Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Miles Franklin - correspondence with Henry Lawson, 1899 - 1902
MLMSS 364/6

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Bangalore, Goulburn N.S.W.
Nov. 19th, 1899

To Henry Lawson, Esq.,
Sydney

Dear Sir
This is written to ask if you will help me. I will explain. For some years I have been scribbling & have written a book. My trouble is I have lived such a secluded life in the bush that I am unacquainted with any literary people of note and am to hard up to incur the expense of travelling to Sydney to personally interview a publisher on the matter. As for posting a story to them in the hope of it being read, unless one has swell influence one might as well try to sell an elderly cow for a young racehorse - thus I have conceived the idea of beseeching your aid. Perhaps it is a foolish notion as probably you will have neither time

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nor inclination to extend a hand to me but if you would be good natured enough to read my yarn you would be helping me out of a deep hole. I merely ask you to run through it & state whether you think it twaddle, interesting or trash & allow me to use yr opinion.

Do not be annoyed at my presumption, believe me it has taken me some time to pluck up enough courage to ask this of you and my only excuse is that I am in a fix and though I have not had an opportunity of reading yr prose, have gained such help from yr poetry that I feel as though I have known you for many years.

This is not my first attempt at writing. When a youngster I gained a prize in an Australian story competition also for several essays, & local penmen have pronounced my yarn as containing ability & originality.

Awaiting reply
Sir
Faithfully yrs
Miles Franklin

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Chaplin Cottage
Charles Street
North Sydney
29/12/'99

Mr M Franklin
Dear Sir

Pardon me for not replying to your note earlier; I've had a lot of work and worry lately in connection with new books, and had to neglect many correspondents. Send your yarn and I'll read it and tell you what I think of it; but you must give me, say a month, to get through it and see what I can do for you.

Wishing you a lucky new year.
Yours truly
Henry Lawson.

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[Envelope post marked NORTH SYDNEY N.S.W. DE 30 99 12.15 AM]

Mr Miles Franklin
Bangalore
Goulburn
N.S.W.

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Chaplin Cottage
Charles Street
North Syd.
Wednesday

Dear 'Miles Franklin'

Received your M.S. this morning and have more than "skimmed" through it already. Will you pleased write and tell me who and what you really are? man or woman? and something about yourself?, and will you let me keep your story till my publisher s returns from England? He is somewhere on the way now. I believe that you have done a big thing. I've been through the life you write of.
Yours truly
Henry Lawson

The M'Swat &c sketches are perfect, and the Diary and Horace's letter are gems - But I'll finish story this week and write again when you have written.

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[Envelope post marked NORTH SYDNEY N.S.W. JA 18 00 4- PM]

Miss L. M Franklin
C/o Mrs Gill
235 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst

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Chaplin Cottage
Charles Street
North Sydney
Thurs. '00

Dear Miss Franklin

I heartily congratulate you on your success. Judging from Mrs Lawson's experience in hospitals you will be "put upon" considerably by the head and other nurses until you know the ropes; but I trust you will pull through the beginning all right. It's the same in all professions - and the "natural" thing I suppose - in the present state of society. Mrs Lawson says that things depend on the head nurse - not the matron. Anyway don't "buck" till you know where you are. Past experience should aid you now. The paltry tyrants of my life seem so very very small to me now that I can scarcely remember them. Write when you'll get a day off an[d] come on that day - says Mrs Lawson

North Shore Ferry company Circular Quay - Boat on right hand side of jetty to Milsons Point - tram from boat to Mount Street off Miller 's Street:-
[MAP CROSSED OUT]
or' Get off Tram at Mount St Walk past P.O. and Police Station to Grocers Shop at corner of Charles Street.

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[Envelope postmarked NORTH SYDNEY N.S.W. AP 18 00 12.15 AM]

Urgent

Miss Franklin
Bangalore
via Goulburn

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"Bulletin" Office
16-4-00

Dear Miss Franklin

Only just back from country. This is the only paper in the house. Robertson the publisher is back. Cannot consider story yet - too busy.

The publishing manager has read it, and is humming and ha-ing. Shall I leave story with them or take it with me to England? Wire "Bulletin" office as we sail on Friday. Also write if you get this in time. If I take story "home" send me c/o "Bulletin", a formal permission to "place" the work as I think fit. Also some latitude in editing

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in case English publishers want some paragraphs "toned down". You can trust me for the rest.

If I take it I must have your authority to get it published in the best form I can. - that is a margin for compromising with publishers prejudices. All the same I'd fight to have every line published as written. If left in charge of Angus & Robertson they'll send M.S. to you if rejected, or write if favourable. Good-bye and & Good luck. Don't despond.
Yours faithfully
Henry Lawson

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Dear Miss Franklin

I could not answer your letter. I have hardly had time to breathe, but will write from England. A letter addressed to Bulletin office would be forwarded on. So far, we have no London address. We do not know where we are going. Good-bye and wishing you all success.
Yours sincerely
Bertha Lawson

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Bangalore
Goulburn
N.S.W.
April 19th, 1900

To Henry Lawson, Esq.,
Dear Sir

Please take my MS. story entitled "My Brilliant (?) Career" to England with you. I trust you to do yr. best for me in the matter and desire you to use your own discretion in the choice of a publisher & in the style of publishing. Should the publisher object to some of the sentiments expressed in the above mentioned manuscript story, you have my authority for a little latitude in the editing thereof, provided it meets with your approval.

I am,
Sir,
Faithfully yrs.,
S.M.S. Miles Franklin

An exact copy of letter sent
S.M.S.M.F.

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Spring Villa
Cowper Road
Harpenden
Herts
Eng
Sept 6 '00

Dear Miss Franklin

Just time for a line. I submitted yr story to Blackwood's manager. He wrote me to come and talk it over; but, on consideration, I thought best to put the business into the hands of my agent Mr Pinker, who has set me on my feet. He'll get more money than we can, and look after yr interests. Am writing for Blackwood myself. I enclose signat Pinkers agreement for yr signature - it is the same as I signed. Sign it and return - and anti-date it to this month, as Pinker has is already looking after yr story. Will write directly I hear from Blackwood. Wife & children well. Am full of work.
Yours faithfully
Henry Lawson

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[Envelope postmarked HOLLOWAY N FE 1 02 ?PM]

Miss S.M.S Franklin
Bangalore
Goulburn
New South Wales
Sydney
Australia

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C/o Pinker
Effingham House
Arundel St
Strand

Dear Miss Franklin

I enclose parcel of reviews up to date. I'm afraid they got a bit smoked on account of my last office chimney - I lef it one morning and couldn't get into it for soot the next. I also send a letter from Mrs Garnett, sent under cover to me amongst some reviews. Have been very busy and in ill health or I'd have attended to these things sooner - You musn't expect much for a year or two and - look after your pronouns. Will send you corrected proofs of your book which will explain and help you.

Write a lot like "Harris" and McSwab. Paste reviews in

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a book and send it first to who ever is publishing 'My Brilliant Career' in Australia - Then to Bulletin, Telegraph, T & C, Age &c, taking care to have scrap book returned. I dont know whether you've got any money for 'MBC' yet - But Pinker will see to that. I hear the book is going slowly.

Keep on!
Best wishes from Mrs Lawson and children who are well.
Yours truly
Henry Lawson.

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[Envelope postmarked MANLY N.S.W. SP 5 02 9.45 P.M]

Miss S Franklin
c/o Miss Rose Scott
"Lynton"
Jersey Road
Woolahra

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Ladywood
Sept 5 1902
Friday

Dear Miss Franklin

I have had a telegram from Mr Robertson saying that he cannot come on Saturday, having to get to his home at Blackheath. No good could be done with him on Saturday morning, and on serious thought, it is best after all - you have waited so long that I think it would be madness not to hold out a month or so longer. There is a lot hanging on it. It would, from a business mans point of view be bad policy and a sign of weakness to change publishers (Pinker told me that in my case) and it would be a big come-down from a leading Lond British publisher to an Australian one - no matter how big the latter. Then again, A & R have had losses on other books, and we don't want to suffer for these (my books have had to pay in a way for the failure of Dysons & others) The English houses have the money to risk. Best send book off at once to Pinker. I remember he asked me several times if I thought you'd right another book. Read his letters again and judge whether they are discouraging or simply the business letters of an Englishman who knows little of the impulsive Australian. (He burst out once and said to me : "You people think I am made of stone! - you don't know") Anyway, if he does doubt, the Australian returns of the sale of your book - which will be home before your new book can reach him - will fix his mind. Did you fancy, for a minute that, in any case, he would not send the book out and do his best to place it?

You don't know, in the business part of our trade, how easy it is to take a step down in the ladder and how hard it is to regain the rung.

You may have a hard time for a little

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(2)

but you have the courage now of the knowledge that your future is assured.

Don't bother about other writers; keep away from them; they can do you no good; if they have ideas they want them for themselves; they can only irritate and worry you; you are strong mentally - a much stronger and deeper character than I thought - but, no matter how strong you are, if you mix with writers too much and too long you will, perhaps unconsciously - half unconsciously anyway - start writing to please writers and not the people

"No one can advise you as to what you should or should not write. Do good work" - Pinker

I - except in the way of business (in giving you advise which I should have used myself but didn't) could do you little good and a lot of harm, for I am weak and bitter at times, and talk according to my moods.

Please tell Miss Scott that I am very sorry I cannot come today - I would have liked to immencely - but I must work very hard and against time for the next week or two. I find that the dates are almost up for sending in two of my stories. G Give her our love, and take half of it for yourself Write to me at once when you get news. Bertha seems to have grown very fond of you and is sorry she didn't see more of you. Next time you get off come down to us a Manly for yr holiday - or we'd be willing to share you with Miss Scott. I feel a strange sort [of] sympathy for your people, and would very much like to meet them (We were burnt out of the bush by the drought) but all that will come to pass in time.
Yours truly
Henry Lawson

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"Ladywood"
Whistler Street
Manly
Monday

Dear Miss Franklin

Mrs Lawson just received your letter and is busy washing. She will write. Now I want you to write to her by return post and tell her exactly what is troubling you. I need not see the letter. You did not ask me certain questions for nothing; and I hold myself responsible for your future welfare and happiness.

Yours truly
Henry Lawson

NB. You don't know Sydney well - I do.

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Ladywood
Whistler Street
Manly

Dear Miss Franklin

I get my London cheques cashed at the Bulletin office. Could get yours done. (or at A & Rs) - Send it along if you have any trouble.

It was not the cheque I expected - I reckon you'll get another before Xmas - There was the printing binding and all initial expences. Subsequent editions, being printed from plates, do not cost one third so much. Of course you have to pay cost of first edition and typesetting before you make much profit.

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2

Saw Robertson. He said he'd meant to say he thought you were bound to Blackwood not Pinker and that he would write to you [etc]. Perhaps that cheque saved you from making an irreparable blunder with your book. Re cutting down: Blackwood gave me more latitude than Angus & Robertson. If B doesn't take new book, Pinker will give it to my new publisher - Methuen. Have you told 'em about fourth edition? - Have you got a copy of new book? - Could you manage to get it typewritten, or copy it for safety? Seal very carefully and register. Was very glad to get letter from your Mother and I will write to her. I seem to be booming just now.
Yours sincerely
Henry Lawson

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If you have sent Book home and get an offer from Robertson, send offer to Pinker - he'll use it agst another publisher anyway. If you haven't sent book home and Robertsons offer seems any near the mark you might let me know.

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Dear Sir

Words of thanks seem are tame & flat in return for what have done you the trouble you take with for me but I wish you could understand how I feel yr goodness - SoThat you could bother about me so soon in the mid of yr own bis has wiped out a lot of bitterness in one act. Oh I was del when I read the re crity notices of yr new book and when the D. T. de a who colum in an art - Lawson & the billy Boil devoted a whole column to yr rise in London. I felt [?] I must wr & tell you tha my self gratification[?] but feared it would seem bothersome & that I was merely seeking to remind you of the ex my existence.

I rejoice at yr. success most especially it seems [?] being now in the teeth of a great "slump" - in literat- caus by the war. England has not her genial climate so take case of yo-self during the rigor of the hard[?] winter - Rememb Austra has only one Henry Lawson to give to the right[?] tint[?] In her ciruple[?] [N?] [?] has scores of noble(?) pate[?] like Rei[?] & P[?]ait work killing (?) themselves for her good (?).

No doubt from the pass[?] A[?] W U London Aus seems very crder[?] & oh so far away. The wattle are just done and the haze of summer is beginning to veil the hills at sunset. Give my love to Mrs Lawson & the irrepressible "Jimmy" & tell the fr[?] I enclose a few gum lea & a sprig of watt for the former with the respectful infair[?] that are the holly, [?] she does not forget the land of the watt & gum
Dear Sir
Gratefully yrs.
Stella M.S. Miles Lampe Franklin

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It is most necessary that I should be in Sydney, now so my parents consu would consent to allow my going to you. They think 6/- per week very nice remuneration and would be glad for me to be with you as your mor. is such an old & est fri of Aunt May as & as I pleaded so to be with you but it is Atn's[?] way. Mother is very unwell and it is absolutely necessary that she should have a months change and it would be six weeks ere I could get back to Sydney. I suppose it is hardly to be expected that

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[Inverted text]
You could take me then Write and let me know.

[part of letter missing]

Sydney then. I'm here. Got here at least to Goulburn per Melbourne Express last night came home this morning. Oh! Oh! Oh! ! w I didn't have a very eventful journey. Some men (so-called) were seeing a chum "Jim" by name off at Redfern. There was was talk and talk chiefly composed of many words which would be better expressed by a dash. "Jim's" history was told in a few words "S' help me gord. Ere's this damn Jimmy could pass the - shooting for the bushman's contingent an 's goin home" It is easy to be sorry for Jimmy. Just imagine how he will be chaffed & tormented & what a fallen hero

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before all his little world. Yes I feel more sorriness for Jim every time my thoughts revert thereto to him. Mr Barton set me up with a Bulletin and off we went. I had a corner seat but relinquished it to allow a lady to talk to her husband through the window. She wouldnt give me the seat afterwards. I did not mind it served me as a study in principles. I am glad Im not her husband. Mr Barton set me up etc, train said goodbye about 63 3/4 times & off went the train. After about an hour's travel, leaning out my window into the corridor seeking whom I could devour (By the way I forgot the goodies put up for my devouration & got from fair to middlingly devour some ere Goulburn was reached) I shut my eyes & very nearly went to sleep when lawks Mister!; crack! bangs. was my arm broken! or was it not

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"Jim" overpowe had been strolling down the corridor lavatorywards & the pulls he had taken at the bottle having pulled him over, he had fallen on me. Oh!, my arm! Judging the pain in it I don't think Jim would have passed an exam for a feather weight jockey any more than the shooting for the Bush Contingent. Now why couldn't Jim he have fallen on the other window where there was no one. Oh - but - perhaps Jim is lucky. He might have broken his nose had he fallen where there wasn't a human cushion. But to "git on wid me sthory", Jim looked three fourths inclined to swear & one fourth ashamed so I readily granted the pardon he muddledly asked. At Moss Vale a whole tribe of Asyrrians filled the carriages. They were composed of Mauning[?]

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There was "Muum[?]" who was "Mum to the little ones and to the one big one, to whose lln one she was Grannies & to whose father of the little ones she was Ma in law. There was an odor surrounding them which wasn't exactly eau-de-cologne and the other passenger looked daggers. I grinned. They had four old bundles & square boxes & to crown all a kerosene tin with a blanket bulging out the top. The other passengers grumbled ab the baggage so I told them they could pile it all around me so long as they did not squash me. With an assurance that he "no squashie you missy"

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the man took me at my word & put the box under my feet so I was forced to sit with them "heisted" like the lid of Jud Brownings [?] piano which was neither elegant or comfort - but- it was amus[?] & that saved the situation. Now it appears that the Ma in law & the two little ones were bound for Albury but son-in-law & his "missus" - the young olive branch had only come in to say goodbye & goodbyed so vigorously that the train went on and there they were. Some of my[?] rels[?] are greatly disgusted because I did not stay in the hospital, why do I not take to something resp. Not this win I mightnt be

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able to get any thing[?] out of it & I ought to have better sense than to listen to the flattery of strangers. There is no one to be trust in this world etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

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Stillwater
Bangalore

My Dear Sir

You did not leave unsaid one thing that could make me happy so this will indeed be a gay hearted letter - more than gay because I think I will not have to get you to spoil yr delightful letters by the introduction of business - Oh! how I hate the very sound of business & when one advises me on one side to write like Guy Boothby & another or another to write something taking & to try and adopt a more orthodox style, I feel all shrivelled up & long to die immediately, that is why I want to succeed according to other peoples ideas, so that I may then have leisure before I die to write one book, just one, perhaps it would be very little & only a few would care for it and I would'nt want money for it (oh keep the sound of that jingling word away from the poems we love) but it would be a joy to me. Now I must explain. A little while ago our retired Surveyor-General & daughters entertained me and a married one was asking me a lot of questions about the business side of the thing (always business & how much money did you make?) & I was asking her if Mr A. B. Paterson was soon returning as I entertained ideas of asking his advice. I thought no more of the matter until the very day I wrote to you when I was surprised by a note from Mr Paterson himself saying the lady had told him of my plight and he very kindly offers to advise me. Mother is sending me down to him soon. I am very, very thankful to you for yr goodness to me and it is a great thing for you to give me permission to use yr name which I would not have done on any acct. without your permission & our booksellers are also going to give me a written statement about the sale of yarn. But you must not expect me to keep you a secret as I always tell who helps me & I have a little book in which I've[?]

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recorded my helpers in case my memory may fail or that like human nature I may some day have the presumption to consider myself more than a very discreditable & superfluous atom of humanity. When discovering you were an editor - a whole real live editor, I think it the achievement of my life to have actually assisted in the bullyragging of one. Surely with Mr Patterson we can circumvent a whole army of Pinkers. Perhaps he thinks he is dealing with a little black gin because I'm a bush girl & and he will be a trifle surprised by & bye if we can only "get home" on him. It was very silly, but somehow you never suggested yourself to me as an individual with a profession, (not the profession) who ate & drank and perhaps even slept and snored, like - like - say Mr Pinker. I only thought of you as a mind a very sympathetic, understanding mind; now with Mr Pinker, even his boots & ties are plain in my mind & and there is no soul in the picture at all. You must be overwhelmed with editorial botherations & I'm aghast to think of the way I plague you (& still keep doing it all the same 'sez you') but you must blame my intuitions which sent me to you just as they warned me against Mr Pinker at the start. Recently a Sydney girl invited me to spend a day with her & and offered to entertain me in any way I should suggest & I informed her if she would only point me out an editor, one of those fierce & fearsome creatures - one ambition would be realised & to imagine my favourite letters were from an editor all the time. Don't think I wont make an effort to polish next work more: when I think of that other (talk of higgledy piggledy) scratched down in a few moments when I ran away from meals[?] began in a joke & next to no revision, nothing to measure myself by

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My pony and dad[?] are away, so no outlet in that direction. Have no friends/ within or co companion & no friend within hail; poor mother, sets too many over doses of me so I have become inflamed with the idea of taxing yr. good nature by the inflicting a little of myself upon it. I wish you were a gram "record" & I had a gramophone full of that record. What a grand time I could then have when suffering those fits of overdone dispiritment. Have been delving so hard with the pen that my nights' rest are disturbed by nightmares of ink famine & reams of paper which I can never fill with scrawling. Dived into our Australians several of our later Australian poets copies of whom Mr A. G. Stephens so kindly loaded me up with when in Sydney - First feeling pleasure then, surfeitment. To use a slangism they are so [indecipherable] The lad & the lass business - the kiss & sigh & regret affair - am weary of this in song & story - wish there was something else or that I could be waked up in the point[?] & so grow in touch with the theme. Among our living Australian writers I always return to my two tried & trusty comrades (mental of course) Lawson & Paterson - No philandering here A good[?]to me sense & comfort. What say you?

Am in receipt of a letter from the lady for whom [indecipherable] my name. She wants my photograph. Blessed are those who give when they are asked for they shall be asked again. What think you of Amy Castles? Is she really a Patti? I have heard so few singers and one can only tell the weights & measures

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of anything from pumpkins to flute soli by comparison. Your sister Edith has not written to me since my return, is she in Sydney?

You didn't guess it was "me" did you? Can't say how many words I turn out per day as I don't know how many words are how many - Write till I am fagged which isn't long as I am generally tired with work before starting. Turned out a terrible lot of pickles & chutney lately lately and if my preserves don't turn out with their usual excellence Stella Franklin is asked the reason why.

You lucky fellow to be going away to the islands for a change Oh if were only a girl who didnt wasn't really such a girl & nothing but a girl I would dress up and get you to take me with you as valet or bootblack or "buttons". Are you a good boss? You wouldn't kick & cuff me too hard would you? I fear yr. invitation is just out of my reach - is that why it is so tempting?

Have you been doing anything desperate lately? I nearly married since my return. Was so sick of myself & everything about ink that I nearly gave in at last. The man who thinks I am the one woman to whom his servants shall refer as "the Missus" (what a great(?) missus) [indecipherable] doesn't know one line from another & I don't think has no appreciation of blank verse poetry & I think would wither me in a fortnight and as I feel in gamer flip now have determined to hang out a bit longer. You might send me up that piano while you are away as mine is worn out. Have just been singing(?)

Come for my arms are empty
Come for the day was long
From the darkness into glory
My sorrow into song.

Great expression for the day was slow but you know the ropes of the world & I don't so you might assist me with a recipe for the "coming" of the light and the "shooing" of the wrong individual who is always coming . Must really apologise for the length of this preamble about nothing in general & everything in particular but even "boring[?]" "small" "silly" "drivellers" must have relaxation and I enjoy talking to you immensely - on paper.

God be with you till we meet again and if we never meet again old Nick will effect an introduction in the hereafter - Good-bye.