Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-11-10)

to set up such a concern as Edwin Ward's in London. How would it affect you anyhow ? I would not care to go into business </s as > of this kind anywhere without the good-will of the Establishment, but with that I think I could make it pay in N. Y. I would make a specialty of heads of all kinds, fancy decorative pieces, mats & rugs, &e, This Establishment has grown to be so immense and to embrace so many departments that tax- idermy has become but a mere item of the whole, and it is my private opinion that a man in New York engaged in Taxidermy only would have no perceptible effect upon this business. I would stay in Rochester however on a salary $300 to $400 or smaller per year than I would want to move out of it & go </u anywhere > else. Never in my life have I been so happily settled as now, and nothing but absolute necessity makes me think of changing base.

    I don't know whether anyone has told you or not, but

Charles has improved greatly during the last four months. He has grown to be quite agreeable in comparison with what he used to be, and seems to be outgrowing a great </s deal > ^many^ of his nonsensical ideas . Last spring he was very cross and irritable at all times and at times overbearing, but of late he is much more amiable to everybody. His troubles over his debt seem to have softened him a good deal. Aside from his reckless extravagance in dress the young man seems to be doing ^the best^ </s better than > I have seen of