This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
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P.S. When Uncle Ed sends you please tell me every time as I’m to keep track of it.

Keams Canon, Arizona
Jan 10, 1898 [dated /97]

My own true loving little wife,

Received a letter from you today & glad to hear from you. I send to you in this envelope the part of my story I am writing that is the first writing, and lots I have left out, I am rewriting it and as fast as I rewrite it I will send the first writing to you to put away. I have more letters to answer since I have been painting Indians, from magazines, etc., that I am getting told(?) that(?) the people make so much fuss over the Indians I have painted. Don’t know what they will do when they see these Moqui pictures, as they beat (2) everything I have ever done and the most saleable of any picture I ever painted.

I am working on my 21st picture now of another fellow in the Snake Dance, with the queerest costume on. The beauty with these Moqui costumes is that they are absolutely devoid of anything a white man wears. This fellow I am painting now has an entirely different costume with an animal skin tied around him, and he holds in one hand a big thing to represent clouds and in other hand a thing he makes a noise with like wind & thunder. These Moqui are the most interesting people I ever read of or heard of.

I don’t know when will get (3) away from here, not for 2 more months, probably. The climate and altitude don’t affect me like it did. You must not worry about me being alone so much with these Moqui, dear, as they are the most harmless people in the world. They are more harmless than so many kittens, as kittens will scratch and they won’t.

Thurber writes me that they sold a great number of my Indian photographs before Xmas.

Yesterday the German and I went rabbit hunting and didn’t get any.

Enclosed I send you some of the duplicate little photos from your mother.

No, I don’t live on canned goods, we live nice, have lots of eggs to eat and nice canned fruit in glass jars.

Think at my (4) next exhibit I will have 100 pictures worth $18,000, and you see if I don’t sell two thirds of them. So many people are wanting to see them and want first choice at them.

Did you get the Art Amateur, my dear? If they don’t have it in Rockford, send to Art Amateur, New York, 23 Union Square, for it - enclose 40 cents. The editor of Art Amateur wrote me a fine letter. He said I would make a big name, and wants me to correspond with them. I guess I will have to hire someone to attend to the correspondance.

Well, I must close. Goodnight Darling. Your own true loving husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge