Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1336

Carbon of a letter from Heath to Robert Murray, Physics House, 30 Garden Place, Brooklyn, New York.

January 23, 1941

 

Original is missing.

Dear Bob:

It has been ages since I saw or heard anything from you. I wonder if you think I have stayed away from you by design. Believe me it has only been accidental and for the reason of your not being very accessible when I have been in New York.

Several weeks or months ago on a very rainy night I drove over to Physics House, but failed to find anybody at home. I left my card in the door and then went in quest of your laboratory, thinking to find you there. I circled and circled among the one way streets and must confess that I was unable to find my way to your laboratory al­though you had taken me there once before. I came around and around to the same policeman three different times, asking him the way until I think he was about to arrest me. Finally I had to give it up, and then I almost had as much trouble again finding my way back to New York out of some of the obscure wilds of Brooklyn in which I became enmeshed.

Do tell me how all your electrons and other tiny impersonals are behaving themselves, and how you are getting the streams of them to flow in the way in which they should go, or out of it, as your purposes may require.

I would certainly like to see you and your charming and interesting associates at Physics House, and be assured that everything is going happily and construc­tively there.

Last summer and fall I spent a good deal of time traveling in the Middle West and Toronto and Montreal to both of which cities I made two trips, and had some most delightful contacts, engagements and meetings with persons interested.in my own special field. I also had a number of engagements in Detroit, especially in connection with the social science teachers of the Detroit High Schools. At McGill University in August I was first introduced to a luncheon group at the Faculty Club which turned out to be an all afternoon seminar with myself very largely and by request in command. On my return there in November, Dr. C. L. Huskins, Head of the Depart­ment of Genetics, asked me to “read a paper” before one of the Senior Faculty organizations. A special meeting was called for that purpose at which I presented my Energy Concept of Population and a great deal of animated dis­cussion ensued. Dr. Huskins told me afterwards that the matter was being discussed for some days, and he knew it would be the principal topic at their next regular meeting. Curiously, Dr. Huskins never gave me the name of this organization of which he is president, beyond saying that it is often referred to as the “Holy of Holies.”

I was all set to meet Dr. Huskins and several of his associates at Philadelphia in connection with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, but was prevented from doing so by a mild attack of the then prevalent “flu.”

You must let me know something about what is hap­pening in your world and give me an opportunity of seeing you the next time you visit the home town.

I would very much like to see you again in New York. I expect to be at the Woodstock Hotel from January 29th and for some days following. It would be nice to get a ring from you while I am there – the earlier in the morning the better to be sure of reaching me.

I would have written this letter to you long, long ago, if I had not confidently expected to see you without the necessity of writing.

With best wishes, I am,

Sincerely yours,

 

 

SH:ML