Letter from John G. Neihardt to Lucile Aly, May 31, 1962

5-31-'62 Dear Lucile:

Your precious letter was waiting for me when I returned from the Willa Cather ceremony. I was so very glad to see your handwriting on the envelop because you are dear to this old man and I was troubled and a bit heartachy about you. How well I know that feeling you describe! But it's clear that you are getting adjusted, and I'm so glad. It's not a matter of forgetting, but just of getting used to the empty place.

I'll mail something about the Willa Cather affair. It was a lovely business

all around, and I was surprised again, and of course delighted, at the affection people showed me — people I never saw before. The dedication took place in the street in front of the Cather museum, as you'll see in the picture. The dinner that evening was in Willa's church, and the place was jammed. They wanted me to read my poetry, and it went over, and I have come to expect it to do.

We saw the bust in the State Capitol. It's mounted permanently on a marble block in a niche just opposite the Senator Geo. W. Norris bust, and there is a perpetual floodlight falling on it. This is the Hall of Fame. No one is supposed to be there until 10 years after death, but they by-passed that provision for some reason or other. The next bust will be Willa Cather's; and then, no doubt, General Pershing's. Bryan already has a heroic statue on the wide expanse of steps leading to the building. My gosh! What a lordly building that is, and how beautiful!! It looks as though giants had built it some thousands of years ago! And to think that Mona's bust is in bronze, as she hoped it would someday be, and that it is permanently placed in such a building!! I hope she knows. Or maybe it doesn't matter to her anymore.

I'm both sorry and glad that Bower did not win the election. I know the state senatorship here is a financial burden. But it would have been a joy to yell hurrah for Bower. No doubt something better is ahead.

I'm waiting for Griffith, TV program director to call on me. What he wants I don't know. There is demand for more TV programs from me, I know.

Love to you and Bower and old [Stewart.?] John N