HOWARD UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON, D. C.

COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
OFFICE OF THE DEAN

October 21, 1926.

My dear Mr. Van Vechten:

Your letters have been such a help to me.... I have been a perfect bum not to have written you a line. I am enclosing as proof that I am not such a terrible cad the other letter I had written you just as it was - never mailed.

I shall arrive in New York early Friday morn-
ing. I'll ring you on the telephone before noon.

"Hello" to Miss Marinoff........

BOARD OF EDITORS
LANGSTON HUGHES
ZORA NEALE HURSTON
AARON DOUGLAS
GWENDOLYN BENNETT
JOHN DAVIS
WALLACE THURMAN
BRUCE NUGENT

17 GAY STREET
NEW YORK CITY

Blue Monday in the Morning -
November 15, 1926.

Dear Carl,

Received your October twenty-sixth letter. Thanks
for the dope. I rejoice with you at Nora's success. It
sounds great. I am just about to sit me down to do the
Flute... news at the moment is a bit scarce and it is
a rainy day.

W. S. Braithwaite suggests that I bring *The Ebony Flute* out in book form at the end of the year just as Phelps did his stint. What do you say to this? Be frank with me about it because I am not a bit thin-skinned. At first the idea seemedfffff posterous to me but I have begun to think of it as not so utterly impossible after all. What's your advice ? Let me know right away because I'd like to know whether or not approach any of the publishers on the matter.

*Fire* ought to be out any minute now. I, even at this
distance, am terribly excited about it. I hope it is a success.

If all goes well I shall motor up to New York this week-
end, starting on Thursday. If I don't come up by automobile I
shall not be up as I am absolutely broke. Shall call you when I
land.

Say "hello" to Miss Maronoff. Remember me to the lady who
cooks for you - I have forgotten her name.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON, D. C.

Wednesday Morning.

Bless you, Mr. Van Vechten :

Both items - *Sulphur Rose* and Budding Chestnut - are
most interesting......Lord, the Flute ought soon to play sweet
music indeed with this sort of help.

At these present musings I am convinced of two things: -
When you say you intend helping a fellow you don't mean maybe
and that I am ever and ever so grateful.

I am in a dry land where no water is......barren fields
are dry as dust here. I shall return to the Elysian Fields on
Friday afternoon. I shall ring you as soon as I land. You may
have something up your sleeve.....certainly you will be inter-
ested in hearing how Washington takes your novel on "their"
people.

Until.....