Document text
---Redfield Georgia B.
1E64,5 1937
2/11/37 cc -J.2_, words
Early Life Of Llizabeth Garrett
Given In An Interview.
Feb. 9-l9Z7
"As anfold-timer-aa you s‹,y-I will be glad to tell you any-
thing you would like to her of my life in our Sunshine State
New Mexico; said 3lizaboth Garrett in an appreciated interview
graci(Alsly granted this writer. Appreciated because undue pub-
licity of her splendid achievuments and of her private life,
is avoided by this famous but unspoiled musician and composer.
"MY fLther, Pat Garrett came to Fort Sumner New Mexicc, in
1G78. He end my mother, who irts Polinari Gutiez, were married
in Fort Sumner 4)
"I"Wes born at Eagle Creek, up above the Ruidoso in the White
Mountain country.
"We moved to Roswell (five miles east while I was yet an
infant. I have never been back to my birthplace but believe t
lodge has been built on our old mountain home site.
"You ask what I think of the Slizabeth Garrett bill presented
at this session of the legislature? To grunt me a monthly
payment during my lifetime for what I have accomplished of the
State ,,ong, I think was a beautiful thought.
"I cwe apprecition and thanks to New Mexico people and
particulry to Grace T. Bear an to the "Club 0' Ten" as the
originators of the idea. If this bill i passed New Mexico will
be the firt state tlit has given etes4*. evidence of appreciation
(in such a distinctive way) to a composer author of a State Song.
SF
*Sten it never p, seed the tboiaht alone wiU be ea insplro-
ation to wt)rk ht,r‘er• If it In grealed than I .111 give Up NV
music elsaaet and devote all ay tine in the future/a prodWag
nor .1.been444luip‘thinge that I hope will be Anew along lath up
tat eagm,'0 Pair New Nealeei
1141 childhood days on the teriOnaer Roswell were lopprossither
constricted nor re rioted, 1 led ea ectiVe outdoo• life1 re4e her.
ewe-
sebeek wed 4Mlitekell things eay ohilt; levee to do.
Olto of ny earliest reeollections of G5Igelag, was when
swinging on 0 lint et an qlc, apple tree. I MAO up a sone about
the eppIeblotioona an the Iwe that were baselitg avowal the ‘reee•
!Wirer *etch the odor, of -pplablossona that I don't feclagain
the leafy shadowto under the trees tsmi the bright sun, and hecr
the songs of t?le birdn Ati they oalle to wilt other fron tre,) to
tre- in the orobtrto
'ult. froeuently* Ullteleth 0A.ret-, lky father hull to
br1n h,rnot7 with 4 gun• 1 try to do vo by carrying a tuna
Sliesbett Garrett apoke in preite tad ,.tfection pf or brave
fteter who haa 4,etionpliablW much tt e
*tee officer, who la honored
tn day above ell nun for frel,ing New Mexico from the Outlaw 4nd
nurderer Billy the ride
In writing of ;Iirxbittli CA2rrett !ler friena ldr
ooUr eayas
the ageat six 411;tebath was pXau.-4; in a chool for the
IUn In uatin ezaa. flare her amaicel Oduastion wts begun As h
AttAD-
very sms11 child shoe\els4weittextreordinary nualeal talent, Thie she
inherltelltrom her mAter who wee descended fron the mulish«
Oraducting with honors au) uoptint,14 her nualesl edueEt104 un er
the begt te*cb.rs In CbIoso uziu 2.w York, making her Ivy by
her compositions tn4 teaching* Her vote. Is dramatic soprano*
When you beer :111zsbett Garrett slag w the tate ,omg
I Mew Mexico, with her own people joining In the chorous you
are eampletly earrted air,7*
*Then to listem to her as ;he ring:4 the greet male of the
Old Mtstors on to death, end. resurreetlom,of the fAmlor
is like a bene6lction.
ppeatring In all the largo cities In the tee
lizebeth Garrett hes begin anthusteetleally restaffed* Zho has
be4a nue feted* HS stetter how melt they fete her they can mOt
keep her ballad a (tertian timosfor *daughter of the West" that
-1)
she lc *he ellplys returns to or bel*ved Mew Maxie*
New Maxie° Is proud of alsebeth Garrett and Roswell people
to she Nbloaca to theft for hero rhe has built her "Dream House"
ant. here sho will live her Ufa, en4 write In pang 024 must°
eories of her people ind the lane she loveiis
-ourees Of Inforastion
Intorview-Uistbeth Garrett-floawaU New Me op
And book "Women Who Men Cur Clubo
By MlIdre4 MsrshaIl
Chefted By Elizabeth Garrett
MUsieian Composer And Author of State Song
0 Pair New Mexico
tTkkey-eTf,
SF
Redfield Georgie B. 2/11/37 7y words
beth Garrett
Author AnnMposer of State Song
O lair New Mexico
(Progrtm at the Prison)
they61
They call her blindi
They call her blind: yet could she lead
A thousand soul sick men
From cold gray stones and make them heed
The song of wind and rain,
from gloomy cell and dewy mead
To sun and stars and Sky,
Aid show the message all could read,
Of love, and peace and hope,
They call her blindt
They call her blind, yet she could see
A neighbor's heart in each
A heart that neither Pharisee
Nor Lovits tried to roach.
The wine of song she poured like
The oil of love she bore
And showed to men what men could be
through faith and hope and truth.
They call her blind,'
They call her blind, yet she could paint
A message each Would S88,
A clarion call for those who faint
In notes of sweetest song;
And when they told her of the taint
The men before her bore,
She would not see, but like the saint,
Saw faith and hope and love.
I. call hir blind&
Wet Pools
The verses above written, by "IUM.67616* in appreciation of
blizabeth Garrett and her singing to prisoners in Sing Sing,
expresses, as no other writer has been able to express, the
-pc unusual gift gift of seeing,,this wonderful woman -blind since early
childhood.
S7
-2
Her sympathetiecitiluman nature, seeing good in all, as she did
the prisoners she cheered with song and music, has won for here.
a multitude of friends who love her for this trait of character,
as well as for her ability as a musician author and composer.
To really know Elizabeth Garrett New Mexico's outstanding
musician and composor of the State Song 0 Fair New Mexico
and many other songs of the southwest, one should see her in her
home.
Her five room stucco adobe house -blue trim on the door and
window sills -located at 102 So. Lea Avenue, has all the color and
atmosphere of the early -day Spanish architecture, and in interior
decorations, and furnishings.
The living roam is bright and cheering no shades drawn
here. There is a soft blending of bright colors -gold predominating
in draperies, rugs, and pictures. Flowers are everywhere.
The three hobbies ot Elizabeth Garrett, are the theater,
swimming and housekeeping, As a housekeeper she is unexcelled.
There are no, more highly polished floors, shining windows, or
beautiful)Aroned garments in Eoswell, than are found any day or
hour in Elizabeth Garrett's hone.
During a visit by the writer, Jerry the Oanary on his
swing was enjoying the sunshine from a window. Smutty the eat
was let in by his mistress and introduced.
*I am to have more pets," said Elizabeth Garrett, a
parrot -my motherS_and a wonderful guide dog is to be loaned
to me, from a dog training school in MOrrietown New Jersey,
SF
where they train intelligent dogs to be guides and lend them,
even for a lifetime of use, but they never sell an animal. I am
in sympathy with thier not selling, as they might be some that
fall into unkind hands."
We seated ourselves before the fire in a corner fireplace,
which spoke plainly as being the center (corner) of interest in
this house. There are symbol designs on andirons and Thunder Bird
on the door -knocker both were made by Colonel (*Scotty") Andrew
for this home and were gifts of friends -Mr Icke Strong and his
sister Mrs. Peter Nelson.
'Most everything in my home are gifts from friends and
there are many from my dearly loved sister -Pauline who lives at
Las Cruces." The gentle tough of seeing hands showed me each
prized article. A hand painted tray, "Spanish Seniorita"-work
of an artist friend -had the place of honor over the fireplace.
A splendid painting San il Defonzo, by Hazel Hanson, a framed
western picture and poem "Out In New Mexico" by Annie Laurie
Snort', a Spanish vase, inlaid coffee tablo, stools, chairs, lamps,
and bright colored Navajo rugs. All these gifts for this *Dream
House" -longed for, planned for, and at last came true in all its
quaint artistry of construction.
The house is dedicated to glizabeth Garretts beloved mother-
Palinaria Outiez Garrett, who passed on to a home in the Great
Beyond 2 weeks after a visit to her daughter it Roswell.
Diring the visit Mrs. Garrett as a widow of Pat Garrett,
famous pioneer peace officer of the Southwest, was the inter-
esting guest of honor at the Old Timer's Day Celebration of
October 1936. Mrs. Garrett was proclaimed *queen Of Old Timers*
SF
-4-
fo2 that a.y.
Elizabeth Garrett s house planned by her with the assistance
of Frank Stanhardt,architict,is a rarealation of the unusual
character and individuality of a true "Daughter of the West"
who has gone far, accomplished much, and is one of the most
beloved women of New Mexico, just as her father Pat Garrett
was one of the most belayed of man.
SIP