1938

Nemea, 14 September 1938

Dear George,

I received the telegram you sent on the eve of your sailing for America here, and when I was in Athens two or three days later (August 22) I wired the architect in charge of construction of the house in Episkopi asking him to defer construction of the ground floor of the partitions in the east part of the house until he had received a letter from me. The same day I m[handwritten: ?]ailed him a hurried handwritten explanation of the telegram, and the next day I wrote him more at length from here. The first letter went by the Greek boat and was in Cyprus only five days after the telegram; the second was sent by air mail and should have arrived five or six days after the first. I haven't yet heard whether it did arrive. The first one, having reached Episkopi promptly, was rather stupidly returned to me by Christo although my name was on the envelope as sender. It was addressed "The Architect in charge of construction of Mr.G.H. McFadden's house at Episkopi, Limassol, Cyprus". (Unfortunately I didn't know the architect's name, though you had doubtless mentioned it the day you were in Corinth). I suppose Christo to didn't understand, didn't get somebody who knew English to translate it, and never noticed that the letter actually came from me. Anyhow, I have sent it back to the architect. Along with it I sent a duplicate of the second letter (of which, being typed, I had a copy) lest the original fail of delivery. The architect must be thinking that the letter mentioned in the telegram has been a long time on the way. I enclose a copy of the second letter for your information -- though what I had intended was to write you when I had the architect's reply.

Lands, who was with me here until Sept.2, has gone to Turkey for a month's work and is to come to Cyprus directly from Piraeus by an Italian boat due October 7. I plan to sail from Piraeus to get the there by the Greek line, also due the 7th, so as to get the surveying started and Lands settled, as well as to attend to whatever business may require attention. Then I have to come back, due October 5 by the Greek line, to attend the Italian Centenary (Italian line) or Oct.19 (Greek). Sailing from Limassol either Oct.16 for the Greek Archaeological Society's centenary. After that I should expect to be going to Cyprus again by the first direct ship (Nov.2, I believe). Of course these plans are subject to amendment if the program of the Samothrace makes that desirable.

There is naturally no knowing what changes of plan may be made necessary by world events. I count on your informing me promptly if the program you had for the autumn when we last met is seriously modified.

I have not yet found anyone to add to the Curium staff, and Megaw writes me that he has so far done no better as regards the expert needed for the 'Palace' mosaics. But he has hopes that a man can be got from Antioch.

Affctly Yrs.