In the letter below, F. Scott Fitzgerald writes drunkenly to fellow writer John Peale Bishop, who he had known their college days at Princeton. Fitzgerald outlines a “new work, a historical play based on the life of Woodrow Wilson.”
TO: John Peale Bishop
Late March 1925
I am quite drunk
I am told that this is Capri, though
as I remember Capri was quieter
Dear John:
As the literary wits might say, your letter received and contents quoted. Let us have more of the same-I think it showed a great deal of power and the last scene—the dinner at the young Bishops—was handled with admirable restraint I am glad that at last Americans are producing letters of their own. The climax was wonderful and the exquisite irony of the “sincerely yours’ has only been equaled in the work of those two masters Flaubert and Ferber.
Norman Douglas is not here now and anyway I have piles.
I will now have two copies of Wescotts “Apple”1 as in despair I ordered one—a regular orchard. I shall give one to Brooks, here whom I like. Do you know Brooks? He’s just a fellow here…
Excuse the delay. I have just been working on the envelope…
That was a caller. His name was Musselini, I think, and he says he is in politics here. And besides I have lost my pen so I will have to continue in pencil…It turned up—I was writing with it all the time and hadn’t noticed. That is because I am full of my new work, a historical play based on the life of Woodrow Wilson.
Act I. At Princeton
Woodrow seen teaching philosophy. Enter Pyne. Quarrel scene—Wilson refuses to recognize clubs. Enter woman with Bastard from Trenton. Pyne reenters with glee club and trustees. Noise outside, “We have won—Princeton 12 – Lafayette 3.” Cheers. Football team enter and group around Wilson. Old Nassau. Curtain.
Act II. Gubernatorial Mansion at Patterson
Wilson seen signing papers. Tasker Bliss and Marc Connelly come in with proposition to let bosses get control. “I have important papers to sign—and none of them legalize corruption.” Triangle Club begins to sing out side window. Enter woman with Bastard from Trenton. President continues to sign papers. Enter Mrs. Galt, John Grier Hibben, Al Jolsen, and Grantland Rice. Song “The call to Larger Duty.” Tableau. Coughdrop.
Act III. (optional)
The Battle front 1918.
Act IV.
The peace congress. Clemenceau, Wilson and Jolsen at table. The Bastard from Trenton now grown up but still a baby, in the uniform of the Prussian Guard is mewling and pewking in Wilson’s lap. Orlando is fucking Mrs. Galt in a corner. The junior prom committee comes in through the skylight. Clemenceau: “We want the Sarre.” Wilson: “No, Sarre, I won’t hear of it.” Laughter. Orlando grunts at a passing orgasm. Enter Marylyn Miller, Gilbert Seldes, and Irish Meusel. Tasker Bliss falls into the cuspidor…
Oh Christ! I’m sobering up! Write me the opinion you may be pleased to form of my chef d’oevre + others opinion. Please! I think it’s great but because it deals with much debauched materials, quick-deciders like Rascoe may mistake it for Chambers. To me it’s fascinating. I never get tired of it.
“Dodo” Benson is here. I think he is (or was) probably a fairy.
Zelda’s been sick in bed for five weeks, poor child, and is only now looking up. No news except I now get 2000 a story and they grow worse and worse and my ambition is to get where I need write no more but only novels. Is Lewis’ book any good? I imagine that mine is infinitely better—what else is well-reviewed this spring? Maybe my book is rotten but I don’t think so.
What are you writing? Please tell me something about your novel. And if I like the idea maybe I’ll make it into a short story for the Post to appear just before your novel and steal the thunder. Who’s going to do it? Bebé Daniels? She’s a wow!
How was Townsends first picture. Good reviews? What’s Alec doing? And Ludlow? And Bunny? Did you read Ernest Boyd’s account of what I might ironically call our “private” live in his “Portraits?” Did you like it? I rather did.
Scott
I am quite drunk again and enclose a postage stamp.