LANE

To James D. Pkelan

Rochester, Minnesota, May 2, 1921

My dear Jim,—­Glad to hear from you and to get so cheerful a word, for surely you are justified in looking upon the world as very much of a friend of yours.  You have a rare home, in which to gather your many friends, and you have had honors in abundance, and now may rest and write and speak and adjust yourself to things—­terrestrial and celestial—­and other service will call you.  There must be some Democrats appointed to adjust European or other difficulties, even by a Republican, and you will be the prominent one.  So I can look across the mountains to Montalvo and find you ripening into a fine old mellow age, conscious of usefulness, in health and in happiness.  May it be so!

Just as soon as my boy gets here, I shall be operated on. ...  Ned is now on his honeymoon with his darling little bride, a Catholic Irish girl named Catherine McCahill, whose grey-whiskered grandfather of ninety quite took the shine off the bride at the wedding.  He is a Democrat (State Senator for thirty years) a Sinn Feiner of the most robust sort, and a fanner of many acres.

Poor Anne, she is in for a bad time, with Nancy sick, but she has a good stout heart and a most adequate and comfortable religious faith, which throws things that are personal into a very minor place.  The theory of relativity has more than one expression indeed, and things are small when looked at from a height.  And it is good to find one who can be both religious and large.

The country seems to be liking Harding and his cabinet more and more.  They do have a faculty for getting things done, those Republicans, and they are subjected to so little criticism.  It is really good to see them do their work and get away with things so neatly. ...  As always,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hertle Gunston Hall on the Potomac

Rochester, Minnesota, May 2

Dear people,—­What good angel ever put it into your heart to wire us—­and such a warm electric message!

I tell you this is not Gunston Hall—­so few birds, flowers, trees —­but I like the great sweep of the sky out here.  There is nothing mean about this land of ours.  It gives you something, and gives it to you generously, something lovable wherever you are.

The Doctors have not decided what to do with me. ...  But we’ll be out of suspense this week, I expect.

I can see your garden now—­fountain, hedge, roses, bird-boxes, pergola, box and all—­with the dignified, stately Potomac way out yonder, beyond the cleared fields and the timber.  Lucky people, and you deserve it all.  No one, not even the Bolsheviks, would take it from you.  Cordially yours always,

FRANKLIN K. LANE