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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 06/22/1913

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    June 22, 1913

    Dear Mother and Father,

    Well I am glad you have moved but I think you ought to go farther out in the country and ride in town when you want to.

    Pete Lewis was here the other day. I was very busy and took him up to the operating room to see operations. He got sick and had to leave. Then I told him to ride out to Fort McHenry etc. as I wouldn't get through until 5 P.M. He came back for me but I didn't get through working until 6:30 and by that time he had gone so I got rid of him pretty well. He looks the same. I was glad to get rid of him. He is on his way to New York. He said Mr. and Mrs. Gornal are in Washington and are on their way to New York. I hope they don't stop off here. If you were here they would be sure to. Maybe they are going to England. I don't know. Is her mother still alive.

    I got quite a compliment indirectly the other day. The dean of the medical school told someone I was "certainly doing my course up brown." He said all the men had been complimenting my course. I got 4 new men last week but I don't know how much money I am going to get out of it.

    I am very much undecided about next year but I imagine I will stay here. I have so much good work going on that I can't very well break away in the midst of it. I will wait and see what Dr. Bloodgood has to say after his trip to Minneapolis. He said he would look into things while out there. If I stay here I think you had better come back and stay here in the suburbs. There may be a very good opening here if I bide my time. I am much younger than any of the other men on the staff. I have saved two or 3 years since I began school so I am that much ahead and I want to use it well.

    I think I will write Dr. Cushing and tell him I am going to publish my work on hydrocephalus and let him get as sore as he wants to. Dr. Thomas who is one of my best friends and who pulled me in with Dr. Halsted, went to Dr. Halsted and told him I had some excellent experimental work but I wouldn't publish it because Dr. Cushing didn't approve of it. Dr. Halsted told him I ought to publish it anyhow. I think I will and let Cushing go straight up. I don't expect any favors from him anyhow. I think I am already a better and stronger man from his antagonism than I would be under his tutelage and at his feet. I am sure that after my publications are out I ought to get a good position. Now I would be asking for a position which people would favor me in giving to me; when they know what I can do and have done the position should and will look for me and I will confer the favor on them.

    Well I don't know much news. Prices are coming down already account of tariff which is sure to pass. Am working hard and enjoying it and getting some excellent work. Hoping you are in the very best of health.

    Your loving son, Walter

    P.S. Don't let Mama get to be a suffragette. Gee?no!!

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