[LB038181], Letter from Myria De Mayer to Thomas Alva Edison, March 1890
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB038181
Transcription
Translation of letter of Myrie de Mayer 49 Boulevard du Musee, Marseille. Dear Mr. Edison,- I beg to write to you direct these few lines, first to thank you especially for all the kindness which you have conferred upon me during my stay in America. Upon my return, as I expected, a number of my acquaintances among the French foreign aristocracy, as well as the reporters, asked me to write some details about your private life, and about the phonograph, which I had an opportunity to see and to study. I have made use of the opportunity which brought me into contact with the heads of the Paris financial world to praise the phonograph, and I have told them of the improvements which you have made in the instrument, and the useful purpose to which it will be applied after a short while. My administration and enthusiasm have had the effect that I was told today that the phonograph is the invention of a genius and requested to write Mr. Edison and ask him what he would like to make out of it in Paris, what would be his [illegible], and we shall take charge of introducing the instrument with a capital of twenty millions. Since my father and my brother[?], are somewhat hesitant, believing that the matter is yet to net[?]. I have taken charge of starting the matter myself, small [illegible] filled with gratitude as I have ordered [illeigble] to write to you and receive your instructions, and then to go on. The gentleman is the Baronet de [illegible] who will take charge of gathering the capital, and Mr. Bimond, who writes to you. This is much audacity for a young man, but you know that I have taken away in my heart a veneration and admiration for you which never will fade. So so kind as to send your instructions as soon as possible to Mr. Simond, in order that the enthusiasm may not have time to cool. I go to Marseilles for a fortnight or three weeks. A number of my Russian and Polish friends being a Neice. I shall have an opportunity to see and to speak about the grand man of whom I dream of day and night. Upon my return to Paris I promised to give two conferences about you and the phonograph. Probably Mr. Garnet will preside at the former one. I did not want to write English, as I am not sufficiently familiar with it, but that will come very soon. By the same mail I write to Mrs. Edison. With expressions of admiration, gratitude &c., &c., &c., &c., Myria de Mayer