An Actual Letter Ayn Rand Wrote To An Actual Teenage Girl

Previously: Ayn Rand, Cat Fancier.

The Letters of Ayn Rand is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. It is a perpetual source of comfort and inspiration to me. Every morning, Ayn Rand must have thrust herself forth from her steel bed and asked herself “What is the most Ayn Rand thing that I can do today?”

On May 22, 1949, the answer was to write a letter to her young niece, who had sent her a short note asking to borrow $25 for a new dress. Here was Ayn’s reply.

“No, I won’t send a policeman after you.” DON’T GO SOFT ON ME NOW, AYN.

This letter so perfectly encapsulates everything I find deeply endearing about this bloviating monster. It is 30% very good advice, 50% unnecessary yelling, and 20% nonsense.

This is the last letter in the series! It is DAMN CHARMING! But what happened to the twenty-five dollars? I found an obituary for Connie (at least I’m pretty sure it was her), who died in 2012, and it doesn’t mention this at all. Did she pay her back? If she didn’t, did Ayn send the police after her, or just snub her dead in the street? What did Connie have to say about Ayn’s haircut when they met again? WHAT DID THE DRESS LOOK LIKE?