Transcribe Lucas, Frederic A. (Frederic Augustus). Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-04-17)

                                                             April 17/83.
                                                                  "    23

Dear Prof. Ward,

  While I freely acknowledge that I

"am hardly better than one of the wicked" yet I </u don't > think I am </u quite > as bad as your letter would imply. While I know well that you would have helped me to a better place than I had with you, the fact remains that I secured my present position before you knew I had applied for it, and just after you had declined to grant me $4. per day. In the next place my original application was to the Army Medical Museum and one reason for Prof. Baird's taking me as he did was to prevent any further danger of my going there. That I should rush to aid Bailly to a good place is no more than natural, seeing that, to him I owe my mechanical knowledge which has secured me this place, and my other offer. And this, same mechanical knowledge you discountenanced, and I obtained it largely against your wishes. Now I have not the slightest intention of taking away any of your workmen without your full consent, although six months ago Bailly wrote to both Hornaday & I asking aid in getting a situation and declaring his dislike of his present one. I would willingly do more work for you for the same money than for anyone else, and it was not merely the additional salary that tempted me here, but a desire to be rid of a constant uneasiness as to how long I should get my $3.50 a day or perhaps anything. And while I wish