18 West 89th 8t. Hew York, 
June 1915. 
Dear Collins:- 
I received your card about the matter of the Death ^alley 
expedition safely, and should have answered before, only--the usual excuses 
stand in the way. I have not yet purchased the boohs, as about the 
time that your letter came there were some disquieting things looming 
up, and it looked as though it would be pretty safe to defer nurchase 
until the sky cleared. 
The fundamental reason is this, that it is extremely doubtful if T 
shall go to Maine this summer, at least not for more than two or three 
days st the outside. It seems the wiser plan, at present. When I 
see you, I shall be able to tell you a little about the reasons. 
As a consequence, I shall have on my hands the time from the first of 
July, (or 27th June) until about the 20th September. Should vou need an 
assistant in any way, I shall be glad to know about it. I mean it. 
I don‘t want to spend the summer in idleness, nor to stay here in the 
city. I should like enough to do to about cover the expenses, and keep 
me out of doors. I may decide to blow in a little and go west, but Ih 
hardly think it is a serious idea with me. I would rather do that than 
stay here in town. Were it not that I would rather get fully out of doors 
I would write to the N.Y.Bot Garden and see what they have to offer. 
Now this is not written in any sense of demanding that you find something, 
only that in case you happen to know of something, you put me next. 
Thia is the final session of the school, shop closing for the summer 
next Friday week, (June 11) After that I have a Job rending exams fora 
space of ten days, or two weeks, making it likly that T get through about 
June 26. I can leave in light marching order at anytime within 24 hours 
thereafter, most likly. 
