468 Hope C'treet, 
Providence, 1 . I. 
Pec. 6, 1910. 
Pear Chamberlain:- 
Yours of the 4th is at hand. lo state facts 
plainly and brielfy I am very very sorry that I ears see no 
possible prospect of finding the time to undertake the work you 
suggest. I have hesitated about replying, for the temptation 
has been pleat, but it would be unwise, to say the least, for 
me to take up any more work when I am unable to attend to what 
I have already undertaken. I presume I may be criticised for 
not even offering ro become one of the contributing editors, 
but, as matters stand at present, I cannot afford to do so. 
If you hear any adverse criticism of my not offering to be 
one of these you may (if you deem It wise) state the facts 
which follow, or so much of them as you choose; otherwise 
please do not publish thesi. 
Pather is out of work most of the time, and will be unable to 
work much more anyway. He has absolutely nothing laid away for 
a rainy day. moreover, both his eyes are going just as your 
mother's did. 'Here at home we have known of this for some time, 
but have disliked to mention T it, even to other members of the 
family, some of whom temt are still ignorant of the condition 
of his eyes. 
From what I have seen of Fiddle (and that is considerable) 
I can say definitely that you will look far and wide vefore 
finding, a better man fo/r Editor-in-chief. He has the ability, 
is a scholar and a perfect gentleman, is carefuland painstaking. 
I doubt whether he has the time, however. He was (last Friday) 
elected Sryptogamic Curator of the Hew England Botanical Club 
to succeed Hollis ebster. I imagine ho is planning to put all 
his spare time into the wotk, but I may be mistaked, I hope 1 
am for the sake of the future of the Bryolopist. 
He are aboyt as usual here, and’all hppe you can get time to 
make us a visit on the way to or from Maine. 
By the way, if you p*et any of the moss, for foreign exchange, 
that Beattie is offering in the current Bryolopist I wish you would 
steal me a hit (merely for locality), although there will be no 
guarantee that it was collected in the locality that he says. 
I find I have no specimen from the locality mentioned. I have 
recently learned things about him that makes me want to have no 
direct correspondence with him unless absolutely necessary, 
hence the request. 
7,'irslow gave me a little of the Paludella last Friday 
evening at the Club mooting. Apparently it is the first time 
it has been collected in Hew England, so far as my records show. 
V7ith best regards. 
