RK-849

was here last week. Somehow she seemed to unite more common sense with good taste and intelligence than I've often seen except in two recently married young ladies I wot of. - I used to think a pretty face and pleasant manner the most agreeable qualifications in young ladies. - But as I grow towards mans estate I lose many of my boyish notions, and I reckon I'm not getting 'fooled' as much as I was by pretty faces - not that I dont admire beauty as much as ever - but I begin to appreciate better qualities more fully.

Wouldnt wonder if I'd be almost a man by the time I've lived 30 years Ill only be about 20 years old then though. - Its no use my even trying to play old man - I never will be old happen what may. We are rather a boyish set of chaps here anyway. - Agassiz, Torry, and most of the naturalists I've seen never grow old.

2

The Miss Wilson I referred to is a daughter of John M Wilson of Chicago Journal. She is pleasant and moderately pretty and clever -

Miss Lucy Baird (whose age you ask) is about 14 or 15 years old - She was naturally precocious but her physique being very poor her parents have with much pains kept her from cultivating her intellect; as far as possible. - Though they have succeeded in making her talk and appear like a child in many respects, she shows very considerably mind. She is very nervous and delicate. I like her very much because she has got a kind of honest child like simplicity very rarely found in these days; and withal has as much intelligence and more common sense than one usually finds among young ladies.

I was very much pleased with a Miss Gavit of New York that was

3.

Last week I took posession of a room in one of the towers which is very comfortably fitted up only without fire. It is just below Stimpsons and there is a trap door in his floor. So we've rigged a rope ladder and have ready communication. Ill sleep in Prof Bairds room (or a little room off it) till I get rid of this sore throat, however.

If Bruno comes he will sleep in my room. -

In recent letters from you girls and from Mother and father I see you agree in thinking it would be well for Bruno to come - But I dont like to urge his coming unless Major approves. - If he is needed at home and will work there I dont want to take him away. I only want him here because I believe I could get him to work and study hard. It may be that in some way I could make his coming work here of pecuniary

4

Bruno's assistance to me would probably be worth the expense - For you must know that I am to begin this winter to recieve from the S. I. and other soruces the materials for what will be one very big museum - These will be finally given to such institution as I shall designate. Having no place to keep them myself nor the means to bear the expense this plan of having the collection remain in the S. I. at my disposal is much the best.

I shall of course expect to give this collection to the Chicago Academy - but I shall not do it till a permenant fund is raised in Chicago for the purpose of paying at least the salery of a good curator of the museum - This would require some $15000. - A larger sum than would easily be raised now in addition to what would be wanted for museum expenses - If I dont have much more field world to do I would probably take

take such a place for myself after a couple of years or so. Such being my plan I do not wish at present to accept pecuniary aid from the Academy. - I wish to be able to say to them that without any assistance from them I have gotten for them a big museum. This gives me the power to put the thing on a proper basis. As things now stand I have at my command the materials for a larger museum than now exists in the west and this I can place wherever I chose. Under such circumstances I can obtain for it a proper reception Ive no doubt. - It would not do for me to give this museum to the Chicago Acad before proper measures were taken to secure its permenant care. Even if I could not take direct charge of it myself a salery of $1500 per annum would induce such a man as Stimpson or Newberry to manage it. And it is only by such means that the thing would assume that grandeur I

[page turned upside down, stamped] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections