Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1881-09-18)

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Society of American Taxidermists, Rochester, New York Sept. 18 1881 Bailly, Lucas or I have the </u slightest > claim upon either you or the Establishment. Heavens! The reverse is the case. Bailly brought much to the shops but he was </u well > paid for it. Lucas brought </u nothing >, but he has acquired a magnificent knowledge of Nat'l History (at whose expense?) and he has earned </u lots of money >. I brought nothing to the shops, have developed but little that is new, and have always been paid as much as my conscience would allow me to accept. I consider that if I make a success of life by means of my present profession, I will owe it very largely to the opportunities I have enjoyed here.

    No indeed, the Establishment owes me nothing,

in the present state of things I do not see how I can possibly earn more ^here^ than I now receive, for I know you </u must > make a good profit on my work or else as a workman I am of no account to you, and this is all that makes me unsettled. If I could see a </u chance > to make $5. per day in your shops, you may depend I would bend every effort in that direction & not stop short of success. I have always felt a great pride in the concern, I like to work for its proprietor better than any other man I can find I think, I like Rochester extremely well. I like my fine, roomy, well-lighted work-room, I like my fellow workmen, and all that, and could I </u earn > (I don't mean </u receive > $1200 to $1500 per year, which would enable me to live comfortably & lay by a little, I would be glad to settle down here to stay as long