July
4, 1977
Dear
Mr Plant,
More
excuses for not writing to thank you for all the beautiful stamps and the Cochin Club Newsletter. This time really serious excuse, I’ve had
a recurrence of an old spinal fracture, have to wear a most disagreeable brace
and sit with my back against a tall electric heater. There have been many days
when I could hardly walk. So you see, I haven’t felt much like writing. I
hope you wrote to the librarian at University of Tokyo about the bantams
before 1860. I feel certain that it had taken centuries to breed them to
perfection, and that they must have existed in Japan as well as in China. The
Japanese were real Bantam fanciers, look at all the lovely colors they
achieved with their own tiny Chabo.
Did I tell you, it was a librarian at University of Tokyo who was able to find
a copy for me of a scarce Poultry book that had color pictures of all breeds?
My
book collecting has slowed down, most offerings are things I already have, or
modern text-books, or fantastic prices. Do you get English rare-book
catalogues? You just wouldn’t believe the prices! Only the Oil Barons could
afford.
Did
I tell you, my whole collection is going to Kansas State University? That is
in what we call the Middle West,
center of USA. They have a fine Poultry Department and draw students from many
countries, so my books will safe and possible useful.
I
thank you for all the lovely stamps. I liked the one best of Pioneer
Family. We had pioneers in this country too, much hardship.
Until
my back gets better, please don’t expect letters, unless I can really help
you.
Most
sincerely,