Ubi Bohemia Fuit

May 26, 1875

My dear Charlie: –

Your letter from Paris came safely and broke a long silence much to my joy. Your Anabasis [expedition] must have been full of interest[,] in fact too much so far[.][1] I’m sorry you failed to discover the wonders and beauties of Belgium.

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Paris with all the young artists sometimes comes up in my mind to tempt me to settle there and then I turn to my work and thank my stars that I am away from that motley crowd. You know there are so many fellows there I could not endure and would still have to meet that I should be [page 2] in constant hot water all around. Nevertheless I shall pass one season there in the future. I’m glad you liked [Wilbur] Woodward [an American artist] - he and I are sympathetic – or were.[2]

I’m writing this in a first class doublebarreled thunderstorm and at the end of a terrible sciroco [strong wind] day, one of about 30 we have had in succession. I have been at work like a Trojan and have my big canvas covered up and in a fair way to be completed July 1st. That’s why I don’t feel like writing. Have been posing two small cusses – the naked one – together this p.m. and between the scirocos, the flash of lightning[,] boys and the consciousness that I’m trying to paint the mercurial little cusses I have nearly ruined what good there was in the painting [page 3] before.

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This thunderstorm has just come in time to relieve me. I wish you were here to tell me or at least make me feel that I have not done as awfully bad work today. A. doesn’t do anything at all now.[3] I have to roll the ball alone which is a drag as you know it must be. Have never been more completely exhausted than some days the past week. And to cap the whole I’ve been watching with one of Mother Harris’ sick men every night.

There is little to write about nor gossip to speak of except that Hunter does no work but spoons with Miss Kellogg.[4]

Last eve. I was out with Ben in his sandolo [a rowing boat, smaller than a gondola]. We went up to the Riva. I had on a white shirt and white vest and my coat was off. In the Adamses’ were the Misses West. One recounted with “Oh my! Bohemia has got a white [page 4] shirt on!” which was the text for much comment in the way we dressed in the winter. The narrow mindedness of these gals is beyond comprehension.

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Donny [nickname of Charlotte Adams] and I have had a squaring up. I spoke of the concert etc. after she began it and told her exactly what I thought of her way of going off with one fellow and coming home with another. She put it all on to me and said I alone was touchy and I told her you agreed with me and then she seemed very anxious to beg my pardon etc. which was not granted. Of course it was on your account she was sorry. She said Will Green said to her that the reason why I was “gauming” [pining?] this winter was because I liked her and did not care to see another fellow go with her. [page 5][5] Mr. Green & my klooter [?] can make an acquaintance if they like. Does all this interest you? Donny wants that letter to Mrs. Fletcher, by the way.

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The Adams’ send love -- one and all.[6] Mrs. A is as lovely as ever, we were invited to dinner there Monday eve. and went in full dress, decorations and all. We found the two girls in white muslin. Mutual surprise at magnificence of costume etc. etc. Arthur and I have been to Vicenza and Padua. I prayed to S. Anthony.

By the way my boy, my plans are as follows. I’m going to carry my pictures up to Brussels on July 1st getting there about the middle of the month. Can’t you come in and meet me there. We will then have the chance of seeing Brussels & Antwerp and perhaps [page 6] Holland together. Do think it over. It is only a pound from London to Antwerp and an hour & a half further to Brussels. I shall have to be in these cities a few days to see to the framing of my pictures.

My dear old Boy, I miss you more than you do me and gaum [pine] constantly – after dark -- Why should one go and the other stay. It is rough on the one who remains.

Harry [a female dog] sends a wave of her tail and a gentle swagger of her body. Tom [a dog] sends you his brightest smile and Venus [a male dog] wags his aimless tail in greeting.

Arthur encloses a little sketch. We have lost our six little chickens and bought five big ones and two crickets to sing in the evening. Otherwise all is as you left it. [William Gedney] Bunce [Millet's landlord] wrote me -- funny letter about the furniture. He expects me to give him 600 francs for it.[7]

Write again soon and believe me with much love

Thine, Frank.

Notes

1. "Anabasis" references the march of Cyrus the Younger and his Greek mercenaries from Sardis to Cunaxa in Babylonia in 401 B.C., described by Xenophon in his Anabasis. Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anabasis
2. The American artist, Wilbur Woodward was a clasmate of Millet's at the Royal Academy, Antwerp. See Engstrom, Francis Davis Millet, 38. Is "sympathetic" possibly a code word for sexually in tune with each other, or sexually involved with each other?
3. "A" probably refers to the "Arthur" mentioned below, as sending a sketch, so he was probably an artist. In Letter 15: Millet to Stoddard: December 8, 1875, Millet says: Remember me to Anderson and tell him that I am at work hard trying to get up a day and evening life class in Boston. Hope he has made some steps in that direction in New York. He and I were talking over this in Venice." This may refer to the Arthur [Anderson?] cited here, or to Abraham Archibald Anderson, an artist who visited the Millet home in Venice and whose beauty impressed Stoddard. See: Austen, Genteel Pagan, 750. Stoddard supposedly became enamored of the "exquisite American artist whose beauty and wealth were noteworthy, even in Venice."
4. "Hunter" and "Kellogg" are not identified in Engstrom, Francis Davis Millet. Katz discusses the various meanings of "spoons" and "spooning" in Millet's and Stoddard's writings. See Katz, Love Stories.
5. The verb "gaum" appears often in Millet's letters and appears to be slang with a variety of meanings. See Gifford, Glances Backward, 376, note 17.
6. The Adams' are the family of Charles Francis Adams, his wife, daughters, and sons, Millet's friends.
7. Bunce is identified in Engstrom, Francis Davis Millet, 56.