Details
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Autograph letter signed ("Papa") to Jane Mason ("Dear Daughter") at Doctors' Hospital in New York; Havana, n.d. [July 1933]. 7 PAGES, 4to, in pencil on four sheets of poor quality tan paper, a two-inch marginal tear in first sheet and two small center fold holes in each sheet (all touching or partially injuring about five letters).
"SO HOW ARE YOU YOU POOR BLOODY DIVING CONTEST WINNER TAKE NOTHING?"
In early June Jane Mason had either jumped from or fallen off the low balcony of her Havana home (a few days earlier she had been in a car accident in which she, her son Tony, and Hemingway's sons Patrick and Bumby had narrowly escaped serious injury). On July 5 she sailed from Havana to New York to seek treatment, at the advice of her Havana physician, for her ailing back. Hemingway writes: "I feel so terribly damned bad about them having to operate on your back that I can't write you. But if I don't write you'd probably never get it. So here goes -- Have tried to write before and couldn't -- Felt too bad about your back...The sky is full of the wooly clouds that come after a hurricane has gone somewhere else. My head full of slightly wooliness of how feel after catching 343 lb. Cartero (striped) yesterday -- hooking him on an empty stomach and a hangover...He jumped 44 times -- Landed him in an hour and 45 minutes..." Hemingway tells more fishing stories over the next two pages, and continues: "...Last night we all got drunk when we went over to hang the fish up...to take pictures. Then came back with him and sat on the top of the boat and got drunker -- listening to the band on the Argentine training ship. End of the season -- Sat there from about 6 till 9...Returned to the hotel after substantial farewells to all...water front. Ordered a rare steak with papas fritas -- They brought it...woke at 5 a.m. to see the steak and all the papas on the table beside the bed -- untouched, unhonored and unappetizing -- So how are you you poor bloody Diving Contest winner take Nothing? We are as I write -- Hanged over..."
Hemingway tells of some horseplay on the dock ("all in the spirit of gay fun") and closes: "...Am very homesick for my immediate family -- Miss Pauline so much that I have to stay cockeyed to get the time over -- She's going to have to go to Africa [on the upcoming safari] or it's not worth going -- am feeling life very short even though hope very long. Sent Max [Maxwell Perkins] the book mss. [Winner Take Nothing, published in late October]. Haven't heard from him. I hope you're not having such a hellish time as I know you are having...good luck daughter -- By god it's time you had a little..."
"SO HOW ARE YOU YOU POOR BLOODY DIVING CONTEST WINNER TAKE NOTHING?"
In early June Jane Mason had either jumped from or fallen off the low balcony of her Havana home (a few days earlier she had been in a car accident in which she, her son Tony, and Hemingway's sons Patrick and Bumby had narrowly escaped serious injury). On July 5 she sailed from Havana to New York to seek treatment, at the advice of her Havana physician, for her ailing back. Hemingway writes: "I feel so terribly damned bad about them having to operate on your back that I can't write you. But if I don't write you'd probably never get it. So here goes -- Have tried to write before and couldn't -- Felt too bad about your back...The sky is full of the wooly clouds that come after a hurricane has gone somewhere else. My head full of slightly wooliness of how feel after catching 343 lb. Cartero (striped) yesterday -- hooking him on an empty stomach and a hangover...He jumped 44 times -- Landed him in an hour and 45 minutes..." Hemingway tells more fishing stories over the next two pages, and continues: "...Last night we all got drunk when we went over to hang the fish up...to take pictures. Then came back with him and sat on the top of the boat and got drunker -- listening to the band on the Argentine training ship. End of the season -- Sat there from about 6 till 9...Returned to the hotel after substantial farewells to all...water front. Ordered a rare steak with papas fritas -- They brought it...woke at 5 a.m. to see the steak and all the papas on the table beside the bed -- untouched, unhonored and unappetizing -- So how are you you poor bloody Diving Contest winner take Nothing? We are as I write -- Hanged over..."
Hemingway tells of some horseplay on the dock ("all in the spirit of gay fun") and closes: "...Am very homesick for my immediate family -- Miss Pauline so much that I have to stay cockeyed to get the time over -- She's going to have to go to Africa [on the upcoming safari] or it's not worth going -- am feeling life very short even though hope very long. Sent Max [Maxwell Perkins] the book mss. [Winner Take Nothing, published in late October]. Haven't heard from him. I hope you're not having such a hellish time as I know you are having...good luck daughter -- By god it's time you had a little..."