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14 June 1972

Dear Doris:

Perhaps by now you have heard from your application. I hope that it will be good news, as I suspect you are so tired of your present job you would accept anything. But the scarceness of jobs everywhere now makes it hard for you. Here there are no new ones taken on, when anyone retires there is no replacement, and there is all through the government a reduction in force. I even heard that here they are not publishing as many papers. I don't know whether they will take mine that I have been laboring on for nearly 2 years, but I guess it will be accepted, - nothing has ever been turned down. Anyhow my best wishes go to you, and my prayers that you get that grant.

We had rain last night -- I have been lugging water to get my seeds to germinate, it has been so dry now I've got the garden planted that half of the seeds never came up and I have planted again. My tomatoes are turning from the spindly things I set out to good stout plants with buds on them. I have only 2 that are sizeable enough for blossoms yet. It has been a late and poor season so far. And as for going swimming I haven't the slightest desire with the thermometer at 40 - 50 every morning. I have never been so late in that.

Geo.Vogt is leaving for Mississippi, probably never to come back to his job here. He told me that he has been saving and investing his money ever since he started work, so that now he has enough to live on, and he will retired after this 2 years in Mississippi is over. He said "I am a wealthy man now." They have been telling me I can have his office space, but I don't want to go up there, I have a pleasant sunny place here with the reptiles and my own little lizard that sits beside me in the sunny window. He would never live long if I deserted him, so I am hoping to stay here for the rest of my life. At noontime Elsie Froeschner and Mrs. Paulson, a woman in Worm division come here to eat lunch with me and others come in. Jim and his asst. Zug are going up to Boston University for herpetological meetings this weekend, and they talk it over with me. So I am very well situated here.

Martorell came here during my week in New England. He was the one in Puerto Rico that looked after me when I had that phlebitis attack, bringing me meals for a week, and taking me to his doctor. He was awfully good to me, and I am sorry I missed him. He brought me some specimens that I have been naming up and I must write him a letter when I finish this.

So I will say goodbye and hope that all turns out well for you.

With love,