Nov. 21/06
Thomas W. Lawson Esq.
Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir,
I take it for granted that you want to know how the “Public” is going to take to your latest writing “fiction” and how are you to know unless your unknown friends write you?
I have read every thing you have ever written because I believe in you and admire the work you have done and are doing and allow me to say that I finaly believe that you will one day be recognized as one of the greatest story writers of the age. The first section of “Friday the Thirteenth” has convinced me that you will be a sure winner.
Yours very truly,
L. Guy Dennett
Angola Tulare Co. Cal.
Dec. 29, 1906
W. T. Lawson,
Dear Sir,
I wanted to thank you for the first number of “Friday the 13th”, but did not know your address. “Everybody’s” contains some letters written you to Boston so hope this may reach its destination.
I live in the wildest of the wooley west + such a god send as in “Everybody’s” (sent me by a sister in Oakland Cal.) + containing the first number of your story, words inadequately suffices. Friday the 13th made an impression on me which I could not easily shake off if I would. I was so sorry it ended where it did that I wanted to cry out + could hardly wait for the Jan. number. Yesterday I bought one in Hanford Cal. rode 30 miles north to get it. I live a mile from the recently filled in basin of old Tulare Lake. The snowfall on the mountains argue that our part of the Wild + Wooley may soon be a fishing station instead of an alfalfa ranch.
Perhaps you don’t understand how much your story is appreciated.
You are Bob Brownley, I know. Can you really feel what you write as you make us do? Your characters appeal to me so that I live with them, every nerve alert to the straining point (but with pleasure). You are certianly the idol of the American people. I’ve heard you discussed by rich + poor, monopolist + antimonopolist during the publication of “Frenzied Finance” + the worst a monopolist could say was that you were as bad as the Standard Oil, but wanted to get even. “What is that but a virtue,” exclaimed I. “Couldn’t he have made millions by staying in, but he recognized his past failings and exposed them S.O. to uphold a nation. May honor attend him. Isn’t that being a man and a gentleman?”
People read “Frenzied Finance” to a man + would loan the magazine one to another so those who felt the 15¢ impossible could get the good of your revelations.
I’m glad you believe in sentiment—the heart-lasting sentiment (instead of dollars and desire) which I feared was becoming a thing of the past; There are still splendid men in America. God bless them.
O happy New Year may the weight of your pen sway millions. Amen.
Respectfully,
Louise D. Tennent
See 14 Kings
Angola P.O.
Ca.