1912
St. Louis, Missouri
Dear Papa and Mavis,
We have only traveled to St. Louis but I feel I am seeing the world for the first time. I will never be content to stay at home againâat least not for very long at a time. I am twenty-one. A third of my life is over (or maybe just a quarterâI am looking forward to a very long old age), and I am just discovering what a small part of the world Texas is, though you would never know it from living there.
I hope this will be the first of many trips Rob and I make together. I will go with him anywhereâfor business or pleasure, though to him business is pleasure, a feeling I am beginning to share.
My love to you both,
Bess
October 3, 1912
St. Louis
Darling Robin and Drew,
Daddy and I miss you so much. We spent this afternoon walking through a beautiful park full of exotic plants and animals. The plants are in a building called the Jewel Box and the animals are in the best zoo I have ever seen. If I were a lion or tiger, I would rather live in the St. Louis Zoo than in the wilds of Africa.
Daddy is doing lots of business here, so we will come again soon and bring you with us. Remember, Robin, you are the man of the house while your father is away, so take good care of your grandmother and your baby brother until we return.
Hugs and kisses,
Mummy
October 10, 1912
St. Louis
Dear Mother Steed,
You would be so proud to see what a grand impression your son is making on all the important people of this city. He is the kind of man whose business will take him to the ends of the earth before he is through and I ask nothing more of life than to travel there with him.
I have decided to celebrate our return with a formal dinner party at home. Would you please take the enclosed sample to the printer and order fifty engraved invitations. I have left the date blank until you check with the caterer to see if she is available on either October 29 or 30.
Tell Annie not to be nervous at the prospect of a formal dinner party. I will hire someone to serve. And I give her my word she will not have to leave the kitchen, so she will not need a new uniform.
We long to see the childrenâand I suspect you long just as fervently to have them out of your sight for a while.
Fondly,
Bess
October 20, 1912
Dallas, Texas
Dear Lydia,
Your letter was waiting on our return from a glorious three weeks in St. Louis. We are anxious to see you and Manning but we have a social commitment we cannot cancel on October 29. Would the following weekend be equally convenient? We will plan a family picnic at Exall Lake so there will be no danger of interruption from well-meaning friends. We look forward to seeing you.
Love from us both,
Bess
January 10, 1913
Received of Robert Randolph Steed on this date the sum of $14,000 (fourteen thousand dollars), repaying in full the loan of $20,000 (twenty thousand dollars) contracted on January 10, 1911.
Elizabeth Alcott Steed
WITNESSED BY: Annie Hoffmeyer
Hans Hoffmeyer
February 28, 1913
Dallas
Dear Papa and Mavis,
My life as a Dallas matron is proving very conducive to my continuing education.
I take French lessons two afternoons a week from a lovely Parisienne whose family owns a millinery shop on Oak Lawn. We redo my spring hats while we conjugate verbs.
Yesterday I read my first paper before the Shakespeare Club. The most prominent women in the city comprise its membership, so I was extremely nervous when I stood to address them. However, my first attempt at literary scholarship was received with great enthusiasm. Apparently I am not alone in my admiration of Lady Macbeth.
Devotedly,
Bess
March 18, 1913
Dallas
Dear Lydia,
Congratulations to you and Manning on the birth of your daughter. Robin and Drew are very excited about the arrival of their first first cousinâand the first girl in the family, though I trust not the last. I am expecting our third childâand praying for a girl. The experience of pregnancy is much too
St. Louis, Missouri
Dear Papa and Mavis,
We have only traveled to St. Louis but I feel I am seeing the world for the first time. I will never be content to stay at home againâat least not for very long at a time. I am twenty-one. A third of my life is over (or maybe just a quarterâI am looking forward to a very long old age), and I am just discovering what a small part of the world Texas is, though you would never know it from living there.
I hope this will be the first of many trips Rob and I make together. I will go with him anywhereâfor business or pleasure, though to him business is pleasure, a feeling I am beginning to share.
My love to you both,
Bess
October 3, 1912
St. Louis
Darling Robin and Drew,
Daddy and I miss you so much. We spent this afternoon walking through a beautiful park full of exotic plants and animals. The plants are in a building called the Jewel Box and the animals are in the best zoo I have ever seen. If I were a lion or tiger, I would rather live in the St. Louis Zoo than in the wilds of Africa.
Daddy is doing lots of business here, so we will come again soon and bring you with us. Remember, Robin, you are the man of the house while your father is away, so take good care of your grandmother and your baby brother until we return.
Hugs and kisses,
Mummy
October 10, 1912
St. Louis
Dear Mother Steed,
You would be so proud to see what a grand impression your son is making on all the important people of this city. He is the kind of man whose business will take him to the ends of the earth before he is through and I ask nothing more of life than to travel there with him.
I have decided to celebrate our return with a formal dinner party at home. Would you please take the enclosed sample to the printer and order fifty engraved invitations. I have left the date blank until you check with the caterer to see if she is available on either October 29 or 30.
Tell Annie not to be nervous at the prospect of a formal dinner party. I will hire someone to serve. And I give her my word she will not have to leave the kitchen, so she will not need a new uniform.
We long to see the childrenâand I suspect you long just as fervently to have them out of your sight for a while.
Fondly,
Bess
October 20, 1912
Dallas, Texas
Dear Lydia,
Your letter was waiting on our return from a glorious three weeks in St. Louis. We are anxious to see you and Manning but we have a social commitment we cannot cancel on October 29. Would the following weekend be equally convenient? We will plan a family picnic at Exall Lake so there will be no danger of interruption from well-meaning friends. We look forward to seeing you.
Love from us both,
Bess
January 10, 1913
Received of Robert Randolph Steed on this date the sum of $14,000 (fourteen thousand dollars), repaying in full the loan of $20,000 (twenty thousand dollars) contracted on January 10, 1911.
Elizabeth Alcott Steed
WITNESSED BY: Annie Hoffmeyer
Hans Hoffmeyer
February 28, 1913
Dallas
Dear Papa and Mavis,
My life as a Dallas matron is proving very conducive to my continuing education.
I take French lessons two afternoons a week from a lovely Parisienne whose family owns a millinery shop on Oak Lawn. We redo my spring hats while we conjugate verbs.
Yesterday I read my first paper before the Shakespeare Club. The most prominent women in the city comprise its membership, so I was extremely nervous when I stood to address them. However, my first attempt at literary scholarship was received with great enthusiasm. Apparently I am not alone in my admiration of Lady Macbeth.
Devotedly,
Bess
March 18, 1913
Dallas
Dear Lydia,
Congratulations to you and Manning on the birth of your daughter. Robin and Drew are very excited about the arrival of their first first cousinâand the first girl in the family, though I trust not the last. I am expecting our third childâand praying for a girl. The experience of pregnancy is much too
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