A Response: Open Letter to Engineer António Forte, Published in the Real Gazeta Invicta, on October 10, 1920

A Response: Open Letter to Engineer António Forte, published in the Real Gazeta Invicta, on October 10, 1920

Esteemed Engineer António Forte,

I thank you for your letter about the hymn I composed. It deserved my full attention and, it seems, that of many others too. Unfortunately, I must share some news that I’m afraid won’t be of your liking. Following your letter, and the righteous indignation it has caused among good people, sales of the sheet music for my anthem have increased considerably – no doubt due to a commendable instinct on the part of good people to find out about the object of their indignation so that they can be more indignant.

As a result, I am currently in possession of a large sum of money, the merit of which, in fact, is mainly yours. So, not feeling, in good conscience, worthy of this fortune, I intend to donate it to an association, Femina, dedicated to the promotion of the work of women composers and instrumentalists.

I gather from your letter that this is not the fate you would like for the small fortune you so kindly gave me: but, as you wisely said, suffering forms character.

To you!

The chimera