Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1855-07-25)

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Your first month or so after crossing the Atlantic
is naturally spent in looking about you & for 
there is no place like Paris. I have already spoken of
the French Science which you can pitch into here
& thus be learning the language & studying some
at the same time. Q.E.D. therefore let me proceed to
say that this is the true season of the year. The lectures
commence the & you have time
to lay in considerable French & see up the sights so
as to prepare for an abstraction - before then. The "World's
Fair" at present would also perhaps be some inducement.
And not only is this the season of the year, but this is
. My sole reason for saying this is because
. Please do not set me down as an egregious
egotist, Orton, until you hear what I have to say
upon this third & last point. My 1st two months
in Europe, Paris were spent pretty much , & such
a period of </u loneliness I never experienced before in
my life & hope that I never shall again. You may think
this is a trifling thing but the experience of more than
one that I know has been that the loneliness of a person
for the first time in a foreign land, where 
is different, is so intimately related to the as to
be a very serious hindrance to study. To avoid this, and
also the increased expenses which a new comer
is exposed to, renders the fact that you have a friend
here by no means ^one^ to be over looked. In thinking
moreover how I could assist you a plan came into my
mind as a very feasible one provided it falls in
with your taste. I live in the students quarter on a
high airy street bordering the classic square of the 
 Within stone's pitch of me is the gate of
the School of Mines (where you can hear such men as 5 days in the week) & but at the distance of 1/2 a mile
is the Jardin des Plantes, The establishment is called a
"Pension Bourgeois", corresponding to a small private
boarding house at home. The family are humble but very 
respectable & deserving. The boarders at present are students,
a doctor & a priest. The family & the tutor of Louis Kopuths
two little boys who live in the adjoining building. The family
consists of the old gentleman & lady & three young daughters
who are very interesting & are making very meritorious
efforts for the improvements of 
We all take a pleasant dinner together (at 30 cts.) every evening
& talk of Napoleon 3d. Sebastopol, & e. The other meals are
served me at my room if I wish, but I guess the majority 
of the boarders pick up their other food at restaurants.
I believe all the boarders are expected to take their
dinner at home & find it a great privilege to hear & talk friends
for an hour.

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Your first month or so after crossing the Atlantic is naturally spent in looking about you & for there is no place like Paris. I have already spoken of the French Science which you can pitch into here & thus be learning the language & studying some at the same time. Q.E.D. therefore let me proceed to say that this is the true season of the year. The lectures commence the & you have time to lay in considerable French & see up the sights so as to prepare for an abstraction - before then. The "World's Fair" at present would also perhaps be some inducement. And not only is this the season of the year, but this is . My sole reason for saying this is because . Please do not set me down as an egregious egotist, Orton, until you hear what I have to say upon this third & last point. My 1st two months in Europe, Paris were spent pretty much , & such a period of </u loneliness I never experienced before in my life & hope that I never shall again. You may think this is a trifling thing but the experience of more than one that I know has been that the loneliness of a person for the first time in a foreign land, where is different, is so intimately related to the as to be a very serious hindrance to study. To avoid this, and also the increased expenses which a new comer is exposed to, renders the fact that you have a friend here by no means ^one^ to be over looked. In thinking moreover how I could assist you a plan came into my mind as a very feasible one provided it falls in with your taste. I live in the students quarter on a high airy street bordering the classic square of the Within stone's pitch of me is the gate of the School of Mines (where you can hear such men as 5 days in the week) & but at the distance of 1/2 a mile is the Jardin des Plantes, The establishment is called a "Pension Bourgeois", corresponding to a small private boarding house at home. The family are humble but very respectable & deserving. The boarders at present are students, a doctor & a priest. The family & the tutor of Louis Kopuths two little boys who live in the adjoining building. The family consists of the old gentleman & lady & three young daughters who are very interesting & are making very meritorious efforts for the improvements of We all take a pleasant dinner together (at 30 cts.) every evening & talk of Napoleon 3d. Sebastopol, & e. The other meals are served me at my room if I wish, but I guess the majority of the boarders pick up their other food at restaurants. I believe all the boarders are expected to take their dinner at home & find it a great privilege to hear & talk friends for an hour.