EDITORIAL OFFICES 
LIFE 
TIME & LIFE BUILDING 
rockefeller center 
NEW YORK 
Ur* Waldo Schmitt 
U// S* National Museum 
Washington, D. 0, 
Dear Dr, Schmitts 
The apologies are all on my side. We are 
a funny crowd as you say* She reason is that we 
number about sixty and are always on the watch 
for stories* 
I did not know when I wired you that a.) tte 
cruise was last Summer (i. e« that the Franklinia 
Rooseveltia discoveries were made last summer) 
and b,) that the idea had already been submitted 
and rejected* 
Why it was rejected I do not know, but it is 
now to late to fit the story into LIFE’S news for- 
mula. 
I very much regret that I put you ho all the 
trouble of printing nix, sorting them out and 
the expense of mailing* 
Let me take this as an occasion, however, to 
assure you that LIFE is very much interested in 
the activities of scientists in the field and is 
always glad to print their good pictures - pro- 
viding we can ant on them fast enough. This de- 
spite the rejection out of hand of your story 
when you submitted it last fall. Please do keep 
in touch with me when you next set out on an ex- 
pedition* 
Tour pictures are on their way under separ- 
ate cover, with your return postage enclosed. My 
thanks for your response and apologies forhaving 
put you to the fruitless effort. 
Very truly yours 
June 9 
Gerard Pi el 
