Letter from Beatrix Farrand to Mildred Bliss, September 28, 1937 Digital

Unsigned copy of typescript letter from Beatrix Farrand telling Mildred Bliss that a night letter was sent yesterday asking about necessary thinning and transplanting of the [Dumbarton Oaks] Green Garden vinca and that [William] Gray [garden Superintendent] will be relieved to have your answer. She reviewed all the summer work with [John W.] Davis and [William] Gray, who she says the latter is doing extrordinarily well even though he had a couple of pain warnings after overexerting himself. She has several suggestions for the finalities which she will discuss with Mildred Bliss; the Green Garden lantern; The Music Room wall; The lamp for the garage; The Forsythia arch; The front door tablets with Mrs. Sessions; and millions of other things. She states the Corona and Chaucer inscriptions are first rate and the constallations are placed but await your return as to the exact placing of the lettering.

The air conditioning of the [house] basement is ordered and the firm promised to have it installed before Mildred Bliss gets home. The bases for the terra cotta urns outside the Orangery are ordered costing $50 each. The paint samples are to be on the glass on the music room lanterns for her inspection when she returns. Beatrix Farrand reports the blue water lilies were blooming in the Swimming pool [fountain] pool and pink and white fuschsias bolster up the north arcade of the loggia. Gray was given instructions to take out the poor dogwoods on Crabapple Hill.

Elisina [Tyler] has been left as the residuary legatee both in France and here [United States][for Edith Wharton's estate]. The furniture of the Pavillon Colombe has been sold to the new purchaser, who is Mr. Arthur Sachs, brother of Paul Sachs of the Fogg Museum. Elisina Tyler disposed of several objects with sentimental value to Beatrix Farrand and Beatrix will write the new owner directly to see whether or not she can get them. Beatrix Farrand is going to try to buy two lovely Odilom Redons flower pictures which used to hang in the library at the Pavilion Colombe. Elisina Tyler is offering them to her for sixteen thousand francs ($460 and $475). Beatrix is probably going to take them both, but offers one of them to Mildred Bliss. She expects it will be impossible to get something other than the nature of a paper cutter or some trifle which perhaps she can buy from St. Clair. Beatrix Farrand likely dictated letter and her typist signed original letter on her behalf.