The pearl. The prize. The event I had imagined since first I stepped into the library where Emilie Loring wrote twenty-five of her thirty novels: the Boston Athenaeum.
Fresh from a book talk at the Sturgis Library in Barnstable, I left the Cape and drove to Boston. I’d often thought of staying at the elegant Omni Parker House where both the Boston Cream Pie and Parker House roll originated. It’s a pricey stay, but this was a special occasion. I went for it.
The Old City Hall and King’s Chapel were right outside my window–a great location in downtown Boston. I put on comfy shoes and walked quickly to see my local touchstones: the State House dome, swan boats in the Public Garden, and Emilie’s home on Chestnut Street.
A first for me, I took a peek inside the Hotel Bellevue, Emilie’s sometime residence, which is directly across the street from the Boston Athenaeum. (Thank you to the residents with key cards who let me go in with them.) What a beautiful entrance from the street! It’s an apartment building now, but the entrance hall and lobby retain enough original features to imagine what it was like for Emilie to finish a day of writing and cross the street to her home away from home.
My husband, Pat, joined me the next evening, and we walked to the North End where terrific Italian restaurants line both sides of Hanover Street. Our lobster ravioli and risotto dishes were great, and we thought we were full… until we saw the Modern Pastry shop! Yes, we might manage just a bit more…
Tuesday, May 16th. The Boston Athenaeum, at 10 1/2 Beacon Street, was barely a block from my hotel, and I went early to set up. Another elegant entrance!
The new extension at 14 Beacon incorporates the old Congregational House where Victor Loring had business as president of the Congregational Brotherhood of Massachusetts.
It’s hard to overemphasize how lovely this place is, and I kept reminding myself, “These special rooms are much as they were when Emilie came here daily to write.” Portraits by John Singer Sergeant and Thomas Sully hung in groups, flanked by statues and busts from famous collections. The Sully, in particular, brought to mind Fair Tomorrow:
A long gone Leigh as Thomas Sully had seen him. Black coat, white stock, snowy hair, sparse on top, thick and waving over the ears. Speculative blue eyes under bushy gray brows, florid complexion, a hawk nose, which almost met the thin line of clamped lips.
Fair Tomorrow
Gradually, my very special audience arrived–Emilie’s granddaughter Eve, grandson Selden’s wife, Tuulikki, and a host of Emilie’s great- and great-great-grandchildren. Book reviewer Constance Martin was in the audience, as were five Boston biographers, Athenaeum members, and even a couple from Australia who happened by and decided to stay for the presentation.
Some of you attended virtually–thank you. One person commented in the chat that, in her high school days, she had worked for “Mrs. Loring.” I didn’t see that until afterward, and I wondered, “Which Mrs. Loring?!” If that person is reading this now, drop me a note; I want to hear more.
The “show” opened with a 1928 home movie, set to music, of Emilie and Victor descending the stairs of “The Ledges,” their guest cottage in Blue Hill. There is footage that I didn’t show, but these are, as far as I know, the only moving images of Emilie. Her grandson Selden had the movie digitized, and when I first saw her, alive! moving! I was transfixed.
Then it was my turn, and Happy Landings: Emilie Loring’s Life, Writing, and Wisdom took the stage with 65 slides about the author’s life and works.
I don’t know why we save thank yous for the ends of presentations. I could thank the Loring grandchildren at the beginning, middle, and end.
All of the Athenaeum’s “Emilies” were gathered together in a nice display. Inside their covers were notations, pasted reviews, and check-out slips– fun material for a later blog post.
Beacon Hill Books came with copies of Happy Landings for me to sign and sell. I am new to this part, and I find it a little hard to hold a conversation and think of an inscription at the same time.
The crowning touch to a wonderful day was the catered reception hosted by Valentine Loring’s daughter, Kate, in a light-filled room with huge windows overlooking the Granary Burial Ground–the same scene that Emilie saw when she wrote. The reception was no small thing to put together–floral displays, menus, numbers… the many details that made the event run smoothly while we enjoyed ourselves.
Thank you, Kate!!!
It is dear to know that Valentine was an active participant in the planning. Her memorial service was held ten days before we all gathered in Boston, and Val’s sister Linda passed a month earlier. These sad losses made the family’s attendance and support all the more meaningful, with those who were there remembering those who got us there.
I want you to notice a special detail. Emilie’s great-great-granddaughter Liz wore Emilie’s double strand of pearls. SO special!!! She shared that Clara Endicott Sears gave these pearls to Emilie in 1930. Thank you for sharing them with us, Liz!
You never get to visit as much as you want, and you never get as many photos as you want to have afterwards. A conversation begins, and soon, you’re eating the next hors d’oeuvres and talking to the next person, and time gets away from you. Eve, Bill, Ashley, Hollis, Bruce, Martha… If any of you have photos, please send them to me!
All departed, and I stopped by the front desk on my way out. There, on the counter, was Happy Landings, wearing its new, clear cover and library call numbers. What a joy it is to see this. A real book. In a special library.
My sister asked me later, “How did it feel?”
I answered, “Like graduation. A wonderful celebration after a big accomplishment, with loved ones there to support me.”
The Emilie Loring Collection 
I enjoyed reading all the happenings in Boston and as I read more of your book I can relate to those places. You did a fabulous job with the photos and descriptions of the events especially the showing of the film on Emilie coming alive. It also touched me deeply after enjoying the chapters on Alaska and Blue Hill Maine and reminiscing on our stay there with our dear friends Tony and Nancy Butler. In fact, their home where we stayed was exactly like the photo in the book of Emilie and Victor since their house was built in 1909. Congratulations on an excellent presentation and book signings! I am so proud of you! Love and I look forward to your presentation in Blue Hill in July. There wasn’t a link yet to register. Raqui
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What a wonderful time you had! I must thank you again for this site. I spent time today reading through a lot of your book descriptions and it makes me want to renew my acquaintance with several old friends! Like many of your readers, I read my first Emilie Loring book as a teenager — age 15. It was a rainy summer day and I was complaining about being bored. My mother gave me “Where Beauty Dwells” and that did it. I was hooked from the beginning. And my sister, who is a year younger than I, got hooked too! I remember a few years later I got her fluffy bedroom slippers for Christmas and put Emilie Loring paperbacks in each one. Several years ago I had an unbelievable stroke of luck. A bookseller on Abebooks was selling every Emilie Loring book, in hardcover, and many with dust jackets for $350. I didn’t hesitate. I bought them and they are some of my most treasured possessions. It’s wonderful to find someone who knows Emilie so well on this site. I just ordered “Happy Landings” and can’t wait to read it. Thank you again.
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You are most welcome. The fluffy bedroom slippers stuffed with Emilies is a great image! What fun, and how nice, that you had your sister and your mother with whom to share the books. Was your mother an Emilie Loring reader, too, or did she just happen to choose “Where Beauty Dwells” for you?
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She was an avid reader and had all the Grosset and Dunlap editions. She used to tell me about how she’d haunt the bookstore every year to grab the newest one as soon as it was in stock. I was so fortunate to have a mother who introduced me to the love of reading!
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Dear Patti, It was just marvelous to attend your presentation on “Happy Landings” at the Athenaeum! It was so very interesting especially seeing the movie of Emilie live and your explanation of her novels in chronological order and by general theme. Fascinating! Loved seeing all the photos of your weekend in Boston, the Loring family, your book signing and the flowers from the reception too:) Such a most memorable day and congratulations on your beautiful book talk and having “Happy Landings” now in the Athenaeum’s permanent collection!! All best wishes, Kate
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Thank you, Kate. I have had few events as meaningful to me as making that presentation with your family in attendance. Everything about it and the reception that you hosted was as satisfying as I could ever have imagined. May the story of your great-grandmother’s life and determinedly optimistic outlook spread far and wide.
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Hello Patti! I am so sorry to be absent from commenting here. I feel like I’ve been living episodically for several months now. Some challenges getting our young adult children situated, a brother in law passed away, and my father passed away last week. We just had the funeral Friday. My big speech was a couple minutes eulogy. 🙂 Congrats to your talk and book tour. The flowers are lovely as well.
I’m glad I read “Happy Landings” right away. I’m hoping to savor a 2nd read on my deck this summer, as things slow down. 🙂
Happy Landings!
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I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your father and your brother-in-law, Peggy. Please forgive me for my tardy response. The past two weeks have been a blur of travel and then working hard to settle my mother’s home and caregiving. Today, I have a rare two hours to come up for air. These are the kinds of times that Emilie Loring knew so well, the times for which her books are written–absorbing, pleasant, and heartening. I hope you find comfort and get to smoother waters soon.
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So glad you could stay at the Parker House and see the Bellevue. A wonderful blog post about a very special book talk!
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Thanks! I was so happy to see you there.
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Brava, Patti! Thank you for this excellent report on an excellent occasion. You inspire us all ~ as did Emilie.
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Thanks, Carol, and congratulations to you on your “redirection!”
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Aloha! Congratulations! You’ve landed your book on the official library shelf! You are still in flight yourself. Your engine is running strong and true. You and your husband are flying over the landscape, tipping your wings to all who are watching your celebratory flight. I applaud your success. Enjoy your journey and satisfaction of a job well done. Aloha, Pam
Sent from my iPad
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CONGRATULATIONS! What an amazing event with all the film and book signings and the reception surrounded by the beauty of the place and the history as you could imagine Emilie there. I am sure the family is thrilled with your work and bringing her back to life. I look forward to hearing from you when we meet on Thursday, June 1st at 11:0 AM PST or 2:00 PM EST. I am enjoying your book immensely reading every afternoon a chapter and since it is so descriptive I could visualize the people and places. Love and so proud of you! Raqui
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Thank you, Raqui. I’m looking forward to our next meeting!
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I would like you to tell us all the stories as you toured and did your book signings. See you on the 1st of June at our Defenders Meeting. Love, Raqui
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Soooo very proud of Patti!!!
I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling due to your great accomplishment! Keep us all posted of your many events…again, SO VERY VERY PROUD OF YOU PATTI!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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Thank you, Janet! 🥰
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