CHURCHILL, Winston S.

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Autograph letter signed twice, admonishing his manager for the poor returns of his American tour. A terse unpublished letter to James Burton Pond, the manager of Churchill's first American lecture tour, written during the final days and reflecting the tensions between Pond and his young client; signed "WSC" at end and again under the recipient's address.Churchill was first elected to Parliament on 2 October 1900, but postponed entry into the House for a lecture tour of Britain, the United States, and Canada, hoping to capitalize on his Boer War exploits. The British tour was a success, but Churchill was unhappy with the American tour (which commenced in New York on 8 December). Churchill was incensed by the low turnout and revenues, the misleading advertisements surrounding his talks, and the poor accommodation. For all of these offences he blamed Pond.Churchill writes to Pond: "I have decided in order to keep faith with the public to adhere to the engagements made for tonight and tomorrow night. Please arrange for me to stop at the local hotel in Springfield. I do not wish to accept private hospitality. Unless there is a marked change in the success of the tour after the Christmas season is over, I shall return to England about the middle of January, as I have many calls upon my time there, and the low profits of this country do not encourage me to continue".Churchill was unimpressed with Pond, whom he described in a letter to his mother on 1 January 1901 as "a vulgar Yankee

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