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915 Union Trust Building, 
Detroit, Michigan, 
November 21st,1899.

Prof. E. S. Morse, 
Salem, Mass.

Dear Professor Morse:-
I was much pleased to learn from Mr. Griffith a day or two ago that he had arranged for you to deliver a lecture in Detroit the latter part of next February under the auspices of the Detroit Museum of Art. Your many friends in this city will be very glad indeed of another opportunity to hear you.  I wish that I were sure of being amongst the favored ones, but I now fear that I shall not be in Detroit at that time.  A friend and I have been planning to go to Italy early in the coming winter, but as yet our plans are not definitely fixed.  If it should happen that we postpone the journey, and if I can be in Detroit while you are here, I do hope you will be my guest.   Unfortunately, you see, this is sort of an uncertain invitation, and I only regret that I cannot at the present time positively determine my future movements. 

Since you were last here I have added considerably to my little group of things Japanese, and would greatly like to have you see them.  I also would like to see you and have a visit with you, so in the event of my being in Detroit, if it can be arranged, I do hope you will spend as much of your time with me as you possibly can. 
Mr. Griffith suggested that possibly you would be willing to address a specially invited audience at my house. In reply I said to him that I was very selfish and would prefer to have you quite to myself to the extent possible while you are here. I must tell you frankly that I have long had a strong aversion to admitting "the many" to my house. I enjoy having my friends come, and h[[obscured strikethrough]] have on rare occasions opened my doors to certain Societies, etc, but I do not believe I could repeat ,and permit a miscellaneous gathering to assemble in my domicile. 
I write you frankly concerning this, knowing very well that you will not misunderstand my motives. 
With kindest regards, I am, 

Yours very sincerely, 
Charles L Freer

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