Omaha, 12/13/04

Dear Trostler:

I am sadd and glewmy tonight, and when I am in that bote my
thots phly to yew. Your funereal epistle of the 28th ultimate
was sent to me at San Francisco, as though I had not enough troubles
of my own; it reached me a day or two after I had handed you one
replete with bugology, so after reading it with ineffable scorn I
mailed to Miss V., who of course is the "et al" addressed. And
now it is located just off my larboard bow, but as it is in the main
unanswerable I shall make no attempt to answer it. Only, I am
sorry to note what an unpolished liar you are; I had hoped better
things. You start out by saying you are better, but after reading
ten lines, not to mention the whole business, it is impossible to
believe it. I was about to say it grieves me sore, but I said that
to Jemison one day and he anqioucly inquired where my sore was,
and since that time I have not been fond of the phrase.

When I got home Sunday evening I found your card awaiting me,
with the sad news that you are about to leave Niobrara and that you
will be here soon. I had thought you safely marooned. You have
your nerve to leave Niobrara without consulting me, for I had fig-
gered on a half bushel of Sighsindeedledies next summer, but of
course you have made this one of the first considerations in plan-
ning your change of base.

Speaking of them annimles, I have struck it rich in the Cali-
fornia crowd, and we shall be able to do a lively exchange business
next summer. Those people want large series of almost everything
we have in this State, and of course have to offer things which
we want most fiercely. Do you remember the very small wingless
form we have here rather sparingly - Cicindela celeripes? It was
my open sesame out there; of all the collections I examined, not
one contained over two or three specimens, while I have about twenty
and can collect dozens, on the vacant lot next to ours. They are
fiends for series; they want hundreds, and there is not a reason
in the world why we should not build up splendid collections.
For a starter, Herr Fuchs gave me about sixty specimens, of eight
species; you will see them soon. I am about to send money order
East for $5 or $6 worth of books on Coleoptera, and will sit my
name in the next directory with Cicindelidae as my long suit; this
will open up other parts of the country. When the gentle zephyrs
toss the leaves again, hie you hence and thence and gather all the
tigers you can find, and I'll do likewise, and next year we shall
have plenty of truck to exchange.

You will of course be here to attend the meeting of the N. O. U.
on the 31st, for which I am very glad. Needn't think you are to be
treated as a guessed just because of your aestivation in the hills;

I am recently from San Francisco myself, but I apprehend I'll get
up and hustle a few on account of the meeting.

I enclothes a doleful tail to keep your speerits from effer-
vescing too much.

When I'm sadd I can't write much, so I shall stop now and medi-
tate for a time on the vanities of the world. Such thoughts are
valuable to can one for slumber.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
LINCOLN

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

HENRY B. WARD, PROFESSOR
ZOOLOGIST STATE BOARD AGRICULTURE
ROBERT H. WOLCOTT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
WILLIAM A. WILLARD, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
FRANKLIN D. BARKER, INSTRUCTOR
R. A. LYMAN, INSTRUCTOR

ROBERT T. YOUNG
S. FRED PRINCE, ARTIST

Lincoln, Nebr.,
Dec. 15, 1904.

Dear Shoemaker -
Your letters both here and both much en-
joyed. Shall not write much of an answer as I expect to be in
Omaha, as you know, the 31st, and shall look forward to a good
visit. You must have had a delightful time with those men in San
Francisco. I suppose that means a terrific onslaught on venusta,
splendida, limbata, &c. in the Sand hills next summer.
We shall have to see what is the best way out of the N. O. U. treas-
urership. Am planning a presidential address "Analysis of Ne-
braska Bird Fauna", including references to faunal limits in the
state and our relation to faunal areas. And Bruner and
Swenk are urging that I give my Sand-hill paper that was read at
the A. O. U. meeting - 45 slides - in the evening.

Many evidences of appreciation of the meeting being held in Oma-
ha are coming to us from Omaha teachers. The state teachers' assa-
ciation does not adjourn till Friday evening and liberal adver-
tising at its meeting and in the papers should hold a lot of the peo-
ple over for Saturday.

Till then, and with regards to Mr. and Miss Van
Sant, as well as yourself.
Your friend
Robt. H. Wolcott

Recieved the 50 ¢ & turned it
over to Bruner -

See oh double you
so met imes

eow

[Street Map drawing: left intersection "NIOBRARA" ; right road down, "Mo River"] 

ba cha che

[symbols]

Personal

Omaha, Dec. 20, 1904.

Dear Wolcott:

Miss V. and I have had a talk with Dr. Towne this noon, and got a
few of our plans lined up. We are anxious to know, with reference to your
talk in the evening, whether it is of a character which will be interesting
to children, or to high school students, the idea being to word
our bulletins or notices in the papers according to your reply. Please
state what you think about this, andwhether you would recommend invitation
to grade students. The idea did not particularly impress me.
We shall arrange for quite full notice of the meeting and think will have
good attendance afternoon and evening. If you have enough of a program
to print for afternoon session, furnish copy soon as possible and we
will print it.

Please state how many slides you have, and give a little idea of
the character of the talk, as we want to omit the younger people if it
will not be adapted to them.

Hastily,

[Initials]

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA

LINCOLN, NEB.
DEC 22
7—PM
1904

THE SPACE ABOVE IS RESERVED FOR POSTMARK

POSTAL CARD.

THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY

POSTAGE ONE CENT
1843-McKINLEY-1901

Mr. Frank H. Shoemaker,
2960 Dewey Ave.,
Omaha,
Nebr.

NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The next meeting of the Nebraska Academy of
Sciences will be held at the State University, Jan.
27 and 28, 1905. You are requested to send at once
titles of any papers you desire to present, keeping
in mind that not only do we wish papers of a more
technical nature embodying the results of original
investigations, but also those more general in
character, of interest to a popular audience and
serving to attract the general public to our meet-
ings. Full announcement and program will be sent
you about January 10.

Very truly,
Dec. 20, 1904.                    Robert H. Wolcott, Sec'y,
Station A, Lincoln.

The University of Nebraska 
Zoological Laboratory

Lincoln, Nebr., U. S. A.
Dec. 21, 1904.

Dear Shoemaker,

Your letter came last night, but as
I came down this morning Prof. Bruner said he had had
a 'phone (long distance) conversation with Dr. Towne and ar-
ranged matters. The titles in Swenk's hands are not suf-
ficient to justify publishing a regular program. My
evening talk will be accompanied by about 45 slides.
Do not expect to make it elementary, but try and have
it popular. Shall describe the sand-hill region and the
birds there in a general way.

Looking forward to a good talk with you.
We will come up on train leaving here) Yours, rc Robt. H. Wolcott 5 a.m