Mexico, o/29, 1886. 
W. R. Holmes, 
Smi thsonian . 
Dear Mr. Holmes: 
I have said "yes" to Prof. Baird’s proposition but 
cannot cross the Rio Grande until May 10th or 11th. Father 
Fischer is very much out of humor because 1 offered to take 
5125C. 00 but I would rather get that from the Smithsonian 
than hold on the hopes of getting twice that sum from pri- 
vate party, later. 
Thanks for the Science and your article on the 
Monoliths of Teotihuacan. I took a quiet pleasure in show- 
ing Barcena and Sandrez how they had permitted a disciple 
of "original research" to have the honor of throwing some 
1 1 
clear light on the fainting stone" question. After 
reading your article no sensible man will have any doubts 
on the matter. I was out to the Pyramids last week, to 
see what Batres is doing. He is a fraud - has done noth- 
ing but manage to get himself interviewed about twice 
a week. He is not only a fraud but a swindler. The only 
rock crystal skull of any value is the one I got in the 
Fischer Collection. Well, Frenchman named Boban - who 
has a private museum, here - and is a member of various 
French Societies and seems to be very intelligent, al- 
