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[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., [written] Dec 30th [printed] 18 [written] 62
Dear Bruno.
Do for God's sake Bruno apply yourself more closely to your exercises in spelling and writing.
It is almost incredible to me that a fellow with all your brains and good sound sense can be such an ignoramus in the simple matters of reading & writing.
If you could only write legibly and spell any thing like decently I could easily afford to have you with me this winter. I think it would do you good and your assistance to me would be invaluable. I had hoped to see such improvement in your writing at least that I should be able to have you here toward spring if not sooner this winter. How would you like it to come? And would you be willing to work here with me or Prof Baird six hours every day and study and practice writing other four to six hours a day? You may even come up to the mark in time for this winter. Poddy loves to play too well with small boys for me to
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to be willing to have him here yet. Tho if he works hard enough to go with me next summer I could then prepare him for a winter here.
I have thought a great deal of trying to get you here this winter; because you would not fail to get so interested in work here as to overcome your natural indolence and when once you have done that you can go ahead like a locomotive on any track you choose to that fortune you are to make. (I should of course be glad to have you retain so much zoological taste as would make you willing to give one or two hundred thousand dollars to that big museum Poddy and I are to have out west.) And as Ive said if you could only read write and spell decently you could give me such assistance as would enable me to undertake more paid work than I now can - and thus also secure the expense of your living here, if not more.
Now do pitch in like 140003. Carcajous Bruno and see what you can accomplish and I may still get you here this winter.
Bob
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