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To John Hull Olmsted
The staff arrived last evening (Thursday), having received a salute of rain during the hour or two previous, “Choctaw & Kate” making some sixty miles over bad roads in the day. Father insists that the savages in some of those Loco-Foco regions cut out the miles a deal longer than among us. Reasoning from their known meanness, however, I think it quite as likely that
[193]our “’pikers” habitually give short measure. During their absence (K. & C.’s), I have put up a new back to their stable, whitewashed it & made some other improvements. Being Major Domo (acting), I marketed, & the first day we rushed on eels, clams, custard & chocolate.
In the evening the Natural History Society were to meet at Smith’s rooms, but there was not a quorum present owing to some misunderstanding as to the place. Mr. Monds, Prof. Jackson, E. Smith & myself were there only. Smith had some fine fossils. M. don’t like the Atheneum building, particularly as connected or associated with the name. He thinks it should have been à la Grec. S. highly approves of the name, thinks that the inscription in front (“Wadsworth”) added $500.00 to the subscription list. Wishes there was a similar one on the rear, for that matter (—sabi?) We are expecting to have our rooms towards the close of July. Mind ye, there’ll be bad blood yet about the distribution of these same rooms.
Professor Jackson very rightly argues that a single noble piece of art (in sculpture) would be better worth having than fifty ordinarily fine paintings. He also advocates procuring casts from the most celebrated works of antiquity—(these from Florence.) Speaking of Powers’ “Eve,” he says it is conceived in the idea that she was before her fall: a perfectly pure, sinless being without shame. She is represented perfectly nude, not even a leaf of cover, & the spectator is to observe her with the same conception of perfect purity.
He is curious to see how it will be received here. Monds says she’ll have to put petticoats on in New England. Then I said I had seen a statue in New Haven where the privates were hid by a blue handkerchief drawn over one thigh. (Did you ever hear old Major Terry’s orders? “Foot Guards! You’ll appear on parade, Monday, twenty-first May next, eight o’clock, forenoon, front of the State House! Full uniform, white gloves, ruffled shirt, powdered hair, and tally wags dressed on the left side! Carry arms! Eyes right! You are dismissed!”)
Then, M. says, you may see this day in Salem the “Laocoon” & “The Boy & Thorn in His Foot,” all the ______ well clothed in cambric, an old maid having been engaged in fitting them—probably because she was at home in the business—as Yorick’s merchande des gants with the gants d’Amour! In a similar case here, Miss Smith would be deputized by the Moral Reform Society. The Professor relates how Powers’ servant girl in blundering through the studio by night knocked the ______ off a model of a boy. She knew enough to stick it on again, unfortunately wrong out. On being told of it, she answered that she “never saw but one & that pointed so.” Nasty fellows! How they do talk!
Stopping at Monds’ coming home, we three, Miss Monds & I had each a few yarns to spin of our individual experience of the sea. Mr. Monds’ had a gloomy strand twisted in: his beautiful protégé returning to her friends—dying
[194]of Consumption—on the third week out, during a most awful gale, at midnight, the water in the cabin washing her mattress, tremendous sea on, & everything about her in dreadful confusion, but within, calm as a setting star.
This is to inform you that I remain, as usual, yours up to fashion.
Frederick Law Olmsted
N.B. P.S. Forgot to tell you that your letter with the kind information in regard to their “honors” came to hand a day or two after the fact. In regard to the small matters I think you mentioned wanting in the P.S., I suppose you did not care much for them. So being very busy building a hen coop (going to start an egg factory—think we may charter mathematical music mill—“Euclidodeon” or what ever you call it; if the market chokes) didn’t attend to “monopolize the hookfrocking and lacestaying” affair. ( Hope ’twill benefit your eyes.) However, the letter is knocking round below stairs and I should not wonder if you did secure it after all.
By—(golly) if you didn’t allow yourself more recruiting when in college—it’s no wonder you got the Consumption. Lord bless—’twould give a cat “fits” to be mewed up in the style you propose. Better it?—hang me if I could not, I’d go mummify myself in a Book case. Yes—here—now—5 to—15 wash—20 dress—35 to Mrs. ______ in the Avenue to enquire if Miss ______ is suffering at all from fatigue in walking from the theat—church (I mean) last night. Till breakfast—down to the bay—swim sometimes—or look to the boat. See that your oars dont split (oil ’em (paint oil) thoroughoughly). Go look at the schooner on the stocks (rather slippery modeled ain’t she?)
After breakfast study & read (your selection’l do) ten or fifteen minutes, or from that to a couple of hours. Then make your calls—till twelve. Take an observation, square the yards, & write up your log. Bear a hand with it, so as to have time to write a few pages (of postscript) to Fred. Then go to soup—(“Soup’s ready sir!” Steward) with a clear conscience. Tuck your napkin—take your fork in your right hand. “Eat slow, & masticate your food well” “Sit up straight in your chair.” “Don’t toss.” Be very polite, particularly to John Olmsted the Hull. Decline segars, drink your wine slowly & gracefully, & when you’re offered hot punch don’t drink it (“damn’d weak”) but dip your fingers in the glass—& hang up in front of your nose to dry. If you give the “all shaking” touch it will be emphatically appropriate.
Then p.m. half, at least half, to exercise & recreation. You’ll have a capital chance to make a collection of native shells. Ayres got a specimen of every species known in the Sound while in college. But at all events whatever rules you make stick to ’em in spite of temporary inclination.
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