January–April 1954

Dear G. Roger: March 30 - 1954 Your two of 22 March. The letter from the Colseo is a great relief. I hope the same arrangement can be made for the Estate; perhaps it is now important that the $ 3600 for charity should be paid at this end in dollars. Fro is away this week in Boston and New Haven so I canBt confer; but I will get him on Ewing's trail on his return. The secretary of the Bollingen answered that he would take up the matter with the trustees at their next meeting. When I wrote him I asked (after outlining the project) whether it would be better to send application blanks to Benson to fill out, or to fill them out in his behalf in the name of the museum. The latter was done in the case of Sam's assistant Gordon, who is working with him on tablets. But Boll fdtn is interested in literature and art as such, and excavation reports are not in their tradition. Will let you know when I hear from them again. Have left further Hesperia dealings between you and Habelt. I remember now about the theodolite; it is in Gordion. About the cameras: Geraldine says to tell you that they are now all insured. Would suggest (and she concurs) that the polaroid, one of the leicas (and perhaps both) be left at Gordion for use t there. About the movie camera I don't know; use your judgement. If the fifth is Mr. Hill's use your intrusions from him as to its disposal. I think more leicas will certainly be useful at Gordion; and also a wide-angle and a telescopic lens if there are such. When Machteld goes to Turkey I will give her the key to the filing cabinet, and she can pass it on to you, either if she goes to Cyprus, or by leaving it for you in Ankara. Yes I did have a letter from John Seltman; it came too late for applications for fellowships for next year, which closed on March 1; but I waited for the meeting of the graduate committee on fellowships, to see what might happen - of course nothing did, both because it was late and because it was not a formal application. I also wrote to Fluffy Thompson to ask if the Numismatic Society would have any interest or funds. She replied (letter came today; she was away) that Numismatic Society had plenty of former, but unfortunately none of latter. So that would seem to be that; and as far as grants for next year are concerned it would seem to be the universal answer - since all colleges and universities assign their fellowships in March, for announcement about the beginning of April. I have delayed answering him until the meeting of the committee, and until hearing from Fluffy (since Num. Soc. might not be bound by the academic year as are the colleges). If he is there, tell him that; I will write him shortly. As to the project, both Hiram and Fluffy think it highly desirable and a worthy subject for a thesis; so there is that much clearance, and I suppose that if it were acceptable as a doctor's thesis here at Penn it would also be so elsewhere. I am sorry for the delay, but I wanted to get certain answers first. We have got a reappointment by the way of David Overgrown as Museum assistant for next year; this was all agreed upon before I heard from Seltman. He has been very useful and satisfactory; and if all goes well should be available to come to Gordion next spring. Last week I checked with Dick Stillwell - he has not paid anything as a deposit for his passages, as the travel agent in Princeton seems to be working on trying to that paid also in pounds by you. The maximum amount should be 400, or 100 on each passage. Perhaps you will hear from T.W.A. Athens; let me know, for if thibgs get fidgety with a delay, we may have to pay the deposit in dollars here as we had planned. Lamar Crosby died quite unexpectedly last weekend. He and Olive had gone to Germany where Oliver is, planning to motor from there to Greece with the Jrs. who were to take their vacation then. But he was taken ill in Germany and they came home instead having been told he had to have an operation. Operation went well, and he was out of hospital and doing well at home when his heart gave out. Sort of a landmark. At the other end, Filby ran off one morning and had not come back when it was time to go to town (Izzy too). Of course, I found them both sitting mournfully outside the gate when I got home in the evening (dinner and meeting in town; about 10.30) but later I was told that it had been (in the words of the old story, modified) rape rape rape all day long. But I am quite sure she is not ready yet, and that there will not be any mongrel children; but I begin to wonder if she has the same sort of smelly disease that Adana had. Am waiting for Adana to become interesting in next couple of weeks. Maybe puppies about July 1? Inshallah. One drawback is that milkman, electric meter reader, fuel oil man, telephone co. come when I am not there, see dogs, are afraid and go away again without action. No telephone as yet. But very satisfactory place to live; only hope I don't get complexes about going through 69th st every day. Prime example of stupid traffic management. If I do get complexes may try going to Paoli and by train from there. West Chester trolley hopeless ly slow. Yesterday like summer, took Izzy to BrynMawr on shopping exped he was much admired. Machteld for supper sunday; B.M. now having easter vacation, ou rs to come after two weeks. MS activities held up on usual Reuben snag.