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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 12/29/1913

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    December 29, 1913

    Dear Mother and Father,

    Received your letter today and read it with great interest and was really amused to hear of Papa's oratorical prowess almost synchronous with my own. Well I went, saw and conquered, I think at Philadelphia. I bored it into Cushing hard and he was as sore as a pup. It was very amusing or rather is to look back on it. I met him before the meeting and greeted him with a smile feeling very self assured but I could get no return. He glided by grazing my hands and never said boo. He was sore because my publication was already out and anticipated his. But I thought what care I!

    At the meeting I was the first paper. I don't believe anyone ever made a more rattling speech. I was sore to the bone and eyed him during my entire speech. And what did he do, never looked up at me. He followed me, made a most lamentably weak speech I have ever heard. I expected to meet antagonism, but none there was. He said he "could not agree with Dr. Dandy's theories" but beyond that it was a very weak thing. When talking he could not once look at me. He knew he was guilty. It was the most puerile demonstration of a big man's actions I have ever seen. Nor did he glance at me after the meeting despite the fact that he passed by me several times.

    Well several men went up to see a scrap but none turned up. They said it was the best speech they had ever heard and Cushing was shown up like a baby. Well nothing could please me more nor will do so now than Cushings enmity and antagonism. It has made me fight and he will know that I cannot be subdued as easily as he thought once. Once when he told me I had no imagination, that I was not in the proper environment in the east I should go west where the requirements were not so high. I don't think that candidly he thinks so now. He has sufficient respect that it engenders hatred, which never results when such marked superiority exists.

    One fellow asked me why I looked at Cushing all the time. I said I was sore. He said if that was what was wrong, someone ought to beat me before every meeting I talked at, for it was almost perfect. Well again I say I was tremendously taken back by the extremely mediocre paper by Cushing and this was amply commented on by others. Well I am going to sail ahead til I get the main paper out. It is coming out in German and English simultaneously.

    I was over to Dr. Thomas' the other day, the one who helped me when Cushing kicked me. Mrs. Thomas had invited me for Xmas but I couldn't come. I went last night and she presented me with a most wonderful picture of Dr. Thomas, knowing my admiration for him. It was so nice of her. She told me how Dr. Halsted had been bragging to her about my work, showed her my German article and translated part of it to her. He told her how full of vim and energy and how good my work was etc. And it is exactly the same work that the mighty Cushing scorned to look upon and later looked him to scorn.

    Well I had better stop this line of talk. It flows too readily when the Irish is uppermost, and that is entirely too frequent-sometimes-but good after all don't you think.

    Well I went down to have my self?conscious self photographed to please you. It cost me $6. It cost $5 to go to Philadelphia. It's a good thing MoPac is going higher. Clothes are about the same price. They won't get lower til Spring. Don't buy any more in England. I don't believe I need any suitcases.

    There is quite an anti?British sentiment here now. They think England and Germany have combined against the U.S. They are both rather scared to make much of a demonstration however. You will see by the papers where your friend and ideal Mayer was shot by a citizens alliance gang.

    Well I don't know much more to tell you except more of the same stuff and not much more of that. If the Spiritualist would be any better satisfied to know how I feel about her, tell her I think her doctrines are so much poppycock. Wishing you a very happy New Year.

    I remain,

    Your loving son, Walter

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