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<\/a><\/p>\n\nOne of Groucho Marx’s letters to Peter Lorre, having to do with Ulysses<\/i> that makes me so happy. Peter Lorre, sending Groucho a book explaining James Joyce’s Ulysses<\/i>?? This makes me feel that the world is a place that not only makes sense but is filled with magic. <\/p>\n October 5, 1961<\/p>\n Dear Peter:<\/p>\n It was very thoughtful of you to send me a book explaining James Joyce\u2019s \u201cUlysses\u201d. All I need now is another book explaining this study by Stuart Gilbert who, if memory serves, painted the celebrated picture of George Washington which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum. I realize that there is some two hundred years\u2019 difference in their ages, but any man who can explain Joyce must be very old and very wise.<\/p>\n You disappeared rather mysteriously the other night, but I attribute this to your life of crime in the movies.<\/p>\n Best to you both.<\/p>\n Regards, Groucho and T.S. Eliot exchanged many letters, believe it or not. They were mutual admirers, pen pals, they sent one another pictures of themselves. <\/p>\n T.S. Eliot wrote to Groucho:<\/p>\n 26th April, 1961<\/p>\n Dear Groucho Marx,<\/p>\n This is to let you know that your portrait has arrived and has given me great joy and will soon appear in its frame on my wall with other famous friends such as W.B. Yeats and Paul Valery. Whether you really want a photograph of me or whether you merely asked for it out of politeness, you are going to get one anyway. I am ordering a copy of one of my better ones and I shall certainly inscribe it with my gratitude and assurance and admiration. You will have learned that you are my most coveted pin-up. I shall be happy to occupy a much humbler place in your collection.<\/p>\n And incidentally, if and when you and Mrs. Marx are in London, my wife and I hope that you will dine with us.<\/p>\n Yours very sincerely, P.S. I like cigars too but there isn\u2019t any cigar in my portrait either.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In 1963, Marx heard that Eliot had been ill. He dashed off this note.<\/p>\n January 25, 1963<\/p>\n Dear Mr. Eliot:<\/p>\n I read in the current Time Magazine that you are ill. I just want you to know that I am rooting for your quick recovery. First because of your contributions to literature and, then, the fact that under the most trying conditions you never stopped smoking cigars.<\/p>\n Hurry up and get well.<\/p>\n Regards, On June 3, 1964, Eliot wrote a letter to Groucho, saying:<\/p>\n The picture of you in the newspaper saying that, amongst other reasons, you have come to London to see me has greatly enhanced my credit line in the neighborhood, and particularly with the greengrocer across the street.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Groucho also corresponded quite a bit with E.B. White. Here’s one of those letters:<\/p>\n April 5, 1954.<\/p>\n Dear Mr. White,<\/p>\n I received your note. I am now willing to concede that you are a fairly migratory gent. When I arrived in New York I was told you were in Florida. When I called you again they said you were in Maine.<\/p>\n I went to New York ostensibly to do the Rodgers and Hammerstein festival. Actually I came to New York to cut up some touches with the author of “Charlotte’s Web.”<\/p>\n Some years ago I had a dinner date with you and Ross. He showed up but you failed to appear. It’s strange–I have no difficulty meeting Nick Kenny, Toots Shor, and other minor luminaries in New York, but you have adopted the mantle of Garbo and to me you are just a wraithlike figure who lives suspended in a spirit world.<\/p>\n Sincerely yours,<\/p>\n Groucho Marx <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here is White’s reply:<\/p>\n April 12, 1954.<\/p>\n Dear Mr. Marx,<\/p>\n Before our correspondence attains the intensity of the Shaw-Terry letters, I want to explain my suspension in the spirit world–which is sometimes misinterpreted. Ross had a theory that if he could throw me with a better class of people, I might be more productive. (Ross entertained some incredibly unsound ideas and at great cost to himself.) It is nice here in the spirit world and if you get here I would like to buy you a drink. Garbo is here. We maintain separate residences, for appearances’ sake.<\/p>\n Sincerely, The entire Groucho Marx collection of letters is fantastic: The Groucho Letters: Letters from and to Groucho Marx<\/a>
\nGroucho<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nT.S. Eliot<\/p>\n
\nGroucho Marx<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAt any rate, once in a while he would pry me loose, and on the whole they were miserable experiences for the person who got involved. I think of an evening when he attempted to throw me with Ginger Rogers and we all went down to Chinatown for a debauch that should live forever in Miss Rogers’ memory as an example of midnight stagnation. (Another Ross illusion was that he understood Chinese food.)<\/p>\n
\nE. B. White<\/p><\/blockquote>\n