Gertrude Stein - 1874 - 1946

Gertrude Stein was born Feb. 3, 1874, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania to Daniel and Amelia Stein, spent her infancy in Vienna and Paris, then later grew up in Oakland, California. She studied psychology at Radcliffe under William James, and apparently had somewhat of a close friendship with the philosopher. During final examinations she'd become exhausted going to the opera late all week, and in the final exam she simply wrote James a note that said, "I am so sorry but I really do not feel a bit like an examination paper in philosophy to-day," and refused to take the exam. James sent her a postcard the next day saying he'd often felt that way himself as a student, and he gave her an A in the class.

A LONG DRESS

by: Gertrude Stein (1874-1946)

HAT is the current that makes machinery, that makes it crackle, what is the current that presents a long line and a necessary waist. What is this current.

What is the wind, what is it.

Where is the serene length, it is there and a dark place is not a dark place, only a white and red are black, only a yellow and green are blue, a pink is scarlet, a bow is every color. A line distinguishes it. A line just distinguishes it.

"A Long Dress" is reprinted from Tender Buttons: Objects Food Rooms. Gertrude Stein. New York: Claire Marie, 1914.