RK-848

[stamped] Alice Cora Kennicott Collection

[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., [written] Saturday night ' [printed] 18 [written] 63

Ennah!

I have been reminded by small girl Alice that I have been wrong not to tell you more details of my life here - Wishing so anxiously as I do to hear constantly of every little incident and the everyday life of the dear old Home, I ought to have known that you and father at least would feel interested also in the details of my life.

The fact is; tho' I may not have accomplished much, - I have worked very hard in the attempt to work; and I have been wasting a good deal of mental energy to very little purpose from being so long without any systematic course of thought or study. I have not neglected you giving these details of my life wilfully but from my thoughtlessness

My almost constant work is of course in [some?] [page torn] way connected with Nat

Natural History, - and this naturally occupies much of my thoughts Though from my not making as rapid progress as I could desire I dont derive as much satisfaction from this as I hope to when I get fully into harness and under full soil -

My greatest pleasure next to thinking of you at Home and getting your letters, is my intercourse with Prof Baird and his family. - Mrs Baird is more than kind to me and Prof Baird the same while Lucy and I are excellent friends - I really think they all must like me very well.

I spend a good deal of time at their house though not as much as I would like to, nor as they would wish to have me I think.

Mrs Baird has to night been doing the maternal by giving me a great scolding because I spent money for flowers for herself and Lucy - Her manner and all, proved that she thought rather of my good than of my opinion of her - or rather, I mean, she seemed willing to risk hurting or vexing me in order to show me that I had been foolish (as had been in [fact)?] [page torn] = And people dont do

of very considerate kindness on her part. Prof Baird has been much more careful of my pecuniary, as of other, affairs than I have myself. I recieve an allowence of $30 per month from the smithsonian, besides the room etc which as prices are in this city now, is worth nearly as much more. He has also with Cassins aid gotten for me an allowence of $20 per month from the Phila Acad. The latter is the interest[?] on the Jessup fund - a bequest to the Acad the interest of which is to be paid for terms of three months to "aid some young naturalists etc" - I recieve this for three months from Jan 1st.

All this I know has been obtained for me by Prof Baird's exertions. And he also insists upon my allowing the remainder of the Expedition fund to pay my expenses on the journey here. Prof The allowence from the Smithsonian comes of course from Prof Henry though at Bairds suggestion and solicitation - Prof Henry, however, seemed quite willing that I should have it and voluntarily increased it to $30 per month from the $25 suggested by Prof Henry Baird. I find Prof Henry has also been quite liberal in the matter of the Arctic Exped; the

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[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., 18

[handwritten] the Smithsonian mone contribution being much the largest to the fund besides paying for all transportation and many other items.

In short the Smithsonian has been extremely liberal in my case considering the very small amount there is expended on such matters - In this connection I must mention that stationary and even postage as furnished me by the S. I. - Prof Baird says that even the extra clothing and cost of Indian shoes etc that I've brought home for my own use are not to be paid for by me. I spent about $25. for clothing etc and in visiting at Buffalo Gowanda, and Cleveland [illegible] for opera tickets and other unneeccessary matters in New York & Phila and other places - This I shall probably insist on paying back to the Exped fund though Prof Baird says I must not. Aside from this and the (about) $100. I shall owe you - including what I must [honour?] to repay the H. B. Co officers - I will the first of next month have remaining after

after paying all debts here, some $5 to $10 and there will be the $50 per month ahead for Feb & March at least. Of this I will require at least half for board and other strictly necessary expenses - Of the other half I must try and lave some for next summer.

Now I think I've given you a pretty good expose' of my pecuniary affairs.

I have pretty much given up smoking entirely as we can't smoke in the buildling - I chew tobacco with a due regard to decency, and retain the delectable morsel within the against the lower jaw, without the exhibition of the objectionable protuberance -

I dont go out at all in the day time but of late having had bad eyes have spent some evenigs out - For a week I was confined to the building by a sprained ancle - But this and the eyes are all right now - Hereafter I intend to occupy my time thus - breakfast before nine (from 8 to 9 sometime) work till