Dear Dr. Wat son I -• — 
Yours of the 20th inst . at hand. It was a surprise to 
me, for I had given up hope of ever hearing from Cambridge. 
I note the contents of your letter. The position I thought 
was vacant, and for which I applied, was that of "subordinate as- 
sistant." I thought, however, that the position would pay more, 
say $15.00 per week. 
While ray knowledge of botany is not extensive, yet I am not 
entirely green in the matter. I have oflcourse only had opportuni- 
ty to study local botany of places in which I happened to be. I 
have spent a good deal of time, however, in the past few years in 
this way. I have spent all ray time outside of business this year 
in the pursuit of botanical knowledge. As I told you when there, 
I have b'^en overhauling Dr. Thurber’s Grass Herb, for him, having 
spent on an average of about three nights per week at it since last 
April. It is certainly very complete, and I have profited a good 
deal by it. My botanical experience has been almost entirely 
practical. I never made an herbarium until this year, so of 
course have not had any experience in mounting specimens. 
I studied Latin in school some eight or nine years ago, taking 
a course of about 2^ years. Of course I studied as a school boy 
would, but I managed to imbibe something of the construction of the 
language, and I think I could pick it up in a reasonably short 
time. Greek I never studied at all. Frenc h for only a very 
short time. German, however, I have done more with. I can 
speak and understand, and f*ead and write it, each to a certain ex- 
tent. How scientific §e rraan wouldf go, hov/ever, I do not know. 
I might add that I followed stenography and -typewriting in my 
father's office for several years, and I should judge that they 
would come in handy in the position you refer to. 
As to my ambition, capacity, and “material" I beg to refer you 
to Dr. Thurber. He can answer such questions better than 1, as 
his wide botanical knowledge will place him in a position to see 
and understand desirable botanical traits in i£ft an undeveloped 
botanical enthusiast. 
I was born in May, 1864, and so will so®n be 26 years old. 
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