[Letter] Oct.11,1888,Smith College [to F.H. Giddings]

Oct. 11, 1888, Smith College.

Dear Mr. Giddings.
      Your very pleasant
letter did not fail to
convey to me the cheer
that it testified to on
your part. I rejoice for
and with you; Miss Bowles
does the same. It was
a foregone conclusion that
you would feel at home
and be at your best;
all the same it is in
order to rejoice over the fact.
I hope that by this time
the painful settling process
is over in the new house,
and your time released for
the combination of work
and recreation that is
pleasantest and best for
the economic guild as well
as for others. Miss Bowles
is here and at work in
the Literary department
but with designs still
on Political Economy. She
has not, I think, begun
the economic work. I am
not fairly under way as yet.
I have been an unusually
long time in getting into
working order. Still I have
sent to the Quarterly a
review of Denslow' s
Abomination - I believe
it is called the Economic
Philosophy of nearly everything,
and have about finished
a review of Molinari's
La Morale Economique. My
own college work has gone
a little heavily so far, but
seems now to be moving
a trifle better, and I hope
for pleasure in it before it
is over for the term. I
want to make a book fit
for general readers, that shall
discuss the land question,
and later one for economists,
that shall go into the
principles of rent. The
latter work I value most,
but have drifted into the
project of making the more
popular one first. If I can
work fairly I ought to be able
to finish it in a year
or a year and a half. Is the
plan a good one? Ought I
to keep on talking only to
the select few and let the
newspapers have it out
with Henry George?
 I think your departure
was a Bull Run for the
Economic Association; it
scared the members and
forced all latent resources
into action. I hope they will
stay in action, but have my
fears. You will be sadly
missed. I think it is time
to adopt the good democratic
principle of rotation in office
and therefore intend at
the coming meeting to
make over the presidency to
good Dr. Steele, who has
been for two years a faithful
attendant, and who will preside
with dignity.
 By the way one of
our present seniors asked
me about the prospect of
obtaining a fellowship in
History at Bryn Mawr
next year. She is of all
others the one I would like
to send there; but she has
not had, I suppose as much
of historical study as she
would need for the fellowship.
She would use much of her
time during this year in
further preparation if there
were a prospect of getting
the appointment. Can you
tell me the conditions of
award, and possibly give me
some idea of the field,
whether there are formidable
candidates in possession of
it or not? The young lady
is one of the Thayer family,
of Westfield. Please convey regards
from my wife and myself to Mrs.
Giddings and yourself collectively.

           Yours Very Truly,
                 J. B. Clark