#3-142
To Allen T. Brown
March 23, 1942 [Washington, D.C.]
Dear Allen:
I received your letter about your mother, and was glad to get your point of view. As a matter of fact, I have been trying to get her out of town for some time but without success. She had promised to go immediately after Molly arrived, but that delay further involved the matter.
She is leaving today for Atlantic City, Hotel Traymore. Ann Blumenthal arrived Friday night on her way to Atlantic City, and in that way I succeeded in persuading your mother to leave immediately. Ann has gotten her a room at The Traymore and she leaves at eleven this morning, arriving there at three o'clock.1
I do not know how long she will be at The Traymore because I think Ann is going back to New York tomorrow or the next day. However, your mother can settle that, though I think it likely she will move over to Haddon Hall, or some other less boisterous place.
There was a delay in hearing from Ann at Atlantic City, and I persuaded your mother to go to Charlottesville to the Randolphs out at Keswick. She made an arrangement out there last night, but canceled it this morning in favor of Atlantic City. The battle over her health is a most difficult one. The trouble is, I cannot persuade her to lighten her own burdens; telephone, mail, and committees. She resents my ideas of procedure and suffers accordingly. Her mail has become voluminous, telephone calls more numerous than ever, and demands on her to attend meetings a daily matter. Added to this are her own affairs, those normal to the house and her unremitting concern regarding you and Clifton and Molly and Allene, Nana, Clara, Tris, etc. Her correspondence with Mrs. Blanchard is a sizable affair itself. She was much worried because Etta criticized her for not writing to her direct, etc.2
It is idle to expect her to change her ways at this time. We just have to make the best of it.
I am very busy, so this can be but a hasty note. I hope you and Madge and the baby are in good health. The spring will soon be with you with all the delights of a country outlook.
Affectionately,
Document Copy Text Source: Research File, Family Folder, George C. Marshall Research Library, Lexington, Virginia.
Document Format: Typed letter.
1. Mary Ann Payne Clews Blumenthal was a friend of Katherine Marshall. See Papers of George Catlett Marshall, #1-395 [1: 481–2].
2. Mrs. William R. Blanchard of Columbus, Georgia, was Molly Brown Winn's godmother.
Recommended Citation: The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, ed. Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens (Lexington, Va.: The George C. Marshall Foundation, 1981– ). Electronic version based on The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 3, “The Right Man for the Job,” December 7, 1941-May 31, 1943 (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991), p. 145.