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would skip from one to another like nothing at all and if there should have been any Germans present, she could have thrown in German just as fluently. We spent the evening dancing, playing bridge, talking, playing games, in fact in any way that struck our minds -- everything absolutely informal. I used to think that "playing games" was the last word in dumbness but in their house it becomes the keenest kind of pleasure. Their games are new to me and surprisingly simple -- don't sound like any fun, but there is an atmosphere about the whole thing that seems to make anything almost engrossing. They don't do anything unusual but everything they do seems to become unusual just by virtue of their doing it. At midnight we had tea and [[underline]] Russian [[/underline]] cake, my first, which was made of some sort of sweetened cheese -- awfully good -- utterly different. I could go on speculating about Russian charm as I see it in their household but unfortunately I haven't time. I'm just trying to pass on to you one of my most interesting and valuable experiences here. ...... I don't think you'll need a hat for the jigs and other things (in Syracuse). Anything formal like that, we'll have a cab for, and it wont be awfully cold -- at least I doubt if it will reach 20 below or anything even in that vicinity. You might possibly expect some close to zero weather though. Don't bother with the hat for that. Bring the collapsible or (oh, faux pas!) is that a strictly summer hat? My ignorance in such matters is bad.

[[underline]] To Willie, December 16, 1925: [[/underline]] Now I can send you a fairly accurate program of social events during your visit:

   Christmas -- Dinner out, tea, supper out.
   Saturday -- Unfilled. (Would like to fix up something with "Rog Casler of Canastota)
   Sunday -- Dinner out.
   Monday -- Open.
   Tuesday -- Luncheon.
   Wednesday -- Dinner party - Dance.
   Thursday -- Tea.

The rest is open so far and we can have "just fun," whatever we want to do. ...... This week I am the assistant head on the nozzle test so don't have to exert myself quite so strenuously, which is good.

[[underline]] To Mr. Fritschner, December 18, 1925: [[/underline]] Here is Mr. Miller's letter that you wished to see. It arrived today. I wrote my letter to Mr. Barnes and evidently he turned it over to Mr. Miller for attention. I know you want me to be very frank with you about this. As Mr. Miller explains the nature of the work, it doesn't particularly appeal to me, no doubt due to the fact that I have had something much different and what I consider, at least, much broader, in mind. The necessity of requiring a