Monday 8 PM
[February 19, 1940]
Dearest sweet love:
I was glad to have your Friday letter. Moe had it sent over to my room, where I found it a couple of hours ago. I'm glad too that you liked the ballet, but I wish that I had been with you. I am happiest of all when you are happy. I wish that I could have been with you when you couldn't sleep - I would have put you to sleep! I too had trouble last night - I slept only from 2 to 7.
Linda's valentine poem is a fine one.
This morning I went out to Columbia and saw Urey + Joe Mayer + LaMer and inspected their laboratories. Joe took me to lunch at their faculty club with a group of their chemists. Then I went with Rabin and talked with him and looked at his apparatus. I don't think that we can use the technique. Then I went to the Rockefeller Foundation.
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Warren W. was so busy that I talked only briefly with him, + then with Tisdale. Then I called Reba and said that I couldn't go to a show with her tonight, for which she had given me tickets (Alfred had some engagement), because of being with the Columbia people - but I also refused Joe's and LaMer's invitations to go out with them. I have got so lonesome for you that I prefer to be alone and help the time to go by. I've been here since about five, in my hotel room, and shall stay until ten, when the train is ready, and then get on and go to bed. At my suggestion Moe sent over two novels by Guggenheim fellows or prospective ones, one in memms sheets (one novel), and I am reading the latter - "Be Thou the Bride" by Weston. It isn't at all well written.
I am going down now to have some supper - at the oyster bar, I think, which is just below, since this hotel is right at the station. This will be my only meal by myself in New York. I would be happy if you were here.
I send you my love and everlasting adoration, dear little girl who became my sweet wife and companion years ago. I can't live without you.
You own husband
Linus
P.S. It has been terribly cold and windy today.
[An envelope accompanies the letter :
Return address: L Pauling [Handwritten] The same picture of the hotel.
The
COMMODORE
42nd STREET AT GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
New York City
Envelope is addressed to: Mrs. Ava Helen Pauling R. 1 Box 622 Pasadena, Calif.
Postmark reads: NEW YORK, N.Y. FEB 19 10
30
PM 1940
Sticker: AIR HOTEL COMMODORE MAIL
Printed on back side in red ink:
"VISIT THE NEW YORK'S WORLD FAIR - MAY TO NOVEMBER .1939" ]
February
19, 1940
