RK-857

Alice Cora Kennicott Collection N0.___ Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Jan 28th 1863. Dear Little Daughter It was good in you to write to me when, I know, it must be fatiguing -- I can appreciate your difficulty in making the effort to write when you are not well -- The feeling of lassitude and despondency resulting from your bad health causes you without the amount of mental energy necessary to make writing pleasant -- Never theless whenever you feel that writing would be an agreeable effort, even though it be an effort, - I think it might be well for you to write letters to me and others and you know how glad I am to receive them. Bur dont write to me when you dislike to do so -- I have just been re reading yours of Jan 21st&Fathers of 23 [?] - the latest I've read -- I've been rushing about at a tremendous rate for a couple of days -- and have scarcely had time to eat - though much of the time was devoted to other things [side of page] Did I tell you of the nice New Years present Prof Baird got for you but which Im rushing to send by express with Mothers things? its a fine photographic copy of a celebrated series of German paintings illustrating the German fairy tale of the "Seven Ravens and the devoted [?] sister"

than work ---- Saturday night I wrote a long letter to Mother -- Sunday morning I had intended to take a walk as I am shut up too much from sun and air -- But I finally worked from 900 am to 3 pm revising a copy of some S. I catalogues which were wanted soon -- Then after dinner I went ovr to Prof Bairds and spent a little time there and walked down to George town with Lucy Raind, Mr Clarke and a Miss Gould of Boston -- Clarke is a young gentleman who has for many years lived in Prof Bairds family when not off on the Mexican Boundry Commission to which he has been attached -- Miss Gould is a very clever Girl daughter of Gould the conchologist, and as she is a particular friend of the Bairds, I endeavored to do the agreeable -- [crst out]Coming back I took tea at Prof Bairds and talked about sam Baird with his Mother (who is now staying at Prof B.s) and on various matters scientific, musical & otherwise till after 8 o.c. when I started for S. I. but stopped on the way to call on Mrs. Turner (widow of Prof Turner the

2 No.____ Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C., 18 the great Philologist and sister of MIss Bettie R. that was) with whom I found a very musical Mns[?] star of New York who played and sang some good things tho twas sunday night -- The best new thing to me was the "Dying tnoo[?]ers {?] Song (or some such name) which she says is published in the Back of Jessie [word crst out] Fremonts new Book --. Aprepos, said book is said to be written mainly as a defence of Fremonts Body Grand and his cours[?]e in this and some other matters. The air I refer to is one of the most wierd[?] and beutiful things I've heard please call Miss Connie Stickneys attention to the book and especially to this air. As it was rather late to begin work when I left Mrs. Tuni[???] I went to the Willlards Hotel to see Dr Snakley and Newberry and while looking for them and --singularly enough --thinking innvoluntarily what if I should see George Walker whom I knew would soon be here, who should I run against but Willie Walker. Then[?}how[?] will and I talked somewhat and as his business was with medical men

in the army I introduced him to Dr Newberry who gave him certain inform ation he wanted etc etc then we talked a little further and we drank some ale to will's astonish at my drinking, [written between lines] ment / --He evidently thinking that naturalists somehow lived on bird skins & snakes. I subsequently demonstrated to his satisfaction their capacity for the consumation of Bivalve mollurca as well-- So I went to bed rather late -- Monday morning I worked on spinmophiles and in the afternoon Will Walker came to the S. I. and as Miss Gould and Lucy Baird were over here and wanted an escort in visiting the Gov not[underln] Greenhouse and Navy Yards we went with them --While out [word crsd out]at the greenhouse we met Judge Skinner &d an daughter of chicagn with Miss Jayne a sister of Mrs Drumhull -- as Lucy Baird wished to become acquainted with the latter of whom she'd heard through one of her friends I was glad to have the opertunity of introducing them -- Judge Skinner somewhat to my surprise expressed much interest in me and my operations and especially in getting a museum in Chicogo -- He asked me to write to him about it etc. As[word crsd out] We were rather late in getting back to Prof Bairds - tho this was Miss Goulds

3 No.____ Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., 19 Gould's fault rather than mine -- After that it bing past dinner time at wills hotel he and I went to an oyster shop and ate a few dozens raw and a peck or two of steamed oysters. Then I came over to the S. I. and don my sunday go to meeting clothes while will walker dressed himself and then I went to supper with him -- (Mine - I came over to S. I. over half a mile "dressed, saw various people and got back to Willards before will walker was dressed) we then went to Arnold's (J.N.) where we saw Miss arnold, Miss wilson (daughter of John M Wilson) and some other misses. After that I took will to the Club meeting where we had a good time and some more oysters and lobster salad and finally we went home with Dr Suckly who gave Will what further information he wanted respecting govt bedsteads etc, and afterwards got beaten by him at billiards - at one a clock I left them playing a second game - I x biny [?]