My gayest greetings to Sir William and, in cloudy Holland, may the sun shine in your hearts always.

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To James H. Barry

San Francisco Star

Rochester, Minnesota, January 12, [1921]

Dear Jim,—­The Star has set—­it goes the way of Nature—­the circle must be completed.  The only question one may ask is, “Was it useful?” I think it was, Jim, it held many to the true course, it was an honest guide in a bewildering world.

Do let us meet when I am West, and talk of Henry George and John Marble and Arthur McEwen, who have gone on, and left not their like. ...

F. K. L.

To Michael A. Spellacy

Rochester, Minnesota, January 12, [1921]

My dear Mike,—­ ...  I shall await your re-coming with great interest.  Truly you should write up what you see.  Get good pictures and I will get it all in the National Geographic Magazine, and then we’ll see what the Cosmos Club will say!  I am in earnest about this—­keep a diary in which you write, in your own gay style, what you see, and you will soon have fame as well as fortune.

The news from Mexico is not very encouraging.  Obregon is sick so much, and without policy, without dependable friends.  Cardinal Gibbons came near dying, but, thank God, pulled through!  A very wonderful man.  I am very fond of him and he likes me I know, for I handled the Indians for seven years and had no trouble, because he and I had a flat understanding that I should take my church troubles, if any arose, to him.

The old Chief Justice called on us in Washington.  He is seventy-five and almost totally blind.  And the greatest Chief since John Marshall.

De Valera has landed and I expect things to be doing pretty soon.  The British are greatly mystified as to how he got over and back.  You see you are not the only adventurer on the face of the globe.  We used to think that these were prosey, stoggy, flat-footed days, but there is any amount of adventure—­from the fields of Flanders to the mountains of Colombia—­even the Spanish main has had its rebirth.

Mrs. Lane wants me to thank you for your thought of her.  As you know no one holds a deeper, surer place in her heart than you and Tim.

Well, old chap, I am sitting in bed—­four in the morning—­with a devilish sore throat and without anything to eat or much sleep for thirty-six hours, so if this screed is not one of great illumination or information you will know that it was only a message of cheer and good-will from one who is fond of you, but who warns you to be careful for all of our sakes.  As always,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To William R. Wheeler

Rochester, Minnesota, January 13, [1921]