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]
Hotel de France
Pensão e Restaurant
ANTONIO MACHADO VELHO
[stamped] REGISTERED

42, Praça, 15 de Novembro, 42
Antigo Largo do Paço
Rio de Janeiro
Telephone-Norte 80

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

[envelope back]
Mrs Mascot [envelope torn]
c/o Mr. Zalenka
531 Cochabamba 531
Buenos Aires
Argentine.

[p. 1]
November. 11th 1917.
My darling little Nondas and Mrs. Morton.
I have not written to you since Buenos Aires, since that time have been in Mondevedio, Rosario, and we played again in Buenos Aires. And since what has happened has upset me so much that I really did not feel like writing. You see from Buenos Aires the Company was to go to Caracas, Venezuela. Well as the only way to get there was to sail to Trinidad on an English boat for this everybody needed a passport. Well all got passports except My husband, another boy and myself because my husband is a Bohemain, a Austrian subject, and I although American, because I am married I am also Austrian and the other boy is really Austrian. Well, we simply could not go on the boat, but at the last moment we did get on the boat. But here at Rio we had to get off because we had no passports, so we have been here already since the 25th October, and we are waiting for the boat to take us back to Buenos Aires about 21st November. In the meantime the Company has arrived

[p.] 2/
in Caracas which is 12 days by boat from here, and Rio from Buenos Aires is 5 days. We can make up a Vaudeville act in Buenos Aires. But I feel too terrible for words for I cannot even get back to the states because I am married to a Austrian. I dare not tell Mama really how serious it is and that I can’t get back, for the American consul told me so I could [not] get back now till after the war. I have never heard from you since we were in Lima about Last June. Also from my Mama I also have had no news since June 13th. I have written to mama all the time and I have written to you from every place. I hope you have not written to 309 Broadway, for if you have the letters are lost as something has gone wrong at that office and no one gets any more letters from there. I am sending you new absolutely my permanent address for the next year it is

Mrs. Mascot Vesely
c/o Mr. Zalenka
531 Cochabamba
Buenos Aires
Argentine

It is in care of a friend of ours who will forward me all letters no matter where I am. We are now here in Rio which is certainly a beautiful city as you will see by some of the

[p.] 3/
Post cards I am enclosing [in] this letter for little Nondas. I would be very pleased if you would write to my Mama once. I am just sick with worry for no news and now stranded here. It is all very serious. As I say, I could not let Mama know the half of what I am suffering here because poor darling she would worry too much. I am really burdening you dear friends with my trouble. But I hope things will come out better. How are things going with you? [Well,] I hope. I made a mistake; your last letter is dated from July ◊th 1917 [page torn—two illegible words] feel in ◊◊◊its [page torn—two illegible words] even now but as I know you are really two of my friends and who care of me I write, for otherwise I would not have the heart. You are certainly as a mother to me in your advice and comforting words you write. I do not like people who pretend to be one’s friend and all the time do not care what happened to one or have no sympathy. It is not sympathy I seek but it’s good to feel that you have two friends who really love one. I hope I am not flattering myself too much about that. I am sorry I cannot be very cheerful for this all comes with such a blow, for I fully intended to come home now for Xmas but here I am.

[p.] 4/
The Lord knows how many years I may be exiled from home, and Oh I am so homesick for my Mama & Baby. Just think, on December 23 she will be two years old, walking and talking and I can’t see her. I have spent nearly every night crying myself to sleep. Mme. Pavlova was very sweet. She gave me some letters of introduction to several people and thinks I might be able to teach, but as they are all English and I am now married as they say to an Austrian they certainly could not employ me. Mr. Dandre lefts us a hundred dollars each, but here we have had to live now for 4 weeks and our living cost was $2 each a day without little necessities [page torn] one [needs?] then when [page torn] get to Buenos Aires we will have about $20 left. Now on that we are supposed to get costumes to get work with, for without costumes scenery and music one can get no work, for it is not like in the States where one could do work in musical comedies etc. Here there is only a chance in Vaudeville. But we have wired to Mr. Dandre telling him we must have more money, and we hope we get some more, otherwise the Lord help us. But my Mama must have no idea of all this. It would worry her to death, and really as I am strong and healthy, I perhaps can get some work in a English Business house if I hide the fact that I am married. But as

[p.] 5/
soon as they [hear?] I am married all is finished. Well, I am living in hopes that all will be alright yet. I am sending you a few amateur made Xmas cards as here they do not have Xmas cards. We are getting hotter weather every day, for in South America Xmas is midsummer and July is winter. September October is Spring and May & June is Autumn, so you see it is just the reverse here. Here in Brazil it is funny; for one American dollar you get 3,850 Reis, the smallest coin being 20 Reis which is very seldom seen. The smallest in general use is 100 Reis; therefore for 20 dollars you get 76000 Reis. It sounds [like] a lot but really is nothing. Money spends itself very quickly here, everything being very expensive. We pay 8.000 Reis a day for Room and Board. Our hotel is very nice but cheaper ones cost just as much. Well, my dear friends I suppose you are sick and tired of my woes and troubles and invite me to finish my letter as I will. I sincerely hope you are having better times and you are feeling better.

Always with Love and Kisses and Wishing you both a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Your Friend
Mascot

< Mama’s address is c/o Mrs. Louise Frank.
150 West 62nd Street
New York City N.Y.
U.S.A. >

[p. 6]
P.C.
I wonder if I might ask you a great favour in regards as giving reference for me. You see, dear Mrs. Morton, you knew me before I got married. I am now writing to Mr. Lancing; my only hope is to get a permit from him for me to return to the states.

I was born August 9th 1896 at Lake Titus Malone. My father’s name is Edwin Osboldeston and my Mama married a second time to Mr. F. W. Lucas.

Baby was born in Pittsburgh and I was married in Chicago Ill. August 2nd 1915, which you knew as you knew me when I was single yet. I will mention your name in hope you will not be too much trouble in case any information is asked. This is my only hope that I can say.

With Love.
M
P.C I am also enclosing a snapshot of Pavlova and Poppy on the beach at Bella Vista Panama.

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