File:Linton J. White to Alice Mary Longfellow, 11 March 1906 (1bf64aaf-6817-4d8a-a3b5-4d0252ec5fc8).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#096

March, 11, 1906
Dear Miss Longfellow,
Your kind letter reached me some time ago and in answer I mailed you a box of violets. Trust that they were in good condition when you received them. Your reference to the snow reminded me of how nearly the ground here was covered with fragrant blue violets. It was such a pleasure to go to work in the mornings with violets on every hand. I must admit [p. 2] that though I often gathered a boquet [sic] while no one was looking I never suffered any from conscience for doing it.
An elder brother and I have a barber shop here and are running a cigar and news stand in connection. I don’t have the opportunity to revel in nature here as I did in the country but l find much to study and very often get to take long walks down the banks of [p. 3] the Chattahoochee. My work keeps me in touch with the modern world through the magazines and my mind being kept active seems to be better able to grasp the thought of the writers of classics. This last is my chief source of strength and pleasure and I am always disappointed if my reading hour is missed. At present I am reading Hillis' “Great Books as Life Teachers." Have enjoyed the papers on "Romola" and “Scarlet [p. 4] Letter" very much. These as well as others which he deals with, and many which ^he does not, are certainly “Life Teachers.” I have a copy of “Books and Culture" by Mabie which is next on my reading list. I shall then read from Emerson.
Miss Longfellow of all the writers of my “ken" I love Emerson best. He is to me a life teacher indeed. I have read his paper on “Beauty" with tears in my eyes. Have never read any thing from him but that I thought was good.
[p. 5] I saw the President in Atlanta and heard his speech there. He is a man whose voice is and should be heard, for having proven himself an interpreter of the best of public sentiment the country at large believes him to be right and thus his sentiment is public sentiment.
The South has quite forgiven his error in arousing the bitterness of a class of our people.
But his own principle of [p. 6] "There is no failure where nothing is ever attempted,” makes him a man of action and in watching his rapid strokes for the general good we have forgotten that he ever offended our people, and love him with not less ardor than any section of the Nation.
Thanking you for your kind interest and beautiful letters I am,
Respectfully
J. Linton White
No 20 – 12 St
Columbus,
Ga.

• Keywords: alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); long archives; document; education; correspondence; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)