OutHistory is providing the link below to this document in the collection of the Beinecke Library, Yale University.

Eve Zlotchever, Lakewood, N.J., to Fania Marinoff, c/o Greenwich Village Theatre, February 21, 1918; Box 175, Folder 2255, Series 1 Correspondence, YCAL MSS 1050, Carl Van Vechten Papers, Beinecke Library, Yale University.

For the digital copy below see: https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/17064306

TRANSCRIPTION OF EVE'S LETTER:

[Envelope Front]

Miss Fania Marinoff

c/o Greenwich Village Theatre

4^th St & 7^th Ave.

New York City

[“Very Fan” written on envelope in handwriting. “Eve Zlotchever” hand printed on envelope.  Envelope and stationery from The Waldorf Cottage, George L. Dann, Prop. 219 Lexington Avenue, Lakewood, N. J. Feb. 21, 1918]

[Envelope Back]

Eve Zlotchever

% The Waldorf Cottage

219 Lexington Avenue

Lakewood, N.J.

[PAGE 1]

Fania [in Russian cyrillic] Adoràbile! [in Italian]

I am taking my short

vacation in Lakewood and amidst

the quiet country life I am thinking of my

latest adventure. And Karen comes

up my mind. “Karen” the play and –

Karen more than the play: Miss

Fania Marinoff.

You will forgive me, Miss Marinoff if

I’ll try in my poor English, to tell you

my appreciation of your acting and how

much moved I was, when I saw you

for the first time and second time.

When I came down to see you after

the play I could not talk; words were

not enough to tell you how great

you are, Miss Marinoff – Karen, and

[PAGE. 2]

while I looked at you I saw nothing

else but your beautiful dark, big eyes

which are hidden under these long

long eyelashes, yet I saw your

soul and it made me shiver and

respect you so much more than an

ordinary actor.

You are not an actress Miss Marinoff,

you are a great artist and may

be compared with the world-greatest.

When I saw Isadora Duncan dance

for the first time I could not forget

her for a whole year, when I heard

Ethel Leginska for the first time, she had

impressed me so deeply that I did not miss

one of her performances; when I saw

Emma Goldman come out on the stage

not for the first time  to[?] her last against conscription meeting

when the hall was crowded with detractors[,]

[PAGE 3]

police and soldiers, who were trying

to break up the meeting and she

shouted: “I have only one life to give, soldiers help yourself!” I adored her

for her braveness.

And when I saw you for the

first time I must say it was one

of “my happy moments” of my life

which are so [few – crossed out] rare.

I see the truth of life, the naked

truth so well, that seldom a thing moves

me or inspires me and when an artist

makes me shiver I am thankful to him

with breath and soul, and I am

thankful to you.

And I also wanted to tell you how much

[PAGE 4]

I enjoyed that dinner together with your

Mr. Van Vecten and Mr. and Mrs. Marinoff.

One need not go to see you on the stage

to see the artist in you, you seem

to be the artist all the time. –

I spoke to some of my friends and one

girl with a beautiful soul and spirit tells

me she has been down to see Karen five

times and wants to see Karen more and

more, another one saw you once only

but she must see you again. The young

man I took down to see “Karen,” was so

thankful to me and was so impressed by

your art, Miss Marinoff - - -

I met some friends here in Lakewood and

everybody saw Karen and everybody says

it’s the play of the hour and they can’t

imagine how it would be without you.

I am going to finish my note for

I am afraid if it will be any longer

you’ll put it aside.

With love and appreciation

Eve (The Big Stick)

Photo: Fania Marinoff: https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2003406