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U.S.N.M. Wash.D.C.
12 April 1973

Dear Doris:

It was 30 when I looked at the therm. at 6 a.m. bit at 7 it had gone up
to 32, and I am hoping that my apple and cherry trees were'ntfrozen. They are both
in flower.  Up in the apple growing country both the peaches and apples are going 
to be hard hit by this cold snap.  And as for the rain, the west isn't able to
get the ground plowed for its grain, and we here can't get it plowed either. Last
year I didn't plant till the end of May, and this year Mr.Payne hasn't even been
able to plow it up, let alone harrowing, due to the constant rain and muddy condition.

Mrs. Winn, - you know I share my garden with them -- was over the other day, and she told me she has a brain tumor and they are going to operate on her. He is terribly worried over her. They have been very good to Mary Mac's grandson, who is now living with his grand mother. after his mother remarried and moved out to Michigan. His family has always been jealous because the boy went to the Winn's so much, and have done all they can to break up the friendship, so it has got so he doesn't go over there at all of late. I went over to theWelburns and told Mary Mac of the poor Winn's troubles and urged her to let Alan go to see them. I don't know whether it will do any good. Mrs. Hillman said she was going to do the same, - she feels sympathy too for the Winns. 

Elsie and I went over to the Mellon yesterday to see the Russian paintings. There was a long line and it took a half hour to get into see them, and then the rooms were so crowded that we had to look over heads at all of them. But maybe later we can have another look when it is a bit less thronged. 

I've had a letter from Dr. Burger, who has arrived in Tokyo. He had gone away with the key to the animal room, which he returned to me. Bob Tuck writes a long letter to the "Reptile Division" of his experience in Teheran. Two of the Americans who went over to work at this Museum (which isn't built yet) have come home because living conditions are so bad, and they can't get a decent place for there families. Bob writes that his quarters are "pretty barren", but he is sticking it out. They are housed on the side of a mountain and look down on the city which is so smoggy they can see only the tops of the highest buildings. They have lion and a cheetah on their upper floor, which are both so wild noone can handle them. Sounds like a wild place!

Dandelions are plenty nowadays and my lizard is happily getting all he can eat. He is sitting in the window beside me now. 

I trust you won't get a worse apartment, it seems to me that $181 is a pretty high rent for 3 rooms -- does the new landlord want you to move out of the place entirely? It may be with the racial question you will find it hard to get a decent place to live. I wish you lived anywhere but N.Y. Dolores called me up as usual at the weekend, and she always asks about you and wishes you lived near. Nick has had a bad fall and was all cut up

With love,