INEZ HAYNES IRWIN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/22/1943 - HFSID 31841

INEZ HAYNES IRWIN. Typed Letter signed: "Inez Haynes Irwin", 2p, 8½x11. New York, N.Y., 1943 May 21. To Louis Sobol, c/o The Evening Journal, N.Y.C. Return address in her hand. In full: "The story you printed about me in the Evening Journal of May 12, 1943 really happened to the first Mrs. Richard Harding Davis some thirty-odd years ago. Mrs. Davis was travelling to Washington. Suddenly a woman across the car bowed and smiled with a warm cordiality. Mrs. Davis realized that she knew the woman and knew her well, but she could not for the life of her recall her name. The woman joined her. They talked. All the time Mrs. Davis was scraping her memory as the stranger mentioned places and people she knew --- Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, London, Paris. No associations came. Finally the woman mentioned her brother. 'Ah,' thought the desperate Mrs. Davis, 'this may lead to something!' She asked, 'And what is your brother doing now?' 'He is still president of the United States,' the lady answered. It was Mrs. Douglas Robinson. I told that story several times one winter in New York. Finally it reached Alexander Woollcott's ears. He published it in The New Yorker as having happened to me. The story of my ineptness spread rapidly. Now you publish it as having happened to me and ex-President Hoover's sister, Mrs. Mary Van Ness. Will it be my fate, do you suppose, to have this story link my name with every President of the United States straight back to Washington? Very truly yours". Inez Haynes Irwin (1873-1970), author of many fiction and nonfiction works, was an early explorer of modern feminist themes. She was active in the women's suffrage movement. Over 45 years (1910-1955) she wrote a popular series of books about a young woman named Maida. Her short story "The Spring Flight" (1924) won the O'Henry Prize. A correspondent in Europe during World War I, she wrote mysteries, travel books, and an etiquette guide for girls. Some of her early works were published under her name in her first marriage, Inez Haynes Gillmore. Lightly soiled. Slightly worn at edges. Staple holes in upper left. Pencil notes (unknown hand) and date stamp. Otherwise, fine condition.