Near the end of her life Nancy Russell recalled with satisfaction that she and her husband had seldom been separated from each other. This letter marks one of those rare occasions when Mrs. Russell traveled without her doting husband in tow; she journeyed to Duluth, Minnesota, to manage an exhibition of the artist’s oils and bronzes. Russell’s poignant letter reveals the sense of a comfortable home routine, something he always treasured. “Banty” was the nickname given to Mary B. De Yong, who looked after their adopted son, Jack, when the Russells were away.