[Letter] Dec.1,1887,Smith College [to F.H. Giddings]

Dec. 1, 1887, Smith College.

Dear Mr. Giddings,
         I certainly do
think poor Dr. Bemis
would use his tongue to
best advantage, in so far
as socialism is concerned, by
attaching a spring clothes
pin to the end of it.
Still he filled up time
and Prof. Andrews took no
offense. In fact Andrews
went away feeling very well
as it seemed to me. I did
think his saying that he
"was often all the money
he could get" and then
adding that the debate
and the pleasure of meeting
us was in itself a full
payment, hinted a possibility
that he may not have had it
fully impressed on him
that we expect speakers to
perform what Dr. Parker
calls a "labor of love."
 I should certainly
not, had our secretary been
one of the sensitive and
acute kind, have spoken
of the Aveling debate; but
I am reasonably sure that
Dr. B. has not enough of
mortifying recollection in
connection with it to admit
of his being hurt by the
little allusion. I didn't
mean harm and I think
he read the honesty of my
thoughts. "It's no laughing
matter, but it's no
matter if we (you and I)
laugh" a little, interiorly,
as the French say. I think
the situation all around,
even including Prof. Andrews'
position had a good stock
of fun in lt. All well
here. We hope the same is
true there.

        Yours Very Truly,
              J. B. Clark