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11
Barnum's Hotel
Balto: Octr: 12th '79
Dear Jervy -
Your country address---the one I last had from you---is in my desk at home, consequently I must 'Rondout' this at a venture. Just before your English friends came I had written you---to which letter I've had no reply & suspect that it never reached you.
I am, as you well know, the worst cuss in [Xendan?] for entertaining purposes, & your introductory letter scared my boots off. However, I found the Britishers
very pleasant & sensible folks. He went with us to see Bandman, & I fancy he wished me at Helliopolis for the infliction; She did not accompany us on account of many things to be attended to prior to their departure. They both called the following day & admired the portraits very much, and I could see they were sincere. He gave me his home address & asked me to call when I go to England---which I shall certainly do. They had some friend who was to escort them to galleries & other places
therefore I made no attempt to chaperone them; a feat I should have bungled in the doing. I was glad to hear from them that you were cheerful & enjoying yourself. They talked Irving & Booton (he has Englishified his Bough,---it seems. You know they Coo-per, poor old Cowper, the poet, over there.) I see Bayard's house is for sale; I hope it will get into good hands, that Mrs. Taylor may receive a good price for it; but I fear the contrary---country real estate is always sacrificed. There is an eccentric fool at Cos Cob who built a house many years ago, & has not
yet removed the scaffolding from about it---in order to evade taxes, they say. When Launt & Maria once visited us---during a time that McVicker was also with us---I told the story & showed the house to Maria. She & McVicker joked about it, & she said she'd some day write an article on the subject & call it McViker's house. She has done so. "The house of McVicker" (quite ingenious, but rather droll I fancy -- but nothing at all like the true story) appeared in the last Atlantic. I judge from this that they are a little pushed; to have no better material in all these years.
The weather & mosquitos have been terrible here and my business in consequence has suffered. My health is much better than it has been for some months, but I am still undergoing medical treatment. I hope your summer ramble has built you up, spiritually as well as physically; if the former---the latter is assured, in your case. By-the-by, I hope your bodily ails proved less serious than you at one time anticipated & that you can lift & jump to your hearts' content. I am at present quite lame with sciatica.
If you can arrange to go to Europe---say next June, I am pretty sure that we shall be ready to share your 'sea-sick' with you. Misery loves company---especially such misery, you know, and we can hold each other's heads & moralize, 'til all's up, on this great sham of human happiness.
This is supposed to be my native burgh; but I grew some twenty-five miles distant from the City Hall. The people profess a pride in the Baltimore Tragedian & "do me proud" on all sides. I must confess my
boyhood memories are anything but pleasant --yet, strangely enough, I feel an affection for---even the antiquated and uneven sidewalks I used to trudge o'er in my Kidhood. There's a little old schoolmarm, "Miss Susan", with glasses & cork-screw curls, still here. She taught me all I know---A. B. C., the sum total of my erudition. I always visit her---I'm her boy still, & she takes much pride in her pupil. Geo: Childs also was her scholar---so, she is pretty well represented, you see; by me, as a tragedy mummer; by him, as a first-class epitaphist and the friend of Grant. Did you ever have the ear-ache, in both Jeres, to wunst? I have that delectable sensation
now, and 'tis with difficulty that my wits are kept in hand (or head, rather). After six nights more in this city I go to Philadelphia (Broad Street Theater) for a fortnight, after which (Nov? 10th) I shall be at the Gr: Opera House---New York, & at home, I hope, for the entire winter.
Mary & Edwina join me in loving regards to you, with kind remembrances to your folks. Drop me an occassional---frequently occassional---line, and be always cocksure that your letters will be welcome---the longer the welcomer. God bless you!
Ever Yours
Edwin Booth
Jervis McEntee.