Nella Fontaine Binckley to Cousin Robbie, December 21, 1937

From Washington Evening Star, February 1, 1920

[Nella Fontaine Binckley at Washington, D.C., to Robert Morton Hughes at Norfolk, Virginia, December 21, 1937, Box 1, Folder 8: Nellie Brinkley [i.e. Nella Fontaine Binckley], 1927-1937, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription.]

3220 N Street n.w.

Dec. 21st 1937

Dear Cousin Robbie:--

Your letter of last Spring came when I was ill, & unable to answer. After over a month in bed, I managed strength enough to get to the country. I can always get well out of doors. But after a month there, when I had greatly improved, they tore up the nearest street -- the only way anyone could drive in -- & I had a terrible time for the next two months. Weather very hot, & for the whole month of August I had no ice! The ice man couldn't get there. 

The summer was a nightmare. And I couldn't get back to the city to live, as the van could not move my things. I did get in Oct. 1st.

I have a lovely apartment in an old mansion in Georgetown, which has been remodeled into apartments. But it was still full of workmen when I moved, & workmen underfoot in my apartment till a few weeks ago, when I said I'd rather do without the last things than be bothered with them any longer.

Only recently have I been able to finish unpacking & get straightened out. So you see why I have not written before.

It was very kind of you to send me the clipping about Uncle Joe. It interested me intensely.

As it is so many years since we have met, I thought I'd send you & Cousin Mattie my latest photographs, taken three or four years ago. It was a costume I designed & made myself for one of the Arts Club balls. It represents the waves. You remember when a wave runs upon the beach the white foam makes a ruffle edge, & bits of green water sprouts through, here & there. It was of green like the samples I enclose. The bolero jackets was of the blue. The veil was a white & silver Egyptian scarf I have.

Merry Christmas to you both, from Nellie

[Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (September 1, 1860- April 27, 1951; she was not born in 1877 as she successfully hoaxed some time after returning from the West Coast to the East Coast in the early 1900s)
Cousin Robbie = Robert Morton Hughes, Sr. (1855-1940)
Uncle Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Mattie = Martha Louisiana Smith Hughes (1853-1944)]

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scan of the original letter, and in turn thanks to Mr. Mel Frizzell, Special Collections Specialist.