David Spiech – Page 73 – Santayana Edition

Letters in Limbo ~ March 3, 1947

On March 3, 2024

To John Hall Wheelock
Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6
Rome. March 3, 1947

I am also reading a life of Einstein that the publishers have sent me, asking for a review, or at least a “puff”, but it arrived too late for that purpose. I find it absorbing, although translated from ponderous German into bad English. However, through the fog of words I seem to catch the faint light of very distant stars, and that is exhilarating.

From The Letters of George Santayana: Book Seven, 1941-1947. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2006.
Location of manuscript: Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Libraries, Princeton NJ.

Letters in Limbo ~ March 2, 1932

By David Spiech

On March 2, 2024

In LETTERS

To Cyril Coniston Clemens
Hotel Bristol
Rome. March 2, 1932

I have definite theories about psychology, (that there are two distinct kinds, the scientific or biological kind, medical and behaviouristic and the literary kind, just intuition of what goes on in people’s minds, which Wm James excelled in, and in which ladies in future ought to be pre-eminent).

From The Letters of George Santayana: Book Four, 1928–1932. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2003.
Location of manuscript: William R. Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC.

Letters in Limbo ~ March 1, [1911]

By David Spiech

On March 1, 2024

In LETTERS

To Mary Williams Winslow
Colonial Club
Cambridge, Massachusetts. March 1, [1911]

Dear Mrs Winslow—I shall be delighted to come next Tuesday, the 7th at half past seven. It is nice to know that you are well again, as your writing implies. As to your new son, I daresay he is a model of all a child should be, but for my part I am too prosaic and disillusioned to lavish any more unrequited affections upon objects unconscious of my regard.

From The Letters of George Santayana: Book Two, 1910-1920. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2001.
Location of manuscript: The Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge MA.

Letters in Limbo ~ February 29, 1921

By David Spiech

On February 29, 2024

In LETTERS

To Charles Augustus Strong
Paris. February 29, 1921

Yesterday afternoon I went to see the apartment. It is very nice, and so is Françoise, with whom I had a heart to heart talk. She was busy making muslin skirts for Margaret’s dressing-table. The salon, or library is a charming room, and in bright weather (it was dull yesterday) must be very cheerful. I like the white walls in the bedrooms, which will not look cold when the personal effects of the occupier, and his personal touch, have been added. For my own room, I am sure it will be amply large enough both for my books (those I need, at least) and for a writing table, so that I shall not be necessarily established in the salon when I want to work, although often, no doubt, it will be pleasanter to sit or write there. The dining-room is the only part of the house that didn’t altogether please me. I mean, not the room itself, but the colour and texture of the walls. But we can do a great deal, in the way of pleasant touches here and there, and some gaiety, when we are living in the place.

A book of Perry’s (I think) is waiting for you on your table. I got a copy from him this morning myself; but courage fails me to read it. I shall leave it at the apartment, as in Spain I want to devote my time to things Spanish, (apart from my own, if they are not Spanish) and Perry’s book has a flavour of academic American mustiness and awkwardness which is repellent. What a contrast to Russell’s “Problems of Philosophy”! I will send you this little book as soon as I have finished it, in case you haven’t come across it in Italy. It is delightfully clear, and sometimes very witty. The analysis, here and there, may not be satisfactory; logic is too linguistic, and Russell is a logician; but nevertheless, the tone of an enlightened person strikes you everywhere, whereas Perry’s tone is the tone of the dwellers in the Cave. There is a Herean philosophie and a Sclaven philosophie–belonging respectively to those whom philosophy delights and to those whom she feeds and troubles.

From The Letters of George Santayana: Book Two, 1910-1920. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2001.
Location of manuscript: Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hollow NY

Letters in Limbo ~ Thursday [c. 1908]

By David Spiech

On February 28, 2024

In LETTERS

To William James
75 Monmouth Street
Brookline, Massachusetts. Thursday [c. 1908].

Dear Mr James

I find your note here when it is too late to profit by it. I am very sorry, not so much for not gratifying Mr Gordon’s morbid desire to look upon the Devil, as for not giving him a chance to make the sign of the cross over me (or whatever is the Old South equivalent) and perhaps drive the Father of Lies out of me into some dumb and non-literary animal where he wouldn’t do so much harm.

From The Letters of George Santayana: Book One, [1868]-1909. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2001.
Location of manuscript: The Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge MA.

The Works of George Santayana

Author: David Spiech Page 73 of 283

Letters in Limbo ~ March 3, 1947

Letters in Limbo ~ March 2, 1932

Letters in Limbo ~ March 1, [1911]

Letters in Limbo ~ February 29, 1921

Letters in Limbo ~ Thursday [c. 1908]