[Initialed]

[Includes an initialed note by Gilder stating that the poem was later called " The Building of the Chimney "; begins, "My chimney is builded . . ."]

[Includes note on top of page, "This is the original for Mrs. [Aldrich]."]

[Initialed]

[Missing pages 2-6.]

[Initialed]

[Includes autograph corrections.]

[Wonders if he wants any of Scribner's Japan pictures for his series Travel and Adventure.]

[Talks about a novel by Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen ; says it seems more foreign than Gunnar although it depicts life in an American Western Norwegian settlement; adds that the novel needs work, but that he considers it worth publishing in the magazine.]

[Says he is sorry about her ill health; mentions a short story she has in the works; says he has been to see Frances Hodgson Burnett and that she is writing a new serial for him; praises Burnett's play, " Esmeralda . "]

[Praises his piece " The Lost Hellos "; says that the "Dr." agrees that the piece is in "excellent form --heathenish but heavenly"; discusses business.]

[Asks for help in selecting pieces for the "encyclopedia"; suggests several titles, including Charles deKay 's Hespherus and Other Poems (1880).]

[Press copy in secretarial handwriting and signature; discusses a piece that may appear in Century Magazine . ]

[Discusses her piece " Goranne de Savare " which he has sent to her to correct.]

[Discusses poem, " The Innovation " by Ward; Gilder agrees with Lewis Frank Tooker , of the Century staff; criticizes content and style of the poem and suggests changes for both; says poem reminds him of Swinburne and Whitman.]

[Speaks of an enclosed letter that will interest him; says he has information that Scribner's will send an expedition to Russia ; wonders if their own friend in Moscow has definite information on it, but has mixed them up; reports on progress repairing the Century Building on 17th Street; says the mantel in Gilder's office with Dr. Howard's relief was destroyed and wonders if he has taken measures to replace the original carving with a replica; comments in postscript on a book by Peter Cooper on Jefferson which the Century Co. is not going to publish; says he is afraid the family will not make money from the book because of small sales.]

[Says he would like to see Hurst's paper on the "Salzburg Exiles"; says he is convinced the bishop will make a good thing of it.]

[Sends him some material he requested.]

[Says he is pleased that Ward likes the illustrations by [A.] Castaigne; states that the story will appear in the February number.]

[Welcomes him and his wife to Canada ; hopes Mrs. Gilder's health is improved; quotes a line of "native Canadian verse."]

[Says he is not sure that Ward will like his frankness; asks for a prompt return of the manuscript.]

[Admires the North American Review ; appreciates the invitation for literary contribution; says his time is, however, limited because he is writing a book [ Our Gardens ]; wishes him a successful visit to England . ]

[Sends him part of a proposed article; says he is very unsure of the piece as he is used to writing dramatic dialogue only; asks for perfect frankness from him; talks about illustrations for the article.]

[Offers a short novel for possible publication in 3 parts to Century Magazine . ]

[Thanks him for the verdict on her manuscript; confesses that she had doubts about it herself after sending it off; apologizes for sending it.]

[Notifies her that the business proposition relating to the American Art Annual has been rejected; says it would be too expensive for the club; with autograph sentence.]

[Looks forward to the Aldrich family 's visit to Four Brooks Farm ; gives directions to farm and description of it; says they will discuss proper attire for Aldrich to appear in at Harvard and Yale [to receive honorary degrees ?] there and then; tells him that Professor Wein's tailor is the one to engage; speaks at length about the academic gowns for both occasions.]

[Returns galleys to " Under the Ban of the Redbeard "; says the story should be called "Barbarossa," a more captivating name for a book as well as a play, which he intends to do; defends his usage of the words "King" and "Kaiser," citing Caesar and the Roman Empire; explains his attitude toward the use of capital and lower case letters for titles; wishes to put under his name in galley 1, "author of The [Guiberon] Touch and Colonial Fights and Fighters , " the titles of his last books to be published in the fall; asks for a set of proofs of the illustrations.]

[Says he is locked up at home with a "blooming" cold; speaks about a letter he has sent her; gives her permission to use the letter as she pleases; says he will sign what she sends him; pleads with her not to overexert herself for the cause.]

[Says Ward has been mentioned as one author who may have written " The Confessions of a Wife "; asks him to assist in the concealment of authorship by returning to affirm or deny the rumor; says he heard of Ward's possible authorship from the "traveler."]

[Sends him the manuscript of a story she has not quite finished; reminds him that he asked to see it some time ago.]

[Refuses to publish his piece in Century Magazine ; says the story regards suicide and is controversial.]

[Discusses the December issue of Century Magazine ; informs him that there is room for [John] Burroughs , [Henry Cabot] Lodge , and [George Henry] Sargent as well as [" The Bigoudines "], an illustrated article; asks for his wishes and ideas; mentions the pleasant news of Gilder's progress. Includes initialed AN by Gilder and autograph note, initialed by Gilder, remarking on the contents and looks of the December issue of Century Magazine ; ]

[Says he is at home on the mend; tells him it might be necessary to see Mr. [ Robert Underwood] Johnson who is running things at Century Magazine ; expresses New Year's wishes.]

[Discusses poetic work by Gilder which Johnson has looked at and made suggestions about; compliments him for devoting so much attention to details of composition, etc., even though he is busy as an editor.]

[Discusses a book she wrote expressing her anti-vivisection views; discusses her following of homeopathic medicine and vegetarianism; speaks of his own revulsion to hunting, fishing, even eating mutton; leans toward a vegetarian diet; speaks accusingly of landlords near his farm in Massachusetts , Trinity Church , the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art , and of Abraham Lincoln ; says that "Gentle Lincoln" assisted in the vivisection and maiming of myriads, without anesthesia, and destroyed millions of human lives to free the slaves.]

[Tries to meet with him to speak about a print in the current chapter of his history.]

[Talks about a woman writer whose "charming" novel Four Ways to Paradise was published by the Century Co. , but who does not write much any more these days; hopes the rainy weather will stop for Aldrich's visit; says they had a reading the night before of favorite pieces by Aldrich, of which a verse was appreciated by their old friend, the Marquis di Rosalis, though he is not familiar with it; gives directions for coming by trolley from Pittsfield to Lee, should he miss the connection.]

[Discusses a trip to California , a meeting with Mary Austin in San Francisco , the possibility of serializing one of her books [ Isidro ]; mentions her other books and poetry, published by Houghton, Mifflin, and Co. ; mentions writing of Bret Hart and George Washington Cable ; says he dissuaded Austin from moving to the east coast; discusses other Century Co. business; includes autograph note.]

[Talks about a fine copy of the praying hands by [Albrecht] Durer and a book about Durer that he owns; mentions Christmas; says he is very happy with a houseful of children; says he has had a setback in his health and is still at home because of it; says she is the kindest person he knows.]

[Discusses an old mantelpiece in his house, 13 East 8th Street, which he considers poor architecture, not a good Colonial example; says she is welcome to look at; includes autograph sentence.]

[Discusses her short story, " Little Anna and the Gentleman Adventurer " which she sent to Century Magazine ; says it has not been acknowledged; written after Gilder's death in November 1909.]

[Includes autograph notes, initialed.]