Wiki source for JeanneToOllieLetter-1877-02-01
1 February, 1887
Hello Ollie. Thank you for the letter, and so quickly! I picked it up today from the Stockton’s acquaintance that I mentioned before. Please note my new address in the postmark now. They were kind to allow me to stay with them upon first arriving, but I feel that I need to make my own way. Much of this leave-taking was to start fresh, and so though I am sure I will see them again upon occasion, I do not plan to seek them out.
The boardinghouse is nice enough. A German woman runs it, and it is plain but clean. The guests at present seem mostly interested in their own affairs, which suits me. I spend most of my time outside, with my camera, though home life is more lonely than I am used to.
As for work, the most notable thing is that yes, I have been published! It was a strange circumstance; you will remember the snakes I wrote about from my first morning? Well, I had my camera on me at the time of the incident, and took some photographs (how could I have not?). The city is still aflutter about what happened, and I sold one of my pictures to a small local paper who was running a story. I have enclosed a clip. Please do show the others!
I have done some outdoor portraits for people of means passing through, but I am most interested in the regular life on the street here, and that same small paper has proposed to give me a try. I am making photographs of the vendor on the street selling food or wares, or the musician entreating crowds with his melody. It will be good work if they will in fact buy it, and I hope it can continue. I am learning a lot about the town and this trade.
Now that I am settled, you could still come join me. But if not, I will be back. After all, you are there, and I promised. How is it at St. James, with so many less in such a short time? Is everyone keeping spirits up? It feels strange to be on this adventure without you. And yet I feel that I had to leave to find myself again. I needed to find my wolf, you know?
Take care of yourself. Please write again when you can, and only say the word if you need me.
Jeanne
NeedsJonah
Hello Ollie. Thank you for the letter, and so quickly! I picked it up today from the Stockton’s acquaintance that I mentioned before. Please note my new address in the postmark now. They were kind to allow me to stay with them upon first arriving, but I feel that I need to make my own way. Much of this leave-taking was to start fresh, and so though I am sure I will see them again upon occasion, I do not plan to seek them out.
The boardinghouse is nice enough. A German woman runs it, and it is plain but clean. The guests at present seem mostly interested in their own affairs, which suits me. I spend most of my time outside, with my camera, though home life is more lonely than I am used to.
As for work, the most notable thing is that yes, I have been published! It was a strange circumstance; you will remember the snakes I wrote about from my first morning? Well, I had my camera on me at the time of the incident, and took some photographs (how could I have not?). The city is still aflutter about what happened, and I sold one of my pictures to a small local paper who was running a story. I have enclosed a clip. Please do show the others!
I have done some outdoor portraits for people of means passing through, but I am most interested in the regular life on the street here, and that same small paper has proposed to give me a try. I am making photographs of the vendor on the street selling food or wares, or the musician entreating crowds with his melody. It will be good work if they will in fact buy it, and I hope it can continue. I am learning a lot about the town and this trade.
Now that I am settled, you could still come join me. But if not, I will be back. After all, you are there, and I promised. How is it at St. James, with so many less in such a short time? Is everyone keeping spirits up? It feels strange to be on this adventure without you. And yet I feel that I had to leave to find myself again. I needed to find my wolf, you know?
Take care of yourself. Please write again when you can, and only say the word if you need me.
Jeanne
NeedsJonah
