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August 2 —
To Mr. H. H. Dow -
I appreciate your desire to have the empty spaces on the Court House Lobby wall filled as soon as possible — I am, maybe, even more desirous of not dragging out two pictures that have become rather expensive. Fact is I have had the two ideas in my possession too long - they have developed beyond the amount of labor which could be reasonably considered under our commercial agreement. But I have already gone too far - in fact my mind no longer sees them in a spontaneous, superficial manner, easy to make. To be more specific— the one with figure of [?Lower], has a background with your entire Midland plant — a matter of a week’s work on perspective alone. The Return of Soldiers has exactly (at present) a dozen half life size figures. They must all be given some study. Moreover the idea itself requires just as much consideration as I have time to devote to it. I am making changes all the time. The [Lower?] is in definite form and I can give it to you at an early date, if you must have it.
But if you want the Return of Soldiers in a hurry, it seems to me that I must [leave?] you free to get someone else to do it. I am working every day also holidays — I can’t do more. I find that I am on a subject much more complicated than I expected. It is working out very satisfactory to me — in fact I would not object to keeping it. I may, of course, get through with it much quicker than I forsee — but I can’t promise to rush it - and spoil it - I trust that you will appreciate my position — I will not, on my part, feel hurt if you decide that you must take the matter into your own hands —