massachusetts institute of technology

department of physics

cambridge, mass.

Friday night at 10.

Dearest darling little wife:

I love you very much. I hope you are sound asleep now. Please be careful of yourself. Remember that I love you. I had a hard time getting off the platform when your train left, for I couldn't keep a couple of tears from coming to my eyes and running over, and I didn't want the railroad men to see me, but finally I managed to get them wiped away surreptitiously. Then I went to the American Academy. Lamb gave a very good talk about Dr Noyes. Everything was very nice about the presentation. Mrs Richards and Patty sat in the front row. Dr Noyes told several jokes. He said that he felt towards Lamb the way the very drunken man lying in the gutter felt, who said to the gentleman who asked him the way to the post office "Flatterer." I told Dr Noyes that you sent him congratulations. Mrs Conant is going to the hospital on Monday for repairs, Conant said. I spoke to Mrs. Conant. John brought me back home. He was surprised that we caught the train — we didn't have much time left, either. Remember that I love you, darling. I think I'll mail this now and read Time until I feel sleepy. I hope you are comfortable and not too lonely.

Your own

Linus

Sunday morning at 1 ⁵⁰ AM.

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much, and hope you are all right. I slept until 9 this morning and then had breakfast on Brattle St. (grapefruit juice + bacon sandwich + coffee) and had my hair cut and hat cleaned. Then I went to Tech and moved in my new office (by the way, Conant last night said he was sorry he had missed my lecture). I gave John Mullikan's paper + talked with him a little. Helen + he were afraid you'd miss the train here - I was too a little while we were in the taxi. Then I came home, stopping at Brattle St for lunch - lobster pattie. Then I had dinner at the other Brattle St place - sirloin steak, tomato juice cocktail. Then I sent your telegram to Chicago. I hope you got it. Copy is enclosed. Helen called just before 6 and asked me to dinner at 1 ³⁰ tomorrow. Isn't she good? Then I read the transcript till 9, and have worked on my paper until now, 2 AM., getting to p. 24. I think its a good paper, but I haven't been able to think of any more pictures to draw. The trunk arrived. It looks pretty good. I've packed a layer of books already. I sent off to EB Wilson Yost's + my manuscript for the Proc. Nat. Acad. this afternoon too. A letter from Dickinson came. It's enclosed. I send [sic] him a check for $95. I hope he + his family get along all right. I included a note for him to sign. I'm going to bed now. I love you more than anything else in the world. Give Linus and Peter kisses for me.

Your own

Linus

[Another note is included]:

Santa Fe Train # 3, Westbound, arr. Kansas City 8 ¹⁰ AM. Sect. 4, Car 354

I hope you had a good trip and a good time with Phoebe and Thorfin and that you caught this train. Doctor Noyes had a good time enjoyed getting his medal. I have written ten pages of a new paper on the chemical bond. I love you and Willie very much.

Linus

(Verifying my telegram of the 7^th inst.)

[Letterhead]

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

BERKELEY

Sunday at 12 Midnight

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much. Your telegram came this morning, and I was glad to know that you got along all right in Chicago and caught your train. You didn’t mention my telegram - I hope it reached you. I got up at 10 this morning, had breakfast at the Georgian on the Square, and read the Sunday paper, and at 1 ³⁰ went to the Slaters. Two young men from Rochester were there. We had a very nice chicken dinner. Bernice came in and said the rompers were ready. I’ll get them tomorrow and send them to you. I came home at 4 ³⁰ and worked on my paper, and then went for a walk to get up an appetite, walking towards town. The streets were full of negroes - there must be a large negro population. I reached Central square and decided to return on the subway. When it stopped, and I was ready to get out (nearly everyone else having done so), a woman asked if I would help her carry her niece out, a girl of about 10, who she said was “sick.” I did so, and tried to hold her horizontally, she kicking and squirming in the meantime, having, I presume, an epileptic seizure or something similar; but in a couple minutes, during

[page 2 begins on reverse]

which the subway guard and various bystanders gave assorted advice, she was able to stand and I departed hastily. I had supper at St Clair’s, bought and read for a while the American Mercury, and then worked on my paper, reaching page 28. It is nearly completed now, and I am getting sleepy.

Yesterday I bought a bottle of hexylresorcinol, which I use regularly as a mouthwash. My mouth seems to be better. I washed my hair + bathed this morning.

I shall be glad when I come home to you. I saw in the paper that Houston will be at Cornell this summer.

Loads of love from your

Linus

[An envelope is included]:

Postmark: Cambridge, Mass May 9 1932 11 AM

Addressed to: Mrs. Linus Pauling 1245 Arden Road Pasadena, California

Return address: L. Pauling [remainder is imprinted on envelope]: After 5 days return to

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,

CAMBRIDGE A, MASS.

AIR MAIL

[letter written on University of California, Department of Chemistry, Berkeley letterhead]

Monday, 11 PM.

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much, and think of you all the time. This morning I got up at 9, had breakfast, packed, paid my bill (12.50), and moved over to the club, arriving at 11. I couldn't get everything in the trunk and bag, and had a brief-case full left over. I think I must mail the mattress pad home. Then I went to the Institute, and had lunch with Phil, Manuel Vallarta, & Bacher, and then came back to the Club & worked on my paper, which is now practically finished. Then I went to the physics colloquium at Harvard, where Simon spoke. I saw Conant at dinner, Patty being in the hospital, and promised to speak to the Harvard chemists. Then Simon & I went to the Bridgmans, B. coming for us in his car. The Slaters & the Oldenbergs were there too. We had a good chicken dinner. Helen was worried about whether you meant her to buy the couch cover or not, and to buy Lawrence a present from us or not. I told her to forget her worries. At 10 we left, Simon & I walking home. His family is in Berlin now. He is worried about anti-semitism. He is a jew, & so is his wife (and the children). We talked about jews a while. He said Eucken was brought to Gottingen instead of Stern because there are so many jews there already (Frauck, Born, Conant, Goldschmidt) and they thought it better not to have another.

I must get up at 7 in the morning. I hope you are sleeping well now on the train. When I finish my lecture tomorrow at 10 you'll be wakening, and at 11 ⁴⁰ you'll be arriving in pasadena [sic]. I hope you are comfortable and happy. Remember your paddy loves you.

Your

Linus

Wednesday at 8 ⁴⁵ AM

Dearest little sweetheart:

I was glad when you letter came yesterday to know that you are feeling well and getting along all right. Its nice that you saw the Allisons, Mullikens, and Freeds. I love you, and hope you aren't so lonesome for me as I am for you.

Yesterday morning I gave my crystal lecture at Tech, and worked till noon, and had lunch, and came home, speaking to Conant for a few minutes outside the club. I worked on tomorrow's lecture a while, and then went to Conant's Simon's lecture, and then with Joe Boyce to the party given by the physics undergraduates. A mock trial was held, with Compton as judge, but although summoned I was not brought to trial. Then we went to the Pop concert, where I sat by Vic. It was rather amusing - light music. Then I went to bed. I'm going to New Haven on Friday, and to Princeton the next week - end, to deliver two lectures. I'll be glad when my lectures here are over. I have only 4 more crystal lectures, two more extemporaneous lectures for chemists, and three more molecule lectures to give, besides one chemists lecture at Harvard and two at Princeton.

I washed my hair and bathed this morning, I'm going to wash my hair every other day for a while.

Give my love to Linus and Peter, and remember that I love you more than anything else in the world.

Your

Linus

over

[page 2]

Yesterday while asking Joe Boyce and Brode about cars, I said I

didn't know whether to get a 5 passenger sedan or to

look into the future and get a 7 " .

[written on University of California, Department of Chemistry, Berkeley letterhead]

Wednesday, 10 PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much. I liked getting your telegram this morning. A letter from Linus came this afternoon, and I wrote one to him. I went to Tech. And worked & had lunch, and then went to town and bought a ticket to New Haven & then returned to the club & worked till 5. Then I went to see Conant, talking with hin till 6 ³⁰ . He had a dinner engagement, & I had dinner at the club with Kohler & Soares (who's here). Then I walked up to the Brodes & got 4 rompers. The others will be ready soon (there seem to be six). I've finished my new paper now. I bought a Crusader's magazine "The Hot Potato", militating against prohibition. The enclosed clippings are of the most amusing items. The small clipping is the only funny joke in the Crimson, the Harvard humorous Magazine.

I'll be glad when I'm through with my lectures here. I do hope Linus doesn't have the whooping cough. Are you happy? I love you with all my heart, darling girl. You are the sweetest and best girl in the whole world.

Your own

Linus

[Envelope without a letter, only clippings:]

[Return address, part missing due to corrosion of the envelope:]

Pauli [rest missing]

Harvard Faculty Club

Cambridge, Mass.

[Addressed to:]

Mrs Linus Pauling

1245 Arden Rd

Pasadena, Calif.

[Postmark:]

CAMBRIDGE

MAY 12

11 AM

MASS.

1932

[Cancellation:]

38

[Stamps, two of the George Washington stamps, plus it was a paid-postage envelope. Six cents in total postage:]

UNITED STATES POSTAGE

1932 1932

WASHINGTON

2 CENTS 2

Air Mail [Handwritten on envelope]

[Clippings, there are two newspaper clippings (it is unclear what newspaper they are from), and a clipping that appears to be from a magazine:]

[Magazine clipping:]

Cannibal Cook: "Shall I boil the

Missionary, sir?"

Cannibal Chief: "No, you fool,

that's a Friar."

--Whirlwind.

[Newspaper clipping #1, it's a political cartoon:]

[The picture is of Uncle Sam in bed, under the covers with a woman, "Betty Liquor", in a nightie, also under the covers, and she says to him:]

"Don't you think it's about time you made an honest woman of me, Sam?"

[Also in the clipping written on the wall, amongst hearts with arrows through them are these writings:]

U.SAM U.S. U.SAM UNC.SAM

AND AND AND AND

B. LIQUOR B.L B.LIQUORBETTY LIQUOR

1920 1922 1924 1931

[Newspaper clipping #2, also has political cartoons. There are two frames right above each other in one column, and in the next comments, some comments and frame three. The three frames are arranged in the shape of the letter L:]

[above frame 1]

"...and to uphold the Constitution of the United States,

so help me..."

[frame 1 shows two men, one holding a Bible and the other with his hand on it, appearing to swear in]

[frame 2, shows the men whispering to each other. The Bible is now on the table and one man is whispering to the other]

[above frame 3]

Repeal the Eighteenth Amendment

[Frame 3 shows the two men again, this time with the Bible open, and inside is the cutout portion in the shape of a flask and one man is about to drink from a shot glass and the other man, the one who was being sworn in in frame 1, is drinking from the flask]

[Also on the clipping were these comments above frame three:]

Mrs. Colvin, head of the New York Women's Chris-

tian Temperance Union, in speaking of representatives

who drink wet but vote dry, said that they merely voted

to "satisfy their constituents."

Mrs. Courtlandt Nicoll asks: "Is the next generation

to be taught to enshrine hypocrisy as a virtue, and to

look upon expediency as the aim of public service?"

[stationery from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics]

Friday morning

Dearest little wife:

I love you very much. Now I shan't[sic] get a letter from you till Sunday. I am on the train now, which left at 8:30 this morning. We'll soon be in New Haven. Yesterday I gave four lectures- my three at Tech, and one more popular one at Winthrop House. I went with John at 6:30 to Ferry's house, & we had cocktails & little sandwiches (canapés is the correct word is it not?) And then dinner with about 30 persons, mainly tutors & graduate students. They seemed to like my talk, and Ferry was pleased. He asked us to be sure to come back soon & to come and see him. I went back to the Club then, & to bed after bathing. I've been reading Time & the New Yorker, & have started Grand Hotel. I'll be glad two week from now when I can start back to you, whom I love with all my heart.

Paddy

Saturday at 10 PM.

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much, dear little wife. You are such a sweetheart. I'll be very glad when I come home to you.

Yesterday Joe Boyce met me at the station, and the ushers had luncheon with Ernest as guests of Don Cooksey, a bachelor physicist about 36 yrs old (head usher). Then we came out to Professor Charleton Cooksey's very large house (the Cooksey's are well-to-do), four of us being house guests. On hanging up my clothes I found that I had packed my summer trousers instead of the blue ones, the room having been dark and I in a hurry. So I had to 'phone John at Cambridge and ask him to mail the blue ones special delivery. They arrived all right this morning. I felt ashamed to have been so careless, since I usually adopt a superior attitude to anyone who does such a thing.

Then at 4 we gathered at the church and rehearsed. Molly seems to be very nice. Then we returned and dressed in dinner clothes, going at 7 to the Faculty Club, about 40 people forming the party - Ernest and Molly, Ernest's very nice brother John (his best man), an intern at the U. of Rochester hospital, the bridesmaids (mostly young Vassar girls) and ushers, some young friends, the brides father, mother, aunts, and Ernest's mother (his father having to stay in S. Dakota to give commencement addresses.) I talked to Mrs Lawrence, who is very nice and fond of her sons, and to Mrs Blumer too. Dr Blumer's said to be about the best American diagnostician. Molly has 3 sisters, ages 18, 15, and 13. The 18 yr. Old one was maid - of - honor, the 15 (who is very plump - the plumpness of puberty, I suppose) a bridesmaid. We had a nice dinner, I sitting next to Molly. Then after coffee we danced til 11 30, and then returned to the Cooksey's house (that is , we four men staying there did) and went to bed. At 830 this morning we had breakfast, and a young biochemist named Eaton and I visited the chem lab till noon. I talked quite a while with Harned, who sent his greetings to you. He is not too happy, saying that he always has to fight to get any money for physical chem. here. At noon Ernest gave a luncheon at the lawn club for the ushers, and gave us each a Scheaffer pencil, mine matching my pen! Then when I said that I had to go to town to buy a shirt (collars and ties having been given us) Ernest said, "Why I haven't got a shirt to wear with a collar"! So we bought him a shirt too - that is, he and I went to town and each got one. Then we dressed and went to the church. We had white carnations on our lapels. At 3 30 people started coming. The usher would say to each woman "Have you a card," if she didn't present one. If she had a card, with pew number, he gave her his arm, escorted her to seat, and returned for another. If not, he gave " " " " " " an unreserved pew " " " ". [he gave her his arm, escorted her to an unreserved pew, and returned for another] At 3 55 the bridesmaids (in yellow, with big bouquets), maid of honor (in green), and Molly arrived. At 4 we started in to the rather erratic tempo of this organists wedding march, keeping about 8 feet apart. (Before this two ushers had spread a white clothe down the aisle.) The ushers went 4 to each side of the alter, groom and best man came in from side, and so on. Formation was changed again, ushers going up on dais and everyone in procession too, but bridesmaids on steps. Then after the ceremony the procession went out, ushers escorting bridesmaids - I got the 15 yr old daughter. Then we introduced people to the receiving line at the reception. Then we danced, and then had a light wedding supper, and Molly and Ernest left. Then we 4 and Bernice and Bob came to the Cooksey's for dinner. I showed my family pictures, and said to Mrs " [Cooksey] "This is Linus at 5; he is 7 now, and Peter is 15 months now," and she said "And how old is she?" And I said "28" and she said "Oh, I didn't mean to ask how old your wife is; I thought that was your daughter." They have a granddaughter 3 years old.

You see I've had a full day. Two more days nearer the time I come to you. Tomorrow at 9 30 we start back to Cambridge. I love you and think of you very much, and I love Linus and Peter too.

Your own

Paddy

[diagram of wedding party procession, on right side of letter]

[postmarked May 16 1932 7PM Boston, Mass V]

[addressee]

Mrs Linus Pauling

1245 Arden Rd.

Pasadena, Calif.

[return address]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge A, Mass.

[on stationery from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics]

Monday at 2PM

Dearest sweetheart:

I adore you, darling, and hope that you sleep better now. You must remember that Paddy loves you more than anything in the world. You are such a sweet little girl. I wish I had a more recent picture of you. Won't you have one taken this summer for me? My time is all taken up now until I start home, so I won't be so lonesome as I was at Berkeley. I think Linus's letter came this morning. I'm glad to see it. Two letters from you (written on the train) came while I was away. I got them yesterday. Another, from Pasadena, came this morning.

Yesterday I came back from New Haven with Joe Boyce & two bridesmaids (young things of about 23), taking about 6 hours for the 160 mile trip. The country was very beautiful, spring being at its height. I bathed last night & read Grand Hotel till 1:30, then got up at 9, and came to Tech, for a conference with I. Langmuir, who had flown over from Schenectady, about a theory of his. We all had lunch together, and now I have some time to write.

I hope your troubles with Linus and Peter aren't two [sic] serious. I'll be home soon to help you. I'll be glad to see Liny and Peter again, and I'll hold you close and love you very much, and snuggle around you so that you'll go right to sleep and be happy.

My room at the Club is all right. I haven't any date tonight, and hope to get some work done. My paper is typed (it cost me $4.40 to have it typed, you see there are advantages to Pasadena!) And tonight I'll write in the formulas & get it ready for Lamb.

I'm going to read Franklin's manuscript now and send it to him. I got a letter from Schmidt in answer to mine. He said they would try to return to Pasadena.

I love you very much. You are the best little wife in the world. I couldn't have come East alone. It was lots of fun to be with you. I'm going to work hard back home during the next two years, and see what progress can be made in molecular structure.

Your own

Paddy

Monday at 10 PM. Club.

My sweet little wife:

A beautiful letter was awaiting me at the club this afternoon. I'm sorry you don't sleep well. I stay up very late, too, but then I go to sleep until morning. I'm glad you are getting along well with Linus and Peter. They are such fine little fellows. I'm glad to [sic] that you like me so much and that I like you and that we were married and had Liny and Peter.

I talked with Langmuir this morning. He is very interesting, especially because of his enthusiasm. We all had luncheon together. Then I came home and got your letter. Then I bought some books to read, and some shaving soap. I seem to need some light reading for amusement. Before & since dinner I read a book called "The Substitute Wife", about a girl (a virginous one) who substitutes for her souble, a no-account wife with many affairs, and who falls in love with her near-husband and has a hard time keeping him out of her bed. The real wife is injured and dies (automobile accident with lover). Since the husband will be disinherited if he is not living with his original wife on his 35th birthday, the girl finally decides to continue the substitution and not let the husband, who ia now deeply in love with her, know about it; and the book ends as he climbs in bed with her. If he doesn't harm something, he has either been very neglectful of the original wife, or the virgin is different from others I have known (or perhaps I shouldn't use the plural).

After dinner Joe Boyce took me for a little ride, to cool off. It was 93° today, and humid too.

Joe Boyce said yesterday that he like Roscoe, but he couldn't stand Madeleine. His cousin lives near them, on California corner.

I have just finished writing equations in my paper. Tomorrow I'll take it over to Lamb.

I love you, darling girl. I hope little Willie doesn't bother you, and that you aren't very lonesome for Paddy. I'll be happy to be back with you. It won't be long now. I love you, dearest & most beautiful little rascal. ...

Your own adoring

Linus

[Letter written to Ava Helen, no envelope included in mylar]

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

[LP writes;]

May 18, 1932. 230 P.M.

Dearest Ava Helen:

I love you very much, dearest little girl. Soon I'll be home again with you. Yesterday afternoon I received nice letters from you and Linus. I'll write to him tonight. I'm glad Peter is getting along so well, and that Dr McMillan thinks you are well, and that the baby is small and may be a girl.

I received a letter from Dr Noyers, saying I had 10 000 a year for 2 years, to be probably renewed for 2 more. He said he had talked with Dickinson and fixed up his finances. I suppose giving him more for the summer. Also the enclosed letter came from Uncle Jim.

I went to the Backers for dinner last night, taking them some flowers. Mrs Bacher is representative for a literary firm, selling people's manuscripts to magazines'. She is very interesting, I think. The Brodes were there too. Did you know that Bernice went to Ernest's wedding? I read a detective story last night after coming home (till 12 30) and then slept till 9. Then Compton called, and I went to a conference on the new journal. Urey will probably be its editor. Then I had luncheon with several people. This afternoon I'm going to visit Kistiakowsky. I love you very much. You are the sweetest girl in the world.

Your own

Linus.

[stationery from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics]

Wednesday, 10 PM

Dearest little Ava Helen:

I took my paper over to Lamb today (he wasn't in) and then visited Kistiakowsky. He hasn't much money for research, and things move slowly for him. Also he says that the students show not interest- he and Oscar and Bert give a seminar, all spening much time, and only one or two students attend. He said he thought I was wise not to have accepted in 1929 and I think so too.

I have offered Wheland a half-time assistantship at $1000, by mail. I suppose he'll accept it.

Tonight I attended the undergraduate Chem Club dinner & then gave a lecture, having been introduced by Sherrill. I'll be glad when lecturing is over. Tomorrow I have 3 again.

I'm sure I have had the whooping cough. I hope you have had, too- it might not be good for Linda. I do hope you aren't kept up too much by Linus and Peter, and that they recover soon. I'm so glad that little Peter is learning so rapidly. I'll be happy to see him.

I'm sorry about Lena.

I was interested to see the clippings.

The weather has been warm here for two days, but turned cooler today. I hope it doesn't get hot again. I'd like to have a good vacation with you- to go on a trip to the desert, day. We have lots of fun when we get in a hotel room together on the way to the desert. Jean Bacher has a nicely illustrated edition of Don Juan, which I may get for us. I've never read it. Perhaps I could get some pointers on how to treat you from it. I'll think up some new tricks for your especial edification. I hope you are looking forward to them.

I've thought of an experiment that I'm going to suggest to Roscoe on returning to Pasadena. I find that he had a very good reputation as a thoroughly reliable investigator.

I love you, darling, and want to hold you tight in my arms, and get close to you. Please remember that soon I'll be home to you, in less than two weeks. You are the sweetest girl in the world, and I adore you. You have such cuter little petters.

Your

Paddy

[stationery from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics]

Thursday, 9³⁰ PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

You are a darling. I'm all excited about coming home to you, and I hope that next Thursday comes soon. I wish I were getting on the Pasadena train instead of the Princeton one. I'm going to stop in New York on Sunday to see Darrow on the way back. My train leaves at 10⁴⁵. Joe Boyce is coming soon to take me to the station. I'll be in New York in the morning, and at Princeton by 9²⁷. I'll give two lectures there.

I got through my three lectures all right today. I have only two more to give next week. The two young bridesmaids came to my lecture this afternoon, adding considerably to the spirit of the affair. John and everyone seemed surprised. They sat with Joe Boyce and then took tea and stayed for the seminar, Bennett and Harrison speaking on cosmic rays and the 21 foot vacuum spectrograph, respectively. The talks were interesting. Joe Boyce brought me home at 6 o'clock and we had lunch dinner with Kohler. Now Joe is at a lecture. I've finished my packing, taking my blue suit & tuxedo. I'm wearing my light suit.

Joe said that Edwin seemed rather uncouth and egotistic, and the other graduate students had put him in his place.

I'm looking forward to seeing Princeton. Yale is surely a beautiful university- far grander than any other I have seen. The new library cost about $8000000, and is perhaps too grand. There is beautiful iron work and similar detailed work (leaded windows, etc) in the Gothic buildings. They have many student houses too.

I've offered Wheland a half-time job at $1000, and haven't heard yet from him. I'm thinking of offering Kirkwood (now in Munich as International Fellow) $2000 full time. He is a student of Keyes, and has worked with Slater. I haven't ever met him, however. He is young (23, I think) and married. His father is well-to-do.

I do hope Linus and Peter aren't keeping you awake. You must get a trained nurse if they do. I'll soon be home to help you, sweetheart. I love you more than anything else in the world. I've kept so busy that I haven't been very lonesome- not so bad as in Berkeley. Everyone liked my afternoon lecture today.

Your own Linus

[no envelope]

[handwritten on cream stationary]

Saturday, 9 AM

Dearest sweetheart:

I'm full of love for you. If I were home with you we'd get into bed and stay all day, resting quietly of course, wearing three pairs of pajamas. ...

Yesterday morning Joe Morris met me at the train, with Edwin. I talked to Taylor, & to Eyring, & had lunch with Taylor, E., Smyth (whom you met at Buffalo) & [blank space]. Then I talked to Smyth, went to see Zener, and gave a well-attended (80 about) lecture at 4 ⁴⁵ . Then we went on a picnic to Washington's Crossing on the Delaware - men only, Taylor, Eyring, Condon, Albert Sherman, Edwin, Morris, & a couple of others. It was fun. They insisted (Condon especially) on returning by a way so that I could see where the Lindbergh Baby was found. I think the Chem. dept. here is pretty good. Albert is their best graduate student. He will get $1400 next year, $700 of which is for his board & room at the graduate college.

Then I went to Bob & Angy's, staying till 12 (from 10). Their little Duncan, 4 yrs old, seems nice, at least when he's asleep. I had a good talk with them. They were very friendly & seemed to want us to come & see them. They are quite well pleased with Princeton now, though they weren't at first. Bob said he'd prefer to be in Pasadena, though. He doesn't like Michal. He said he quarrelled with Bell when in Europe.

I didn't sleep very well, the bed being very hard. ...

I must lecture now

Your own

Linus

[envelope post marked May 23, 1932 from Cambridge Mass.]

[addressed to:]

Mrs Linus Pauling

1245 Arden Rd

Pasadena, Calif.

Sunday evening, 7 ³⁰

Dearest sweetheart:

I love you with all my heart, and can hardly wait eight days more to see you. You are such a beautiful little darling, with such a cute young face, and such nice breasts, and such a nice tummy, and such a loving little uzzer, and such nice legs. I love every bit of you - your petters too, which I forgot to enumerate. I haven't yet decided how to uz you first when I come home next Monday. I guess I shall just have to try several ways. Will you be glad to see your Paddy? What would you like me to do to you first?

I gave my lecture yesterday morning, and everyone seemed much interested. Taylor gave me a check for $100. I had lunch with Edwin at the Graduate College. Karl Overhague arrived from New York a few minutes before I left. I visited Mrs Boyce, and then the Zener's. Mrs Zener is a rather cute little English girl. The baby is a very little thing, it seems to me. He isn't as handsome as our babies. Mrs Zener wore no stockings and a very short & thin dress. Perhaps this is her way of reacting to the feeling of freedom that foreigners get in America. They are sailing Tuesday for Bristol. At 4 I started for New York, arriving at Darrow's at 6. His mother is very tiny, weighing about 85 pounds, I think. She is of German descent, and is well-educated and cultured. She liked the pictures of you and the boys, and said that you looked very nice & very young. They live in an apartment at 105^th & Broadway. A man named McCall from the laboratory came in, & we went to dinner at a french restaurant. Then we returned, & Mrs Darrow left us to retire to her room to write, & we talked about physics till 10. I slept till 8, & then we had breakfast. Then Karl & I went to see the new bridge [with a drawing of a bridge] which we had

[page 2]

seen from Grant's Tomb. We walked half way across it. It is surely an immense & marvelous structure, with its 600 foot towers and four big cables, each about 3 feet in diameter. We had a good view of the skyscrapers from there, too. Then we returned to the apartment & had a light lunch, and then Karl & I walked for an hour through the East Side, where there are tenements thickly settled by Jews, mainly foreign. The streets were crowded with them - men, women, and multitudes of children. Many were selling things - slices of watermelon & pineapple for 1, 2, 3, or 5 cents, coca cola, sausages, etc for 3 cents, candy & fruit exposed to all the dirt of the air, all sorts of wearing apparel, & miscellaneous articles. In one square there were hundreds of people buying & selling old clothes. There would be one man with two or three pairs of pants, one with an old suit, one with several pairs of shoes, one with one pair of shoes, all haggling with perspective buyers. It was a most interesting sight. Then I got on the train.

I was interested to note that Darrow owns a copy of Van der Velde, and also some French books with titles such as "A Month with Prostitutes", "The Adventures of Millie at School", etc. I wondered if his trips to Europe merited the first title.

I'm going to give my last lecture next Wednesday, so on Thursday I'll start home to you. I adore you, little darling, sweetest girl in the world. I'll kiss your sweet mouth a hundred times when I come home, and give you a kiss on each square inch of your lovely little body. You are the nicest girl in the whole world. Don't we have lots of fun together? We are always going to have lots of fun, and travel places together, and see new things & meet new people, & each night I'll give you an uz and then hold you close.

Your own

Linus

BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES

INCORPORATED

463 WEST STREET NEW YORK

CHELSEA 3-1000 May 23, 1932

IN REPLY REFER TO

KKD-LU

REPLYING TO

PROFESSOR LINUS PAULING

Massachusetts Institute of Technology-

Cambridge, Mass.

Dear Linus:

Concerning "stochastic hypotheses": from the 1909 edition of Alexander Smith's "Inorganic Chemistry", page 142, I extract the following:

"......When Mitscherlich discovered that Glauber's salt gave a definite pressure of water vapor, he at once formed the hypothesis, that is, supposition, that other hydrates would be found to do likewise. Experiments showed this supposition to be correct. The hypothesis was at once displaced by the fact. This sort of hypothesis predicts the probable existence of certain facts or connections of facts, hence, reviving a disused word, we call it a stochastic hypothesis, (Greek stochastikos, apt to divine the truth by conjecture). It differs from the other kind in that it professes to be composed entirely of verifiable facts and is subjected to verification as quickly as pos- sible. In the case of a formulative hypothesis we have no expectation, or at best a very remote one, of verifying the hypothesis, because many of its essential elements are contrary to experience .. "

Instead of going on to quote his involved definition of "the other kind" of hypothesis, I will merely mention that his instances thereof comprise the atomic theory of matter and the undulatory theory of light; also, the (in 1909 defunct) corpuscular theory of light.

I am not sure that the word "stochastic" was worth reviving; but this and the adjacent passages and many other passages of the book offer good examples of Smith's keen

Professor Linus Pauling: - 2 -

thinking. I suspect that in later editions of his book these passages, implying as they do a good deal of distrust of the atomic theory, may have been softened.

Sincerely yours,

Karl K. Darrow.

Monday at 10 AM

[May 23, 1932]

Dearest girly:

There wasn't any letter here for me last night; perhaps there is one at Tech. But one came this morning. I'm glad Liny and Petey haven't caught the whooping cough badly, and I hope you aren't working too hard. Will you be glad to have me with you? I'll be very good to you always, for you are such a sweet little wife.

I do hope things don't go too badly with Ransperger. I hope the boys don't kill each other off before I get back; but I don't know just what I can do about Wilson.

Linus'es [sic] comments seem to be very penetrating and clever. I'll be glad to see him and Peter too.

I hope you'll keep your little baby with you until I come home, for I'd like to see him again. I'll stir him up a bit too - with the practice he will have he should make a fine sorcerer's assistant, who gets in a basket through which swords are afterwards thrust. I love you, sweet little darling.

Last night the porter broke the handle on my bag. I'll have it repaired soon.

Tonight I am lecturing at Harvard, at 8 o'clock. I hope everyone likes the lecture. I'll be with you and you'll probably be being uzzed one week from now (or in a few hours anyway). I adore you, sweet Ava Helen. You are the cutest girl in the world, and the best little wife that there ever was.

Your own

Linus

Monday night at 12

[May 23, 1932]

Dearest little sweetheart:

I love you, little darling. Only three days from now I'll be on the way to you. You are my own sweet little wife. Do you like me? Today I prepared my Harvard lecture, had my bag repaired, mailed the mattress cover and Peter's rompers to you, and attended the Harvard physics colloquium, at which Kistiakowsky talked. Then I had dinner with Kohler, + gave my lecture. Everyone seemed interested, and there was considerable discussion. We went to Conant's house afterwards and talked till 11. Conant is a very interesting man. Mrs Conant is to come back from the hospital this week-end. Lamb asked if I would review Van Vleck's new book, he having requested that I do so. I bought today two second-hand books by Thomas Smith (One being "Turnabout") to read on the train. I have only two more lectures to give now. A letter came from Klug, at Carleton College, who didn't receive a N.R. Fellowship, but wants to come anyway to work with me. He is married. I wrote that he could come if he wanted to. We shall have a large group next year. I hope we get some good work done. I am anxious to get to Pasadena and begin work. Shall we go to the beach for a while later in the summer? I think it would be fun. Do you love your Paddy? Will you be glad to see me? Will you make love to me? Have you been happy, or are you thinking bad thoughts about me? I adore you.

Your Linus

Tuesday at 11 PM.

Dearest sweetheart:

I adore you, little darling. I hope you are feeling fine, and that your nice fat tummy doesn't bother you too much. I've read the book "Turnabout" by Thorne Smith. I'll bring it home for you to read. It is terribly funny - I laughed out loud many times while reading it. When Tim found he was pregnant, he said "But tell me, don't you know the first thing about childbirth, Sally?" "Well, I know the first thing," she admitted, "That is, how to go about starting one." Later Tim let a man he didn't like make advances to him, & then chased him down main street in his underwear with a gun & had him arrested. He said "You know, Sergeant, a girl's honor is just about the best thing she has, & sometimes its not so good, at that. I always try to keep my honor spick & span, right up to the minute." "Up to what minute?", said the Sergeant, with justifiable curiosity.

Your nice letter came, with enclosures from Phoebe. Thorfin seems to have been given up as an editor.

I visited the mineralogical museum this afternoon. Tonight we had a free radical dinner, Conant, Kohler, Bent, Kistiakowsky, & Smallwood. It has just now come to an end. Tomorrow my last lecture will be given. I'll be glad to come home. Wheland has accepted the job I offered him. I gave my last crystal lecture this morning, & then ordered my Pullman reservations. These last days are passing very slowly. I wish they would go faster. I love you, and send big kisses.

Linus

Wednesday, 11 AM

[May 25, 1932]

Dearest sweetheart:

You are my sweet little wife, and I love you with all my heart. I'll be the happiest paddy in the world when I get home to you next Monday at 7 ⁴⁰ . I'm glad that I'm coming on the same train you came on.

After our dinner last night + after writing to you I went to bed + slept till 9 ³⁰ this morning. I dreamt a great deal — some way there were many blankets + things to pack which I couldn't get in the trunk, then I had to take another train + couldn't catch it, + so on — all about traveling home to you. The enclosed picture shows that your close-calls at missing trains in Boston + Chicago might have been worse.

This morning I've corrected some problems I gave the students in Crystal Structure. I'll go down to the Institute now. I wish tomorrow would soon come. I have one lecture to give, at 4 ³⁰ this afternoon, in place of my usual Thursday lecture.

I adore you, little sweetheart. When I come home on Monday you'd better w.y.o.d. [sic], but even if you don't events won't be altered.

Your own

Linus

[Enclosure: comic (from the New Yorker?) showing a woman running to catch a train, signaling a conductor to wait, with only her undergarments on, slip over her arm, pantyhose at her ankles, dress and hat under her other arm, and several passengers and conductors on the platform laughing at her. A sign over the door she's running out of reads "CHEMINS DE FER DE L'ETAT/RELAIS-TOILETTE DOUCHES"]

"Le Signal du Départ.—Le Sourire."

Wednesday at noon

Dearest Ava Helen:

Your letter saying I had written came to the Institute. I think you must not have kept count of my letters, for I have written every day, and often twice in a day. Of course when you get three or four letters in one day you can expect some days to go by without any.

I hope today will go by quickly, & tomorrow too. You are such a sweet girl. I do hope that Liny and Petey don't make you work too hard. I wish I were home with you, little darling. I'd hold you on my lap and kiss you and make you feel happy. I'll be glad to see a new little baby, too, and I hope she looks like you. I think three children is about enough for us, don't you? You are such an adorable little wife. You are my most important interest & happiness in life. We shall always have lots of fun together. I like traveling with you, or staying at home with you.

Your own husband,

Linus

[corner end of paper cut off right up to his closing]

Wednesday, 3 PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

My train leaves in a little more than an hour from now, and I am all excited about coming to you. I'm all in a sweat, as a matter of fact; but this may be due to the temperature of over 90°, combined with high humidity. This morning I took off all my clothes before packing my trunk, and dripped perspiration too. I filled the trunk full - it is very heavy - and my bag is stuffed too. Yesterday was the hottest May 25^th they had ever recorded.

Last night I went with Joe Boyce & the Brodes to the Harrisons for a very nice dinner, followed by singing from Gilbert & Sullivan. Even I sang a little with the others. At 10 ¹⁵ Helen called & asked me to lunch, & when over the phone I said "I'll come over at twelve, Helen", everyone laughed, & later said "Isn't it time you started now - you mustn't be late". I hadn't seen Helen since the wedding. I had lunch with her & John & took her some flowers, also sending some to Mrs Conant. John & Helen are going to Europe, third class on the Bremen, round trip $130 from Boston (i.e. fare to New York included 0). Helen is worried about the new PhD's who haven't jobs.

Mrs [sic] Harrison seemed nice. She talked some about lack of money, it is true.

The Boyce's mother has moved here to live with him. They have been living mainly on money given them by his uncle, a steel man in Pittsburgh, who, however, has now lost most of his money; so I'm afraid Joe will not get married unless he finds a rich girl.

A nice letter - your last - arrived this morning. I was glad to get it. ... I adore you, little darling wife, and I'm very lonesome for you, and glad that soon I'll be on the way home. You are such a lovely girl, and such a good companion for this paddy. I adore you, you darling.

Your own

Linus

MRS LINUS PAULING=

1245 ARDEN RD PASADENA CALIF=

WITH JOURNEY UNEVENTFUL IMPATIENCE AND ANTICIPATION WAX WITH THE LINITUDE I RECOMMEND VAN AND FUCHS IF IMAGINATION LAGS CONCERNING SUITABLE RECEPTION LOVE TO LINUS PETER ZAUBERLEHRILNG AND ESPECIALLY YOU=

LINUS

[Written in the bottom left corner with pencil:]

Wak 8010

aad Do 755a Debi [?]

MRS HELEN PAULING=

1245 ARDEN ROAD PASADENA CALIF=

INFERENCE OF UNACCOMPLISHED PORTURITION GRATIFYING

ANTICIPATE APPROACHING UNWONTED ACTIVITY DIMISH

ZAUBERLEHRINGS BIRTH TRAUMA LOVE=

LINUS.