Describes going to see Mary Levison after her request for his advice about Nick Nax. Transcription: were to be divided equally. When [William] Levison died, [Jesse] Haney undertook his duty, charging a weekly salary of $10 for it. This is the point which Mrs [Mary] Levison is now exercised upon. She thinks she 'might get somebody to do it for less' and though professing not to wish to do anything to indicate distrust of him is evidently full of distrust, has had legal advice &c. Since the panic the periodical hasn't produced any profits ? before, it brought $100 to be divided between them. '
Describes going to see Mary Levison after her request for his advice about Nick Nax. Transcription: were to be divided equally. When [William] Levison died, [Jesse] Haney undertook his duty, charging a weekly salary of $10 for it. This is the point which Mrs [Mary] Levison is now exercised upon. She thinks she 'might get somebody to do it for less' and though professing not to wish to do anything to indicate distrust of him is evidently full of distrust, has had legal advice &c. Since the panic the periodical hasn't produced any profits ? before, it brought $100 to be divided between them. 'He draws $10 every week, which keeps him!' said she. She read the agreement to me. Again she wavers about selling out her share for $3000 to Ross and Tousey. Of course she didn't want or intend to take advice. I said little, intimated my perfect faith in Haney's honesty, saw that by the agreement she might deprive him of the $10, but that his consent would be necessary to a successor, who would of course charge as much ? and said so. It's astonishing to what depths of meanness women will descend ? as astonishing as the heights of devotion and generosity they soar to. All her nature was bristling with little, petty, incredible suspicions. She goes to France next month, hence the project of selling out. (I told her to sell out if she could get a fair price, if not, to hold on.) Anon she got talking of another and as intensely selfish a woman, but a fool to boot ? Mrs [Elizabeth] Gouverneur. Both of these women tried to use one another during their past acquaintance, both talked against one another behind back ? as indeed they did of every body. Mrs L was willing to cultivate intimacy with Mrs G, in respect for her $30,000 a year and a certain indefinite position in 'society.' Mrs G was ready to borrow quarter dollars and three cents pieces and forget to pay them, to sell dresses that she got tired of, to find a Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 9, page 124, April 21,
Size: 1805px × 2769px
Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords:
