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Well, I have one consolation: if you are to live in Detroit4 you will be comparatively near me.
I'm sure you wouldn't marry Lynn5
unless you really wanted to live with him, and I know you'll make any good
man a good wife. I hope he is not too much limited by science and
general utility. The several young engineers I have known were very
successful—in everything but living. To me, at least, their lives seemed
very bleak, and their houses were like like
offices where one slept: Prepared foods and sectional bookcases—the latter
filled with the Geographical
Magazine6 and detective stories.
But there are some grand exceptions (exceptions are nearly always fine), so
if you ever meet Alec Dow7 of
Buffalo8, introduce yourself to
him as my niece and give him my love. I love him and his family and home,
and the only reason I don't accept the long-standing invitation to visit
them again is that I there is not enough of
me to do the things I'd like to do. Lynn must know all about
Dow—electrical engineers everywhere do.
Please let me know the day and hour of your wedding, and where the Cathers will be stopping in Boulder9.
I've had a rather bad attack of influenza for the last three weeks, but
Yehudi10 and his dear, dear
sisters11 have done so
much to make the time go pleasantly. The day before they sailed for
England12 (Feb. 12) we had one
last walk around
45
the Reservoir13 together, Yehudi
bringing in his overcoat pocket cotton to put in my ears and a black patch
to protect my inflamed eye from the wind. He had severe illnesses in his
childhood (abscesses of the inner ear twice) and a experience of suffering has given him such tact and sympathy
with illness as I have not seen elsewhere.
All these things go toward the making of that golden tone, with its singular warmth and un-sentimental tenderness, which has not its equal upon earth.
My three yellow heads sailed on Saturday (yesterday!) and left a considerable hole in my life, I assure you. If I were hit by an automobile, they would care more than most. I'll write you again, dear, when this lonely feeling is gone.
Your devoted Aunt Willie Miss Elizabeth Cather1 754 Oak Street COLUSA3 Colusa California NEW YORK, N.Y. STA Y2 FEB 14 1938 1030 AM