280 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



knocking) seven interviewers to sit an hour. They mean well and are kind, 

 but there are too many people in the world. 



PRINCETON [no date]. 



. . . This is rather a spry little town, clean and paved. The country, how- 

 ever, is somewhat God-forsaken ; no milk to be had. When one leaves the blue- 

 grass land one fares hardly. I think of taking a goat along your favorite 

 plan. ... I am sorry to see there is no end of Kentucky in this direction. 

 This world is a deal too big, and we have too much of it; thank God it is 

 shrinking and in time will be a nice tight little world. I am so tired that I 

 feel foolish I have quite talked my brain into an addled state. 



LEXINGTON, Dec. 8th, 1873. 



... I had a dull ride to La Grange, the cars were crowded, there being 

 the whole Fifth Avenue Troop aboard. Whether it was the weight of wit 

 or wickedness that made us fall behind time I cannot say, but we made 

 slow progress. I have had a busy day talking to many men of many minds. 

 It is not going to be easy to get much money ; they are disposed to be " cheese- 

 parers," these legislators, possibly in a rattish way. It seems an intelligent 

 body of men, much above the old average of ability. I shall soon know 

 whether they are disposed to do well by the Survey or no. ... I have only 

 had six interruptions since I began this, though it is after nine o'clock, so I 

 shall have to put out my light and go to sleep in order to secure peace. 



FRANKFORT, Feb. 11, 1874. 



. . . The Survey matter looks rather blue. I still hope, however, that 

 Monday will see it well on its way and me well on mine to Cambridge. There 

 are all sorts of cross-purposes here which require looking after almost from 

 hour to hour. ... I have never been so impatient of delay ; I have been half 

 sick ever since I came here. . . . 



CAMBRIDGE, Friday [no date]. 



... It looks as if I might be kept here until Sunday or Monday, though I 

 shall try to get away this evening. ... I have arranged with Eliot that 

 if I come back next autumn I am to have the post of geology alone, with about 

 half the work I did before and a salary of about $3000. I can reduce the 

 work to about eight hours of actual work each week. [This of course he did 

 not do.] 



March 30, 1874. 



... A silent and rather sad journey down the Ohio: fair night's sleep and 

 me void this morning. Have done a good day's work, cleaned away a great 



