[D8807ACX], Letter from George Parsons Lathrop to Alfred Ord Tate, November 17th, 1888
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8807ACX
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8807ACX], Letter from George Parsons Lathrop to Alfred Ord Tate, November 17th, 1888
Editor's Notes
I have your note of the 16th for which I thank you cordially. Only the first of my TAE articles has been written and that was placed in Rice's hands Oct 18 -- five days before I last saw you and TAE at the lab. I had not then the slightest idea that Rice wanted or expected TAE to sign the articles, because I had not made any such arrangement with him, and had [---] told him it was impossible. # I wrote TAE the other day explaining that Rice had developed a misunderstanding on the subject; and asking TAE to let me know through you whether, to gratify Rice, he would give the articles his authorization, on condition of his seeing the proofs;-- leaving the responsibility for opinions and impressions entirely with one, as signer and writer of the articles. That is all I asked, and all that I shall ask, under any circumstances. TAE has more than once stated to me his decided aversion to autobiography; and he stated it again the last day I was at the lab, Oct 20th. In speaking to him then I had no reference to the articles, so you doubtless observed, but simply to the project of a book. The article question had already been settled by him, months before; and I regarded his decision as conclusive. I would not even have asked him to give a general authorization, in my letter the other day, except that I thought that would satisfy Rice and would also be something that TAE might consistently grant. You may rest assured I shall do nothing more about the articles, except with that general authorization, or on my own role and separate responsibility. I have not asked TAE to sign them and don't want him to, because I am wholly averse to persuading him into something he prefers not to do. I am also annoyed at Rice for saying this, because it might easily place me in a false position. # After TAE's experience with Tomlinson, I should think he might noticeably be inclined to suspect almost any one of double-dealing. That is the most accursed thing about such treacheries: they break down a man's faith in almost everybody. And so, in this little matter of the articles, TAE might be led by Rice's persistance and [---------ing] to suppose that I have all [----] been a party to some petty scheme of [----ing] him on into signing articles. But I trust any notions will make it clear that I have not. Please explain to TAE or show him this letter. # I shall be glad to hear if on condition of him seeing the proof he will give a general authorization or approval of my articles, claiming the responsibility to me, which Rice could announce. And if he doesn't want to give that, he won't; that's all. # I send you today by express a copy of Lanthrop's [-----] for Tate and yourself, which I have had on my desk for 3 weeks, meaning to send it.
Author
Recipient
Date
1888-11-17
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8807-F
Microfilm ID
121:774
Document ID
D8807ACX
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University