Of course the inauguration business was commonplace.  That is Ohio statesmanship, somehow.  But good may come of it, and you and I want to help it, so far as it wants national food, to bear fruit.  Damn all your politics and partisanship!  Humbug—­twaddle—­fiddle-dee-dee, made for lazy louts who want jobs and bosses who want power.  Well, we are out now for a long time, and we might as well forget bitterness, or rather submerge it in the bigger call of the nation.  All of which you characterize as sentimentalism—­so says Burleson, too.

I am beginning to despair of doctors and to say to myself, “Better get back to work, and go it as long as you can, then quit and live on rolled oats and buttermilk until the light goes out.” ...  Well, goodnight, dear chap.

F. K. L.

To John G. Gekring

[March] 21, [1921]

And how are you, Padre?  Do you find that there are those who can probe into the secrets within you and tell more than you as patient can tell yourself?  Has a physician who follows the biblical advice, “Heal thyself,” a Fool for a Doctor?  What has been taught you in the ill-smelling center of darkness, dreariness and torture, where there is more need for beauty than in any other place, and less of it, more need for gaiety, and less of it, more need for wholesome suggestion and less of it? ...  All hospitals should have bright paper on the walls, or bright pictures.  To hell with the microbe theory!  There are worse things than microbes.  All nurses should be good-looking.  They should paint and pad, if necessary, to give an imitation of good looks.  Now, honestly, do you not agree?  And they should not have doors open, nor ask perfunctory silly questions, such as “Well, how are we today?”

On examination nurses should be rated largely for things that don’t count—­looks, cheerfulness, silliness, sympathy, softness of hand, willingness to listen to the victim-patient! ...

I am going to Rochester, ... my brother is going with me.  Bless him!  He’d be glad to take you back, and he can give you wood to chop, and a black-headed grosbeak to sing for you.  Ever hear one?  Better than Caruso.

May the Lord make his light to shine upon you and give you peace.

F. K. L.

To John H. Wigmore

Los Angeles, March 25, 1921

My dear John,—­Hail to you brave leader of the Moral Forces!  Isn’t that an offensive title?  You see I have been asked to join you in “Potentia.”  Isn’t that word out of the Middle Ages?

I would like to join against crooks, thieves, and liars.  But the American people don’t like anyone to assume that he represents the Moral Forces.  And “Potentia” sounds too mystic for any land this side of Egypt.  Am I not right?  Answer in one of your sane moments.  You cannot go against ridicule in America.  Bishops here are not the same as Lords in England.  They cannot save from ridicule pretentious good things.  Now Ross and you are wise things.  How do you stand for “Moral Forces” and “Potentia”?  No, no, dear John!—­ less hifalutism!