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September 24, 1947

Dear Keith:

I am unable to tell you how happy we all were to receive your good letter which brought us the assurance that you got home safely and found your house and all its precious contents safe and whole. I can hardly tell you how anxious I was. You know how ones mind works under such anxiety and fear and what one imagines or is prone to imagine. The radio and the news-papers tend to frighten and they do to a horrible degree. I appreciate deeply your prompt writing, and I am overjoyed over the good news, and hope that in a short time your plants shrubs and other lesser dammage will right themselves with your help and care. I trust that your neighbors and for that matter the whole population escaped with as little harm as possible under the circumstances.

The weather prophets can foresee and warn of such floods and winds but are utterly helpless or unable to duck them when they come. So uncontrolable nature's wrath - they had "to go and invent an atomic bomb."

I know how you felt when the news of the hurricane reached you. One day soon you will celebrate by spending more time seeing the National Gallery Pictures than you had planned this time.

I think another picture of mine was sold at the gallery today and I received a letter from Pepsi Cola today telling me that I [[strikethrough]] one [[/strikethrough]] won a prize again this year. (three years in succession) My new patron is a leading banker in Chicago - he buys Cezannes, Redons, ... I was invited to lunch with him at Club 21 - tomorrow.