May 10, 1929

Walter is now at Johns Hopkins University to defend his doctoral thesis, in which he worked out the etiology of creeping eruption (aka cutaneous larva migrans).

Wash DC – Friday Nite.

My dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday PM I posted a letter from Baltimore. It was written en route and a few notes were made on the envelope after I had visited with the Hopkins folks. I presume you received it Sunday AM by Special Delivery.

May 10, 1929

May 10, 1929

At the School of Hygiene I found everyone very cordial and with a glad hand. The thesis paved the way in a fine manner. Had lunch with the Med Zoo folks in the cafeteria at Dr. Cort’s expense. Learned that Dr. Root is to quiz me on protozoology in the oral. Dr. Ford (head of the Dept of Bacteriology) will give me the oral in the other minor. Dr. Ford is on my thesis committee, and I think Root is also. I did not learn the names of other members of the Committee. According to recent rules the candidate is not supposed to know who serves on his thesis committee. This gives the Comm. a chance to refuse a thesis without the candidate’s knowing who was responsible.

Had a talk with Miss Durham since I did not care to deposit $50. It will not be necessary to make the deposit. She said that my thesis was a “beautiful piece of work” that Dr. Ford gave a very good report on. He read it about three times, turned it in for binding, then the next day he asked to see it again. A copy was in his possession when I saw Miss Durham. She said he remarked of the beautiful work and etc. The praise gives me more confidence, but I am not allowing it to go to my head or to cause me to throw out my chest. Cort seems to be very proud of the showing of his Dept. He has all of the candidates this time, Root & Hegner have none this year. Hegner is en route to the Philippines. He will be there for a year.

Everyone asks of Mrs. Dove. Cort surmised that we would drive up and everyone seems disappointed that you did not come.

You will recall that Dr. Barlow worked out the life cycle of an intestinal fluke, and that he swallowed the flukes en route from China. He was at JHU about nine years ago. This year he returned in order to complete the work for his DSc degree. He expects to go to Egypt to work on a bladder fluke of man. It is likely that Mr. & Mrs. Scott will go with him. Scottee is the same as ever. Says the right thing at the right time. Next week I expect to become better acquainted with Barlow. I am to obtain a room at the same place, about 1600 block on Broadway. Will take two meals there, also. Will write more of JHU next week.

(Mr.) Dr. Radcliffe and Miss Capp were married about a year ago.

Dr. & Mrs. Huff have a boy baby. Dr. & Mrs. Anderwort have a girl. Both couples and both babies are in Boston. Dr. Simon died more than a year ago.

Saw Dr. White last night, today and tonight. Will see him again tomorrow. I did not arrive at the Bureau until after 5 PM but I made connections with him at Wallis Cafe. Tonight we ate at Allies Inn until they closed up. Then we drove about in his Buick roadster. He has a special horn on his car. It sounds like a bull calf. We had lunch this noon at the Chinese restaurant.

Mrs. Bishopp (steno) was disappointed that you did not come. It is such a beautiful time of the year, and you would have enjoyed it so.

The Bishopps invited me to eat dinner with them Sunday at noon. They are going to take me to Baltimore that PM. He is OK to me, very nice etc. Otherwise, he is running true to form. Dr. White and Mrs. B know more of him now.

Think I’ll stay in Baltimore all of next week and until after the final oral on Tuesday of week after next. It will be better for me and also less expensive. I am now rooming 1 block north of the office, just opposite the old Smithsonian Bldg. Don’t know their names. I pay $2 per night for three nights here.

The new Animal Parasitology by Hegner, Root and Augustine is out. It has C.E. in it and all other recent developments.

Dr. Howell was very cordial when I met him in Baltimore.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your
Walter.

P.S. I have a new point in my pen. It cost $1.50.