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XXI. Dear Miss Barrett

Friday, 11 November, 1932

Dear Miss Barrett,

The enclosed document was found by Helen Brown Benzinger in an unmarked manila envelope on her mother's hotel room desk, beneath a stack of Faure records. Mrs. Benzinger claims to have only read the cover letter, before entrusting the document to me during her mother's funeral.

After speaking with Margaret's colleagues at the theater, I have determined that you are the intended recipient of this document. Margaret's colleagues assure me that you are a young lady of good character, who can be trusted to keep the confidences of others. So I am carrying out my good friend's unspoken wishes by delivering this document to you.

To the best of my knowledge and recollection, this account is not only factually accurate, but also displays Margaret's characteristic frankness, humor and insight. However, there are significant portions of the account whose accuracy I cannot verify, (and some things cannot be verified by anyone still living.) These also happen to be some of the most sensitive parts of the document.

While I personally have no reason to disbelieve even a single word of this account, please know that if you decide to make it public after all, I will be the first to stand up and remind the world that this is the tale of a self-professed "confabulator" who, we now know, was suffering from an advance-stage brain tumor while writing. I would hate to so discredit a tender story of honor and friendship. However, for the sake of their families, I am obligated to protect the reputable memories of Margaret Brown and Thomas Andrews Jr.

I have not shared this document with anyone else- not even my daughter. I have retained no copy for my own records, so the fate of this story is entirely in your hands. I do not know for certain what Margaret wished to convey to you through this story; I will let the writing speak for itself. I only ask that you remember Margaret, not as the tabloids have already begun to paint her in death, but as she truly was in life.

Margaret Brown was a remarkably strong, intelligent, vivacious woman, who amidst a bustling portfolio of cultural, political, and philanthropic pursuits, still managed to form warm personal connections with a wide variety of individuals. Her friendship enriched the lives of many, and saved the lives of my daughter and me.

Unlike some of her other friends and family, I grew closer to Margaret in the last few years of her life than ever before. It was during this time that I asked her, "How is it that you've been such a good friend to me, after all I put you through in 1912?"

After a moment's thought, she replied with what I then thought of as pluck, but I now recognize was wisdom. "Well, Ruth, I felt an obligation towards you. After all, we were in the same boat."

In conclusion, Miss Josephine Barrett, I hope Margaret's story lifts your spirits as it has lifted mine, and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Ruth DeWitt Bukater