Exhibit 69—August 9, 1897, Marian Davis to W. C. White

I received notice from C. H. Jones that it was planned to publish “Desire of Ages” in the spring of ‘98, and in order to do this, all the copy must be in the hands of the printers as early as September, ‘97.ERWDA 33.3

From what I learn of the artist’s work, I cannot believe that the printers will be ready for the manuscript by September. They have now twenty-five chapters, as finally revised. Twenty-five more were prepared to send, but a few changes will have to be made in them, as I finish the later chapters. For this I am holding them....ERWDA 34.1

Sister White is constantly harassed with the thought that the manuscript should be sent to the printers at once. I wish it were possible to relieve her mind, for the anxiety makes it hard for her to write and for me to work.... Sister White seems inclined to write, and I have no doubt she will bring out many precious things. I hope it will be possible to get them into the book. There is one thing, however, that not even the most competent editor could do—that is prepare the manuscript before it is written.ERWDA 34.2

—White Estate Received Correspondence File. (Written from Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Australia.)