1

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 —