Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1882-05-27)

wonder. It was a great blow to him that I should get such good place with so little trouble, and that he, who considers himself my equal on all points. should "get left". It has completely upset him, wife tells me, and he is not the same man he was before. She too, had told me that he had got into the habit you mention. - of complaining. But under the same circumstances you or I would feel sour too ! Think how you would have </s be > felt had you failed to sell anything in Frisco. and Foote raked in the $16,000 instead of you ! You know you were terribly blue and anxious even as it was during the 4 or 5 days previous to the fall of the manna - in the shape of those two drafts. Therefore we must be charitable to Webster. Lucus' coming here has only deepened his gloom.

    Webster asked me for an opinion of his work to show

Prof. Baird, and snce learning from you that you were really willing to make the sacrifice of letting him go. I have given it. If he does not get in here it certainly will not be your fault & I have told him so. As soon as he finds he cannot, I think he will accept your offer & enter heartily into your plans. At all events I shall strongly urge him to do so. He can marry on $3.50 per day, surely. Mrs Gilbert is doing her part nobly. In spite of her anxiety she assumes a cheerfulness she does not feel and comforts him every way, urging patience and </u courage.>

    Your hypothetical case of W. L. H. resigning in behalf

of Webster, may yet have a closer reality than you ever supposed. Not that I would ever change places with him, but I have for some time thought seriously of offering to give up, for 2 or 3 years, $200. annually from my salary, bringing it down to $1300.in case it could be added to other money and made sufficient to get Webster here. Were I </s entirely > free from debt I would