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Comes to Arrowhead to write Art Book

Charles L. Freer. the noted millionaire art collector of Detroit, will arrive at Arrowhead Hot Springs next month, according to advices, to remain for the winter. While there, enjoying the solitude of the mountains, he intends to write a book on ancient Oriental art, on which he is an authority.

Mr. Freer is to erect a million-dollar building on the Smithsonian grounds at Washington to house the art collection he is to give that institution. 

Methodist Episcopal Church
Redondo Beach, California
home phone 3411

February 22nd 1916

Chas. L. Freer, Esqr:
The Plaza, New York.

My Dear Mr Freer:-
 
It was very kind of you to reply to my last letter so promptly, and to promise that when next you come to this fairest of all fair lands, you will come and see us. We hope that may be soon.

We are very sorry to know that you have been fighting ill-health for so long. One would not have thought that a man like yourself, who looked, when we met you, so vigorous and well, would have had such a long spell of sickness as your letter speaks of. I do not, of-course, know the nature of your trouble, but I am among the many who now think that there is no place like sunny Southern California for building a man up, and for your own sake, more than for the pleasure another meeting with you would give to us, I hope you will soon be able to journey hitherward, and stay long enough to get yourself well-built up again.

Many thanks indeed for your kind repitition of your invitation to visit your home in Detroit, and see your collections. It would certainly be a great treat to us, though we are only amateur admirers, and not by any means, connoisseurs. I fear, however, that we shall have to wait for that pleasure. When we shall be East again is on the lap of the gods, for you can perhaps understand that a man coming at middle life to a new land, has practically to start all over again, and wait as patiently as he may know how, for the appointments which will permit of good vacations, and the wherewithal to enjoy them. However, you do not need to be assured that we appreciate your kind invitation just as much as though we could avail ourselves of it right away, and shall keep it mind, whenever the wind wafts us Eastward again. It was entirely my own fault that we did not succeed the last time we were there. You had asked me to write ahead and say when we would arrive, and I could have done that quite easily. But, I did not want to cause you or your people any unnecessary inconvenience, and so we planned just to spend the day in Detroit, and I thought we could do that unannounced. We did spend the day there; but not as we had hoped. Better luck next time!
 
Since I last wrote to you, we have begun a new semester at the University of Southern California, and you will be interested in knowing that I now have twenty bright young men and women taking a course with me on "The Political Institutions of China". Last semester was the first time they have tried anything of the kind; then had only five pupils; this semester I have twenty, and whether they profit by it or not, they all say they are enjoying it. If they are enjoying it as much as I am, they are having a good time. There are nearly 3000 students in the nine colleges. 

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