Henry James and Whitelaw Reid: Some Additional Documents

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Henry James and Whitelaw Reid: Some Additional Documents George Monteiro, Brown University In the appendix to their edition of Henry James's letters to the New York Tribune (1875-76), Leon Edel and Ilse Dusoir Lind print several letters relating to James's relationship with the Tribune and its editor, Whitelaw Reid, from 1875 to 1883 (PS 209-27). Included among them are two letters from Reid to John Hay, both in 1875, and three letters from Reid to James, dated March 27, 1876, August 10, 1876, and January 16, 1877. There are also fourteen letters from James to Reid, the first one dated November 22, 1876, and the final one, August 8, 1883. "The James-Reid correspondence used in this volume," write the editors, "is to be found in the archives of the Tribune" (PS 209). To this collection of items relating to James's relationship with the Tribune during those years can be added three letters from Whitelaw Reid: to John Hay, December 6, 1875; to Henry James, December 4, 1878; and to John R. G. Hassard, December 9, 1880. 1 Dec. 6, 1875 My Dear Hay: Henry James's first letter has just come. I haven't had a moment to read it, but shall probably not print for two or three days. Do you feel like giving us half a column (or less) of brevier by way of launching him? Faithfully yours, Whitelaw Reid Col. John Hay Six Euclid Ave. Cleveland O.1 Hay's paragraph, "Paris Through Fresh Eyes," appeared in the Tribune for December 11, 1875 (page 6). James's first letter, "Paris Revisited," was published on the same day (page 3). 2 Dec. 4, 1878 My Dear Mr. James I think we have found the papers you want, namely, the issues of May 27", June 5", June 17", August 12" and August 26" 1876, which I mail herewith. What has become of the occasional letter you thought you might still send us when the spirit especially moved you? Very truly yours, Whitelaw Reid Henry James 3 Bolton St. Piccadilly W London2 Volume 8 139 Number 2 The Henry James Review Winter, 1987 Reid's reference to an "occasional letter" derives from the rather vague notion held by both Reid and James that the latter at some time and in some unspecified way would continue to contribute to the Tribune's pages (PS 220-22). Nothing came of this, however. James's work would not again appear in the Tribune until 1889, when his letter on the Summer School at Deerfield appeared in the August 4th issue. 3 Dec. 9, 1880 My Dear Mr. Hassard: This little book by Henry James is perhaps hardly of consequence enough of itself to sustain any considerable review. Don't you think, however, that it is well to take advantage of it in order to make a rather elaborate article on Mr. Henry James as a novelist? The Tribune has not done this thoroughly as yet, and I doubt if it has been very satisfactorily done any way. The subject is a tempting one. If you would like some of his other books sent down to you for reference , please let me know. Mr. R. G. Hassard3 From Aiken, South Carolina, Hassard replied on December 15, 1880: "I shall be very glad to write an article on Henry James. As I have read few of his books, I should like to trouble you to send me 'Daisy Miller', and perhaps 'The American'."4 Hassard's unsigned review of Washington Square (with considerable commentary on Daisy Miller, The American, and The Europeans as well) appeared in the Tribune on February 6, 1881 (page 8). His conclusion is worth quoting: . . . "Daisy Miller" is pure satire of the most trenchant and legitimate kind. Nobody can have observed those curious products of our civilization, the American hotel young lady and the American hotel mother, without recognizing the rare fidelity of this sketch of a grave social abuse, and appreciating the substantially just and kindly spirit with which the censor has tempered his severity. We should be glad indeed if Mr. James would forsake for a while the painting of amusing but upon...