Transcribe Lucas, F. A. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-02-17)

to the Narwhal in Hamburg with </u two > perfectly developed tusks. I could figure </u that > too if necessary. Do you want it I mean the note. And do you want "How to skin a Turtle" a paper not yet written but which I propose to read before the S, A. T.? Now as regards the Oct. Cat. I don't see why you need </u preach > any. I have not yet put you in the second place, and although I shall always be glad to see you you need not make the trip </u specially > for that purpose. But if your preaching is to definitely settle the plan of the work why I shall be right glad to have you come. My drawing here is only rather important in that it brings me in contact with men I wish to know and gives me reputation which may be convertible into ducats. And reputation not so convertible is of small account in what Elliot calls this wicked world. And my hand will work when my brain won't. Now I tried my level best last night to solve something from my inner consciousness and brought forth two or three idiotic sentences only. But if I can't turn out that article in ten days I ought to be pounded. And you see my drawing counts up fast when I get any, varying from ,50c to $1. per hour. Not that I complain if what you pay for my writing for I emphatically declare that you pay me liberally. So much for so much. Now what you say about bird groups complicates the matter with me. Prof. Goode came with a telegram from you saying the cases were not large enough. The he & H. went out and took more measures. Then you telegraphed again that cases were too small and Prof.