University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library© 1997 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Margret Groschel
Collection is open to research.
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Frank Richard Stockton Collection, Accession 5866, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Gift 1958 Jun 5
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
[Includes autograph corrections; in slipcase.]
[Instructs him to have 2 Ferris blocks engraved as soon as they come in; suggest having 2 engravers do them as they must be ready in January.]
[Thanks him for notes and favors; instructs him how to forward his mail to Philadelphia; mentions article that will appear in the Midsummer number, a "Letter-Box" item by the daughter of Benson John Lossing , and Amalie LaForge . ]
[Apologizes for sending the proofs late; points out that he introduced " The Baby Camel , " " Prairie-dog's Home , " and " Prairie Wolf "; criticizes animal drawing by [William Holbrook] Beard and specifies 3 drawings he disagrees with, should any pictures have to be omitted.] (incomplete)
[Says he had a delightful trip to the Bahamas and is enjoying Florida ; reports on letters lost in forwarding; inquires about fees for " Sam Clemson " and " The Lion "; asks for reading material to be sent to him in Jacksonville ; sends regards to "immortals of 743"; says he is anxious to see St. Nicholas magazine which he cannot get in Florida . ]
[Acknowledges receipt of manuscripts which he will revise; inquires about the $100 English serial he is to revise; declines invitation to Carnival; asks him to come see a permanent exhibition in Philadelphia , 1905 Broad St.]
[Returns a corrected, shortened proof; refers to a Russian story in the possession of Mary Mapes Dodge ; mentions batch of electro-work he sent to Clarke and his need of money.]
[Includes two 1 1/2 page manuscripts requested by [Mary Mapes] Dodge ; mentions that he has 3 Scannell pictures, but no manuscript yet.]
[Refers to revised manuscripts he has sent to William Fayal Clarke 's office, the charge being $53; asks him to hand Clarke a letter when he returns from vacation.]
[Says he is leaving for Europe rather suddenly without having revised manuscripts; advises him to repage and shorten them; discusses social matters.]
[Sends requested address; promises to write about schedules, etc.; wants drawing of the expression on a boy's face, which is to appear changed in a story.]
[Speaks about a frontispiece which he finds improved; leaves the execution of his ideas, by process or wood, to Alexander William Drake ; says he will discuss "schedule" when coming in on Wednesday.]
[Talks about stories and illustrations to appear in St. Nicholas ; agrees to some formats and suggests some changes; leaves decision about frontispiece to Alexander Wilson Drake . ]
[Says he will have requested story by mid-December and it will be divided into 5 chapters of about 2000 words each.]
[Discusses changes and omissions on proof for July; mentions contributors Trowbridge, Dodge, Richards, and Foote.] (On St. Nicholas stationary)
[Announces his visit for July 3.] (On St. Nicholas stationary)
[Endorses a note to [Mary Mapes] Dodge ; requests to be sent all manuscripts that have to be read; says he has time for manuscript work right now.]
[Acknowledges receipt of proofs; says they will be take care of promptly.]
[Criticizes proof of a portrait; finds it worse that the photograph; makes suggestions for the January edition of "A. J. F." in regard to manuscripts and drawings; talks about the December edition; suggests insertions; feels upset about rumors regarding his health; says he won the championship-badge at the Archery Club ; writes with a quill from an eagle's wing and promises to send such a quill to him.]
[Says he will leave for Charlottesville, Virginia next week; gives instructions for forwarding the valise with manuscripts via Adam's Express , which is faster and more reliable than United States [mail]; feels ill; intends to spend time in the Blue Ridge Mountains ; promises to send the electro-stories; asks if the new edition of Rudder Grange has appeared.]
[Wonders if his mail has been sent to Europe ; misses the June number of St. Nicholas ; reports on his illness in Florida ; finds Venice enchanting, urges him to take his bride there; mentions letter his wife received from [Mary Mapes] Dodge ; asks if he ought to do more for St. Nicholas ; requests Mr. Smith's address; states that letters sent to him have been lost.]
[Regrets that he did not write The Lion and the Lamb , which he received a request for a copy of; talks about David Douglas ' idea to publish his collected short stories; mentions a check Douglas sent him before he sold a single copy of Rudder Grange ; recalls meeting him in Florence ; mentions suggestion to write "The Candid Adventurer," but does not feel up to it.]
[Talks about their travels through Switzerland , their 2 days on the Rigi , their plans a trip to the Rhine , England , and Scotland , and then home to America ; says he will write requested article and furnish photographs; mentions idea for serial story, set in Rome , Venice and various parts of Italy and Switzerland , for children, for St. Nicholas if the publishers want it; looks forward to promised letter; mentions having spent several days wit Mr. and Mrs. Roswell Smith and Dr. Robinson.]
[Says the Century Company 's request for an occasional story for The Independent cannot be complied with at once, because he is otherwise engaged; promises to write a story of 8 to 10 columns when time allows; asks fee of $100 for a story of that length.]
[Encloses " A Penny Walk " for The Independent ; instructs him on where to divide the story should it be necessary to publish it in 2 installments; hopes story will be liked.]
[Regrets not being able to meet him at this time; says he will be back in New York the following week and spend the winter there; promises a humorous story for February, if not sooner.]
[Authorizes him to deposit Stockton's vote of favor of admitting William Fayal Clarke to membership, as he is unable to attend the Author's Club meeting.]
[Expresses disappointment that an important part of the manuscript The Demon Plague was lost while in McClure's possession; includes attempted replacement which was exceedingly difficult to write; discusses another sketch; points out where his portrait, to accompany the sketch, can be obtained.]
[Asks him to send a proof to his new house in Madison, New Jersey and to come visit there when he comes that way.]
[Thanks the company for letter containing royalty accounts and money; refers to The Dusantes which appears in 3 parts in The Century ; assumes the story will be printed by the Century Company in book form in 1888; wishes the company luck with his books; acknowledges receipt of copies of his books; says he is pleased by their appearance.]
[Sends note to accompany paragraph for the McClure column.]
[Asks for the correction of a statement in a New York paper in regard to his travel intentions.]
[Informs him that he is unable to go to Chicago to read; promises to send an item for McClure syndicate; sends New Year's wishes.]
[Says he is unable to attend copyright meeting; promises to come to the next meeting on a Club-dinner night at the Aldine.]
[Promises to write a Christmas story for him, although he is very busy with The Squirrel Inn ; mentions " The Illinois Farmer " by Johnson.]
[Writes children's stories only occasionally now but is willing to write a ten thousand word piece for McClure's circular for $500; compliments him on his magazine for young people.]
[Congratulates him on the copyright victory; says that the authors of America owe Johnson everlasting gratitude; declares himself proud to be a citizen of the United States . ]
[Tells him that he has not been asked by anyone to take part in the reading on the 22nd; says he will be happy read, but only parts of Squirrel Inn ; says the same presentation was like by another audience; refers to European trip; congratulates him on hors received from France . ]
[Informs him that he will have to get permission to use The Great War Syndicate from Messrs. Dodd & Mead ; says he has talked to them about the matter.]
[Refers to a will, with property bequeathed to Stockton; explains how much he expects to get and what percentage should go to Johnson.]
[Discusses will of Stockton's great great great grandfather from New Jersey ; says it is authentic, but no possessions come with it and Johnson will get nothing in return for his endeavors.]
[Regrets not having been able to attend the meeting of the Council of the Copyright League ; says he is enjoying culinary and other delights of the Bayou country; intends to return to New Jersey by May 1.]
[Responds to request for his help in manning the Gotthold houseboat; suggests "The Halcyon," and "The Angler."]
[Sends manuscript of " A Sailor's Knot " for $850, giving him all the serial rights in the United States in Europe with the stipulation not to offer it to American monthlies; says the story had been written for Ladies Home Journal of Philadelphia ; says he took it back after a disagreement with the editor.]
[Agrees to lend a hand in the compilation of the New Library of Literature , provided the new duties will not interfere with his present engagements; says he cannot do any editorial work, only assist in choosing authors for the series.]
[Requests payment of $500 for " The Conscious Armada , " published in Cosmopolitan in June; reminds him of the terms agreed upon; says that if " The Conscious Armada " was shorter than average, it was evened out by " The Cot and the Rill " which was much longer than average; insists on $500 for each story published.]
[Relates a strange dream, pertaining to his writing of humorous stories; comments on letter from Johnson, received the day after the dream, in which Johnson requests another humorous story; says he is glad that Johnson liked Pomona's Travels , he is pleased with illustrations by Mr. Steele.]
[Requests meeting to discuss story, ready to print, of about 30800 words; says it could be divided into 5 segments to be published in newspapers; asks to see a notice from the Commercial Advertiser . ]
[Says he is in bed "with a ten pound boil"; expects to be all right soon; asks him to keep his mail in the office unless something looks very important.]
[Regrets not being able to come to a benefit in New York ; hopes to get better acquainted with Mr. Riggs in the future.]