Madison,Wis. , August 25.1888. 



My dear Dearie:-- 



You here and now have ocular evidence that I have, 

 a writing machine. I was rash enough to expend a part of my earnings 

 in the surannner school in the purchase of a Caligraph. I operated one 

 of these machines for some time a few years ago but I find that much 

 of my former skill has departed. I believe however that I can even 

 now write faster with it than with a pen. Of the accuracy you your- 

 self can judge. 



1 got your last letter just before I started for the meet- 

 ing of the AAAS at Cleveland so that I could not look at the speci- 

 men you sent for e: ainination. Since getting back I have been as busy 

 as a bee writing up the account of the meeting for the Gazette. I 

 have taken a look at the stuff and can make nothing out of it. 

 Whatever it is it does not belong to my bailiwick. I think that, there 

 is a Hepatic that has such a form. Send it to Underwood and ask him 

 about it. 



We had a very pleasant meeting of the association, though 

 the attendance was smaller than usual. Only about 400 registered, 

 while the attendance runs from 500 to 600 as a general thing. About 

 60 registered in the botanical club. It is to be remembered however 

 that these inelude a number of hangers-on rather than botanists. 

 So far a I can recall there were but TWO botanists from east of the 

 Hudson river. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Why under the 



