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"The Howard-Smith Collection"

Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved.
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To: R. Spurrier Howard-Smith
From: Eben Alexander, Legation of the United States, Athens, Greece
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Legation of the United States
          Athens, 2 Aug., 1893.

My dear Sperry:
    Your letter of July 17th came last night.  I am awfully glad that Lida
got through without serious trouble, and hope sincerely that she and the
little girl are quite well by this time.  Please give Lida my very best
love.  I have been uneasy about her.  It is a great comfort to know that
all has gone well.  Take my advice and let this be your last child.  It is
not a good thing to have too many.  I thank you very much for attending to
the draft.  Manatt says that he forgot to write in it the number of days
"after right."  I suppose that made no difference.  You are so kind that
I shall, with no sort of hesitation, trouble you to attend to such things
very often.  A brother-in-law, of your description, is very convenient.

    When the baby is about two years old, you must surely come to Greece.
By that time you will be rolling in wealth, and the vacation will do you
and Lida a world of good.

    I have been waiting here for some weeks in order to be present at the
formal opening of the Corinth Canal.  The ceremonies will take place in
two or three days, so that I expect to leave for Roumania and Servia next
Wednesday (Aug. 9th), to be absent three weeks or a month.  I have made
arrangements for our living from the time of Marie's arrival till next July.
She shall have no housekeeping to break her down, and the house is a very
nice one.  We are to have the entire second floor, with private dining-room,
parlor, etc.-almost as if we were in our own house, but with no trouble
about servants and food and the hundred other nuisances which make life a
burden at times.  The boys send their best love with mine, to all four of
you, and to the home-folk.

                                                     Yours as ever,
                                                         E.A.