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& shapeless concrete of this huge city into
something like a Venice. Perhaps in the end
it is better to be engaged, however humbly,
on the slow work of reconstruction here
in the heart than in the sometimes too easy
business of construction out there at the
circumference. But whether or no, one
envies people who have the power to effect
things, & can see results. I put down the
blue-book at a report on forestry - afforest-
ation has always appealed strongly to
my imagination, especially on the economic
side: by the way, did you ever hear
Patrick Geddes on the subject? I have heard
him attribute the fall of the Roman
Empire to deforestation - I put down
the blue-book and picked up the evening
paper: and almost the first thing that
caught my eye was the appointment of
Mr John Buchan to be Lord Milner's
secretary.

I need not tell you how fervently I
congratulate you: you may measure my