Letter

5441.1 Dear Maria and Candido, The day spent in Rio seam like a mirage, - a lovely, far-away time when all was peace and quiet, and light pleasantries. New York is much closer to Europe. The horror of the European debacle has us all hynotized. At work and at play, the war is our one obsession. It’s all espeically difficult to become adjusted to after a siesta, such as i had, of six delightful weeks. Honestly, darlings, the time spent with both of you stands out as the highlight of my Cariocan sojourn. of course I saw Florence at once and told her how grateful i was to her for telling me about you. And to both of you, many many thanks for taking me in and accepting me as one of you. I really felt at home with you. That’s a bit of rare luck, especially in a foreign country. All those who have seen my portrait have liked it immensely, except mother. But mother wasn’t supposed to like it. ... parents are like that... they want photographs, no works of art. The two people whose opinion I value most, were enthusiastic over it. They also greatly admired Florence’s painting, which is still in my New York apartment. I have promised to take it out to her house in the country next time I drive out there. That will probably be this Saturday. Meanwhile I have been enjoying it. Last week I went to Helena Rubinstein’s to deliver the lithographs and Gorge’s photographs. of course the Portinaris were our main topic of conversation. The Rubinstein portrait will appear, in color, in a coming issue of VOGUE. Of the paintings she has, the one i liked best is the tall, narrow one of the two woman. It’s a beauty. Florence and I have both been talking to our Art Editor about the possibility of doing a story about the Detroit Exhibit. At present all we can do is to hope... I delayed writing to you because I had hoped to send you some of the snapshots I took. Some of the prints are not too bad. I’ve ordered a few enlargements, but they are not ready as yet, - so I decided to write to you anyway. The trip home on the “cargeiro” was most pleasant. We didn’t sail until 10 that night. Lucy and I stood on deck and waved to the friendly shore of Rio until the last light disappeared in the blackness of the night. The weather was excellent, the food poor, and our traveling companions harrless, - not too dull, nor were they particularly stimulating. Even so, the time passed very quickly. There was a zoological shipment consisting of more than a hundred flamingoes, two jaguars, llamas, alpacas, dear, vultures, condors, ant-eaters. That broke the monotony of eating, sleeping, sun-bathing, and talk, talk, talk. Also, there were four stowaways. These were transferred to another ship of the same company in mid-ocean on a dark, stormy night. We spent an exciting three-hours watching the transfer. At the pier when we arrived were my mother, my sister and close friends. It was good indeed to see them but it was hard to share with them (who have not seen nor experienced it) the beauty of Rio, the gayety of its music, the warmth of its people, and the inner joy of having met and known you. We shall have to meet again, somewhere, somehow. For the present, un stretto abbraccio to both of you and arrivederci... Maria May 30.