Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2298

Carbon of letter from Heath to Crane Brinton, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (history professor at Harvard 1923-1942)

September 15, 1945

 

 

Dear Dr. Brinton:

A few years ago in the Saturday Review of Literature you took the professional hide off of several sociologists of the orthodox, conventional tradition (“skinning a dead mule,” as you afterwards called it}. A thoroughly workmanlike job.

 From my place in Maryland, I wrote you a hearty applause, including in my letter two little writings of my own entitled “The Energy Concept of Population” and “Private Property in Land Explained.” In reply, among other things, you commended this “Energy Concept” as “the most promising social analysis I have seen so far” and suggest­ed that in this connection there was much for us to talk over together. With this in view you were so kind as to propose that we have a lunch­eon together upon my next visit to Cambridge.

 Since that time many things have occurred. I attended the last meeting of the International Congress for the Unity of Science, but at that time, as I remember, you were seriously ill. Afterwards I made two other visits to Boston, once to speak at a meeting of the Real Estate Organization but found, much to my regret, that you were absent from Cambridge on both occasions. However, I still look for­ward to meeting you and should like to know whether or not you expect to be in Cambridge (or to visit New York City) during the next sever­al months.

 Knowing your taste for “debunking” as well as for constructive writing, I take liberty of sending you copy of an unpublished and, as yet, unoffered review of Henry George’s “Progress and Poverty.” I would appreciate your considered criticism of this and your sugges­tions, if you have any, as to a suitable time or occasion and appro­priate medium for its publication.

 I have also busied myself with a very considerable expansion of “The Energy Concept of Population.” This also I have not published. Before doing so I should like very much to test its vulnerability against such a literary lance as yours. I have made this energy con­cept the basis of what seems at least a novel approach to the social scene. I will have greater confidence in its validity if it can with­stand criticism by you.

 I wonder what you have been publishing or writing in these late tumultuous years. I do not go through many periodicals but have missed you from the gradually pinkening columns of the S.R.L. I suppose you have noted the recent editorial hysteria.

Sincerely,

 

Encl.

P. and P. Reviewed. Stamped envelope for return.