Letters of William Gaddis. William Gaddis

stand in our parlour and stare at the atrocity which I mentioned earlier. We smoke a brand of aptly-named little cigars Between-The-Acts, and blow ponderous rings. We discuss only earth-shaking topics, such as whether or not there really is a sun, or were we brought up with a heat- and light-emanating mirage. We smile stupidly at one another, drink coffee, and nod our heads in answer to nothing at all.

      While the world of fact drowns us, that of probability supplies an occasional bubble of life, and we plan (I use the world plan as an indication of my vocabulary weakness) to arrive gloriously in Laredo sometime toward the end of the week, Friday sounding as likely as any day I can call to mind at the moment. In these ensuing days I hope to work (there is another word) on something which has been on my mind (and another) for a couple of weeks, and since all of the deathless prose which I had expected to work on was purloined with the gay vestments of my formal existence, perhaps I shall be able to make a fresh start in the world of art.

      Living in a world of my own, I have no notion of the US mails. This is undoubtedly Sunday, because the steepled monstrosity across the street has been breathing a regular stream of Texan Catholics in and out of its gabled nostrils all day—and you may get this message near the middle of the week. And so I cannot say whether you will find me at the Rhodes Apartment Hotel by mail, for the moment that the auto is able to stand by itself it is in for a fast drumming south. I trust that you got my frantic wire, asking for a means of proving my identity (the only other thing I had was a Harvard Bursar’s card, in the stolen suitcase, which I suppose might not have got me a visa), and even that the birth certificate is now filed under general delivery at Laredo. The picture of $ still confounds me—it continues to leak in somewhere, and until it stops no appeals will be made. I do think, as I mentioned in another letter, that once in Mexico DF, with no job immediate, that I shall have to hold out an open and empty palm. Until then, here are the probable addresses—Wells Fargo, Monteray (you might check on what county of Mexico that’s in, and also make certain that they have an agency there), and then, in perhaps a couple of weeks, W—F—, Mexico D.F., Mexico.

      I hope, trust that everything is well, you, and the things around you. I shall think of NewYork tonight as I wash my socks and underpants, articles which have seen considerable service.

      My love,

      Bill

      Mike: Mike Gladstone (see headnote to 26 June 1952), who was staying at his sister’s apartment then.

      Noel Houston: an Oklahoma native (d. 1957), author of the novel The Great Promise (1946).

      Alice Adams: prominent fiction writer (1926–99), raised in Chapel Hill.

      The Strange Woman: 1946 film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, about a scheming woman’s affairs with three men.

      Jean Lafitte: a pirate who worked out of New Orleans in the early nineteenth century.

      William Beebe: American naturalist and deep-sea explorer (1877–1962).

      Sadie Thomson [...] Pago Pago: a prostitute in W. Somerset Maugham’s early story “Miss Thompson” (later retitled “Rain”), best known in its movie adaptations (Sadie Thompson, 1928; Rain, 1932). Sadie works the South Pacific island of Pago Pago, and “Wabash Blues” is a popular song from the early 1920s that she plays on her phonograph.

      To Edith Gaddis

      Houston, Texas

      [16 March 1947]

      Dear Mother—

      You, I know, have spent much time in lesser cities of the United States—but never let fate hold anything for you like Houston, Texas. It is really pretty ridiculous, pretty dull, pretty bad. But we are leaving tomorrow—Monday—having had quite a “rest”. I have written one story here, whose merits I find less each time I think of it, and at the moment have no idea of what to do with it. That, however, is hardly a major worry just now.

      To explain the wire—and many thanks for sending the 35—they require much identification here to cash a money order, and, since my wallet was in the stolen suitcase, I have absolutely none—living in constant fear of being picked up for vagrancy before we reach Laredo, since I do not look like a leading citizen in my present attire.

      Heaven knows, now, whether we shall make it or not—but we are again starting off. I only hope that the border will not present too many foolish difficulties, since one look will convince any official that we are not young American tourists with untold financial resources—but once across the border I shall feel much better about all sorts of things, including the hopeful sproutings of a mustache, which at the moment is as unedifying as it is rigorous in its growth.

      Love—Bill

      wire: on 15 March WG wired a Western Union cable that reads: “VAGUE INSANITY PREVAILS. 35 DOLLARS WOULD SUSTAIN THIS HOUSTON IDYLL. SEN[D] TO ROBERT DAVISON CARE OF WESTERN UNION HOUSTON EXPLANATION FOLLOWS MY BEST INTENTIONED LOVE= BILL”

      To Edith Gaddis

      Hotel Casa Blanca

      Mexico City

      [7 April 1947]

      Dear Mother—

      Well—Finally Wells-Fargo opened—Mexico, you see, has been enjoying a four-day holiday for Santo Semana—Thursday through Sunday, everything closed. And so we have been living on about 2 pesos a day—borrowed, and now repaid as is our hotel bill.

      Will I continue to disappoint you, cause you wonder? Because no big long talks with an American magazine editor here who gives the same story as all—no money to Americans in Mexico, unless they are “in on something.” The Mexico City Herald finally told me to come back in 2 or 3 weeks—and I finally understood that the best I could do there was about 10 pesos a day, for 8 hrs. proofreading.

      But do not be disappointed immediately—for here is something heartening I hope. I have been working very hard. Many days. On a novel. It is something I have had in mind for about a year—had done some on it in fact, and the notes were stolen in New Orleans. But now I am on it, and like it, and believe it may have a chance. Right now the title is Blague, French for “kidding” as it were. But it is really no kidding. Silly for me to write about it here, though it is practically the only thing I think about. Now: Davison’s father is attorney for Little Brown & Co., the Boston publishers. And so I can be assured that if I can do it to my satisfaction, it will be read and if anyone will publish it, it will stand best chance there, since he has some “influence.” The really momentary problem is whether to do the first part, and an outline (which I have done) and try to get an advance—or to finish it now if I can.

      What we hope to do—is sell the car, buy some minor equippage, including two horses, and set out and live in the less populous area of Mexico. And there I hope to finish this thing, while Davison lives outdoor life which he seems to desire, and I am not averse to as you know.

      Could you then do this?: Send, as soon as it is conveniently possible, to me at Wells-Fargo:

      My high-heeled black boots.

      My spurs.

      a pair of “levis”—those blue denim pants, if you can find a whole pair

      the good machete, with bone handle and wide blade—and scabbard—if

      this doesn’t distend package too much.

      Bible, and paper-bound Great Pyramid book from H—Street.

      those two rather worn gabardine shirts, maroon and green.

      Incidentally I hope you got my watch pawn ticket, so that won’t be lost.

      PS My mustache is so white and successful I am starting a beard.