Decca, p.88
Decca, page 88
Not a bit of it. GD & her family were BESIEGED by newspapers, promoters, fans as ‘twere the Beatles in our era. There were so many requests for a lock of GD’s hair that she went bald….
So the whole thrust of my book would be an exploration of this early Victorian press phenomenon.
Bob’s trying to spread the rumour that Grace CAUSED the wreck by sunbathing naked on the rocks & luring the sailors; but that won’t get far, judging by descriptions of the rocks & the WEATHER in those parts.
Just before we left London I rang up Emma the Good who lives not far from the GD museum, & has often visited it. She offers to take me for a tour of GD territory if I come back to England. By the way—she’s adorable, in no way a Chatsworth production, the opposite in fact. VERY bright, terrific sense of humour, all the things we like. She’s already sent me a copy of the song, of which I’d forgotten some of the verses, which I would print in front of the book.
Do you think this is all a ridic. waste of time & energy? I was hoping it cld be quite amusing, what with the heroine press build-up, quotes from the biogs etc—and, of course, interviews with such as the Hon. Curator. Possibly a final chapter about GD detractors, such as Mary Clemmey who was APPALLED at the whole idea, she loathes GD from childhood—and Bob’s luring crew theory …
Possible title:
GRACE HAD AN ENGLISH HEART94 … Back to Topic A95 for a moment: Things are, indeed, ever so much better, although the SQUALOR of it all & all the lies etc tend to come back on me in waves at unexpected moments, causing me to lash out at B. perhaps unfairly. Also, in London I couldn’t refrain from the occasional slight needle such as when something went agley with our trav. reservations: “Oh I DO wish you’d brought Joanne along, she’s SO good at making all the arrangements.” (Which he had said she did, with the one exception of disastrous Mother’s Day plan, organized by him!)
I X-examined96 the poor soul about his week in East Hampton, & final encounter with J. They’d all been somewhere at a dinner pty, later he & J. went to a bar to talk. He said it was all over. “What did SHE say?”; “She didn’t agree, said we should leave options open.” “What did YOU say?”; He slid off, finally said “I suppose options are always open,” which I found disheartening.
So who knows. I did say that if in future he takes up with her again, for God’s sake let me know. Answer: “I won’t, and if I do I’ll let you know.” Which I thought a wee bit equivocal…. He gets v. annoyed when I bring up the subject so I’ve rather stopped doing it. By the way, I asked him ifJoanne liked my postcard: “Yes, she laughed.” A bit different from YOUR version. I DO wish you’d enlarge on what she actually said.
We did have a v. good time in London, ditto in S. of France, the week with Tony Richardson.… Bob said repeatedly that he enjoyed all that, not yearning after that young, vibrant, 56-yr-old (accdg to you & Dink) lover. So I hope that’s true; hard to tell.
I’m hoping that my trip to England in early Sept. for a few weeks will supply a welcome breathing space for both of us, although Bob did say—rather to my annoyance, not once but thrice—that he hadn’t suggested the Grace Darling topic in order to get me out of the country. Actually that hadn’t crossed my befuddled mind, but now it has.
I was telling Maya, that wise soul, about GD trav. plans. Well, said she, absence makes the heart grow fonder—but on the other hand, out of sight out of mind! Too true, but I’m going anyway, as I told Maya which made her giggle.
Sorry for this inordinately long letter. As I told you, you are the only one besides Dink/Maya privy to Topic A, so I had to inflict a few inner thoughts. By the way, Dink reported in an unsatisfactory phone call (as what phone call isn’t?) that somebody had told her that Victor is displeased with J’s constant absences from home—incidentally, Bob in one of my X-exams, said the same. J.’s explanation: she couldn’t care less what Victor thinks. She’ll do as she pleases…. THE AFORESAID, EYES ONLY, SALLY. Dinky would not like this, told to me in confidence, to be bruited about.
I, too, regret that you/Bob had no chance for private chat when we were in London. I did tell him about the Loved One’s unsatisfactoriness as a guest—stayed with you for 2 weeks on & off (the off being Bob’s Hungarian tryst), never bought a slice of bread or a leaf of lettuce, let alone a meal, was only interested in meeting people she conceived of as important whereas you, like most ordinary people, had yr own chums & were not interested in the IMPORTANT whoever they might be. I also told about yr conception—alerted for the first time by me to this alliance—of least likely, such as a circus freak-show in which the Tallest Man in the World is married to the Smallest Midget in the World.
Must dash to get a few things ready for the Bob Birthday party,
Much love, Decca
To Virginia Durr
Oakland
August 9, 1985
Dearest Va,
…We had a big party for Bob last night, & the cream on the cake was appearance of James Dean Walker (Ark. convict who I’ve been writing about forever), now out on bail, the 8th Circuit having ruled in his favor—Ark. must either give a new trial promptly, or free him.97 The vindictive prosecutors are appealing to U.S. Sup. Ct. so the Dear knows when he’ll be finally & totally free; but he was admitted to bail, & is staying here for a couple of nights with his stunning girlfriend Leeta.
It was the long-awaited “‘tater water” party. The point of that: some years ago when I was writing about his case, I went to Ark. & was given a tour round the prisons, including the solitary cells which were the nether region of hell. I asked the warden what they were in for. “Various infractions such as fighting & making ‘tater water.” What’s that, I asked? Alcohol made from fermented potato peelings. We then went to the commissary for lunch, & I was asked what beverage I’d like. Half faint from the sights, sounds & smells of the solitary cells I answered, “A double ‘tater water on the rocks.” Which was not forthcoming; but ever since then, Walker & I have pledged to have a ‘tater water party when he was released. (Luckily it turns out that vodka is made of potatoes, so we had some of that.)…
Fondest love, & to the Gang of
Four98 & their unknown (to me) progeny, Decca
To Sally Belfrage
Oakland
August 22, 1985
Sally—oh poor you, I’ve been absolutely peppering you with letters, some of which X’d yours of 18 Aug. But at least one of those was NAUGHT TO DO WITH TOPIC A….
Anyway I loved getting yrs of 18 Aug. Vive la “deep depression!” Serves her bloody well right: might be as salutary, if not more so, than Maya’s kneecap job?
This end, things have lightened up unbelievably; that is, I really do think that all will turn out OK with us. See my letter to you of 15 Aug., Bob saying he hadn’t been in touch with her. Which, by the way, in spite of all his previous lying I do rather believe—mainly because he’s not one to GET in touch all that much! (With him, it’s very much out of sight out of mind, as I have often noted to my sorrow when away from home.)
J’s letter (the bits you quoted) very odd indeed. E.g.: “… all this would have amounted to was to make their relationship better, or so I choose to believe.” What on earth does THAT mean? Do write to her for clarification. Needless to say, I find it slightly tiresome of J. to pride herself on “shaking her marriage to its foundation.” A bit of a moulting feather in her cap? Anyway, it hasn’t worked, tell her.
Needless to say there are still masses of things to be sorted out bet. me/Bob—but we really are at it, should work given persistence & good will (no snappishness on my part; a modicum of lying on his). By the way, re yr last para about Bob/my long-lasting marriage: yes, you’re spot-on in yr description of how it was. But—“important to a lot of people?” Role models—or in my case (fat as butter) ROLL model? Never. Ghastly thought, misleading Louts & their ilk about the pursuit of happiness—an absurd idea, never should have been written into the U.S. Constitution.
… Do an IMMENSE FAVOR & ring up when you get this—just ring here collect for Wanda Spikdec, who will then get the number to ring back immediately … prime time is after 8 a.m. in Calif, for private chat. I really long to have a word with you.
Again—tons of apologies for taking up so much of yr time & energy; awfully important to me, as you are super-confidant.
Much love, Decca
To Virginia Durr
London
September 27, 1985
Dearest Va,
…Your letter of 10 September … was a puzzler. You kept saying “Don’t read the J. Guinness book, too painful” etc. Well of course I read it, ages ago when it came out in England, partly with a view to bringing suit for plagiarism (unauthorized paraphrasing of my books). I thought I’d written to you about all that? I was also successful in getting the book thoroughly trashed by reviewers in S.F. Chronicle, Boston Globe, & NYT Book Review, having pointed out to reviewers—all friends of mine—some of the stupider passages. My favorite was the one about Kay Graham, that notorious Jewish left-winger who was responsible for hounding Nixon out of office & turning over South East Asia to the dire rule of communism.99 …
Much love, Decca
To Sally Belfrage
Oakland
November 22, 1985
Dearest Sall,
I was overjoyed to get yr MARVELLOUS letter—esp. since it was unexpected since we’d talked by phone. …
Topic A: Your advice, & yr analysis re Bob’s silence, is spot-on—I think you are absolutely right on both. I’ve re-read that para a dozen times & it’s full of WISDOM & insight. Isn’t it odd how it sometimes takes another person (but only an exceptional person like TOI) to show you what should be obvious, & right under yr nose? Anyway, you’ve done it & I’m not only v. thankful but it’s made me feel far more at peace. I was sort of getting there, but yours was decisive. All this end does point to the fact he’s sincerely dropped J. (SODDEN THOUGHT: I wonder if it was easier & less painful for him to give up J. than for me to give up smoking?). That is, all the old feelings of pleasantness & fun between us have come back & we are (I believe) really enjoying life together….
Her letter to me: I rather took the “generous” as an effort at heavy irony. How v. odd of her to think of the exchange as a “dialogue,” & to be (as you put it) “overjoyed.” …
On to other topics …
Grace Darling: I’m getting on with it but in my own way—bits & pieces, which I hope will one day clatter together & turn into a book. (Mary100 said she had told you that’s NOT the way to write a book; sorry, but it’s my way—and yours, I gather). How I wish I was in London so we cld have a splash of show-&-tell of each other’s. …
One of the bits & pieces Grace Darling-wise is to find out how news was gathered & disseminated in 1838—pre-telegraph & virtually pre-trains, just a few then running but only in South of England, none to Darling territory in Northumberland or Scotland. Who were the journalists, how compensated, how regarded by the public? …All I know so far is the following extract from the Dic. of National Biography re a collateral ancestor.
John Mitford, 1782–1831
… Mitford was discharged from the navy as insane, and he took to journalism and strong drink … The publisher who employed him found that the only way to make him work was to keep him without money. He therefore limited him to a shilling a day, which Mitford expended on two pennyworth of bread and cheese and an onion, and the balance on gin. With this, and his day’s supply of paper and ink, he repaired to an old gravel-pit in Battersea Fields, and there wrote and slept till it was time to take in his work and get his next shilling …
(Needless to say I sent this to Bob Gottlieb saying that’s EXACTLY how he treats me, no wonder I live in an old gravel-pit.)…
Much love & EXTREME gratitude for yr brilliant analysis/advice, Decca
To Robert Gottlieb
Oakland January IO, 1986
Dearly Beloved Bites,
… So sad that I never see you any more—but we hardly ever come to NY, Atlanta being the strong magnet. We were there for New Year’s. The Oys are all grown up (thank God)….
In Atlanta, some Dink friends had us all to dinner—Benj was there…. Anyway, pre-dinner they’d asked a classmate of Bob’s from Harvard & his wife (needless to say B. & c-mate didn’t recognize each other but let that pass). The wife was blithering on abt. her grandchildren the way we dull old folks are prone to do. “Clarissa is at Vassar, Johnnie’s at Harvard …” & James appeared in doorway. “He’s Brown, isn’t he?”; said the wife. I, unthinkingly, said “No, actually he’s black.” Tremendous kick in shin by Benj who fled with Jamie into the kitchen whence their loud & raucous laughter cld be heard for miles around. Naughty things.
Dink’s in absolutely prime fettle. She’s got a new job teaching nurses & others how to revive dead—or rather, deadish people,101 so that’s a good thing. She & hubby (Terry Weber) v. devoted….
Much love, dear Bites, & to yr family—I’d SO love to see you all again one day Decca
To Maya Angelou
Oakland February I, 1986
Maya—some random thoughts about THE COLOR PURPLE,102 pursuant to our discussion this evening.
1. If criticisms by other Black writers are, as you seemed to imply at one point, motivated by envy of A. Walker’s fame & wealth, that is indeed shabby to say the least—in fact, downright sinful because isn’t ENVY one of the Seven Deadly Sins? (I’m not sure, as I haven’t a list of the 7 D.S.’s to hand.)
2. Be that as it may, I gather there have been some real and deeply-felt criticisms of the content of the film, that just because it is so brilliantly acted, hence a sure OSCAR winner, to be seen by audiences in the multi-millions, this is a destructive message for whites & Blacks & is not representative of Black culture, Black family life etc.
3. Alice said to you that “the work is a gift,” true. But that doesn’t hold it exempt from criticism of its message. C/f down the ages, Shakespeare criticized for portrayal of Jews in Merch. of Venice—and, come to think of it, what malign effect did this in fact have for English playgoers for 3 centuries? The word Shylock has virtually passed into the language (you might challenge in Boggle as capitalized, but let that pass). Anti-Semitism is alive & well in England, has been forever. (So, of course, doubly has racism in spite of Shakespeare’s casting of OTHELLO as a heroic, brave, tragic character. This is a diversion. Sorry.)
4. Voltaire once said “Qui plume a, guerre a.”103 Too true, as you & I & other scribblers have found out. So those who have a pen should be prepared for the ensuing war! Meaning, should be prepared to defend what they have written, its potential impact on readers in the given moment of its appearance. …
End of paper, end of random drivel.104 RSVP,
Decca
To Dr. Arlan Cohn
Oakland
March 6, 1986
Dear Arlan,
I have a terrible, nay horrible, confession to make—but you’ve already guessed it: I did start smoking again….
As of today, I’m off it again & on that vile chewing gum—which, I must admit, is a huge help. But here’s the question: Did you see Delaplane’s105 column about ACUPUNCTURE & smoking cures? Do you know any good acupuncturist around here? What are yr views about that whole thing? DO send a line, or ring up, if you have an opinion. Any medical journals on subject? …
Now, here is something of interest. This is about ARTHRITIS, actual case histories compiled by me, hence their accuracy is of course impeccable (ha ha). But honestly—these are True Stories.
I. Aranka Treuhaft my mother-in-law, who died in 1975, (but not of arthri-tis) hence unable to give evidence. In late 1960’s she suffered terribly from arthritis—fingers wouldn’t work, legs were agony etc. So I sent her one of those special bronze bracelets from Wales: no good. Then, someone told me that raw potatoes can do the trick. Aranka tried these, cut them up & plunked them her ample bra, & found MUCH RELIEF.
II. Babby Dreyfus. Calendar leaves now flip forward to 1986. I’d quite forgotten my successful suggestion to Aranka, until I ran into Babby (widow of Barney Dreyfus, super-illustrious SF lawyer & v. great friend) at lunch a few weeks ago. She had suffered tortures from arthritis, near-immobilized by it. Somebody (not me) had told her about the potatoes. She put an unpeeled small red potato in her bra. After some days (and possibly replacements of the potatoes?) all was OK. No more pain.
III. Rita Wiggins, my housekeeper (I think you’ve met her?) a Black aged 75 from New Orleans originally. She had awful unexplained pains in calf & thigh; went to a doctor who advised aspirin, but she loathes aspirin as she is allergic to them.
Rita Wiggins is the non-complainer of all time. Hence her even mentioning pains in leg was v. unusual. I told her about Babby Dreyfus & the potatoes. Mrs. Wiggins did all that, in two days, legs ABSOLUTELY CURED.
IV. Miriam Miller, the editor of Stanford Alumni Press, Stanford Univer-sity. For years she’s had awful, inexplicable pains in her feet. She’s been to every imaginable kind of doctor; but as they can’t find out what’s wrong, they can’t prescribe a cure.
So—after Mrs. Wiggins’ rave review of the potato cure—I rang up M. Miller to suggest she could cut up a few slices & put ‘em inside her socks, stockings, or feet.
Mimi Miller did all that, & rang up to say that indeed pain in the feet had somewhat subsided, for the moment but she feared it was only psychological.
I thought that reaction slightly tiresome: Isn’t everything physical also partly psych?
To come: report from Maya, who’s got this awful thing with her knees. I told her about the potatoes (she’s on the road, so this was by phone) & she’s going to try them.106
One interesting thing is, as you can see from the Case Hists., the total disparity in personality, upbringing, philosophy etc etc. of the four Success Stories. There must be something to it, not just a form of faith-healing? Have you ever run across this phenomenon of the potatoes? Should we have a potato analyzed by a chemist to find out the magic component, then market same & make our fortunes?
