Letter, Robert Wolcott to Frank H. Shoemaker, 1903, Oct. 12
October 12, 1903
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
LINCOLN
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
HENRY B. WARD, PROFESSOR
ZOOLOGIST STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
ROBERT H. WOLCOTT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
WILLIAM A. WILLARD, INSTRUCTOR
RALPH S. LILLIE, INSTRUCTOR
GEORGE T. HARGITT
HERBERT R. BROWN
CAROLINE E. STRINGER
S. FRED PRINCE, ARTIST
Lincoln,
Oct. 12, 1903.
My dear Shoemaker,-
Yours of the 28th came promptly but I
have been so busy could not get a chance to write a word.
I began one letter on the first day of October to another person,
was interrupted, and in spite of all I could do, I sat down
to finish it just seven days later. Now, after four days more
I have another breathing spell in which to get at my corres-
pondence. My work is heavier than it will be later and heavier
than it otherwise would be were it not for the uncertainty of ar-
ranging the courses in a new course, complicated by the intro-
duction of dental students into our laboratories with the medics.
Am glad to know you are not to leave Omaha. It is sel-
fish, I know, to want to keep you around here, if you can do
better elsewhere, but Omaha wouldn't be "Omaha" to me if you
and Trotter weren't there.
As to the Lincoln suggestion, I wish, while the matter is un-
der discussion, to leave these facts with you. There is a great
demand for stenographic work here in the University - the
worst, scrub stenographers you ever saw get 25¢ an hour. (I
have had letters written by such that I actually had to throw in
the waste-paper basket, they were so poorly written.) And the few
good men available get 50¢ an hour, and won't work for you
except as a regular thing and at regularly assigned hours - no
odd jobs accepted. I know one man, who is married, and who is
taking full university courses, and now beginning the study of
law, who has supported himself and wife in this way, living well
and doing regular University work, and making $60.- a month
all the time, more, in vacation. Just make a memorandum of this
for future reference. And also of the fact that I will introduce you all
around, with the greatest pleasure, if you ever care to undertake the
job of doing university work.
You certainly are not pushed now, ~ and I suppose you would
get the regular vacation allowed all government employès each sum-
mer. As to the Philippines, I will give you my frank opinion:
Pro - 1. Salary is good - $1400 -
2. Journey would be very pleasant, from an ornithological, and
also other standpoints.
3. You could return via India and the Mediterranean, and
probably never have again as good an opportunity for travel.
Con - 1. You run the risks of the journey.
2. You also run the risks of residence in a tropical country.
3. You would be separated from friends and relatives.
Personally, I believe if I could go for one year only I should serious-
ly consider the thing - if it meant a three years service I should
decline. In a recent report of the Health Office I saw this record
for three months - in Manila, cases of cholera 594, deaths 529. (I feel
only moderately sure of the exact figures but they are not far wrong.)
Would like mighty well to see some of the Cherry Co. photographs
and yet I cannot get to Omaha again probably for some weeks.
Am glad you got 100 negatives - it is little enough for all your time
and expense. Have tried to make something else out of your
duck's nest at Front Lake but cannot make the bird out anything
but a Mallard. Always supposed they nested up on the hills and
so threw them out at once when trying to decide, but no other duck
has the marks that bird had as she rose from the nest.
Swenk is sick - has barely escaped a serious attack of appendi-
citis. Carriker is coming back from Costa Rica - to take a position
in the Carnegie Museum. Have been out but once since summer -
to the Lake with Lowry -
But there is little of news here and I will close for now, - with
very warm regards to the van Sants and the most heartfelt wishes
for your own success.
Yours sincerely,
Robt. H. Wolcott
Tues. a.m. - Dear Shoemaker - Just as I was about to mail
this your letter came - so direct it to Kansas - Of course I shall
be most delighted to be of any assistance I can in securing that
U.P. position. It strikes me as a good proposition, and I hope you
may be fortunate enough to land it. Cannot you make it to come
this way on your return?
Your friend
Robt. H. Wolcott.
Letter, Frank H. Shoermaker to Robert Wolcott, 1903, Oct. 30
October 30, 1903
Fort Riley, Kansas
October 30, 1902.
My dear Wolcott:
I received your kind letter soon after my arrival here, but I have not
done a great deal of letter writing (for myself), so have let it go un-
answered.
I have been too busy to do much natural history work here. Last year
the work was light, and there was hardly a day when the whole Headquarters
could not get out for three or four hours; but this year, owing the larger
number of troops, and the presence of the militia organizations of several
States, there has been over three times the bulk of correspondence, general
and special orders, circulars, etc. I have had little time off duty, but
managed to see several of the best things, notably the review of the Pro-
visional Division, and Problem No. 7--the attack and defense of a position.
Some natural history has come to me, however. I have collected a num-
ber of very odd grasshoppers, several common species of tiger beetles, and
two new ones; two or three unusual spiders (Attidae); a real sure-'nough
centipede; a scorpion; a species of field mouse; and what I take to be a
kingsnake, from my recollection of the species in the South. I have the
latter alive, for the reason that I have no bottle large enough to put
it in. Will let you know when I get home and consult Cope.
I have heard nothing further from the railroad people, which according
to our understanding means that they are waiting for me to turn up first
thing in November. For that reason, I shall leave tomorrow morning at 4
o'clock--going to Junction City tonight for the purpose, as the train
does not stop here. That will enable me to start in Monday morning, after
a day at home; I shall reach Omaha at 6 p. m. Saturday. The rest of the
Headquarters force will remain until Sunday noon, but I did not like the
idea of such a narrow margin.
On the whole, I have had an excellent time here. In a civilized
country I would not like the excess of work, but that is all there is on hand
here, so I do not mind working occasionally until 11 p. m. I have met many
agreeable people, observed many interesting things, and altogether have
a much better idea of things military than ever before. I have had comfort-
able quarters in a conical wall-tent, with table, bench, Sibley stove, bunk,
etc., and have been furnished all the fuel I could possibly use. The one
drawback is the commissary lay-out; I have had more indigestion and stomach
trouble in the past two weeks than in all my life before. I now fully com-
prehend the necessity of ample hospital facilities for the army. I would
not like a very long session, but my stomach will recover from the eighteen
days test, I am sure.
I tried one day to get some "birge," but could not find a pond or a
creek in the whole region; nothing but the river, without a bayou from it or
a weed in it, so I gave it up. If I had more time would visit a lake on the
opposite side.
With best wishes to all, I remain
Your friend,