RUPERT HUGHES - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/04/1950 - HFSID 31861

RUPERT HUGHES
He corrects a journalist concerning facts of George Washington's life.
Autograph Letter signed: "Rupert Hughes", 2p (front and verso), 7¼x10½. New York, N.Y., 1950 May 4. On letterhead of The Gotham to [entertainment columnist] Louis Sobol, Journal American Magazine. In full: "I was delighted to be back in my dear New York again on May 1st as the unnoticed (not to say uncrowned) Quen of the May. But I was shocked to find that even you are fallible. In your column I read that George Washington played the zither and said so in a letter to Martha from Valley Forge. If I were a humorist I might call that letter a bully forgery. For Martha burned all of George's letters that she could find. Two only escaped her and one of them was written when he was made Commander-in-Chief, and left Philadelphia to join the army. He promised to be back in the Fall, but was eight years late. No letter from Valley Forge to Martha is in existence, and there is no evidence whatever that he ever played a musical instrument. The matter is of no great importance except as a proof that even you are human, and can make a mistake. As one who never makes anything else, I welcome you back to the ill-known human race. Always, affectionately yours". Rupert Hughes (1872-1956), the uncle and mentor of Howard Hughes, was an author, screenwriter and composer who wrote more than 50 books. One of his most controversial works was a three-volume biography depicting the human side of George Washington. Pencil notation and ink date stamp at top of first page. Fine condition.