Cora Fabbri Letter

28 Via Gino Capponi
Florence
Italy
June 1st 1912

Mr Thomas Mosher | Dear Sir, | I am sending you | a copy of the second edition | of my sister Corra Fabbri’s | “Lyrics.” According to your | suggestion I indicate a few | that we think among her best, | but of course your are at liberty | to make your own selection. | for the reprint in the Bibelot. | They are on the following | pages. — 30 . 60 . 63 . 65 . 90 . [page 2] 91 . 113 . 119 . 126 . 141 . — | Although we have many manus- | cript poems, they are, on the | whole, not equal to those cho- | sen for the book, & besides | I remember, that my sister felt | very strongly against posthumous | publication. The only one | which I can give you, is the | following little poems, | not in- | cluded in the “Lyrics” —

“I have heard
Many a bird,
Sing out sweetly
Though completely
shut out from the sky.
Why?
And again
There are Men
[page 3]
Who seem gladdest,
Yet are saddest
Underneath the sky.
Why?

 

Here are a few biographical | notices you may find of use | for the foreword. || Cora Fabbri was born in the | city of New York in 1871, of | an Italian father and an | American mother. From her | earliest years she showed a | marked literary talent, so much | so, that at the age of ten, some | of her stories were printed. | After the death of her father | in 1883, the family went to | Italy and settled in Florence, | [page 4] where the greater part of her | poems were written. In 1891 | she developed a pulmonary | illness, which ended in her | premature death within a few | months. || The little volume was being | prepared for the press at the | time by Harper & Bros, & al- | though she had and corrected | herself the first rough draft, | she never had the satisfaction | of seeing the book in its finish- | ed form, as she died exactly | ten days before the “Lyrics” | were published. || Looking forward with much | pleasure to seeing some of my | dear sister’s work in the Bibelot | and thanking you again | for your courtesy | I remain | Yours sincerely, | E. Lundolf.”

Accompanied by a “registered mail” envelope addressed:

Thomas B. Mosher Esq
45 Exchange Street
Portland
Maine
States United