[S.N. Patten's letter] June7,1890,Friedrich str. 24,Halle,Germany [to F.H. Giddings]

June 7, 1890, Friedrich str. 24, Halle, Germany.

Dear Giddings,
       I have gotten
into about as near a state
of doing nothing as a man
could well do but today
I have aroused myself
enough to write some letters.
I had big plans of studying
when I came here but they
are all in the air yet.
 I made a long foot
trip to the Harz Mountains
(I sent you a card I think) and
then went to Jena a few
days to see Prof. Reins
work in Pedagogy.
 Next week I go to Berlin
for a week and then I
settle down here for
a month at least.
 I went to Leipzig
and had a long talk with
Prof. Brentano. He carries
his historical method to
a degree that even surprised
me. He will not allow
anything theoretical in his
seminar and discourages
discussion or even the
reading of theoretical works
to any extent on the fact
of students. He did not
say this in so many words
but, he inferred it from
what he said.
 I mean to touch off
Schmoller in Berlin to
see what he has to say,
on the same task.
 There is a young privat-
docent here (Dr. Diehl) that
has heard Menger and belongs
to his school).
 He of course has a different
tale to tell. He says
that he regards Böhm Ba-
werk a better and greater
man than Menger and
regards the future as in
him. Sax he does not
like and Wieser he regards
as an able man.
 He says that Böhm Ba-
werk married Wieser's
sister, so they are related
and intimate.
 Böhm Bawerk has been
intrusted with the drafting
of a bill for a new direct income
tax and he is in Vienna
for that purpose.
 Conrad is the same Conrad
of old - not a bit changed
either in looks manner
or habits.
 I am going there tonight
to have a big discussion
with him. Gray (of Harvard) and
Rave about poor laws
and Socialism.
 Germany is all crazy
about Socialism. I knew
they had it on the brain
but did not suppose
it was so bad as it is.
They all feel that something
must be done but what no
one as yet can say.
 Halle is so changed that
I hardly know it. It has
become a great manufact-
uring center and much more
costly to live in than for-
merly. In commercial
matters they are following on
our track as rapidly as
possible.
 I am anxious to see our new
review which I suppose is now
out. Is it up to your expect-
ations? 
What are your plans for the summer?
Give my best wishes to Mrs.Giddings
and to Prof. Clarke[sic] when you write.
                                           Sincerely yours,
                                           S. N. Patten