This summer I saw a great deal of a man ... [who was] perfectly complacent. ...  And I noticed that he took no acids of any kind—­ never a pickle, nor vinegar, nor salad—­but would heap half a roll of butter on a single sheet of bread and eat sardines whole.  And I just came to the conclusion that there was something in a fellow’s stomach that accounted for his temperament.  If I ever get the time I am going to try and work out the theory.  The contented people are those who generate their own acid and have an appetite for fats, while the discontented people are those whose craving is for acids.  A lack of a sense of humor and a love for concrete facts, as opposed to dreams, goes along with the first temperament.  You just turn this thing over and see if there is not something in it.  I am long past the stage of trying to correct myself; I am just trying to understand a lot of things—­why they are. ...

F. K L.

TO JOHN H. WIGMORE

Washington, July 3, 1912

My dear John,—­Of course you may keep the Napoleon book.  It is intended for you.  Your criticism of T. R.’s literary style is appreciated, and no doubt he lacks in precision of thought.

Now we shall have a chance to see what a college president can do as President of the United States.  I believe Wilson will be elected.  What a splendid jump in three years that man has made!  They tell me he is very cold-blooded.  We need a cold-blooded fellow these days ...

September 21, 1912

...  You will by this time have picked up all the politics of the time.  Wilson is strong, but not stronger than he was when nominated.  T. R. is gaining strength daily, that is my best guess.  He has the laboring man with him most enthusiastically but not unanimously, of course.  The far West—­Pacific Coast—­is his.  All the railroad men and the miners ...

I am not sure of Wilson.  He is not “wise” to modern conditions, I fear.  Tearing up the tariff won’t change many prices.  Doesn’t he seem to talk too much like a professor and too little like a statesman?  Hearst is knifing him for all he is worth.  He has fixed in the workingmen’s minds that Wilson favors Chinese immigration.

Well, when am I to see you again?  And how is Mrs. John?  How I do wish you were here!  As always,

F. K. L.

To Timothy Spellacy

Washington, September 30, 1912

My dear Tim,—­I have your fine, long letter of September 23, and this is no more than just an acknowledgment.  I am glad to know that you are taking so hearty an interest in the campaign.  It is really too bad that you did not stay longer in Baltimore and see Bryan win out all along the line.