This is the “standardized text” version of the Mascot Moskovina documents. This version is presented in an easily readable and searchable format. Punctuation is modernized and inserted where needed for clarity. Abbreviations are spelled out, insertions are incorporated, and crossouts and duplicate words are deleted. First words in sentences have been capitalized; other capitalization issues have not been edited. Moskovina’s spelling is routinely irregular and creative; where it is possible to discern her meaning, spelling has been standardized.


[envelope front]
[postmark] BUENOS AIRES 7. A.M.
MAR 20 1918

M. Moskovina
c/o Senor F. Zalenka
531 Calle Coshabamba
Buenos Aires

Mrs. Billie Morton
2150 Lincoln Park West
Chicago Ill.
United States America
U.S.A.

[label] OPENED BY CENSOR


[p. 1]
< P.C.
As mail only reaches each other every 2 months, why not write Books to keep me reading till the next mail arrives. I am afraid you & I will become unpopular with the Censor if we write like this, but please write lots. I love to read your letters; they are so interesting.
Mascot. >

March 14th 1918
My dearest friend Billie (Permit me the liberty),
A few days ago received both yours and Nondas’s darling letters dated Jan 18th. It is the first since last July. I suppose like Mama you wrote to the Company's address and all those letters have been lost. Yes, mail takes a terrible long time. If the letter catches a freight Boat it takes 2 months, and if it gets a passenger Boat only one month. The next boat leaves here on the 20th, which I think will only take 30 to 32 days. I am so pleased to hear that you and my Mama are corresponding together. As I wrote you before, you know all the particulars of how I got here and how I worked etc. But since December I have not worked but have been rehearsing & working up new programs for the season which has started and up to this time, and still I have had all my expenses paid and pocket money so that I should not go and work anywhere else. I did not refuse as I have very good prospect with Mr. Jacoveleff who is a wonderful artist, and has a big reputation as being the finest Russian Dancer (character) and does wonderful Pirouettes.

[p.] 2/
At present we have not quite settled where we are going to work at. I get up every morning at 6.30. At 7.30 I am already practicing till 9 o’clock. Then I have rehearsal with the piano till 10. I am getting a very fine repertoire arranged. I am very sorry to have to say it, but my husband unluckily is rotten like all men, for he proves to be more of a hindrance than a help and up till now has been unable to find any work. And were it not for him I would be at home, but perhaps this is as you say for the best for it affords me a wonderful opportunity to get a little reputation and give me confidence to work on my own, which one never gets in the "X"s Company. You are quite right, no one helps you when in trouble but this time I think I have had marvelous luck for really the way our position was in Rio de Janeiro was too despairing. When I gave you Mama’s address in my letter from Rio, it was the old address c/o Mrs. Frank 62nd Street. I forget it now myself. But since of course, I have received letters telling me that Mama has moved and the new address which you have: 187 W. 80th. I told Mama of course some of my case but the real details of how I suffered in Rio and my disappointments

[p.] 3
and how my husband has been I did not tell for I do not want to worry her any more than I can help for poor darling is terrible distressed that I cannot come home. But now she needs not worry anymore for I think as I said before with the cachet like I have now to work so well she not worry for in the States I would not have the partner neither the Money packing like here. And no matter how good or bad at the profession one is, one cannot make a success unless one has someone interested in one. For This Mr. Burel is spending lots of money on our act. Of course My Mama thinks the world of me and all I do right or wrong is wonderful. Music is a dear mother and she is one of the great Stars amongst Mothers we, my Mama and I, are pleased by not only being Mother and daughter but we are the greatest and thickest of friends. You may say I am writing something extraordinary, that of course all mothers and daughters are friends, but you are wrong. There are really very few mothers who are good friends with their daughters because of their narrow mindedness they make their daughters be afraid to tell them the real truth and then it is a parent and no more friendship.

[p.] 4
The successful mother is a mother and at the same time a great pal and friend to her daughter—real chums and a true and open understanding. Religion, I am sorry to say, is many times the cause of unhappiness in families. For example, an English Girl I knew her mother was very religious and morning noon and night this mother made the poor girl pray and Sundays three times church. Well, that girl is totally against her mother, for she had no freedom whatsoever and now prayer & worship is to her like a mechanical affair and she is an Atheist. A mother can be religious, but she has to be very careful how she gives a religious education to her children, for as this woman did instead of respect she bred disrespect to religion. I know another girl. Perhaps you have heard of her. Fredova, formerly in Pavlova’s Company. Well, her people were very religious and because Freado went on the stage, the whole family turned their back on her & her parents disowned her. Mind you, Freado had done no wrong except go on the stage, and these fools instead of being friends & parents to the girl and giving her their protection whilst in the profession, turn their backs on her and

[p. B]5
left her drift where she would. There are millions of cases similar in many ways I but tire you to speak of them. Dear folks your friendship is very valuable to me. A true really true friend rich or poor is worth their weight in gold for they are very very few. I cannot express myself how sorry I am for your situation and the utter hopelessness of it, and your ill health. Pardon me for being personal, but have you not been able to locate your husband and compel to at least pay you a little money? Put your pride in your pocket and do this at least for Nondas’s sake if it is possible. You write my future so gloriously. I wish it could be so but I am afraid that really I have an unlucky life. I have a darling mother and yet willfully this uncontrollable passion for traveling drags me away from her & my Baby and I am now unable to return for lord knows how many years till the [illegible] stops all because I did one wrong thing. I have received a very charming letter from Mr. Dandre saying I & the other could not return to the Company as we could not join the Company in Brazil where the main part of the Tournée is to be made. But he never mentions that he would at least give

[p.] 6/
us our return fare so that if a chance should come, we would have money to return. All who saw the letter, written as it was in a most affectionate manner and ending up with their deep regrets that they could not have us back in the Company, say that they are Rotten with no character. I wrote him a good answer just as sweet & diplomatic as he wrote to me and asked him to at least, as he had stranded & fooled us etc., to give us our return fare from here to New York from where he took us. The Company is already in Brazil now. This girl from Russia was only a [illegible] but they took a girl from New York, a Bohemian girl whose stage name is Massalova and who worked with Theadore Kosloff at the Palace. Well, she is to alternate with Pavlova as Pavlova is only going to dance about 2 or 3 times a week. Mama wrote me that in New York they suffer terrible too. Her landlord had given out with coal and like everyone else was unable to get any and so they had no steam heat, and Mama wrapped the Baby herself & the dogs in shawls. It was a funny sight she says, but with 16 below zero I think it was tragic and a disgrace to the management

[p. 7]
of New York City and to such a modern and up to date place, the model of the world, U.S.A. For if America acts like that when it has only entered the war, it is pretty bad. England was two years in the war before prices went up and the war was felt, and England has to get everything from outside food and all as its own resource is not sufficient. But the States has coal, iron, crops twice a year—California and the Eastern—and to have such high prices and shortage is a disgrace to the country and shows bad management. I guess those officials like here sit and smoke big cigars and don’t do anything till the last moment when too late then that terrible graft & capitalists. Well, from Nondas’s letter I see she certainly had a fine Xmas and is crazy about the doll, which is fine for her. As you say, she can put her ideas in millinery and dressmaking and if she is very fanciful and can design a little it would be fine for a costume designer is paid for very heavily, at least in England I know. I am sorry you were not able to make any arrangement with Oukrainsky but really shoes

[p.] 8.
are terrible expensive and if Baby is growing tall it is far better for her to be a character dancer. She need not be disappointed for a good expressive character dancer is better than a toe dancer and also wears beautiful costumes. Pardon me if I bring up the painful subject. As I have not received your former letter, I do not know what is wrong with the little dancer and could such wrongs not be remedied through aesthetics. I mean arm movement or whatever may be at fault. Yes, the world is hard. Some fool, a brainless unartistic child, has thousands spent on her education in art & other things and turns out no good, and the more she learns the less she knows, whilst others who are poor, have a real artistic temperament, and a gift for art in many forms, and were the same money spent on them they would have their points developed and become genius. Dear Billie, I really am unable to say positively whether Baby could learn French easily, but I would say that if I judge her as I knew her that time in Chicago, a very quick and sensible & intelligent child who is serious and puts her mind to things, for that child it would have been an easy matter. And if Nondas has not

[p.] 9
changed it should not be difficult about the accent, well, unless taught by a Parisian. She would never acquire the pure french accent which of course is very rare for a foreigner unless he has been to Paris or has lived amongst french people. I speak read and write french fluently, but I have a Belgium accent & expressions as I was 2 ½ years at Ghent in a Boarding School. My advice would be if it were any way possible if she could be taught by a French person, and if possible if you have any connection or could live in with a French family so that the ear would get trained to the sound. I am living here in a French Boarding house. But I really think it a waste of good money to be taught by a foreigner & only grammar as the average teachers in schools do. A native of France can’t converse and put 5 lessons to one of the others, beside the benefit of the real accent. By no means waste your money on a American or English person who teaches French. It is a fraud and no one can ever learn anything else but a few declinations & a bit of grammar but no real conversation, for these people use no more than a bit of grammar themselves and their accent is a horror.

[p.] 10.
I think that sewing and millinery is a wonderful thing for a girl to learn whether a dancer or going in for the profession, and Nondas should put her heart and soul in it. How is music? Is it too expensive or is it possible either piano or violin for Nondas, though the lack of being able to put her artistic temperament into dancing might put great soul and heart into music and make a success that way. Now you ask me about myself. I was educated in England, Germany, & Belgium. I was 6 months in a Private school in England. About a year & a half in college at Cologne (Köln on the Rhein so I speak read & write german). Then I was 2½ till nearly 3 years in a College at Ghent Belgium Notre Dame de L’Instruction Chretienne) Dooresele & Saint Pierre colleges. Then I took up Oxford & Cambridge examinations but only did the as far as the first Senior as I left the school. The the◊◊ the Perlimanay & Junior I passed with honors in French, German & English [illegible], Grammar, Algebra, Geometry, History, Geography, Scripture, Drawing, Painting. But since I cannot do any of these as I have very sweetly, like so many stupid people do, I have

[p.] 11/
forgotten them and I was never serious and have missed the most wonderful opportunities. Mama had the best professors for me for Piano and I never practiced. I studied Violin & threw it up and painting & drawing, all no use. I did not appreciate & did not want to learn but how I regret now. Then I came home [when] I was 15 years old for my Easter Holidays as every 3 months I came home for a holiday. It cost Mama a fortune in Books clothes & traveling expenses & other pleasure I indulged in. I tell you I am a bad egg. Well, I came home for a holiday and refused to return to school, But very interested and wanted to go on the stage. Well, I went to a dancing academy & sent Mama & Bill and I was sick and tired as of everything else of dancing in 3 weeks for it meant hard work. Well I was just going to give it up when I received an offer to dance in three performances in the Corps de Ballet in Tanhauser Opera at the Covent garden Opera House London. Well as I had never been on the stage I was crazy to go, so I went & that started me going. I really got interested to work on the stage but would not practice, so two weeks

[p.] 12
later I got an engagement to dance in a quartet. You see, the managers came to the school & picked me with 3 other girls but & the others had all trained two to three years & I only just there 4 weeks to 5. And the mothers kicked and said it was not fair that I, a new girl, should get such a good engagement. But those managers and taken a fancy to me and insisted on having me. I did not say no although I did not know my right leg from my left. So off we went on tour for two months with a woman from the dancing school (Stedman where Pavlova took Hilda Butsova, Enid Bruco◊◊◊, Phyllis Shellton, Madge Abercrombie, Lucida Luidonskia, and then I came from there with no training), to chaperone us. Then when I returned I wanted to work again but no practice, so I got another engagement with Mr. Zalezski from Mme P. Co. who engaged 8 girls but the number only worked two weeks in this Company. I met my husband who was doing pantomime; we became very good friends. Then I returned home again (London), And there Lydia Kyasht a very famous dancer wanted a woman to play the part of mother in the Ballet Javotte. Well, Louis knew he had the

[p.] 13/
part of father in the Ballet so brought me to Kyasht. I was just a little past 15 with my hair down in curls, and Kyasht said, Oh But I need a woman for pantomime; this is only a child. But for fun I’ll see how she does it. So she taught me the part and I did all she said. She then said to me, “I like you. I will change the character. You shall be my stepmother.” And so it was arranged. I worked with her for £4—£20 a week (Big money in England) at the Colicco[?] London with my future husband, which I never dreamed of at the time being my husband in the pantomime. Well although I say it myself or others will tell you they say I was a great success in my part as Kyasht was crazy about me. Then the war broke out and Count Ragasin, Kyasht’s husband, left England for Russia, and as she was all alone and we went on tour, she had me live with her. Louis had in the meantime left the Company to take an engagement as premier Dancer in George Edwards’ Musical comedy Gypsy Love." Well, the tour with Kyasht was wonderful. She always lived in the Best Hotels had our motor car

[p.] 14
and went sight seeing & had £4 pocket money as it cost me not a cent. Well, we toured for 2 months then returned to London where Kyasht, who is in the Heart of London Society, took me along to all her invitations dinner parties theater luncheons. My it was wonderful she had some of her Beautiful Paquin gowns made to fit me and always had my hair dressed and it was like living in Fairy land. Then she decided to make a huge European tour as no one thought the war would last. We we[re] to start at Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Budapest and return to London discharge the Company and I was to go with her to Russia to her Beautiful estate Castle Ragosin near Petrograd and also see Moscow & other important parts of Russia. she would have adopted me if she could have. Well, she did not practice; neither did I so I lost all my training, the bit I had had. Well, the war became very serious and it was impossible to make the tour and all was called off. So Kyasht advised me to go to Pavlova’s Company as I would get a good training and as she would go to a house party at Lord Lonsdales’ estate Lowther Castle way up in

[p.] 15/
north of England. So I wrote a letter to "X" in French and Mr. Volinin, who I knew, spoke for me and I received a telegram to come. Well, I was privately interviewed at Ivy House London Hampstead Heath and Elustin, who saw me dance with Pavlova, and Mr. Dandre there too said right away rotten no good. (Kyasht had taught me to read write & speak Russian which I have forgotten now.) Mr. Dandre knew I understood russian and said never mind do not take any notice of him. But X said I had possibilities and engaged me and said I must work hard & try & leave the [illegible] of Dancing, so I came to Pavlova's Company and to the states. At first I was all ambition but before two months I never went to classes & they said she takes no interest and were very disappointed. And you know that here I was in Chicago I could Barely do the exercises with Nondas. Then Last August, Pavlova came to see me and took me to Albertiny's and told me to practice and try & be fit for the coming tour. Well, I went three weeks and Albertiny really knocked [illegible] & training into

[p.] 16
me, and when the Company was ready Mr. Dandre said I should be an understudy as I could not do the work with the other girls. But when we started to rehearse they were surprised to find that I had become at last a dancer and capable to do everything with the other girls. 3 weeks of Albertiny (to me the most wonderful teacher in the world) made me a dancer of not good, better than I ever had hoped to be and I was but into all the work. Then on tour I got the pantomime parts of mother in Giselle & Magic Flute. I had a very nice write up in the paper last time we worked here with Pavlova, for the work there. So now I am really for the first time practice hard and working seriously with heart and soul. Now after this long and tedious story I think you never will read to hear it will tire you too much. Yes Mama thinks the world of me but such a Good Mama as I have could have deserved a better daughter. I am only a lot of trouble & worry & expense, and with all training and everything I only now have brain enough to be really serious. Before I was always the lightheaded kid[?]. Nothing on earth could worry me or bother me & nothing would I do

[p.] 17/
with heart & smile & serious. Now I regret, but what can one do? 20 years of my life wasted and now too late to learn what I forgot or pick up, although in Dancing I am improving & making big headway. You want to know where I was born. Well, I am this Louise Mascot Osboldeston, Born August 9th 1896.
Born: Lake Titus, Camp Mascot, twelve miles from the nearest city Malone New York States (Lake Titus) is in the Adirondacks mountains near the border of Canada and at the time I was born was a wilderness.
Christened at Trinity Church Wall Street N. Y. City
Father. Edwind Pie Osboldeston M.D. English
Mother Louisa White American
Married Louis Vesely Czech Bohemian
Chicago August 2nd 1916
Left New York for South American tour with Pavlova
February 8th 1917.
Baby Born Pittsburgh Pennsylvania December 23rd 1916
Mascot Louise Pavlova Vesely
Such is the sad history of my life. Weep, dear friends & be glad thine is not like wise and as now my head is tired & weary & you are

[p.] 18
dreary of hearing from the [illegible] me, I will close up for I must write a line yet to Nondas. What would be a letter if one would not talk about the weather? Here we are having mild autumn weather. As winter is now Starting I bought myself a winter hat. I hope to receive a s◊◊◊al only in letter from you and hope dear friend you are able to get a half holiday so you can read this scribble.

With Love and Kisses, and I do hope your health will improve and there is a chance of something coming better. If I am not inquisitive, what do you work at? As you are an actress could you not get into co◊◊◊◊◊tin with a Dancing school in Chicago and teach Mimic there. Please write soon and please keep up corresponding to Mama. She likes you.

Again with Sincerest Best Wishes
Your Friend
Mascot
What a Pity I can’t help with anything else But advice. If I were near I might be able to help Nondas on a few things.

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