355 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, lass, 
January 20th® 1925. 
My clear Dr. Schlechtor: ^ 
I do not wonder at your suggestion that I 
have given up orchids and my orchidological friends. I have been 
very mush taken up with work foreign to botany and aside from my 
University obligations, I have found little time for much besides 
business. The story is a long one, and I must not bother you with 
it, but to clear away any doubts you may have with regard to my 
attitude toward you and my many other good friends, it may be wel] 
to state briefly what has come into my life since the first of 
September 1924. My co-trustee in the estate created by my father, 
suddenly and unexpectedly, committed suicide, about the middle of 
September. This sad event threw on my shoulders the full burden 
of business that is essential to my family. I had to begin the 
disagreeable task of spending most ox my time in the city and in 
offices. T/hat free time I had, was, of course, the property of 
Harvard University. My own laboratory and my researches in the 
realm of orchids suffered a sudden termination. Only recently I 
have been winning opportunities on my own behalf, and within the 
last two weeks J have found a little time in which to pick up 
the threads of a much neglected fabric. Let this brief explanation 
put at rest any fears you my have entertained with regard to ray 
attitude toward you, 
I remonber the outline of your orchid-system. 
2 think 1 can locate it vdtout much difficulty. Then I discover i s 
1 shall forward it to you promptly. 
I tljink you have all of my publications j . ith 
the exception of a little volume 1 prepared for the American 
Orchid Society. This is M Hn umoration of the Orchids of the 
United States and Ganada . A copy will be sent to you in the very 
near future. 
I think I am still in need of sorao of your 
more recent papers. Please get them to me at your earliest con¬ 
venience. 
’’ay I expect some specimens from you soon? 
It would seem like the beginning of relationship again if we coul1 
exchange a few specimens of critical value. 
Yours sincerely, 
