understand it if I did. But my problem is to find a way of making an
electric arc light which will go without an expensive mechanism and be
self-regulating without machinery. There is a German student in my class
by the name of Felix Bauer who is working at the same problem. Bauer is
a good friend of mine and we have our laboratory tables in the same
number. Now, mother, you won't think I am altogether depraved, will you?
I am planning to stick close to work from now on. I don't want to
disappoint you and father and I don't believe I shall. But you will
remember, won't you, that the Standard here is different from the one at
home in many ways. For example, mother, most of the fellows talk very
freely and even coarsely about girls, and a good many of the rich set
have pictures of actresses in their rooms and tell stories about them
that I can't repeat. All that disgusts me and I have never heard anyone
utter any protest in a crowd where the stories are going around. You see
the Standard is different here. And I told father of a number of other
customs that are different from those we are used to at home. There is a
different atmosphere about everything. I can't describe it exactly, but
I can feel the difference. I don't believe there is very much of what we
know at home as 'spiritual life.' There are some fine fellows here and
some high ambitions, but the chapel service is all voluntary, and only a
handful of fellows ever go unless some big gun comes to give a chapel
talk, and then the president allows only fifteen minutes for the whole
service.

"What you wrote about Helen having a beau was funny. I can't imagine
what Helen will do when the callers begin to come. Well, mother, I want
you to think of me as too busy with my work to get into any more
trouble. I am awfully interested, especially in the original problem--I
believe I almost stumbled on the making of a successful arc light,
without a regulating mechanism, a few days ago. I have been dreaming
over it ever since and I am quite confident it can be done. Felix Bauer
said the other day he thought he had it all right, but the plan escaped
him. It's exciting, mother, to keep trying different combinations, not
knowing any minute when you may hit on a new discovery. I hope Louis is
behaving himself in his studies. I am sending him by mail a time switch
that he asked me about.

"Much love to all. Your affectionate son
"WALTER."

Esther