Charles

ARI

Charles, what books did Miss Rand inscribe for you?

CHARLES

I have two inscribed books. My copy of Night of January 16th reads, “To Charles—Happy Fourth Anniversary!—Affectionately, Ayn, 1969.”

The other one is Atlas Shrugged. “To Charles—with my congratulations on the happiness you have achieved, and my best wishes for a future of ever-growing achievement—Affectionately, Ayn, 11/15/65.”

ARI

Does the date commemorate any event?

CHARLES

The event was a conversation I had with Ayn about how Objectivism had affected my life.

ARI

And how had it?

CHARLES

In essence, it taught me that seeking happiness was morally right and the purpose of living. My reason for having the conversation was to thank her for Objectivism and tell her how it had enriched my life. And, most important, Objectivism brought Mary Ann and me together, and that is and always will be the source of the greatest happiness for both of us. Not long after the conversation, Ayn gave me the inscribed copy of Atlas.

ARI

Did she explain the reason for the inscription?

CHARLES

She didn’t have to. One of the points she stressed in that conversation was that happiness can be achieved. It was up to each of us to decide what we wanted of life, to think about what values to pursue and what goals to reach—in effect, to think about what would make us happy. There are causes for the state of happiness which we can enact. And to reach that state is an achievement. That’s the focus of the inscription, and that’s why I treasure it.

ARI

Do you have other souvenirs?

CHARLES

I have a great many from the stamp collecting days with Ayn. I should say stamp collecting years—we started in 1971 and continued until her death in 1982. Sharing this hobby was one of the most enjoyable aspects of our friendship.

Earlier, I spoke about collecting her favorite stamps that were illustrated in her article “Why I Like Stamp Collecting.” I mounted the actual stamps over the illustrations and showed her the results of my work. And, of course, I thanked her for inspiring me to revive my interest in stamps. She inscribed that copy of the article, “To Charles and Mary Ann—Thank you! Ayn Rand, 5/10/71.”

ARI

What are the other stamp souvenirs?

CHARLES

Correspondence about stamps, including a number of thank-you notes from Ayn for stamps I had sent to her. Stamps Auction Receipt from
Ayn Rand I have lists of stamps she needed for her collection. And many glassine envelopes she labeled which contained stamps she sent to me—stamps she couldn’t use for one reason or another. And accountings. One of my favorites is a scrap of paper with a brief, handwritten accounting she sent regarding some stamps she took from an album in that worldwide collection I talked about. It reads, “Total: I have taken 39 stamps—at 2¢ per stamp = 78¢ AR.”

ARI

Do you have any souvenirs relating to Frank O’Connor?

CHARLES

Yes, indeed. We have four of his paintings, all still lifes. One of them is the very first still life he did in oil. It shows a crystal decanter with green liqueur, and a silver candelabrum, and a copper tray, some fruit—all lit by sunlight. Frank never gave it a title, but Ayn always called it “Benevolent Universe.” We also have the candelabrum, which was one of a pair; we have both.

Another painting is the Still Life with Apples, a simple composition with three red apples and a small, blue ceramic vase. We have that vase, also. Mary Ann often fills it with perky daisies.

The other still lifes are studies in light and texture. One, which is unfinished, includes some artist’s materials—a tube of paint, a bottle of oil, a package of cigarettes. The other still life includes a brick-colored container full of art brushes casting prominent and sharp shadows on an adjacent wall, some books (one of which is blue-green and looks like it could be Atlas Shrugged), a newspaper—all sitting on a lustrous surface. Both paintings have sections of drapes in the background, done in Frank’s unique style of rendering cloth.

ARI

He didn’t give titles to these paintings?

CHARLES

No. They weren’t fully finished, and he never titled a painting until it was finished to his satisfaction.

We also have the toy drum and the artist’s wooden anatomical model Frank used in Diminishing Returns.

ARI

How about photographs of the Sures with the O’Connors?

CHARLES

Very few of those, just the ones from our wedding album. Ayn always discouraged snapshots, so I seldom carried a camera with me on our trips to New York. But for our wedding, there were no restrictions. We didn’t have a professional photographer, but many guests there had cameras. Ayn wanted a picture of the four of us, and she and Frank posed with us for that memorable occasion. We all look so happy together. It’s the best souvenir of the wonderful friendship we had with Ayn and Frank.