System Number: 08136
Date: [June/July 1891][1]
Author: JW
Place: London
Recipient: Pablo de Sarasate[2]
Place: [Paris?]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 2/52/1
Document Type: ALS[3]
21, CHEYNE WALK,
CHELSEA.
Mon cher ami -
J'ai été bien désappointé hier au soir - car vous savez que nous avions été invité pour diner avec vous chez Madame Lewis[4] - mais je me trouvais encore sans forces, et trop doux - de beaucoup! pour assister à un de ces festins là! Du reste on vous a probablement dit que voila pres de deux mois que j'ai cette affreuse maladie l'Influenza[5]! -
Non pas que j'ai beaucoup souffert, mais cela vous laisse [p. 2] absoluement énervé, las, et incapable d'aucun effort, prosterné completement - comme avec le terrible Sirocco!
Enfin je pars demain matin pour Paris, esperant que le changement d'air et le voyage mettrons [sic] fin à tout cela -
Je serais de retour dans dix jours, et alors nous nous verons - pour causer de ces choses Fiaschini[6]! - et pour dejeuner tous ici dans le jardin qui est bien plus charmant que jamais -
Nos compliments à Madame Marx[7] et bien des choses a Goldschmidt[8] -
Toujours.
[butterfly signature]
This document is protected by copyright.
Translation:
My dear friend -
I was very disappointed yesterday evening, because you know that we had been invited to dine with you at Madame Lewis's - but I was still without energy and too feeble - by far! to go to one of those feasts! Besides I expect you will have been told that I have had this appalling disease of influenza for two months! -
Not that I have suffered a great deal, but it leaves one absolutely enervated, exhausted, and incapable of any effort, completely prostrate - just as with the terrible Sirocco!
I am now leaving for Paris tomorrow morning, hoping that the change of air and the journey will put a stop to all that -
I shall be back in ten days, and then we shall see each other - to chat about these Fiaschini things - and to have lunch all together here in the garden which is even lovelier than ever -
Our regards to Mrs Marx and best wishes to Goldschmidt
As ever
[butterfly signature]
Notes:
1. [June/July 1891]
Dated from reference to influenza (see below).
2. Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo de Sarasate y Navascues (1844-1908), violinist [more].
3. ALS
'Whistler à Sarasate' was written in another hand at the top of p. 1, and 'Whistler', in a second different hand in the right margin. There is a copy of this letter in GUL LB 4/14/2, #03064, by Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), JW's sister-in-law [more]. A note to this copy reads: 'Probably written from 21 Cheyne Walk Chelsea.'
4. Madame Lewis
Elisabeth Lewis (1844-1931), née Eberstadt, wife of G. H. Lewis [more].
5. Influenza
JW refers to his illness on several occasions, including letters to Stevens (#08139), Warren (#09937) and Frewen (#11560).
6. Fiaschini
In a note to the copy of this letter, R. B. Philip wrote (or copied out): 'Lui et Sarasate s'appellaient les Frères Fiorchini à cause de leurs succès formidable(s?)' (#03064). JW's writing appears to read 'Fiaschini.'
7. Madame Marx
Berthe Marx-Goldschmidt (b. 1859), musician [more].
8. Goldschmidt
Otto Goldschmidt (1829-1907), pianist, conductor, composer and impresario [more].