In 1903, General and Mrs. William F. Draper were expecting that the Statue of Hope, being created in Rome by Waldo Story, would soon be arriving in Hopedale. However they began to hear rumors that Story had "run off" with an opera singer and was no longer at work at his studio. In the letter above, the general appears to be trying to delicately raise the subject of the "gossip" that he has heard. The rumor turned out to be true, but Story completed the statue and it arrived in Hopedale in 1904.    The original letter is at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin. Thanks to Kathleen Lawrence of George Washington University for making us aware of it, and to Jean Cannon of the Ransom Center for sending a copy to us.                     More on the Statue of Hope                  HOME