Chapter 9 America 2

del monte ranch custa, new mexico December 5, 1922 Dear mother-in-law: You see, we escaped again.It wasn't far to escape, though - only 25 kilometers.Now we live in a very original five room old log house on the ranch.Behind the house are the Rocky Mountains, pine forests and snow-capped peaks.Surrounded by numerous hills.There are pines, cedars, greasewoods and desert gray undergrowths.Below is a very vast desert, so large and flat that it looks like a dark lake.In the distance are mottled snow-covered mountains and the setting sun.In this way, you can imagine the scenery. Hawke's family lives 5 minutes away.Therefore, there is no family within 4 kilometers.Behind, there are no people 300 kilometers away.

This place is almost uninhabited, empty, and very beautiful. We felled a huge Los Angeles fir.We then cut the precious tree into pieces like prey. With us were two young Danes.They lived in three cottages nearby.Our nearest neighbor - Hawke is a 30-year-old young man.He has 150 domesticated wild animals and a young wife.He's kind but doesn't have much money. You want to know about Mabel Dodge, don't you?Born in Buffalo-on-Lake Erie, she was a childlike wealthy American banker.Aged 42, had three husbands - Evans (divorced), Dodge (divorced), and Stern (young Jewish painter born in Russia, divorced).Now there is a burly Indian named Tony.She has lived in Paris, Nice, Florence and other places in Europe for many years.She was famous in New York, but no one loved her.As a woman, she is very intelligent, a "cultural communicator" of character, happy to play the role of protector.She hated the white world, and turned from disgust to love Indians.She is very "tolerant" and hopes that she can be "kind", but she is extremely misconducted.She has the will to gain terrible power and wants to be a witch, but at the same time she kneels at the feet of Christ and wants to be Mary of Bethany.She is the white crow, the quacking bird that brings ill omens, the young buffalo.

All Americans yearn for power, for humble personal power, for the power to conquer others.They are all thugs. Germany, you listen.America is the biggest mob the world has ever seen in the past.They boast of strength, yet their nonsense is both democratic and vile. We're still "friends" with Mabel, Buster.Yet we do not allow the snake to wrap itself around our breasts.You know, all the people here have is money.Because all the people in the world wanted money, America got strong, got arrogant, got incredibly powerful.If someone says, "America, your money... go away... go away." Then America is doomed.

Monte Carlo Inn Uruguay Road, Mexico City April 27, 1923 Dear mother-in-law: We still travel in this land.We haven't made up our minds to go out yet.Tomorrow I leave Guadalajara for Lake Chapala.There is a breeze blowing directly from the Pacific Ocean.No one can think of going back to Europe.Everyone is so stupid.So stupid, and I don't know when it will be a head.In that German tragedy where everything is meaningless, with no direction, no ideal, and no spirit, you must be very depressed and lonely.Some are just money buffs and thick-skinned.Everyone is in danger, unable to do anything but evil.I am calm and I am unbiased.Indians are also aloof.Countless revolutions have been started and subsided, and they always remain the same.They don't have the same consciousness structure as ours, just like a pool of black water.Our filthy motorboats made a stench and a noise as we walked on them, but the water was just murky without any substantial change.

Send you £10 and Ayrs £5.I hope the money will be sent sooner.The steamer from Hamburg to America runs from Veracruz to Hamburg every month.Spring in Germany must be beautiful.If people hadn't been so stupid and wicked, I thought, what a joy it would be to go to Ebersteinburg at the time of the chestnut trees. Have you seen "The Captain's Doll"?You will definitely like it. wish you health D·H·L Zaragoza 4 Chapala, Jalisco Mexico May 31st, Corpus Christi Dear mother-in-law: You're thinking we'll never go back to Europe, are you?Not so. I've always wanted to write a novel in America.Although I haven't done a thing in the United States, I'm doing well in this land.10 chapters have been written.If God is willing, I think I can finish the first draft by the end of June.We will go back right away then.

We had to go through New York, because we had things to do, and the distance was short and cheap.However, New York in July is very hot.Everyone said it was unbearably hot.So we won't be there for more than two weeks.From there we went to England, and from England to Germany.It was almost September then.That's my favorite birth month. Today is Memorial Day and there are parades in the streets.However, the lovely birch branches I saw in Ebersteinburg two years ago are not here.People just go to church with palm sticks.Palms are not as beautiful as our trees.And the sun here is not as cheerful as our sun.It's always glowing and has a somewhat mechanical feel to it.

However, the exotics of Mexico are of particular interest.They were probably pure Indians.Dark as the natives of Theron, but stronger.In my opinion, these men have the strongest spines in the world.They are half civilized, half barbaric.If they could have a new faith, they might become a new, young, beautiful race.However, as Christians, they are not good at all. They are sad and hopeless in their hearts. They suddenly become bad and don't like to work.Nevertheless, they are kind, gentle, honest, very calm, and not greedy for money at all.And I think the best thing about them is that they don't care about possessions at all.In the United States, white people only pursue that.However, they are not slaves.They are not enthusiastic about sharing "human suffering" with us.

That way, you know where we are and what we're doing.To congratulate you on your birthday, we send you a beautiful blanket. goodbye D. H. Lawrence Seltzer Turn 5 West 50th Street New York City August 7, 1923 Dear mother-in-law: We are still in America.My soul does not want to go back to Europe.This is like Balam's donkey, which refuses to move a step forward.I won't go back, but Frieda will.Frieda sailed from New York to Southenddown, England on the "Obida" around the 18th. Arrived in London on the 25th and will go to Baden after staying there for two weeks.I am staying here, intending to go from California, where I have many friends, to Los Angeles.If the conditions there are good, Frieda will be able to come in October.I don't know why I don't go to England.As I pondered the matter, the insecure notion that it was better to stay here prevailed.Unless my feelings have changed.

I don't like New York - this one has no background, no reputation And stupid city.Although this place is green and quiet, I still like Mexico.My heart wants to go back as well as my feet and eyes.Yet my soul does not listen to that.goodbye. One day, the donkey will go back too. D·H·L 110 Heath Street Hampstead, London, N. W． 3. December 14, 1923 Dear mother-in-law: I am back again.Frieda is beautiful, but England is ugly.I'm like a wild animal in a cage.It was very dark and gloomy here, and it was rare to be able to breathe freely.However, people are nice.Frieda borrowed a comfortable apartment, but I paced up and down like a trapped jackal, unable to rest.

We're going to Paris at the end of the month and then to Baden. Hear my growl? D·H·L Paris Versailles Inn Boulevard, 60 Montparnasse Friday Dearest Maiden: We are sitting on the bed now and have had coffee.The hour hand pointed at 8:30.You can see pedestrians and vehicles walking on the street facing the sun.On the balcony of the opposite building, the old man and the old woman were shaking the quilt, trying to clean it.Paris is Paris after all. We went to the Palace of Versailles yesterday.What a stupid place.Very large, empty, too big for a landscape.No, that big size is not naturally big, but a frog that puffed up its body trying to make itself bigger.Of course, the frog was burst!So is the Sun King, he is a very artificial light.Frieda saw Marie Antoinette's "Little Trianon" and was very disappointed.This is the doll's palace, the Swiss village of the dolls seen on the stage.Poor Marie Antoinette, she wanted so much to be plain, she dressed up as a country girl.In the end, she lost her head because of her simplicity.

Over the Grand Canal, among the well-combed woods that stand like beautifully parted hair, only a few people are writing life steadily, calmly, and without much interest.Yet those trees are great.Humans are stupid.Of course, the frog cracked. Frieda bought two hats and was very proud. Tomorrow we go to Chatelet to visit the church.That was our last tour. Go to London on Saturday. Mother-in-law, now you know all our activities.And be able to travel with us.Such is life.Although we are apart, we can walk together.Although you are old, you can go anywhere. goodbye ma'am D·H·L del monte ranch custa, new mexico June 28, 1924 Dearest mother-in-law: There is no communication for a long time.There are so many things to do here that I don't feel much like writing.Do not know why.I find talking or speaking upsetting.We can know a lot without saying anything.I know you and you know me.So there is no need to talk too much on paper. As you know, Frieda is most proud of her horse Azir at the ranch.It's like a man has two wives--my horse Poppy is very honest and handsome, with a sorrel mane, and quick.Besides, old Basie was Bright's horse.Bessie was also red-haired or sorrel. We used to cross the Lovo River through the woods at dusk to Del Monte, which was only three and a half kilometers away.Mind you, it's called Lobo, which means "wolf" in Spanish. Frieda kept talking to Azir, "Hey, Azir, you're a good boy. Aren't you! Azir, hurry up! Hey! Are you scared? How stupid! It's not a big rock Is it? It's a big white rock. What's so scary about it?" That's how she kept talking to the horse.That's why she was a little scared. There is often something to do here.I wrote two stories.Right now we are doing roof repairs on the little porch in front of the kitchen.We boarded up eight small pine posts, which were lovely.It's basically fixed.You know, we also built Indian style kilns out of adobe.It looks like a beehive and stands not far from the kitchen. Last week Francesca, the Indian maid of Del Monte, came.We kiln baked bread, roasted chicken and it was delicious.It can bake 20 loaves in half an hour. There are also Indian tents and beds 5 minutes walk from here.Frieda and I slept there, right on the hill, under the watchful eye of the big low twinkling stars.Early in the morning a beautiful gray squirrel climbed up a pine tree and scolded us.Besides no one.Below is the great desert stretching to the west.We don't go to Taos much.Mabel doesn't come often either.We live our own lives.Bright is a little simple, but she likes to help others like an adult.Ayers wrote that Friedel was coming to America.He may come here.I think Els might come too.Because she likes America.This is good.However, life in America is empty and stupid.Hollower and stupider than being with us.I'm talking about city and country life, however, here only trees, mountains, squirrels, deserts can exist, can get wild, untamed, cruel, proud, beautiful and sometimes demonic from the air something.This is real America.But this is not white America. It's your birthday again.You are the aging Princess Valkyrie.You ride your spiritual horse to the top year after year, always aiming for the future.Send a check.How pleasant it would be to bless your health with a delicious Sesaire at your side.There is not a drop of wine here, so you can't shout "I wish you health" among the pines.We'll be able to toast next year on your birthday though. goodbye D·H·L and Forgot to mention, we have two puppies.They were children of little Bibble--our Peeps.They were 6 weeks old and named Roland and Oliver.They are lively, small, and round, with their front paws raised like Chinese lions. Santa Fe August 14, 1924 (to Els) We are traveling the Hopi area with Mabel Luhan.The further you go down the hotter the weather. There's a letter from Curtis Brown saying he's talking to you about The Boy in the Woods.Good luck.It's a pity Baltimore is so far away. D·H·L del monte ranch custa, new mexico October 26, 1924 Dear mother-in-law: Happily we are home again.Whoever spends three days with many people is enough.That's enough.However, we are scheduled to travel next week and spend a few days in Taos before heading to Mexico.Therefore, please have "British Consulate, Mavenita Madero 1, Mexico" forward the letter before we notify you of the new address. Bright went too.What else she could do, we don't know.However, she cannot be left here alone. I am very happy to go to Mexico.Do not know why.I want to travel south.It's getting cold here.Especially at night. The sun didn't show its face from behind the mountain until after 7:30, and it gradually warmed up as soon as it came out.The horses who have been suffering from the cold in the fields have the warmth of the sun.Usually the days are as hot as in July, however, today is cloudy. Send packages of blankets and paintings.They are sure to suit you.Send £10 for firewood.Be sure to be cheerful and warm. Everything needs to be packed here.Some nice things--silver, rugs, beds, pictures--was to be carted off to kind William and Rachel.Del Monte is owned by William's father Hawke.They have a big home, but they often go to California.Young William and Rachel lived in the same log cabin where we had lived two years earlier, making butter and tending the cows and chicks. Every evening we rode to William's for milk and mail.He always took letters out of the mailbox for us.Rachel and William will definitely do a good job of protecting our stuff.On Monday Marey the artisan came and fixed the windows.The horses are to stay here until the heavy snow falls in December.William, however, took them to Del Monte, two and a half kilometers away.They were fed alfalfa every day until we came back in the spring. I don't know how many days I will be staying in Mexico City yet.We are also going to Oaxaca in the south with the Meas and Zapotec Indians.It is warm in all seasons, and it can even be said to be hot in all seasons.I wanted to finish Feathered Serpent there. On the mountain, the leaves of poplar and cottonwood are golden yellow, and the leaves of oak are fiery red, which is very beautiful.Pine and fir trees are almost black.This is a happy moment, a beautiful moment.It doesn't last long, though. Goodbye, mother-in-law.The worst winter for the elderly lady came again. D·H·L (Letter from my mother to Lawrence) Baden Sunday, November 9, 1924 Dear Fritzel: Els' figure disappeared into the beautiful winter sun, and I sat alone in a lonely and cold room.I was like that when the handywoman came yesterday.How happy I am today, received the check and package.I ran towards the station as if possessed.For me, the packages were a little too heavy, and the servants took them back.What came out of it!I was so moved, I felt so happy, I sat there sighing and watching.Your drawings are so good!What a ranch!It seems that the stone is talking!I see why you like being there.I get it all - you gave me true happiness!I figured, if possible, I'd pack up and check it out.I really thought about it, if only I were younger.How nice that horse and lovely tree!Looks like winter is a bit on the colder side though - the lovely scent of vividly colored flowers hits your nostrils.I was so full of joy that I called several ladies.Everyone was astonished and sighed with me.What a great thing - the blanket was exactly what I was looking for.I spread small pieces of novelty throws over the wicker chairs.My room is completely Mexican style!For the two paintings, I asked someone to frame them immediately and hang them in a conspicuous place.I've seen how much you love those pretty trees! Els wants tablecloths for Christmas, and this package has them all.I can't get enough of looking at the tablecloth spread flat on the table in front of me all day long.How much love is contained in the package!I express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.Your concern for your elderly mother may shine brightly in your own lives.I'm waiting for Els to come back.The child must have stared wide-eyed. I hope you all have a real pleasure wherever you are and hope to hear good news about the horses and the ranch.It took five weeks for the packages to arrive, but they were all received safely.I hope you will receive this letter from me in Mexico.I really don't know how to thank you all.I haven't been this happy in a long time. Good luck and take care Sincerely, your happy mother del monte ranch custa, new mexico April 15, 1925 Dear mother-in-law: Received two letters today.Knowing that you went to Mercuia, you are younger than me. We arrived at this ranch a week ago.When I came, I saw that everything was fine, it was safe, and there was nothing broken.However, the mice found Mabel's chair and bit the wool upholstery into a mess. Next door lived a young Indian couple named Trinidad and Rufina.Rufina was short and stout in tall white Indian boots and waddled like a duck when she walked.Trinidad wore her hair in two braids like a woman.Both of them have good temperaments, no matter what we ask them to do, they will give up their work and do it for us.We had three more horses who were at Hoke's before the clover and the grass got taller. It was cold for three days in a row.Wind is like water.I have another cold, but today the weather has turned warmer, with a warm, beautiful spring breeze in the air.The earth was exposed from under the thick snow, as beautiful as if it had been washed with water.Anemones sprouted first.They are like crocuses, but they are bigger and more spiritual, and they emerge from the red-brown soil under the pine forest, showing their slender figures.However, it is still dry and bare on the whole, and the grass is only quietly sprouting, and there is no more growth.We look forward to some more rain or snow. Brett lived alone in a small house near the old Hawker's house in Del Monte.She thought of coming this way, but Frieda disagreed.So, the only people on this farm are us two whites and two reds - tawnys to be precise.Trinidad brought milk and cream and eggs from Del Monte.I am basking in the sun.Frieda looks happy to have arrived at her ranch.Friedel will be coming in May.He seems to be working hard here, returning home at the end of the summer. We also want to go to England and Germany in September.However, everything must be arranged by "God".I bought a carriage for one person.Trinidad drives.I didn't do anything this year.Very sick and uncomfortable.Mabel was still in New York, but Tony was here on Friday. Tomorrow, Frieda will drive to Taos.It's warm, cozy and has everything you need. It's good to have lots of friends.Send a small amount of pocket money. goodbye D·H·L On board the "Rezoliut" September 25, 1925 My dear mother-in-law: Today is the second day after boarding the boat. The blue waves are vast, the sea breeze is fresh and refreshing.It is a great pleasure to leave America even for a short time.In 5 more days I will be in the UK.I want to borrow a house by the sea temporarily.That way, Frieda could live with the children.Then I went to see my sisters, and I had to see their new house.Then we have to get to Baden-Baden before winter comes. I don't consider myself a fully American.No, I'm still European.It seems that I haven't heard from you for a long time.I hope the autumn is clear and crisp.New York is very sweltering, terribly hot. Get me some delicious Schwarzwerth apples, a glass of Kirschwartha, and five or six leaves.Call some old ladies who call me "Doctor" even though I don't have that title.Call my skirt-wearing cousin and get ready for Tift Kenny Kinkanman's anniversary.The prodigal son came home. goodbye! D·H·L