["H. L. MENCKEN", "704 CATHEDRAL ST.\nBALTIMORE", "December 13, 1934.", "Dear Dr. Williams:", "You will recall that we had some correspond-
ence six or eight months ago about the effect of the new
poetry on the American language. At that time you told\nme you were preparing to make some memorandum on the sub-\nject. Have you ever done so? If so, I surely hope you\nlet me see them. I'd like very much to give some account\nof them in the next edition of my book. I have been at\nwork on it since the Summer and am about half way through.\nIt should be ready for the printers by the Spring.", "When I began the revision I was really ap-\npalled by the amount of new material collected. Since\nmy last edition a whole literature on the subject has\ngrown up. I found that I had thousands of newspaper\nclippings and several hundred letters, not to mention a\ncouple of shelves of books.", "Sincerely yours,"]

H. L. MENCKEN

704 CATHEDRAL ST.
BALTIMORE

December 18, 1934.

Dear Dr. Williams:

My conscience pricks me for bothering a busy man. Needless to say, I'll be delighted to have your memorandum.

A large part of my book will be devoted to describing the indifference of American philologists to the speech all of us use every day. For some inconceivable reason they appear to regard its study as somehow beneath their dignity. In all other countries the common speech is investigated at length, but in America it seems to interest only a small group of philologists. The great majority of so-called teachers of English avoid it as if it were poisonous.

H. L. MENCKEN

1524 HOLLINS ST.
BALTIMORE-23

June 17, 1948.

Dear Williams:

I am truly amazed that you should be accepting academic honors. My only comment, in fact, is a gush of tears. The brethren who now offer you gold medals, gross diplomas and plumed hats were certainly not in favor of you in the days of your beginning.

I needn't say that I agree with you thoroughly about the American language. It seems to be making remarkable progress. The English have long since given up their attempt to put it down by force.

Your letter of May 21st went to my old address at 704 Cathedral street, Baltimore. The Post Office, instead of forwarding it to me here, apparently returned it to you. Then it was sent in care of New Directions, with which I have nothing to do. New Directions forwarded it to Knopf's office, and Knopf's office sent it here. Altogether, these travels took three weeks - hence my delay in replying.