Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-01-14)

I predict however that Studer's back-down No 2 is only a question of a few weeks, and I look for it to come whenever his cash is called for. I have no idea that he will see you through the Ex. I do not believe you will ever get him to sign any kind of an agreement, or put up his $500.

    I will be glad to </s see > have the Society invest

Messrs </u Ward > and Studer with the fullest powers, but we shall waste no further words on </u Studer > alone. At least it will not be done by my advice or consent until he </u puts up his money > He shall not have a chance to diddle the Society a second time. I have no faith whatever in either his honesty or his sincerity, Were </u you > not going to have a hand in the game and keep a check on him I should call for his formal resignation at once, & proceed to raise funds in other quarters. If Studer will </u now > enter into an agreement with you, in writing, and put up his $500. to pay exhibitor's freight, & express charges both ways, hall expenses, cartage & storage , and advertising. Lucas and I will be glad to have the society pass a resolution investing </u you > and he with the fullest powers. I know that </u you > would have sense enough to know, ^even if S does not^ yours that Chickering Hall, nor any other, would do us any more good for 3 days than would a hall in heaven for the same time..

    Please forward this to Webster, and it will save me

writing it all over for his benefit. If Studer gets on his high horse again & gets "defiant" <'/u send him to h--l." as M. Bailly would say, and </u I > will raise $500. in </u cash >, not promises. I will guarantee that Carnegie will advance it. Take no more sass from [up right hand margin] that man !