Mary Ryott Sheepshanks to Jane Addams, February 21, 1927

Feb 21, 1927

My dear Miss Addams,

Thank you very much for your letter enclosing one from Vilma Glücklich. I was so glad to hear from you, & also just before I had heard about you from Mrs Urie & about the dinner to you. I was so very glad, & enjoyed seeing the writings. It is so good to know that your fellow citizens have shown their affection & appreciation in such a heart felt way.

Well, about Geneva -- I am going to risk it & try my hand if the Comtee so wish.

You know I had appendicitis before Xmas & was as nearly as possible dead -- it just wanted two hours the surgeon said. And I made a really astonishing recovery, so I feel encouraged to try a real job. [page 2] My complaint is unluckily, still active, but I feel well in myself & since Xmas have been doing regular work at our Radio office, doing all their foreign newspapers & so on, quite dull, but long hours & somewhat of a test, & I am none the worse. Still I never know, it will depend on whether I can sleep at Geneva, that is my weakest point, & if I can't sleep I collapse. But I think I have been very frank & warned the Comtee of my disabilities & if they are willing to risk it I am, & I hope & think they are going to appoint a second string who will step into my shoes if I do break down. I am fully aware of my inadequacy in other ways, but apparently none of our first rate people can or will leave the work they are doing each in her own country -- I am afraid I shall be a disappointment to all who put confidence in me. I shall make all sorts of mistakes & lose what friends I have, but still I will try if they want me. [page 3]

It certainly is an inducement to me to make the effort, to know that you want me to try it. I haven't really the knowledge or [vigor] or initiative that the work needs, but the people who have all the qualities are not available it seems.

I only hope the sections will really take more interest in Geneva & support it better in every way, with interest & information, & really cooperate. They can't expect it to go well if they give nothing but criticism. Poor Madeleine Doty hasn't had a bed of roses. I have been seeing Mme Duchêne & Catherine Marshall & have talked over the work to a certain extent. I fear I can't go to Liège as they wish -- but I shall be at the summer school at Gland in August & there is to be a comtee then too, so I can discuss the work then with the comtee. [page 4]

I think M. Doty will publish Pax in America for America & H.Q. will only publish occasional letters or bulletins. I gather my work will be 1) keeping the sections fully informed of each other's doings & of international happenings & L. of N. activities -- [coordinating] their work & arranging for joint action, helping on the work of commissions & referents; 2) bringing the influence of the W.I.L. to bear where possible on the L. of N. keeping in close touch with L. of N. developments, getting information from them for our sections; 3) befriending & stimulating new or young W.I.L. sections especially in E. Europe.

From another aspect there are three sorts of work, 1) office correspondence & routine; 2) political outside work; 3) social, seeing & receiving Geneva visitors & so on.

But of course it all grows & develops when one is in it. I am looking forward keenly in some ways [though] rather dreading it in others.

With very affectionate regards dear Miss Addams.

Mary Sheepshanks