tor House. Carmel. California
January 4. 19340

Dearest Blanche:

The sandalwood perfume is delightful — I am enjoying it so much for I have not had any for some time and even Langston...