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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 05/23/1913

    7 Great Percy Street

    Kings Cross Road

    London, England

    May 23, 1913

    My Dear Boy,

    …You certainly seem to be getting some fine oppertunitys to show what is in you. I would like to have heard the lecture you gave. I think everything seems to be pointing to you staying in Hopkins. And I think Dr. Heuer is afraid you will displace him. It may seem hard, but it seems to be the law of justice that the fittest prevale. However this is sometimes interferred with and I think if you don't get it I at least will consider that the law has been violated. And therefore you will have another oppertunity after the frosts of winter has passed of showing buds, blossems and fruits before the same or even another court, that may place you in your true place.

    Sometimes it is good to get a setback. I often think Dr. Cushing tried to give you one but I think you will shine brighter, dig deeper, accend higher, spread wider, therefore more observed and admired. And be under no obligations to share your well deserved laurals. You will be able to justly say you have laid you own foundation and built your own structure.

    I think it is nice to hear men proffessors say we can't get along without him. "He is indespensible." It sounds much better to me then to hear them say can he have it. I like to think that the place is looking for my boy rather than my boy looking for the place.

    The Detroit people certainly seem to want you. But I admire your idea that you prefer to go as a big man rather than again prove you are a big man. Although I think you will prove the latter even if you go as the small or the big one as I think there is lots of room for the big one to still grow bigger as for the little one to grow big. If I did not think so I should prefer to see you go as the little one and grow big. I don't like to think of my boy ceasing to grow and conquer. I like to think of him still soaring, climbing and conquering, revealing the laws of nature and even duplicating them by ingenious devices.

    I was thinking the other day that the apostle Paul was stranded on board ship. He could not get out because the wind was contrary. But we use steam now against the wind. This is what I mean by supplanting the same as you using drugs to releive pain while you cut the pieces.…

    I hope…you get the best there is to be got and on the lines of least resistance as it takes to much time to keep showing in order to arrive at the summit of your ambition, that is that you are big. They think here that the King is big. But he don't show it to an impartial observer.

    Well we are well and happy contented and satisfied. But you ask us the question would we like to live in the subburbs of Baltimore. Yes. Especially if it don't cost too much or rather regardless of cost if big salaries are coming in or very likely to do so. These are our highest ideals to live in the subberbs of some city. But our life has been a frugal one and would be against our nature to be sowing more than we where reaping. Therefore again we prefer to follow on the lines of least resistance between comferts of subberban life and the dissatisfaction of sowing more than reaping.…

    Well I think I had better let the little Boss have her say. You did not decide that question of grammar we asked you. Of course she is always right.…

    Your affectionate Father

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