184. Wright, Frank Lloyd . Autograph Letter Signed "Father" to his daughter Catherine discussing the influence of Mamah Borthwick on their relationship. 8vo. 5 pages written on the recto only, includes original envelope; light wear, margin stain, creased at folds.

Chicago, October 12, 1914 [3000/5000]

Dear Catherine,I have read your note through carefully. It may be that your fears are no more than natural - but your estimate of your father's character is rather poor.Perhaps he was that sort of man where you saw more of him but he certainly isn't that sort now.He knows you pretty well - what your faults are and your good points and it is not likely that anyone could prejudice me against my own children were they ever so determined to do so - and in this case you wholly misunderstand the feelings of Mrs. Borthwick toward you all.Naturally, she feels that she is in a way keeping my children away from me and it is a sorrow to her I am sure - just as it was to me to feel that I in the same way was keeping her children from her. She has her children now and I am greatly relieved in spirit and I know she would be happy to have you children with me whenever you cared to come and your friends too.What you say about the gossip from the West I exaggerated myself - and what was said was not said in any objectionable spirit - I hope you will forget it entirely. I was the one who rendered it objectionable.I feel that your relationship to me faces no danger from any influence outside yourselves or myself. You would be treated always on your merits with my feeling leaning your way if anything, especially if I saw you endeavoring to do your best. Llewellyn is a difficult child in many ways I know and his mother's sorrow has turned him inward too soon - He would have to be gently and patiently treated - with every consideration but he is well worth it and finds me here in the studio occasionally - when his mother can spare him for a few days at a time he would get a valuable influence. The lady who would be your hostess here would be as helpful and considerate as any woman in the world could be to the extent that you would let her be so. My feeling is that it would broaden the lives of all of you give you more points of contact - an outlet that would make life in Oak Park smoother and your mother's life easier in some ways - it might be harder for her at first but she would soon see that your visits to me strengthened her with you and let out some of the pent up feelings that make turmoil there.Really there is no enemy of our relation as father and children here, If there were I should consider my situation here an unworthy one -In time I hope your mother will feel this too with all her heart and be glad to have you come.Until she does feel willing to try it out on its merits - I do not want you to come for your first duty and consideration is rightfully hers. It always should be and so far as I am concerned it will be - So long as Mrs. Borthwick and I live this is our home but I hoped when I built it that it would be a kind of recreation ground for my children and for hers - When I am gone this place is yours - a country home and farm for my children. The little Cheney children's father provides for them. He insists upon paying their board here even - and Mrs. Borthwick pays her sister as well which seems to me unnecessary, as a matter of course. I hope they will not feel that way about it in time.There is more than one possible basis for parents and children to get good from one another. the regular basis in our case has been lost - let us see if we can't set up one that, this calling for more restraint, more circumspection and consideration - has yet fine qualities - and that is worth something in the development of human beings a little broader and stronger and kinder than the average. There are enough of you to go around - so that at no time need your mother be lonely - and what you would bring to her in wider experience would compensate her for your absence occasionally and you might gain a perspective that would enable you to enrich her life in more ways that is possible to you now.Llewellyn especially worries me. He seems to be retiring within himself- sort of closing up in sadness - His eyes seem to be worse - I wonder if one can not be made straight - the lid or whatever it is? His trips to and forwith me would help in a way to open him up again if tactfully managed.Francis could harum scarum up here to her hearts content and go back to study with the fag [?] off her mind.Davy might come up for Friday nights - dancing party at Hillside - Horseback and toboggin and skating Saturday and Sunday and back Monday at 1:30 p.m.Yesterday little James fell from the top of a willow tree about 40 feet high - broke his leg on the way down - a compound fracture above the knee - and landed on his head - the broken leg saved his life I guess- this not apropos of your good times here but I thought of the Porters at the moment and this is uppermost in that connection just now. We got him off to Madison this morning to the hospital to make sure he comes through right.A willow tree is bad climbing, so brittle! There will be skating and boating and swimming in summer - and fruit to pick always plenty of work you can be sure - and your trips could be made profitable by the trunks full of fruits and vegetables and butter and cheese and fresh eggs you could take back with you every time. I have a good many people to feed and I am making this place a base of supplies from which I can not be cut off - to feed them from.It is not just a "fancy outfit" you know!I must get to work -With love from yourFather"