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Daniel Chester French
125 West Eleventh Street 
New York City 
March 27, 1916. 
Dear Abbott: - 
Ever since your delightful letter came I have been looking for a time of real leisure when I could take enjoyment in answering it. This evening, strange to say, I seem to have nothing that must be done at once and I will treat myself to luxury of writing to you. It really is seldom that I have real leisure. You know that I learned years ago to run the type-writer myself to save my eyes and you will understand that this is a personally-conducted letter. It is easier for me and it will be easier for you too. 
Yes, indeed, you did write me of your warm approval of Alma Mater and the Custom House groups last summer I have been much the happier for it ever since. It was naturally a sorrow to me that you could not like my wor[[crossed out]]k[[crossed out]] in the old days when we like each other so much and had so much in common, but you know "there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth", so perhaps I am getting my pleasure in as great a measure but in a compressed form. 
As to your comparison of Saint Gaudens and me, - our work is so very different than it does not seem to me that any comparison is possible. I fear that posterity will not put me very near him, but I am sure posterity will find eternal pleasure in his work and I hope some discerning people will find something agreeable in some of mine. Whether you like his work better than mine or not, I am very happy in the knowledge that you find so much in mine. 
I do not think I am very analytical and I do not think I have formulated Saint Gaudens work sufficiently to meet your suggestions. I find, however, that it strikes me as a new idea that he was too realistic or adhere too closely to nature. It is too long a subject to discuss by letter and I think I do see what you mean, but it is odd that I have thought that, if there was defect in him,it was that he was somewhat too intent upon making a thing artistic and, in his conceptions at least, thought too much of the great things that had preceded him. I really shall want to talk this over with you when we meet. It is interesting. 
Of course I have a predilection for quiet things and apparently people so far recognize that I am somewhat tired of the word "placid" in connection with notions of my productions. I do feel as you do, however, that the still subjects are the sculptural ones, the stiller the better and the more like a chunk of stone. Bronze rather stimulates freedom, though, in action and treatment, particularly in small sizes. Don't you think so?
I am returning the sheet containing your essay on art, but I have taken the liberty of keeping a copy of it, for private use, not for publication! I took pleasure in showing it to Miss Longman the other evening. She was very much interested.
How I wish I could come in and see what you are doing. It is fine to hear that you are doing your best work now. I hope you have as good a time with it as I do with mine. I have never worked with