Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis (22 page)

F
ROM
A
LICE
M
ITCHELL TO
F
REDA
W
ARD

Memphis, Tenn., Sunday, May 11, 1891

“LOVE”—As I have nothing to do and nobody to talk to I will write to my Pitty Sing.
¹⁴⁹
Mattie has gone to church with Mr. Farl and Addie is talking to Frank and Ida. Will did not come today. I thought you might come this evening. I watched for you.

Hun, please tell me why you thought that ivy would not grow; will you? I tell you almost anything you ask me.

F
ROM
F
REDA
W
ARD TO
A
LICE
M
ITCHELL

Golddust, Tenn., July 26, 18[91]

YBIR—Your letter was received and I enjoyed it, oh, so much, even if you did fuss at me all the way through it. Yes, loved one; I love Freda [Alice’s alter ego] dearly, and I would give anything in this world (but A. J. W.) [Alvin J. Ward] if she had only lived. I wanted to see her so bad. We all [g]ot to talking about her this afternoon at Mrs. Matthews’, and I couldn’t help but cry. Mrs. M made them stop talking about [her]. She said she don’t want to make me feel bad. I tried . . . not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. I know you love me best. Love, I knew it long before Freda (YBIR) died. I know you are so sweet, but I love you better than any one in the world. Monday afternoon, Alvin, forgive me. I have done what you heard me tell Lil I was going to do. No, love, I am not keeping my promise, but I will be true to you this time and tell you all about it. Sweetheart, I didn’t think what I was doing when I did it. I did not think I was deceiving you when I did it. But I more than worship you, sweetheart, and I only love A. R. [Ashley Roselle]. I swear I don’t even love him now as much as I did when you were here. Believe me, Alvin, I am trying not to love him.

I didn’t even think of doing such a thing until Lil told me to do it, and a week after you left this is what I wrote to him. Sweetheart, BELIEVE me, I will tell you the honest truth.

L
ETTER FROM
A
LICE
(
UNDER THE NAME
“F
REDA
M
ITCHELL
”)
AND
L
ILLIE
J
OHNSON TO AN ACTOR THEY HAD MET ON THE ELECTRIC CAR LINE

Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 22, 1890

Mr. R. F. Chartrand:

KIND FRIEND—As you have been so kind to us, and you are going away, we thought we would return it by sending you a few flowers. Hoping this will not be the last time we see you, we remain yours truly,

FREDA MITCHELL and LILLIE JOHNSON

F
ROM
A
LICE
M
ITCHELL
(
WRITING AS ANOTHER ONE OF HER ALTER EGOS
, F
REDA
M
YRNA
W
ARD, AN ACTRESS
)

Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1890

Unknown Friend—I am an actress. I have pearl-white teeth, blue eyes and light hair. I am 17 years of age, I have been in Memphis this summer with the Fishcer Opera Co. After I left Memphis I went to Greenville for three nights and then to St. Louis. I will not go on the stage this winter, and thought I would write you for a pastime, or what may follow. Next summer I will join
the Fisher Opera Co. again, and next winter will travel with the “Said Pasha” Opera Company. I will not write to many, as I will be studying. I was going to join the Baker Opera Co. this winter, but I will rest and write to you. If I like you I will write to you while I am travelling, and tell you all that goes on. My home is in Memphis, but as I belong to a St. Louis troupe I am in St. Lois more than any other place.

Please send me your photo, and I will do the same. Well, I will not stop and write you a long letter next time. Hoping you will do the same, I am very truly yours.

Freda Ward

Please address Miss Freda Ward, care general delivery, Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis, Tenn. Sept. 17, 1890

My Own Dear Jim—Your appreciated letter was received yesterday with much pleasure. I knew very well Freda’s Jim would not go back on her. He is too cute to do anything like that.

You may think I was joking, but, really, I admire you very much. I have written to others, and I think you are the nicest of the three. I prefer you and think I will drop the others entirely. I received a letter from one yesterday. I do not like him very much, and don’t think I will answer it.

My dear Jim beats them all. He is my favorite.

I will wait once more for your photo, but this is the last time I will trust you. As you have kept your promises thus far, I suppose you will send it. It is to be hoped you will.

You are just the right age for me; you hit it exactly. I will always have you for my Jim, even if you do go back on me. I don’t think I will ever forget you, dear Jim.

Yes, Freda Ward is my name. My true name is Freda Myra Ward, but my stage name is Myra Ward. I didn’t change it much as most of them in the first troupe I joined didn’t change their names at all.

I am glad you and your girl “don’t speak as you pass by” or some other girl would be jealous. The fair commenced here yesterday. I expect I will go Wednesday.

I wish you were here to go with me. I would enjoy it so much if you were only with me. You asked me where my company plays when in St. Louis. Once when I was there, I played three nights at the Standard Theater, but the other times I played at the Grand Opera House. I have played everything from soub parts to tragedy roles. I do not care much for tragedy.

A comic opera suits me best. I dearly love the stage, and in fact, I enjoy my part. Little Lind has left the London Gaiety Company.

Ben Lodge, one of our troupe, wrote me week before last and said he was looking for a job. I heard from him Friday, and he is engaged as leading comedian of the Bancroft Opera Company. He is a great favorite in Boston, where the company appears.

As a professional, Miss Ruth Carpenter made her first appearance with Roland Reed in “The Woman Hater,” as Alice Lane.

Will you please tell me the name of your chum that traveled with the company to which Edith Kingdon belonged?

I will not send you a lock of my hair this time, but as I admire you so much will be sure to send it next time, and it will be my own hair. Have you a photo of yourself that I could put in my watch? That is the latest here.

The little actress you were badly “gone on” last winter was Kate Castleton (or Mrs. Mary Phillips). I don’t much blame you. She is cute. I am her height; not quite so flashy: my eyes are a darker blue, and my hair is the same color (although she wore a wig). I think she sings the “Spider and the Fly” and “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls” in that play. It was “A Paper Doll.”

I am almost certain it was the same one you were speaking of.

They have new words for the “Spider and the Fly” now.

I can truly say I have loved some boys, but I think if I would meet you I “wouldn’t fall in love, but I would rise in love” with you.

I loved one of the actors last summer, and I think he thought a great deal of me, too, but he has joined the Said Pasha Opera company now. He will come back again this spring.

You come, too, and see if you can’t get ahead of him. He is handsome, but I don’t care for that.

There is one in St. Louis now that I love. He is not good looking, but I am almost certain he thinks more of me than I do of him. Don’t get jealous, now, Jim. I don’t intend to marry an actor: in fact, I think I am too young yet to.

Well, I think this letter long enough; longer than I expected.

Don’t fall in love with another married actress before I come along.

Kate Castleton owns property in California. I suppose that is what you were after. Please write soon to your

Freda (Yes, I.L.Y.)
¹⁵⁰

F
ROM
A
LICE
M
ITCHELL
(
WRITING AS ANOTHER ONE OF HER ALTER EGOS,
F
REDA
W
ARD’S SISTER,
W
ANDER) TO
J
IM IN
W
ELLSVILLE,
M
O
.

Memphis, Tenn., November 23, 1890

Dear Jim—I have heard Freda speak of you so much that I have come to the conclusion that I can love you also.

I am her sister and am the same size, same age, just like her and everything, except she is about an inch taller than I am, and she has dark blue eyes and I have dark brown.

She says your eyes are blue. I love blue eyes, although I prefer dark blue, but
of course you cannot get everything you wish for.

Next Wednesday is my birthday. I will be 18.

You are just the right age for me, dear Jimmie. Have me for your sweetheart, will you, Jim dear?

I neither would want for my beau a silly little boy nor an old man. I think you will suit me exactly.

Darling Jim, please don’t drop me as you did Freddie.

I had my photo taken last week, and every time the photographer looked at me I laughed.

In the end he took it while I was laughing.

Send me one of yours, and I will send you one of mine in return.

If you think Freddie is pretty you will think I am pretty, because you can hardly tell us apart, unless you look at our eyes.

I will not write any more this time, so write me a sweet letter Jim dear.

Yours truly,

Wander

Please address Miss Wander Ward, care of Edmonson’s drug store, corner Lauderdale Street and Mississippi Avenue, Memphis, Tenn.

A
LICE
M
ITCHELL’S LAST LETTER AS
F
REDA
W
ARD TO
J
IM IN
W
ELLSVILLE
, M
O
.