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are proud of your distinction.
I hope you will ultimately
get farther east – if you want to –
for I am of the opinion that
the atmosphere of learning, culture
and refinement deteriorates as
we pressed west across the
country, and that you would,
therefore, be more in your
element farther east.

By the way, yesterday there came
to me a man, one W. M. James,
whom you probably recollect as
belonging to the class of '76 – I
think he said: and I had a
very pleasant chat with him.
He wished to be remembered
to you – said he was single and
happy – He is in some way
connected with me of the
[contracters?] on the Santa Fe R. R.

As to my staying in this