Skip to Content
 

Royall Tyler to Robert Woods Bliss, June 23, 1935

Finance Ministry

Budapest

23.VI.35

Dear Robert.

Many thanks for your letter and the introductions to Stockholm. I’m rather ashamed to tell you that since writing to you I’ve been seduced by another plan: that of a rapid visit to Russia. I’ve had to put off my trip to Estonia, but as at present arranged I am going there about the first of Aug. I’ve got to go to London now for a few days, then back here to finish my Quarterly Report. And then, about mid-July, I’m thinking of going from here, via Lemberg to Kieff (which is really, with its XI cent. Byz. mosaics,Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kiev, 1037–1299, which has eleventh-century Byzantine mosaics. the thing I most want to see) then to Moscow, Leningrad & so to Tallinn (Estonia). If there were a boat from Constantinople to Odessa fitting in with my time-table, I’d make a crochet to Istanbul—but I’m afraid there isn’t a boat, the direct ones only go once a fortnight, & I’m limited closely as to time. Well, we’ll see what comes of it.

You lit a fire of curiosity in me with your mention of some news that would make me sit up.The news was that the Albertina Collection of drawings and prints had been offered jointly to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Fogg Art Museum. See letter of July 17, 1935 [1]. Do be indiscreet, & I’ll promise to be discretion itself. Elisina is with Edith Wharton, who has been pretty poorly (hypertension artérielle),“Arterial hypertension.” but is getting on fairly well, all things considered.

Love to you both,

Yrs

R. T.

 
Associated People: Edith Wharton; Elisina Tyler
Associated Places: Budapest (Hungary)