White, Stanford (1853-1906) Typed Letter Signed, 25 May 1896.

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White, Stanford (1853-1906) Typed Letter Signed, 25 May 1896. Two pages of McKim, Mead & White letterhead, purple carbons with handwritten address, correction, closing, and signature, each typed on one side, to American sculptor Frederick MacMonnies, regarding the controversy surrounding the second sculpture of Diana created by Saint Gaudens and commissioned by White to surmount the old Madison Square Garden; the two pages matted with a portrait of White, two small holes in each sheet, 27 x 16 3/4 in. overall.

"Dear Mac, I have yours of the 13th and 14th. One half the things in the newspapers were inventions of the Reporters, and I do not believe that Larned said one quarter of what was attributed to him. He is really a good fellow, but a perfect idiot as far as art is concerned, and the Commander and all the rest of the Officers on the Board are always in a state of amusement at his art antics. They hadn't the faintest idea of assenting to his judgment in the matter. If I had not been greatly disturbed by the size of it, there would have been nothing further said about the matter. The new one is a great success, and everybody is tickled to death.
For God's sake, do not misunderstand me about the Madison Square Garden decoration. My being disturbed in the matter was only about you, should any asinine criticism occur about it. Please go ahead and do it, and if there is the slightest trouble we will build a place for it ourselves.
I am sorry for the 'Loidy', for she is a very sweet and lovely one, and had set her heart on getting an out-of-door nude, and would have paid a stiff price for it, but I will be damned if I am going to give her one of mine, inspite of her loveliness.
Much obliged about the tapestries. The photographs have not come, but I suppose they will turn up.
In regard to Mrs. S.V. White, I will do what I can to jolly her along, and you do the same. At the same time, she has not paid the slightest attention to the letter which I wrote her, and you must bear in mind also that nearly all the men over there think her very unreliable in regard to her highfalooting ideas regarding the Monument.
I go fishing on Friday for six weeks, in Canada, so that if anything important happens that you wish me to answer, direct your letters to the Restigouche Salmon Club, Metapedia, P.Q., Canada.
I do not think St. Gaudens will go this Spring as he intended. He has put it off until the Fall, but I am sure he will not go then. The Shaw, of course, is not finished. Nobody here has sold anything this Winter, everybody is hard up and the times are really pretty bad. You are the only person boiling along in glory and work.
I was glad to hear from you, as I was afraid you were sick, or something had happened, and it was for that reason I telegraphed you.
Bessie fell from her bicycle last week and broke a ligament in her leg, and now has water on the knee, and is laying, poor girl, with her leg in plaster, and the probabilities are she will have to use crutches for six weeks or two months.
I hope that Mrs. MacMonnies and the babe are well. Give them both my love, and much of it to you, old man. Come over soon.
Affectionately,
S. White
Estimate $800-1,200


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