Brown, Marie A.–ZT 9.8.1881

Marie A. Brown till Zacharias Topelius 9.8.1881

(483) 483 W. Washington St.
Chicago, Aug. 9:th/ 81.

Prof. Topelius
Dear Sir.

1 It would seem as if the enterprise comprised in your “Fältskärns berättelser” might be fairly launched any day, but it is not off the stocks yet. I have not been able to get the capital to publish the books myself; a Chicago firm are willing to publish them, admire them extremely, but Porter & Coates, of Philade., who published the 1:st vol., as you remember, have put obstacles in their way, and for over one year the matter has been pending. Jansen, McClurg & Co. the Chicago firm, are so much afraid that Selma Borg would claim a royalty on that 1st vol., that they insist upon my making an entire new translation of that vol. (Gustaf Adolf). Now as I did every line of that translation, and you approved of it, and the poet Whittier approved of it in this country, you can realize one of my many strong objections to making a new translation. The firm offer me a royalty of 10 cents on a copy, after the 1st 1000 copies are sold, on each vol. This is perfectly ruinous. If I could publish them myself, there would be money in it. − This has been a terrible year to me, in every respect. The Scandinavians here, two committees, a Swedish, and a Norwegian-Danish, promised to send me to the North, for one year, with|| all expenses paid, and then, after keeping me waiting six months, broke their word. It was hinted that Selma Borg was at the bottom of that. I send you the sub. circularoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning the committee issued. You will see that I was justified in believing them in earnest. Some of the Swedish newspapersoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning here come out against me, saying I was not the proper peroläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindningson to send, for all I had done all these years was to showoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning the Americans that in Sweden and Finland also were authors who could swear well (“svärja bra”), mentioning Runeberg and Topelius. − I have written to Herr Hedin, and to Herr Hedlund, also to Victor Rydberg, to see if there is not some one in Sweden, who will appreciate what I am doing and aid me to carry on the work. I know that the Swedish government has always been the friend and patron of every deserving artist and author, none have been left to perish. Should I be, in carrying on a purely Swedish work, of conceded importance, simply because I am an American? − Next fall and winter I shall lecture upon these subjects 1. Modern Swedish Authors, and geniusesoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning in the reign of Gustaf III. 2. Mythology the inspiration of the present. 3 Finnish art, characters and scenery. 4 Hisoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindningtorical scenes. − These I illustrate with stereopticon views ofoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning works of art by your best sculptors and painters, scenery, & c. Can you not send me some photographs that would illustrateoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning Fältskärns berättelser, for I read considerably from those in my lectures? If your Finnish artists would only send me some five photographs of their works! Cabinets would do, andoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning unmounted; I have them all copied on glass. I would like tooläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning have your portrait very much, and that of the Runebergs J. L. and Walter; also Runeberg’s home, and Frederica Bremer’s, if possible. I do not know how to obtain these but they would make my Finnish lecture intensely interesting. Perhaps if I can have a successful lecture season this winter, I can go abroad next summer. If something could be put in the Helsingfors paper about me, it would help.

Yours very truly,

Marie A. Brown

2 All my Swedish correspondents write to me in Swedish. I wish I could write the language, but I am not equal to it yet. Can you send me your play: “After 50 years?” I have a standing offer from one of the best N. York managers for a good modern play. Have you written any other vol. of “Fältskärns berättelser? I heard that you were going to.