Here, Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the popular yet deeply colonialist Tarzan books, writes Herbert T. Weston, his close friend and business partner. Burroughs was living in Hawaii at the time, and was adjusting to the social dynamics of the islands. On December 7, 1941, Burroughs would bear witness to the Pearl Harbor bombings, and would later become a war correspondent. “Willkie” refers to Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate in the 1940 presidential election.
1298 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu TH
January 27 1941
Dear Bert:
Florence’s four generations were together at dinner in our home in Beverly Hills in 1935; so we beat the Kilpatricks to it by five years.
The Badwins are one of the Big Shot families of the Islands. I think that I have been introduced to some off them, but I do not know any of them well. They live on the island of Maui, and are not too popular over here, I understand. There is almost a blood feud between the Oahu Dillinghams and the Maui Baldwins. They meet every year on the polo field, and once there was some dirty work that started the feud. I don’t know anything about the details. I understand that the Baldwins are extremely arrogant and overbearing; but, again, I know nothing about it; and, of course, I get the Dillingham angle on this island. I shall be very glad now to meet Mr. Baldwin, since he was an old buddy of yours.
Glad to hear that you got something back from the Infernal Revenue Collector. More power to you. It is too bad that they have made us feel so bitter about taxes. I think every one is glad to pay fair taxes decently computed and collected, but the way it has been handled often comes damn near making a fellow hate his government. Al Capone was a tender philanthropist compared with the New Deal government.
Speaking of Willkie: I think he has pulled a very bright rabbit out of his hat by going to England. England’s fear of him helped defeat him, I am sure. They are bound to like him, especially Churchill; and in 1940 that may help him a lot. And “There will always be England.”
What do you think of your old friend Mussolini now? He has been the one bright spot in my life during the past several weeks. Every morning I grab the paper to see what the Greeks or the English did to him the day before, and wait hopefully for what the Italians are going to do to him tomorrow. Do you read Westbrook Pegler? If you don’t, you should. How he has escaped assassination, I don’t know. He certainly has guts.
Glad you all had such a swell time in Pasadena. I listened to the game and rooted for Nebraska. I really thought that they would win. Stanford must have played inspired foot ball.
Best to you all!!!
Ed
From Brother Men: The Correspondence of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Herbert T. Weston. Burroughs, Edgar Rice, Matt Cohen, and Herbert T. Weston. Durham: Duke University Press, 2005.