TYPED LETTER SIGNED by AUGUST BELMONT, JR., the American financier who funded the construction of the New York Subway and Belmont Park Racetrack, in reply to an invitation by James B. Pond to join his reception committee for Maeterlinck's first American lecture. by Belmont, August Jr. (1853-1924). American financier and thoroughbred racehorse owner who financed construction of the original NY Subway, the Cape Cod Canal, and built New York's Belmont Park racetrack - 1919.

New York, December 15, 1919., 1919.. Very good. - Over 40 words typed on 9-1/4 inch high by 7-3/4 inch wide "43 Exchange Place, New York" stationery with a black mourning border framing the top and side edges. Responding to the American impresario and lecture agent James B. Pond's invitation to join as a member of the reception committee welcoming Maurice Maeterlinck to America, August Belmont, Jr. replies that "I shall not be in New York the first part of January and regret, therefore, that I cannot serve on the Honorary Reception Committee to receive Maurice Maeterlinck. Signed "August Belmont". The last letter of Belmont's signature is smudged. Folded for mailing, the bottom edge is cropped, not affecting the text or signature and there is a small piece out from the top left corner. Very good. <p>The American financier August Belmont, Jr. (1853-1924) financed the construction of the original New York Subway which took place from 1900 to 1904 and headed the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) which operates NY's transit system. He also owned the world's only private subway car, the Mineola. He financed the construction of Massachusetts' Cape Cod Canal. The owner of thoroughbred horses, Belmont built New York's Belmont Park racetrack. He was also invested in the railroads, serving as chairman of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and director of the Southern Pacific Co. At the age of 64 he volunteered to serve in the First World War and was sent to France, receiving a commission as a major in the US Army Air Service. Assigned to the AEF, he conducted negotiations to procure supplies from the government of Spain. Belmont was the fist president of The Jockey Club, served as chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, was president of the New York Athletic Club and was the 4th president of the American Kennel Club.<p>James B. Pond, the American impresario and lecture agent who headed the J.B. Pond Lyceum Bureau, brought the great Belgian poet Maurice Maeterlinck to America for a series of lectures. The first lecture took place at Carnegie hall on January 2nd, 1920. Unfortunately Maeterlinck failed to carry out his intention to lecture in English because of his labored "phonetic" English. He declared his intention to continue his lectures in French and have the translation read by another person. As a result, the lecture tour was a failure and lawsuits ensued on both sides.