by T. S. Eliot
1904–1910
TO Charlotte Eliot Smith1
MS Houghton
August [1904]
Oliver’s Corner2
[Province of Quebec, Canada]
Dear Charlotte,
Hoping you are better,
At least enough to read my letter,
Which I have twisted into rhyme
To amuse you, I have taken time
To tell you of the happenings
Swimming, rowing, other things
With which I have the time been killing.
Wednesday morning, weather willing,
We after breakfast took a start,
Four of us, in a two horse cart
Together with a little luncheon,
Including things quite good to munch on,
To climb a mountain, quite a feat,
3000 ft., and in the heat.
To make a lengthy story short,
We did not take the path we ought,
And though we exerted all our powers,
It took us all of two three long hours
To reach the top, when, what a view,
Mount Washington, and Montreal too!
We took one hour down the road,
Then two hours more to our abode.
I suppose now I should desist,
For I am needed to assist
In making a raft.
The family sends
To you their love and complimen’s.
I must not close without once more a
Health to you and Theodora.
I am afraid this letter will not please you but I hope you will excuse your brother
Tom.
1–Charlotte had married George Lawrence Smith, an architect, in Sept. 1903. Their daughter, Theodora, had been born on 25 July 1904. Charlotte studied at the St Louis and Boston Art Schools, specialising in sculpture. For her oil portrait of TSE, see Plate 15.
2–In 1903 TSE’s uncle, Christopher Rhodes Eliot, had bought some land over the border in Canada, on Lake Memphremagog, as a site for a family camp. In the early years everyone slept under canvas.
Charlotte C. Eliot1TO the Head Master of Milton Academy2
MS Milton Academy
27 March 1905
2635 Locust St, St Louis
My dear Mr Cobb,
I write to ask whether at Milton Academy you will take a boy who has passed his finals for Harvard. My son is sixteen years of age and will be seventeen the 26th of September. As a scholar his rank is high, but he has been growing rapidly, and for the sake of his physical well being we have felt that it might be better for him to wait a year before entering on his college career. If you have any provision for such cases, and can keep him employed without his going over the same ground, please let me know, and oblige
Yours very truly,
Charlotte C. Eliot
Mrs Henry W. Eliot
Tom passed his preliminaries with credits in two studies. Took Latin prize last year at Smith Academy.3
1–Charlotte Champe Stearns Eliot, TSE’s mother; see Glossary of Names.
2–In Milton, Massachusetts. Richard Cobb was Head Master, 1904–10.
3–From 1898 to 1905 TSE was a dayboy at Smith Academy, which his grandfather had founded. ‘My memories of [it] are on the whole happy ones; and when, many years ago, I learned that the school had come to an end [in 1917], I felt that a link with the past had been painfully broken. It was a good school.’ He recalled with gratitude Mr Hatch, his English master, who ‘commended warmly my first poem [‘A Lyric’], written as a class exercise, at the same time asking me suspiciously if I had had any help in writing it … Well! so far as I am educated, I must pay my first tribute to Smith Academy; if I had not been well taught there, I should have been unable to profit elsewhere … I remember it as a good school also because of the boys who were there with me: it seems to me that, for a school of small numbers, we were a well-mixed variety of local types’ (from an Address delivered at Washington University, 9 June 1953). See ‘American Literature and the American Language’, To Criticise the Critic.
4 April 1905
2635 Locust St, St Louis
My dear Mr Cobb,
Your letter was received yesterday, and I enclose today a list of studies taken here which my son has prepared. He and I have examined the catalogue you sent, and Tom thinks he could make out a course partly scientific, and then there are elective studies like ‘Advanced History, English and American’. Then he has had but two years of German, one with a poor teacher, and could resume that study, and drop French, in which he needs principally conversation. I should think he could drop Latin and Greek this year. He took the Latin prize last year at Smith Academy. His teacher informs him that in the Harvard preliminaries he received credit in French and English. He has always been a student, and read extensively in English literature, especially Shakespeare. He has read practically all of Shakespeare, whom he admires, and retains much in memory.
It is now partly in deference to his own wishes that we consider sending him to Milton. A friend suggests that he will be lonely there, because most of the boys have been there some years. I hope not, for although quiet and very dignified he is a most friendly boy, of sweet nature, and every inch a gentleman, withal very modest and unassuming, yet very self-reliant too.
We have lived twenty-five years on the old Eliot place, while all our friends have moved out, and Tom desires companionship of which he has been thus deprived.1 I talk with him as I would with a man, which perhaps is not so good for him as if he had young people about him.
If you think that Tom can make out a course, and you advise and are willing to take him, I should like a decision very soon, as otherwise his room must be engaged for Harvard. He has been a faithful student and we are willing to have him wander a little from beaten paths this year and take a somewhat miscellaneous course.
His teacher here says he can enter Harvard next year without repeating his examinations. I will write to Mr Hart and inquire.
I have gone somewhat into detail to assist you in making an early decision, as the number admitted into your school is limited, I judge, and I should like a place reserved in one of the cottages of the upper school.
Yours very truly
Charlotte C. Eliot
Mrs Henry W. Eliot
1–TSE’s remarkable grandfather, the Revd William Greenleaf Eliot, whom Dickens described as ‘a gentleman of great worth and excellence’ (American Notes, 1842), had been a Unitarian Minister of the First Congregational Church in St Louis, 1834–70; and his widow, Abby Adams, remained there although the area became a slum. Their son, TSE’s father, stayed nearby out of loyalty.
[In TSE’s hand:]
I passed in June 1904, for Harvard:
4 Elementary English (a)
2 ” French
4 ” Latin
4 ” Greek
2 ” Algebra
2 – Plane Geometry.
18 points.
I shall take in June, 1905:
2 Advanced Greek
2 ” Latin
2 ” French
4 ” English (b)
2 Elementary Physics
2 – ” History (Greek and Roman)
14 points
Total 32 points.
German
History
Trig. and Phys.
Chem.
English: Hill’s Principles of Rhetoric. Pancoast’s Introduction to English Literature. Reading: Othello, Golden Treasury, Macbeth, Burke’s Speech on Conciliation [with America, 1775], Milton’s Minor Poems, Macaulay’s ‘Milton’ and ‘Addison’. Themes. Elocution.
Latin: Virgil’s Aeneid, Books 3–12. I read Books I–II last year. Ovid 2000 lines. Cicero, Milo. Grammar. Composition based on Caesar.
Greek: I read Xenophon’s Anabasis Books I–IV, with Hellenica at sight last year. Iliad I–III. Also Books IV–VI, VII and XVIII at sight. Odyssey selections. Xenophon at sight. Prose composition.
History: Myers’ History of Greece and History of Rome.
Physics: Wentworth and Hill’s Principles of Physics. Forty experiments.
Thomas S. Eliot
7 April 1905
St Louis
My dear Mr Cobb,
I do not know whether in my last note I made it sufficiently explicit, that if after reading my letter and looking over my son’s schedule, you approve of his entering Milton Academy, I desire to make formal application for his admission into one of the Upper School dormitory buildings.
Yours very truly
Charlotte C. Eliot
22 July 1905
Eastern Point, Gloucester
My dear Mr Cobb,
Your letter has just been forwarded to me from Saint Louis, which has caused delay in answering. My son’s marks were ‘B’ in History, and ‘C’ in everything else except Physics, in which he was conditioned, receiving ‘E’. This result was not unexpected, as he had in the latter study a poor teacher, who finally broke down with nervous prostration.
He would still greatly prefer to attend Milton Academy – I was, however, so discouraged by your last letter that I took steps to hire rooms at Cambridge. If Mr Eliot approves, however, I will see what steps can be taken to dispose of these (they are in a private house on Mt Auburn Street), provided you are still willing to take him on his ‘one condition’. He had intended to take German this year, which is on your programme.
How early is it necessary for you to know results of my Cambridge inquiries regarding disposal of rooms?
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
You are probably out of the city, but I address this to Milton.
23 July 1905
Eastern Point, Gloucester
My dear Mr Cobb,
I write a line to say that if you are still in Boston or Milton, my son and I will make an appointment to call on and confer with you. I want to be sure he can go to Milton Academy, before taking active steps to dispose of his rooms.
I greatly prefer to have him a year at a Preparatory School, rather than to enter college this year. I am officially informed that his certificate of admission will hold good next year, making up physics.
Yours sincerely
Charlotte C. Eliot
Mrs Henry W. Eliot
26 July 1905
Eastern Point, Gloucester
My dear Mr Cobb,
I have just learned from your secretary that you are out of town, but will return on the 1st of August. As soon thereafter as is convenient to you, Tom and I will visit Milton Academy, and confer with you. Mr Eliot writes that he approves of his going to Milton rather than Harvard this year, and thinks it will do him good. As soon as I have perfected arrangements with you, I will close matters at Cambridge.
Tom’s certificate will admit him to college next year with only an examination in Physics, and any extra study will be a gain.
We should be happy to have you spend the day with us at Eastern Point, if you care for a fine view.
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
28 August 1905
Eastern Point, Gloucester
My dear Mr Cobb,
I have been considering with my son-in-law, Mr Alfred Dwight Sheffield,1 who has had considerable experience in past years in a Preparatory School, the best course of study for Tom to pursue at Milton Academy this coming year. Mr Sheffield thinks, and I agree with him, that it is better to take studies other than those in which he has passed his examinations. This would exclude Latin, Greek and French, and perhaps English. Attendance at these courses would mean the reading again a second time much that he has already been over. This, Mr Sheffield believes, would induce a mental ennui. It certainly would not act as a stimulus.
Among the elective studies is Advanced History, upon which Tom could spend considerable time. Is this course always included in the curriculum, however small the number of students desiring to take it?
There are reasons why it would be better for Tom to take Chemistry at Milton than at Harvard. It would be more interesting and less technical and abstruse. Would it conflict with his Physics?
Physiography Tom does not care for, and I do not consider it worth while for a boy who reads and easily acquires general information.
As to the German, Tom is going through with Mr Bierwirth’s Thirty Lessons,2 and recalls much more than I expected – he could easily enter the Third Class were it desirable. German is still an open question.
Mr Sheffield, who is, I think, known to you, has offered to go to Milton on Saturday for an interview concerning Tom’s studies, but I am loath to accept his kind offer as it would shorten his stay here by a day. I should like however, in any case, to visit Milton again and ascertain more definitely what programme of studies can be arranged without conflict; all that I have written is merely preliminary to a final interview.
I should like to ask two practical questions. I desire to know whether a student is allowed to keep his trunk in his room, and if so, should it be of such a height that it can be kept under the bed? Also does an advanced pupil require a ‘swallow tail’ evening suit for any occasion, or are tuxedo suits worn? I inquire because my son has not yet attained his full growth.
Please let me know how long before the opening of the fall term it will be best for me again to confer briefly with you.3
Very sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
1–Alfred Sheffield (1871–1961), husband of TSE’s eldest sister, Ada. ‘Shef’ taught English for four years at University School, Cleveland, Ohio, before joining the editorial staff of Webster’s International Dictionary.
2–H. C. Bierwirth, Beginning German: a series of lessons with an abstract of grammar (1903). Bierwirth was Professor of German at Harvard.
3–She and TSE saw Mr Cobb on Sat., 16 Sept. The term began on the following Tuesday, with TSE being placed in Forbes House.
17 September 1905
[Eastern Point]
My dear Mr Cobb,
I have purchased Tom a low steamer trunk, and should like very much to have him able to keep it under his bed in his room, unless it is an infringement of rules to which Mrs Chase would object. As there are no closets in the rooms, I think clothes not in immediate use can be best kept from dust etc. in a trunk.
You need not answer this note except to Tom personally.
With kind regards to Mrs Cobb,
Sincerely yours,
C. C. Eliot
[end September 1905]
Hotel Bellevue, Beacon St, Boston
My dear Mr Cobb,
I thought perhaps I had better explain to you just why Tom could not participate in football and other such strenuous sports, involving risk of strain. He has had a case of congenital rupture1 which, our physician thinks, is superficially healed, but as the abdominal muscles there are weak, care must still be exercised. He participated in the gymnasium training at Smith Academy. I think, however, it would be well for your instructor to know exactly Tom’s physical condition, and presume he examines each new pupil.
Tom has never fully realized until now, when he is almost the only fellow debarred from football, his physical limitations. We hope in a few years he will be entirely normal, but his rapid growth has rendered him less rugged, perhaps, although perfectly healthy. I hope he will soon be over his cold.
I know Tom will be particular about observing all rules.
With kind regards to yourself and Mrs Cobb,
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
Should Tom ever be ill, which I do not a
pprehend, I should like to be informed by telegraph.
1–He remembered as a small boy asking his nurse why a naked child in a book was not wearing his truss, which he had assumed all boys wore (Valerie Eliot).
20 May 1906
2635 Locust St [St Louis]
My dear Mr Cobb,
Tom has written home requesting permission to swim in a quarry pond near the Academy. As this authority from parents is a new requirement, it conveys the impression that there is an element of danger, and Mr Eliot and I would like to know the conditions. We both have a prejudice against quarry ponds, partly because Mr Eliot’s sister was drowned in one,1 and also because every year the quarry ponds about the city prove fatal to boys bathing in or skating on them. This is partly due to the deep holes in the bottom rock. I suppose Milton boys never attempt diving in one. Mr Eliot says if the pond is stagnant, fed by rains, there is danger of typhoid. If fed by springs, the cold currents must be carefully avoided. Do boys use their own judgement as to the length of time to remain in the water?
A boy may be very careful himself, but the peril of a comrade endangers his rescuers. I have seen quarry ponds surrounded by steep rock that looked dangerous.