What you say of the mine and how you are to be housed there pleases me mightily. That's how I should like to live, and mining is what I should like again to do. Pray God you be not disappointed. Alas, I cannot even join you during Carlt's vacation, for the mountain ramble. Please "go slow" in your goating this year. I _think_ you are better fitted for it than ever before, but you'd better ask your surgeon about that. By the way, do you know that since women took to athletics their peculiar disorders have increased about fifty per cent? You can't make men of women. The truth is, they've taken to walking on their hind legs a few centuries too soon. Their in'ards have not learned how to suspend the law of gravity. Add the jolts of athletics and--there you are. I wish I could be with you at Monte Sano--or anywhere. Love to Carlt and Sloots. Affectionately, AMBROSE. [Washington, D. C., September 10, 1913.] DEAR LORA, Your letter was forwarded to me in New York, whence I have just returned. I fancy you had a more satisfactory outing than I. I never heard of the Big Sur river nor of "Arbolado." But I'm glad you went there, for I'm hearing so much about Hetch Hetchy that I'm tired of it. I'm helping the San Francisco crowd (a little) to "ruin" it. * * * * * I'm glad to know that you still expect to go to the mine. Success or failure, it is better than the Mint, and you ought to live in the mountains where you can climb things whenever you want to. Of course I know nothing of Neale's business--you'd better write to him if he has not filled your order. I suppose you know that volumes eleven and twelve are not included in the "set." If you care to write to me again please do so at once as I am going away, probably to South America, but if we have a row with Mexico before I start I shall go there first. I want to see something going on. I've no notion of how long I shall remain away. With love to Carlt and Sloots, Affectionately, AMBROSE. [Washington, D. C., September 10, 1913.] DEAR JOE,[18] [18] To Mrs. Josephine Clifford McCrackin, San Jose, California. The reason that I did not answer your letter sooner is--I have been away (in New York) and did not have it with me. I suppose I shall not see your book for a long time, for I am going away and have no notion when I shall return. I expect to go to, perhaps across, South America--possibly via Mexico, if I can get through without being stood up against a wall and shot as a Gringo. But that is better than dying in bed, is it not? If Duc did not need you so badly I'd ask you to get your hat and come along. God bless and keep you. [Washington, D. C., September 13, 1913.] DEAR JOE,