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National Museum,Wash.D.C.
24th April 1947.

Dear Doris:

I am here before 8 this morning, as Dad has to go early to get a new impression made for a new plate for his teeth. His others were so badly cracked that the dentist said it was better to have a new one, another little bill. I am leaving my annual inspection till you arrive for yours.

Isn't it possible to have the Radcliffe employment agency work for you in trying to get a place on a Wash. newspaper? Ask them and see. We want you down here until we leave to go up to Mass. I think you could get a job over at the Nat.Academy of Sciences if you are not too prejudiced against it. Miss Colcord is working over there, and Sophy said that Diehl toldher [[told her]] they were wanting help. It is some sort of clerical work, making abstracts, I believe. Miss Colcord said a lot of G.W. graduates were there. You could write to that place too. just address Nat.Academy of Sciences, Wash.D.C. Miss Colcord works only 3 days a week there. 

We went to the Shriners' Circus last evening. It lasted till past 11, and was full of thrills. They had the big cat show that we saw the last time, and all of them were full of growls and tooth-showing and ugliness. They had wonderful elephants, and the cutest dogs, a lot of them, performing tricks. One batch of little dachhunds [[dachshunds]] were so cute and tail-wagging thru their whole long performance. Their very ease and goo-nature [[good-nature]] was a joy to see. Then there were trained seal that balanced balls on their noses, and had a trick of rolling over and flapping their flippers together in applause at each other's tricks that was so funny. One played America by blowing on a series of pipes. And there were clowns and one woman clown that went around the audience before the show started. She was over in our section, - all made up in a calico dress full of flounces, a huge busle [[bustle]] and a tiny hat. She amused everyone by going around to the men and making up to them. When she came to Dad, she flopped right down on his knee and seeing him for such a nice sedate person, put her arms around his neck and kissed him loudly. She left a great red mark all over his forehead. The audience howled at Dad's discomfiture over the performance. A little girl sat right behind us, and when a hawker came around with a board on which were attached little chameleons she made as much fuss over trying to get one as you did once at a circus. Both Dad and I recalled it. There were wonderful horses and horseback riding, and several specially trained ones, both Flicka and Thunderhead, the movie horses, who went thru some acts, wonderful creatures.   We really had a sumptuous show, and it lasted so long. 

Helen said that Marion is trying to get into an insane asylum to work this summer, in connection with her psychology. She is getting her master's degree in that subject and wants to work during the summer, and next fall, getting the degree in Jan. Helen said that in view of the coming depression predicted by all she was in favor of having her finish up now so as to be better equipped for some sort of job she likes later. Helen said they were certain of Geoff's job here till October but after that they didn't know. They both want to stay in Wash.D.C. after buying the house and fixing it all up as they like it.

I hope you can get out to see Grandma this week, if your papers are about finished. 

Love,
Mother.