Brown, Marie A.–ZT 10.1.1885

Marie A. Brown till Zacharias Topelius 10.1.1885

Address Poste Restante, Stockholm.

Östersund, Sweden, January 10th / 85.

Prof. Z. Topelius.
Dear sir.

1 It is long since you have heard from me, but now I have something of the utmost importance to tell you. But first I will quote a paragraph that I have read to-day in the “London Daily News” of Jan. 3rd,/85: “Mr. Carl Rosa’s new London season will be one of the most important events of the musical year. This will begin at Drury Lane Theatre on Easter Monday, and will be of greater duration than on the last occasion there. Mr. Rosa’s arrangements promise well for success, his scheme including the production of a new opera composed for his company by Mr. Goring Thomas, whose ’Esmeralda’, produced by Mr. Rosa at Drury Lane Theatre in March, 1883, was received with so much favor. The new work is to be entitled ’Nadeschda’, and is founded on a Russian love story, the lyrics being written by Mr. Julian Sturgis.” – So you see, “Nadeschda” is to be produced on the stage as an opera! Mr. Carl Rosa and Mr. Sturgis must|| of necessity have seen my “Nadeschda”, for I am the only one who has translated it. I have written to Mr. Rosa and asked him to send me all particulars. It would be delightful if “Nadeschda” could also be produced at Kongliga Theatern, in Stockholm. I have proposed this to Mr. Rosa.

2 I expect to go to New York in February or March, in order to attend personally to the publication of Fältskärns berättelser and to convict the two Norwegians: Prof. Rasmus B. Anderson and Hjalmar Hjort Boyesen of their villainy toward me! I have lived in Norway for the last year and there was able to detect the whole infamous plot, for my utter ruin, in which these two men, and their allies: the two Consul Gades, Fru Ole Bull and others, were engaged, and all, all, on account of their admiration and sympathy for – Selma Borg! A letter to me from Björnstjerne Björnson showed me, inadvertently, the combination that all these had informed formed against me, and in an instant I felt that the hour had come for me to proclaim the whole truth about this Selma Borg, the evil genius of my life! That same night I wrote to Björnson that Selma Borg was not a woman, but a foul creature of mixed sex, neither man nor woman, a hermaphrodite. My mother wrote to him at the|| same time and gave him some facts with regard to her physical malformation and male passions, which would leave no doubt on his mind. Our next step was to write to the authorities in New York and order Selma Borg’s arrest as a dangerous character. We also wrote to Dr. Gustaf Borg, commanding him to take his sister home to Finland and keep her there; and to several prominent physicians in Boston and New York, advising them to have her subjected to an immediate medical examination, which would prove everything. I have written these facts to several of my Swedish friends and to some editors.

3 This was a terrible step to take, but it was also the only one! It will expose the Norwegians to almost everlasting disgrace! I do not see what they can do to redeem themselves in the eyes of the Swedes, or Americans. Sweden, I am proud and glad to say, has no part in this shameful transaction; it has always despised and rejected Selma Borg, regarding her as an impostor. Prof. Anderson, through the diligent circulation of his printed lies about me, was able to influence some few Swedes to treat me coldly, but further than this no Swedes have ever gone. And now I meet with the warmest friendship and support here. My mother and|| I returned to Sweden last week, via Storlien; stayed there several days, and will be here a week; we have introductions everywhere and no end of hospitality. We will stay a few days in Sundsvall, in Domnarfvet and in Upsala, then go to Stockholm, where I will see Herr Bonnier and arrange several important matters before going to America. We expect, however, to return to Sweden, and to spend every summer here, and all our winters in New York. This will enable me to attend all my literary interests in America, and yet to preserve my connection with Sweden, to work for Sweden, and its literature, heart and soul.

4 Our friend, Fru Elise Hisinger, in Helsingfors, now knows all the facts about Selma Borg.

5 In regard to Fältskärn: by comparing the new edition of “Gustaf Adolf”, published by Jansen, McClurg & Co. with the old one, published in 1872, I find that the firm have only altered 12-15 words on a page, on an average; I am now changing all these back again, on the printed page, as a lawyer, from New York, advised me to do, and these printed pages, with their 12-15 altered words, will be the most crushing evidence against the firm! This villainy, too, at the instigation of an hermaphrodite! I hope to receive a welcome letter from you in Stockholm, before I leave.

Yours sincerely


Marie A. Brown.