1929-06-16.001 MRL to Peg from London

[Letterhead]

Telephone: Padd. 8281 (3 lines)

Palace Hotel, 95 to 99 Lancaster Gate W.2. [/letterhead]

[margin] address Am.Exp. Berlin— until I let you know— don't know where I will go from there yet—may stay a while.

Darling Mumsie,

Golly it was good to get that call! Not that I've been homesick in London. I've been too busy and really feel marvelously at home (except when I suddenly wake up and think 6000 miles—oooh!) But that's not often. There is so much that is new and fascinating to keep me busy.) But it does make the miles seem shorter when one can get in touch so rapidly and easily.

First to answer your letter—which arrived yesterday. Isn't that quick work? Only eleven days! I don't understand why I didn't get the "Au revoir" letter as you called it. I of course left a forwarding address at the A. W. A. and already have had several letters which were mailed there. One was a note from Dr. [Hailey?], saying she was awfully sorry not to have been able to make arrangements to see me. She is always so cordial and nice! I did get the box with the dress—I think I mentioned

it when I wrote from the boat. Thanks heeps. I haven't used it yet. That and the tan dress I bought at Bullocks are the only two things in my whole equipment that I haven't used yet! Except the iron— There was a laundry at the A.W.A. which of course was much handier. Here the only things that have needed attention were dresses—and one can't do much with those on the top of a bureau. It seems dreadful to have so many things. But I was glad to have the swimming things on the first boat, and I was glad to have warm ones on the second—so there you are! I could have done with a few less changes—but it's hard enough to space things now long enough to have them cleaned—and it's so much easier on one's clothes not to wear them steadily. The two dresses Miss [Bruner?] made for me were indispensable—the third one—the print—hasn't been warm enough for as yet except in Panama. So I feel as though between us we arranged things quite well. Shoes really are the bulkiest things I have— if it weren't for those I could have dispensed

2.

[letterhead] Telephone: Padd. 8281 (3 Lines)

Palace Hotel, 95 to 99, Lancaster Gate, W.2.

with at least one piece of luggage. I could have managed with fewer of them if it hadn't been for planning to stay indefinitely.

As for how long I'm going to stay—I really don't know yet. It depends on how sensible it seems to get my Ph.d here. It seemed to me that if I could master German during the summer sufficiently, it might be quite a brilliant idea to stay in Berlin, Vienna, or Zurich, and along with taking courses, also study analysis. But I may find this impractical—that I may not find courses suited to my purpose—or that it's too much to try both at once. On that I ought to have my Ph.d first before studying analysis. As far as taking analysis for any other purpose goes except that it might be interesting to see what different results if any, I might get by working with a man. I never felt less as though I need it. I feel marvelously [sic: marvellouslly] unproblematical, marvelously able to cope with any

situation that might come along—Marvelously self confident, unafraid of myself and people. And I feel as though I've been making the best of opportunities and haven't missed a trick so far. Perhaps I should be analyzed (my speller has gone wrong) for over confidence!

So you see it's still quite indefinite how long I shall stay. I have a hunch that for my particular subject it might be better for me study in my own stamping ground—for although people are more or less the same everywhere—customs and conditions do make a difference. If this hunch grows into conviction I may come back in the fall, or around in time to start in the second semester. Well we shall see. After all the summer is only just beginning

Is Mrs. Matt Smith, Elizabeth Smith? a not very tall, fairly light haired girl with a boyish haircut? If she is I know her from school and she's a peach—she's a good friend of Ruth Talman.

I'm excited about the house. I'll bet you're glad to have that job done. Wish I could see it.

How is Rowden these days?!! You are mysteriously silent!

3.

[letterhead] Telephone: Padd. 8281 (3 lines)

Palace Hotel, 95 to 99, Lancaster Gate, W.2.

About my pictures (I forget whether I mentioned them in my last letter)—I must admit I was rather disappointed with the proofs. But he took about twelve sittings, and there really wasn't time for another set to be made if I could have persuaded him to, & he insisted that the finishing would make all the difference in the world. Well I hope so. I didn't see the finished things myself. It seemed useless to send you the proofs without you're [sic: your] seeing the type of finishing you would not know how to order. So I ordered three, one of which is a duplicate of the front face one & which I had sent to Ralph. You are also to be sent the proofs in case you want to order any more. The cheapest type of finishing really isn't bad—and probably would be quite satisfactory if you want one or two extra. These others that I ordered—are quite expensive to order [sic: singley] singly so that's why I ordered them in the first place—they are softer and more flattering, too. I paid $25 deposit which pays for them in part—the rest I