March 3, 1931



My dear Mrs. Douglas,



I have just returned from New York City where I was laid up for ten days, most of the time in bed, having been threatened by pneumonia.  Even before going east, about the middle of February.  I had intended to write to you, but one thing and another intervened and prevented my so doing.  In common with your husbans's friends at the Museum I joined in sending you at the time of his funeral, a small floral tribute, and I have been thinking ever since of writing to you.



It passes without saying that I had the highest regard and fondest esteem for Mr. Douglas, and it was a matter of deep regret to me that circumstances made it appear to him necessary to sever his connection with the Museum and embark in other enterprise.  While I was the Director of the Museum it would have been impossible for me to have reconciled myself to severance of his relationship with us.  This, however, took place during the years in which Mr. Stewart was my successor.  I hope shortly in the Annals to be able at least briefly, to pay my tribute to his memory and to the fine work which he did as a paleontologist.   Give my love to your son Gavin, who I imagine, is now a young man.  Somewhere in a portfolio I have a sketch of Gavin, a little boy, seated in the tent which I occupied on my visits to the old quarry, and I mean, when I can find the time to do so, to hunt up that sketch, have it put into a little frame and send ot him.  I think he will prize it