Crafting a Modern World

Kurt g. f. HelfriCH and WilliaM WHitaKer, editors

The Architectural Archives of The University of Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the University Art Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara

Princeton Architectural PressNew York

tHe arCHiteCture and design of antonin and noéMirayMond

Published byPrinceton Architectural Press37 East Seventh StreetNew York, New York 10003

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© 2006 Princeton Architectural PressAll rights reservedPrinted and bound in China.09 08 07 06 5 4 3 2 1 First edition

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher, except in the context of reviews.

Every reasonable attempt has been made to identify owners of copyright. Errors or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Editor: Nancy Eklund LaterProduction Editor: Lauren NelsonDesigners: Min Lew and Manuel MirandaProofreader: Christine Simony

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Crafting a Modern World: tHe arCHiteCture and design of antonin and noéMi rayMond

The exhibition and book were made possible through a generous grant from the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative, a program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, and administered by the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Additional support for this publication was provided by the Challenge Fund.

Special thanks to: Nettie Aljian, Dorothy Ball, Nicola Bednarek, Janet Behning, Becca Casbon, Penny (Yuen Pik) Chu, Russell Fernandez, Pete Fitzpatrick, Jan Haux, Clare Jacobson, John King, Mark Lamster, Linda Lee, Katharine Myers, Scott Tennent, Jennifer Thompson, Paul Wagner, Joseph Weston, and Deb Wood of Princeton Architectural Press —Kevin C. Lippert, publisher

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:Crafting a modern world : the architecture and design of Antonin and Noémi Raymond /

Kurt G. F. Helfrich and William Whitaker, editors. p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN-13: 978-1-56898-583-1 (alk. paper)ISBN-10: 1-56898-583-5 (alk. paper)1. Raymond, Antonin, 1888- 2. Raymond, Noémi P. (Noémi Pernessin), b. 1889. 3. Architecture,Modern—20th century. 4. Design—History—20th century. I. Helfrich, Kurt Gerard Frederick. II. Whitaker, William.NA737.R33C73 2006720.92’2--dc22

2006008907

5

Contents

PrefaCe julia Moore Converse and ann berMingHaM

aCKnoWledgMents

foreWord: belated reCognitionKennetH fraMPton

introduCtion: redisCovering antonin and noéMi rayMondKurt g. f. HelfriCH, WitH Mari saKaMoto naKaHara

antonin rayMond and tHe Modern MoveMent: a CzeCH PersPeCtive CHristine vendredi-auzanneau

antonin rayMond in aMeriCa,1938–49Kurt g. f. HelfriCH

CHaraCters of ConCreteKen tadasHi osHiMa

Portfolio WilliaM WHitaKer, WitH Ken tadasHi osHiMa

CHronology of tHe rayMonds’ lives and CareersWilliaM WHitaKer

seleCted Writings by antonin and noéMi rayMond

seleCted CorresPondenCe ofantonin and noéMi rayMondanne lutun, editor

list of buildings and ProjeCts, 1917–73WilliaM WHitaKer

bibliograPHy

index

PHoto Credits

6

7

9

13

31

45

65

79

265

277

313

341

355

361

363

“Your letters fire mY soul”

selected correspondence of Antonin And noémirAYmondAnne lutun, editor

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The Raymond correspondence on deposit at the University of Pennsylvania Architectural Archives comprises over 1,250 letters, of which 372 were exchanged between Antonin Raymond and Noémi Pernessin Raymond, and 410, between Noémi and her immediate family (her mother Marie Karcher Brooks, her stepfather Frank Brooks, and her half-sister Jeannette Brooks).

The correspondence between Antonin and Noémi ranges from 1914 (the year of their marriage) to 1962, with the bulk covering the years 1923 to 1926 and 1948 to 1951. Those were the periods when the couple traveled separately, often spending months on different continents, as when Noémi visited her family in America in 1923 and 1926 while Antonin remained in Tokyo, and when Antonin spent extensive periods in Japan in the immediate postwar years while Noémi stayed at their farm and studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Whenever Antonin and Noémi were apart, they wrote to each other often—sometimes several times a day. As the title of this selection, taken from a February 23, 1924 letter from Noémi to Antonin, attests, the correspondence “fired” their souls. In letter after letter, the couple shared personal and professional aspirations, triumphs, and struggles. In addition to keeping each other informed of the progress of the design work in the office, they also related gossip about the people they met and family news. This selection contains information about specific jobs—in particular, the U.S. Embassy (1925–31), the Reinanzaka house (1924–26), and the Reader’s Digest Building (1948–51)—that is not available elsewhere. The chronology of those projects, and many others, was established with a greater degree of certainty thanks to this archive.

Because it spans a significant portion of the Raymonds’ careers, the correspondence also gives evidence of their evolving design philosophy, fueled by Noémi’s inclusive interest in spiritual matters. Most importantly, the letters constitute an invaluable resource for understanding the nature of Noémi and Antonin’s life and work partnership, especially the role played by Noémi in winning and keeping jobs, her involvement in the design and her influence in decisions, and her role in keeping Antonin focused and inspired.

The great majority of the letters that appear here have never been published before. This selection does not purport to provide a complete or exhaustive view of the Raymond correspondence. Many of the selected letters between Antonin and Noémi are not reproduced in their entirety; in particular, passages in which they discuss family matters and everyday activities that do not directly impact their design philosophy or practice have been removed. Such elisions are marked in the text by ellipses. In keeping with the general themes of this volume, this selection emphasizes Antonin and Noémi’s interest in craft and materials, and the collaborative nature of their partnership—both with each other and with other designers—as well as the international nature of their careers, which resulted in their incessant questioning of which place—Europe, America, or Japan—to call “home.”

A Note on the Transcriptions and Translations: The majority of the correspondence contained in the archive is written in English. Although English was neither Noémi’s nor Antonin’s native tongue, they both communicated quite effectively in their adopted language. For ease of reading, common spelling errors have been silently corrected. The syntax, however, has been left untouched, as Noémi’s Gallicisms and Antonin’s Germanic turns of phrase (“I was to the office,” instead of “I went to the office”) lend much flavor to their writing. The punctuation (particularly Antonin’s idiosyncratic, and highly effective, use of the dash) has been largely respected throughout; the occasional missing comma or period has been supplied where its absence would impair reading.

Some correspondence contained in the archive is in Czech, such as the letters sent to Antonin by his family, and some in French such as the letters exchanged between Noémi and her mother; and those addressed to Antonin from French architects. Two letters from Le Corbusier, dated 7 May 1935 and 7 January 1940, appear here translated from the French. A slightly different English translation of the first appears in Raymond’s Autobiography; the second letter has, to the editors’ knowledge, neither been translated nor published previously.

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Antonin to noémi (chicAgo, 24 nov 1919)

My beautiful Pushkine—

It is Monday night—I am alone and I feel like telling you about my experiences and impressions—as they are getting riper.

You know—and I don’t have to tell you—that I am not quite myself, when I am away from you—there is that lump in my throat always present. It is very difficult for me to leave you for any length of time, and keep normal.

Things turned out a little differently than I expected—but let me tell you everything right from the start.

At the N.I.D.1 in Washington they were very much interested in my offer and I spent several hours Friday afternoon getting acquainted with the Japanese situation. It was very interesting for me to see just the whole sentiment in those files—that raking up trouble—the looking for it—that hazarding lives of thousands and happinesses of whole nations—I am sure on both sides. It disgusted me and I do not think that I will contribute anything to help to stir some more trouble—to help this narrow-minded bunch—directed and enslaved by those who certainly are not in sympathy with me and my work.

I have seen the machine in Washington and I think—that something was revealed to me—that something changed. I realized—that I helped them during the war to eliminate the evil and help the truth—which just happened to coincide—their evil and truth not being my evil and truth—but both theirs and mine on one side.

It is not so now and I cannot work for them and be honest towards myself.I was in a queer mood when I returned to my hôtel and whole Washington

seemed ugly and repulsive to me. I was tired and I went to bed and slept late into the next morning. I did not go to N.I.D. any more and was very glad to sit in my train and speed towards Chicago.

Upon arrival I found out that there was no train on Sunday to get me to Taliesin and I was just going to look for a hôtel when the idea occurred to me, I might call up Wright at the places indicated in the telephone book. I did telephone to Oak Park first and surely—the wife of the draughtsman Schindler—whom Wright mentioned to us answered and told me—that her husband is waiting for me in the office and that Wright himself is coming to Chicago that night.2 I found the office and met Schindler in whom I immediately recognized the type of the Viennese idealist who used to surround Wagner.3

I saw the sketches for the theatre settlement and as there was nothing else to do—I started to make a new one—wanting to surprise Wright. As there was no other paper in the office but the porous Japanese paper I made a failure of it.

By that time it was about 2 o’clock and Schindler invited me to come to his home and have dinner with him and his wife at their house—which is the oldest house that Wright remodeled for himself when he started.

After an almost ¾ of an hour elevated railroad ride through miles of horrible little gray wood buildings we arrived and it was for the first time that I saw other buildings than Taliesin, designed by Wright. There are a half dozen of them in that street and I liked them almost better than Taliesin. They are well taken care of and preserved and it was a great pleasure to see them. Schindler’s wife is an American girl of great deal of intelligence and a remarkable intellectual knowledge and the time passed quickly in a quite interesting conversation as they both are very serious and thinking people.

I went back to meet Wright at the station. There he was and with him that feverish hammersledge activity. He was just coming from the funeral of the second of the aunts from Hillside, had a lot of stories to tell and to the hôtel we went and argued about theatre till midnight in our room.

Next morning—this morning—we had a haircut and a hurried breakfast—chased through an exhibition of American paintings and sculpture at the

In 1919, Frank Lloyd Wright—for whom both Antonin and Noémi had worked in 1916 at Taliesin—hired Antonin to work on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. A month before their departure, Antonin visited Wright in Chicago. In this letter, he shares with Noémi his impressions of the man and his works.

1 National Intelligence Division. Antonin had worked as a U.S. intelligence officer in Europe during World War I; apparently he briefly considered working for the U.S. government in Japan.

2 Rudolph M. Schindler (1887–1953), who had been associated with Viennese architect Otto Wagner (1841–1918), had left Austria for Chicago in 1914 and had been working for Frank Lloyd Wright since 1918. He started an independent practice in 1921. Antonin and Noémi meet the Schindlers again in Los Angeles in 1932 (see Noémi’s letter to her half-sister Jeannette Brooks, 2 Oct. 1932).

3 Otto Wagner (1841–1918). See note above.

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Institute, awful things—which he commented and I loathed—he came to see his late uncle’s bust in bronze—made by the Czech Poloshek—who was in Rome at the time I was there.4 It is not great but Wright was satisfied with the likeness.

Then we dashed to shoemakers, shirt makers, tailors, Wright spending big sums for brown suits, shirts, ties etc. among them a tremendous cape with a large fur hood etc. Dashed to the office and waited for Miss [Barnsley]—to talk over the theater.5

She came and I found her rather ordinary—but unlike her New York sisters. She surely is more American and real. She has an awful time to keep Wright down—under his hand the things grow and grow until she cannot pay for it—and poor woman—she surely does not know—what she originally wanted or not—he has her in his grip—she is trying to get out occasionally, but I think he nailed her this time.

She started to disagree with him about several things on the plans—she told him she must have what she needs and wants and can take care of—and she is ready to quit—if he does not give way.

He packed us into a taxi—drove us to Oak Park and Forest Park, showed us the Unity Church, the Coonley house6 and several others—talked about many things so well and impressed her so entirely—that when we returned in the evening to Chicago—she was full of admiration and with complete reverence to his genius, left it all to him. We had a Chinese dinner together at the Mandarin Inn and they went to the opera. He won.

I came home to write to you. The Unity church—Coonley house and all the houses—but especially the monolithic concrete church—made a deep impression on me and you must see them. They are more beautiful than I thought. The church certainly is the finest piece of modern architecture existing….

I know, Pushkine darling, I left a tremendous amount of work for you. I was so dazed—by that period of indecision. I am better—much better—and when you will be with me again—we will [be] perfectly well. I am glad I came—as I see it now, and hope it will look to me so in the future. Do not try to make money anymore. Better get things ready, give it all your time and get well equipped. I will send you money tomorrow—I think I will succeed to get it from Wright. Wright thinks—your idea to buy things for people and business houses—excellent and does not doubt you will make money.

I must stop now—I wrote a lot—will take a nice bath—think about my most beautiful love, my Pushkine, adored one and will try to sleep—to the tune of the cars in the street. My love to mother and everybody. I love you….

Antonin

frAnk lloYd Wright to Antonin rAYmond (tokYo, 5 JAn 1921)

My dear Antonin:

I find myself constrained to pay back to the Imperial Hotel Company the cost of transportation for yourself and wife from New York to Tokyo and the cost of food and lodging for you both for one year.

You leave your work half done. By any standard the net result of your work here for one year would be dear at the money paid you for it were that work completed.

As it stands your main effort is practically worthless except as a mere mechanical layout for someone to render.

I unintentionally swindled my clients when I brought you here—“all found” to do that work.

Now one thing that I did not make clear this afternoon, perhaps, and it is this—You have deserted your post under circumstances particularly

In January 1921, after a year under Wright’s employ at the Imperial Hotel, Antonin decided to strike out on his own. Wright’s reaction was unequivocal.

4 Antonin misspelled the name of Moravian-born sculptor Albin Polasek (1879–1965), who became a U.S. citizen in 1909. He won the Prix de Rome in 1910, the year Antonin went to Italy.

5 Antonin is misremembering the name of Wright’s client Aline Barnsdall, an independent-minded oil heiress with a keen interest in the arts, particularly the theater. She had met Wright in Chicago and hired him to design a residence and theatrical complex in Los Angeles, now known as the Hollyhock House (1914–1924).

6 Unity Temple, Oak Park (1905–08), and Avery Coonley House, Riverside (1907–1912).

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treacherous and for which under military rules a man would be stood up against a wall and shot.

You have done it you say because you have something of your own to say in Architecture and you feel your chance has come to say it.

What that something will be I have no means of knowing. To me you are an amateur with a half-baked knowledge of the work you would like to do—and thinks he can do.

I have no objection whatever to your trying to do it, but I object to having anything resembling my own individual work planted ad nauseam, ad libitum in Japan at this time by you or anybody else.

Especially is this true under the circumstances of your treachery to that work—a treachery you are not even high class enough to see for yourself.

So if what you “have to say” takes advantage of what I myself “have said,” to assert itself unpleasantly here flung back in my own face you will have cause to regret it in more than merely a financial way.

If you have anything honestly your own to say and say it, —I shall be the first to know it and congratulate you.

But after all, while these words are bitter and you deserve them, —I knew well enough what your temptations would be and blame only myself for trusting you again.

I am temporarily inconvenienced for the lack of the hand I brought to help me at this time, and I am out the money claimed by the Imperial Hotel Company for your travel and keep.

Nevertheless I, out of merely human sympathy, wish you success.But the matter will not rest there, I assure you, if you violate my confidence

by taking a deliberately mean and dishonest advantage of your association with my work by selling what you can of it for what you can get for it in Tokyo.

You know perfectly well how the issue might have proved otherwise and profitable to all concerned but the constraint it placed upon you for four months concerned only your honor—it did not free your “soul.”

Sincerely,

Frank Lloyd Wright

noémi to Antonin (illinois, 5 dec 1923)

My darling,

We were in Nebraska all night, in Iowa all morning and are now speeding it up toward Chicago. Iowa which is just south of Wisconsin made me think of the latter with the hills, the pink-leaved or naked oaks, the rusty pigs and cattle and horses enlivening the landscape. The great ploughed fields of chocolate earth, the fields of blond corn stalks. Here and there a snug white farm house with its group of red barns and outhouses and gold heaps of corn ears just gathered. Now again the same farms, but the country is absolutely flat, and all of the color of my old coat.

We have been getting off at all the wayside stations for a breath of air. The well-known figures are amusing to see. There was a station called Lost Nation, with three houses attached to it. I telegraphed mother from Marion—had to climb up to the second floor of the depot. The old fellow up there read the message, said 85 cents and in a jiffy I was down again, but as I happened to look back at the station I saw him at his window waving me a friendly farewell. The men move about in overalls and leather coats. The girls are Marcelle-waved silk-stockinged–fancy dressed. How do you suppose the women got the vote? However there is one in each house baking and washing dishes that’s got to be accounted for. She does not loiter about the station.

After leaving Wright, Antonin won a few important commissions that helped propel his practice forward. Then, on September 1, 1923, the Great Kantô Earthquake devastated Tokyo. Much affected by the events, Noémi decided to pay an extended visit to her family in New York, where she stayed from December 1923 to the beginning of April 1924. The correspondence from that period shows her actively involved in trying to secure the commission for the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In particular, she contacts government officials in Washington, D.C., and confers regularly with Harold van Buren Magonigle (1867–1935), a New York architect and Antonin’s former employer, with whom Antonin teamed up for this project. Before she arrives in New York, though, she relates her impressions of the American West, gathered from the train window.

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figure 1 Noémi to Antonin, Illinois, 5 Dec. 1923, featuring a Western landscape

Last night we had 10 minutes in one place called Fort Whack or some such thing. When we heard “all aboard” we dashed back to the train but the porters did not see me coming and gathered up their step and were jumping on themselves when I called “Wait a minute!” The train was moving but they got me by the hand and pulled me up. Then they roared with laughter because I had shouted “Wait a minute.” It has become the train joke and I don’t step off at any station without overhearing our porter tell the station conductor about it. We move under a leaden sky that harmonizes with the landscape.

We have passed a flock of sheep and some horses who shied and ran from the smoke of the train as it swept toward them—great sight....

You know the American farmers are not peasants. They are conquerors of the soil. This expresses itself in the way the houses are set upon the ground like a man setting his foot on the neck of a fallen enemy. The country being so flat you’d expect the houses to crouch and amble and hug the earth. But on the contrary they look like this.

In 20 minutes we shall be in Chicago. I am sending you our magazines—save the Century which has the article on Gandhi—lend it to Philippe.7 We are in the suburbs—horrible places.

I embrace you darling. Take good care of my Pushki. Write me about everything. Have you seen the Moores?8 Don’t forget to tell me all you want me to bring. Don’t lose touch of our Japanese acquaintances.

Ta Pushkine

Arrive in New York tomorrow 5:30

7 Philippe Saint-Hilaire, a French engineer, was one of Noémi’s best friends. He was very interested in spiritual matters.

8 The Moores were friends of the Raymonds.

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noémi to Antonin (neW York, 24 JAn 1924)

Mon chéri,

Now I am at New York University. I came back from Washington yesterday morning, and today, this morning I called upon Mr. Magonigle.

I figured out after my visit to Washington, that the only competitors thus far were contractors, and that amongst them was probably Fuller & Co. Of course in Washington I did what I could to make it plain that Japanese contractors were better than American ones in Japan—that you with your Japanese experience were better able to handle the job than anyone unaccustomed to the country, no matter how efficient as a contracting firm. Speaking to Magonigle about it he at once said that we ought to propose to the contractor $ to work with us. He is going to find out whether George Fuller would do it. He believes he could work it that way and weaken the competition. Mr. Magonigle expects to go to Washington himself. He will before hand try to make some definite plan of action.

On arriving in Washington… I went to the War Department Bldg. where Mr. McMurray is, and found out he could not see me until 11:00. Before that time I had time to go to the Senate Bldg. and thank Miss Wells for her activities.9 Found out Mr. Woods had gone to the Philippines.10

At 11:00 I was back again at McMurray’s and found in his secretary’s room one of the old embassy boys—Mowet—Showett—something like that. We talked over old times and he told me he had seen your plans, and that your work in Tokyo was very much appreciated anyway by the people connected

9 Mr. MacMurray and Miss Wells were probably government employees.

10 Cyrus E. Woods (1861–1938), U.S. Ambassador to Japan, 1923–24.

figure 2 Noémi to Antonin, Illinois, 5 Dec. 1923, featuring a Western landscape drawn in the Japanese style and vernacular buildings

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with the Far East. Meanwhile Hugh Wilson came in.11 We had a long chat, I told him what I had come for—and he suggested that I should talk with a man called Belin who was most up on it all. I saw him and from his remarks at once came to the conclusion that your enemy would be the contractors who offer their own architects.

I then went back to meet Mr. McMurray and did not prolong the interview as I felt I had got all I could from Belin, and thought the only thing I could do was to impress him with the quality of your work….

I took the night train to New York—thinking I would consult with Magonigle and go again if necessary.

Made my report to Magonigle which was as above. He does not seem to feel in any haste and I do not know whether it is due to wisdom on his part or to lack of interest. I must make out next time, altho I believe he could not coldheartedly see me all aflutter about the whole business and yet deceive me. He probably acts out of wisdom. I tried to see Fleisher12 and have finally made an appointment to see him tomorrow. He is always very busy about his own affairs specially since his wife has gone but is always willing and even desirous to talk over your business. I have wondered if I would not try to go to Washington one day when he goes. He is expecting to go week after next.

My difficulty in being a woman is not being able to meet these men socially—asking them to lunch or handing them a cigar, or breaking in on the formality some way. Maybe Fleisher could be induced to invite [me] to lunch with one or two of them. He’s assured me enough without my asking him that if “I can do anything in the world for Raymond call on me.” Serve him well on your end so he gets good reports. And, darling, try to get in well with the American contractors, don’t want to stir th[eir] antagonism any more than you have to. If Fuller’s people are in Tokyo now give them a drink from time to time.

This morning the 25th I telephoned to Magonigle and asked him what he would think of your sending photos of your buildings at once. He said it would be a good idea and to cable at once so I did—hope you got the message O.K. Read “Send photos your earthquake proof buildings—others’ failures.” Hope you understood what it was all about….

Since your letters of Shanghai I have had no news at all and I am waiting impatiently. Take heart darling. I shall soon be with you. Whether we live here or there or how does not matter. We shall work joyfully….

If in Tokyo there is a man called “Green” from the Rockefeller Foundation, see him and speak to him about the buildings for the nurses’ school etc. Am looking into it here. How I think of you my darling. And love you and pray for you.

Ta Pushkine

noémi to Antonin (neW York, 4 mAr 1924)

My darling:

At last a quiet evening….Yesterday morning your long letter about the embassy came. I read it

carefully and telephoned Magonigle. He had just received your letter and plans and suggested that I should go down to talk matters over with him. This I did. We looked at the plans, compared notes etc. He admires the plans very much but does not care so much for the elevations. Neither do I—but he said their simplicity is a good point and a touch here and there will make them presentable to the dull ones of Washington. He was to take them home and make definite plans of action. He said he had not spoken to Fuller about working with them as he had heard about their having got Morgan to go in with them. William Starrett and Paul S. have opened a contracting firm of

12 Wilfrid Fleisher was the managerial editor of the Japan Advertiser, a major English-language newspaper in interwar Japan.

11 Hugh Wilson was a longtime friend of Antonin’s.

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their own and as they are very influential Mag[onigle] thought he might sort of get them going for him in Washington, with the idea I suppose of their bidding and getting his support should the plans be accepted—so I suppose anyway.13 He plans to go to Washington soon with proper introductions. I put it up to him that I would go to W[ashington] and would try to help if I could possibly do so but that I would await his orders in all this matter so that he would take the entire responsibility. He agreed with me that I can’t do much there for to go to sit 15 minutes with Senator Warren—and 15 minutes with Carr won’t bring us anywhere if I cannot follow up with a good deal of practical information and personal standing and influence.14 Magonigle has got this and it’s up to him to go. For us two to go would be treading on one another’s feet I think. Anyway as he is a good deal wiser than I in these matters and as after all he is to be in charge of the work if it goes through I have thought it best that he feel the whole responsibility.

I thought the plans looked extremely attractive and practical. I prefer the first elevations as I remember them.

Magonigle is going right ahead with this so he says. He is awaiting your estimates and survey but may not wait for them before he goes to W[ashington]….

Please don’t worry about lodgings. All that I will straighten out when I come. For the sake of happy living let us take things happily and simply and lightly. There is nothing in fretting and worrying and letting things and people and circumstances make one feel miserable. There is everything in ease and detachment, in being able to kick over one’s life setting like kicking over a castle of cards. There is everything in putting up cheerfully and carelessly with discomforts and apparent disorder. Sometimes I just feel like dancing away, come what may. Why should I let anything in God’s kingdom make me feel bum?...

Saturday was the Theosophical Society meeting.15 I enjoyed it as usual. Duncan came—he had asked to come. He was very much disappointed— did not understand anything. Afterwards he took me to Child’s for a hot chocolate and to tell me that “those religious people like all others—are all tied up in forms”—he never sounded so banal to me before. “Tied up” says I “why, it’s you, Duncan, fairly boxed up in a soap box. There was beauty and you never saw it at all because it wasn’t of the sort you are always boxed up with.” Then he was awfully keen to hear more as I had wounded his amour propre and also as I think he imagines no beauty ever escapes him. But I thought I would say no more and let his curiosity grow. It’ll keep him interested in life for a week longer….

What a life. Please do you not dash about too much but stay at home sometimes reading quietly and thinking. You are old enough now to be a little wise and mind your Pushkine.

Meanwhile we are working away at father.16 Jules-Bois, whose lecture we heard, has consented to see him one day this week.17

I received a nice letter from Tajima.

Ta Pushkine qui t’aime.

noémi to Antonin (tokYo, 7 sep 1925)

Darling—

I am writing while waiting for a train at Shinagawa station—I am trying to get back to Hayama.

We received the news about the embassy and were much elated—wanted to cable you at once but the cable office objected to the address “S.S. Paris” and so we decided to wait till you had got to Prague. We understand that you wish to get back to the States hurriedly and I am sorry that you should have to. I

14 Francis E. Warren (1844–1929), U.S. senator from Wyoming. The Raymonds knew him through Noémi’s friend St. Clair Breckons LaDow, who was from Cheyenne, WY. Carr is unidentified.

15 Noémi, who was interested in all things spiritual, had been introduced to Theosophy by two of her best friends, St. Clair La Dow and Philippe Saint-Hilaire and had recently joined the society co-founded in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891) and Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907). Theosophists emphasize the importance of mystical experience fostered through meditation, the study of sacred texts, and revelation. They believe in the existence of a universal brotherhood of humanity, promote the study of comparative religion, and endeavor to harness the powers latent in human beings. Noémi’s letters reveal how influential those teachings were on her own development.

13 The Starrett Brothers Construction Company, founded by Paul and William Starrett. The latter had formerly been a partner in the firm of Starrett and van Vleck, which had briefly employed Antonin in 1913.

16 Noémi’s stepfather, Francis E. Brooks, was having a nervous breakdown. He committed suicide the following year.

17 Henri-Antoine Jules-Bois (1869–1943), a French writer interested in experimental psychology and spiritualism (including Catholicism and Hindu philosophy) and a promoter of internationalism. During World War I he lectured as a goodwill ambassador in the U.S., where he remained until his death.