1941–1945

COPY OF LETTER FROM J.F.DANIEL TO G.H.McFADDEN RECEIVED IN LIMASSOL AND OPENED BY V.GRACE ON JUNE 18 1941, G.H.McF HAVING GONE TO EGYPT WHERE ORIGINAL WILL BE FORWARDED TO HIM

May 1, 1941Dear George,

Your letter of Jan.9 arrived today, together with one from Peter Megaw. Virginia's letters with the films and plans, sent air-mail, made very good time, the plans taking only 23 days. So far as I can tell everything you have sent has come through. This includes the films Virginia sent last fall. Your article on the propylaea at Apollo came and was published in the October number of the Bulletin. It was an excellent job. You apparently don't know that Mr.Jayne is no longer here. He is assistant director of the Metropolitan. We have no director as yet; Mr.Jenks and Mr.McLean of the University are running things. Many people have been considered for director, but no choice has been made. There seems to be some question as to whether it should be a scholar or a public-relations man; there is some indication that the former is being preferred. One hears rumors that numerous members of the staff are to be let go; I haven't heard anything personally frightening. I have my final examination for the Ph.D. in less than a month. My dissertation, "Prolegomena to the Cypro-Minoan Script" is in press in the A.J.A. I had to give up my original project of using the full Bamboula publication, because the University demands 150 free copies, which would be financially prohibitive.

We have just bought a 26 acre farm in Bucks county not far from Perkasie, and move in about the first of June. We have over 1000 ft. frontage on Tohickon Creek, the largest in that part of the country, and a charming 8-room Colonial house. About half of the land is in woods. We expect to be delighted with it. I have tried to keep both yours and Virginia's families informed whenever I hear anything, directly or indirectly about you. Your mother has sent me a copy of your latest letter to her. It was very welcome. I saw Ted Grace at the Christmas meetings of the Archaeological Institute, where we had a very pleasant visit.

Mr. Jenks has been very much interested in all your news, and asked for a summary of Virginia's letter to me and of your letter to your mother, so as to tell the Board of Directors about it. And then at the annual Museum lecture at which the various members of the staff tell about what the Museum has done during the year, I told them that you were still in Cyprus and even doing a little digging (I made a regular excavation report of Virginia's sounding on Bamboula). The audience interrupted me to give you an ovation when I told them that. That must be just about the only excavation in the Near East. So you may feel very sure that your activities are being watched with great and sympathetic interest. We only hope that you will be able to continue.

America has turned from its previous condescension to a wild admiration of the Greeks. It is felt almost universally that they have displayed the greatest heroism of the war. I suppose that you have heard that Rodney Young was wounded and has been decorated by the Greek government. I wonder what has happened to Mr. Hill since the fall of Athens. I do hope he got out, as America is certain to be in the war in the near future, and it would be difficult for an American in occupied territory. Things are happening very rapidly here. There seemed to be a good deal of indecision in Washington for a while, but militant public opinion is forcing a decision, particularly on the question of strikes in essential industries. I often think of you in Episkopi, and wish I were there. But goodness only knows when that will be possible. I only know that I will go on the first opportunity. Our purchase of a house in no way implies a change in our desire to resume work in Cyprus … continues