J. Howard Moore to Henry S Salt, December 04, 1915
Notes on date: Year written on letter by an unknown person.
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Crane Technical High School
Oakley Ave. and VanBuren Street
Department of Ethics
J. Howard Moore
Chicago 12 - 4
My Dear Mr. Salt —
The years go by, & you & I & all those that breathe move on slowly & fatefully toward the time when we shall give place to others. In those years, now considerably recedes into the past, when the scales of tradition first began to fall from my eyes, I read a sentence from Tyndall that I never have forgotten. It was the closing sentence of an address before the
Oakley Ave. and VanBuren Street
Department of Ethics
J. Howard Moore
Chicago 12 - 4
My Dear Mr. Salt —
The years go by, & you & I & all those that breathe move on slowly & fatefully toward the time when we shall give place to others. In those years, now considerably recedes into the past, when the scales of tradition first began to fall from my eyes, I read a sentence from Tyndall that I never have forgotten. It was the closing sentence of an address before the
British Association of Science, & he was referring to a time in the future when he & all his [ ?] would be gone from the earth, & he said — "When you & I, Like fleecy clouds, shall have melted into the infinite azure of the past". It seems like such a poetic & euphemistic way of referring to the tragedy of human dissolution. This is my birthday. I am 52 But I feel younger than I did 25 years ago.
No, I didn't go to Alabama this summer. It's a little too hot down there in the summer time.
No, I didn't go to Alabama this summer. It's a little too hot down there in the summer time.
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I was at home all summer — played golf. "I am going to my blessed acres in the spring. Just this evening I sent a chegue for the final payment. Now, (in a few days) I shall have 116 1/2 acres these of the loveliest wild woods of pine, poplar, gum, beech, live oak, magnolia, & holly. I have one holly tree that is over a foot in diameterat — & magnolias like sawlogs. In my will I say: " My Alabama acres to be kept as they are for
I was at home all summer — played golf. "I am going to my blessed acres in the spring. Just this evening I sent a chegue for the final payment. Now, (in a few days) I shall have 116 1/2 acres these of the loveliest wild woods of pine, poplar, gum, beech, live oak, magnolia, & holly. I have one holly tree that is over a foot in diameter
ever — as a sanctuary for the "wild things" & a play place for men". People have told me over & over that I will never make any thing out of the place. This reminder makes me tired & I wouldn't "make anything" out of it if I could. I bought it, not as an investment, but as an entertainment. It was Mr. E.E. Darrow who first called my place "Alligatoria". And we have so often referred to it playfully by that name that it seems to fit all right, & so i think I'll just christen it officially as Alligatoria.
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There is no building on the place & it is away off from everywhere — & this last fact is what makes it so specially attractive to me & i can dream there all day & never see anyone — except the red birds & squirrels, & great turtles dozing in the sun & the fishes & the great crows circling above & hear the occasional grunt of an alligator. I got it cheap — & would gladly give you ten acres if you'd come over some time & go down there with me and fall in love
(back)
There is no building on the place & it is away off from everywhere — & this last fact is what makes it so specially attractive to me & i can dream there all day & never see anyone — except the red birds & squirrels, & great turtles dozing in the sun & the fishes & the great crows circling above & hear the occasional grunt of an alligator. I got it cheap — & would gladly give you ten acres if you'd come over some time & go down there with me and fall in love
(back)
with it. I have about a mile of water from — river & brook."
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seem almost like brothers & sisters. Clarence Darrow & wife were over the other evening, & Mr. Darrow says he was never so much interested in anything else in his life. He thinks, as I do, that America should go to the assistance of the Allies rather than see Germany dominant. The war has served to build up a stray feeling of affinity between Americans & other English-speaking peoples. I am hoping that this tragedy will render people
seem almost like brothers & sisters. Clarence Darrow & wife were over the other evening, & Mr. Darrow says he was never so much interested in anything else in his life. He thinks, as I do, that America should go to the assistance of the Allies rather than see Germany dominant. The war has served to build up a stray feeling of affinity between Americans & other English-speaking peoples. I am hoping that this tragedy will render people
so sick of war that we shall make a long, big stride toward permanent & formal peace where it is over. But Germany must be put down. The earth would not be a fit place for non-Germans to live if the Germans were victorious. So there is only one thinkable outcome of it all in a military way — the utter annihilation of the menace of Prussionism. The Germans are not barbarians by any means, but they are showing many unmistakably barbarians traits.
J. Howard Moore