January–April 1954

Continued from scan 137

… Dear G. Roger: April 15, 1954 Yours of April 4 (And I geuss several others). I asked Rainey's advice about the Cyprus Airways stock without getting much of an answer. My own inclination would be to collect the dividend and then sell the stock for what it would bring; nobody I think ever had any hopes of getting face value. But I fail to see how holding on after our operation has closed down in Cyprus will benefit anybody; nor do I see much prospect of Cyprus Airways stock becoming suddenly very valuable. I guess you will just have to use your (and Sir P's.) judgement. I have heard nothing further from the secretary of the Bollingen foundation; I guess it has not yet come time for the meeting at which he said he would bring up the proposition. I suppose that a balance of $ 4000 would be slim for Benson and Hiram; my guess would be that they should have about $ 2500 each. But Cyprus Airways stock even at half price would just about stretch the gap. I keep urging Rainey to get in touch with Ewing about the estate contribution for purchase, as it seems to me that you will not have a clear title to these things for disposal until you have paid the estate for them. But Rainey seems to have a complex about it; he urged strongly the need for these things a year ago, and got consent to an advance from the estate to buy them with; now he is reluctant to ask for the money so that we can sell them! About the land rover for Gordion: I was in receipt yesterday of a letter from that son of a bitch Cahit Kinay, asking for 1150 pounds ca. on the jeep and the thodolite - they were brought in through the Izmir customs house, for two years with reexport expected after that. The contract was renewed for another two years, and this also has now expired. I have written him asking him to get a renewal; if he cannot I guess we will have to pay the duty. The point is, of course, that I am far from sure that he wants to make the effort; I suspect that now that Gordion has become first rate he (and maybe Ekrem behind him) wants it for himself - or for Ekrem. We shall see. But in view of the matter of the jeep, I should think it would be best to bring the land-rover in on a triptych. As I understand it, with this the car could stay in the country for a year; and at the end of that it can make a small excursion out and then come back for another year - you remember the annual excursions made by the Hill-Blegen car out of Greece to satisfy this requirement. This should be the best arrangement for the land-lover, with the added advantage that in the end we could bring it back to Cyprus where its free sale would be possible. I should think that some time when you are in Nikosia you might make inquiries at the automobile club if there is such; in any case such matters are arranged through automobile clubs, and they should have all the pertinent information. About your plans Ermoyennis papers etc.; not found in museum. Caroline is not yet back from the west (although expected this week) so I continue stymied in this matter. However I will beard her on her return. I have received up to date from Rochester two kodachromes of yours (results good; proper pix sent to John Young long since) and two movie films which show almost entirely spotted dogs. I guess they were already exposed films you found around the house and sent in. Both were poor, sort of dark greenish, and one with a long grey invisible patch through most of its middle part; perhaps old age. Anyway, in case you did take them, they were not successful; suggest under-exposed. About the real dogs: Adana began to be interesting, and I didn't want all the dogs in the neighborhood scratching on the fence outside; so I took her to the kennel at Princeton the last time I was up, and also took Izzy to be there at the psychological moment. I hopes that all goes well; will collect them on Monday when I am up again. I have the other two, but miss them just the same. I don't think that Fliby is ready yet, though she does seem to arouse interest. I suspect it is premature. Of course there is a local Mrs. Erikson in the new place too, so we go walking with leashes. I guess that the Mrs. Eriksons of this world are ever present and ubiquitous. The garden is beginning to show, radishes and lettuces and peas and parsley (useless stuff) and I guess more to appear soon. It keeps me busy over weekends but will be worth it in the end. Don't know whether you will want to keep it up next year after I have gone to Gordion, and especially if you are to be there only until the end of May. Thanks for the check, which I have deposited. Reuben is at last beginning to produce a trickle of Gordion enlargements; he has had the films since mid-January and I am plenty fed up. When I get some pix I can start to work on articles for ILN and the Bulletin, and perhaps AJA. Policy here (mistaken I think) is to make the Bulletin "popular" - i.e., assume that mental age of membership is 8, and write accordingly. Which may mean for Gordion a short tripe for the bulletin and something decent for AJA - double trouble. Mr. Wright wants to sell us your Bengazi Venus for about $ 2000; rather much I think; would take it for 400 or 500 but 2000 seems exorbitant. Am consulting D.K.H. and F.F.J., who deal in commercial transactions, as to what they think a N.Y. dealer would expect to get for it. Personally find it distasteful; but have to discount personal tastes in these amtters. Not much else for the present.

Handwritten: Roy