[written on Le Grand Hotel Du Louvre letterhead]

[with envelope from the same place, lots of stamps, post marked 26-11 1948]

Midnight, Thursday

Dearest love: I've just had a wonderful experience; if only you could have been along. Yesterday I saw a man carrying a sign about experimental films showing at the Studio Parnasse; so tonight after dinner I went over, just in time to get the last seat in the tiny theater - many people were turned away! There were 8 or 9 short films; a few poor ones, and some extraordinary ones. The best, I think, was a Swedish film that has won two international grand prizes. It is about an episode in stone-age Sweden, the scene being around a big campfire at night in midwinter, and the event taking place in the flickering firelight, in the center of the tribe, clad in woven blankest, the voluntary sacrifice of a young man, by the priest wielding a flint dagger, before the wooden idol and the absolution of the sins of the people by splattering them with his blood and then, I think, the eating of his flesh (perhaps it was a time of famine). It was deeply impressive, and beautiful - really a wonderful film.

My second choice was "Une nuit sur le Mont Chauve", made in 1933 in Paris by Alexeioff and Claire Parker - a striking impressionistic treatment of the Witches' Sabbath, to Moussorgsky's music. Then I like very much a film "Lichtertanz" by Fischinger - No.12 of a series. It was a marvelous precise coordination of moving figures of light + the music - far better than the Hollywood fellow's efforts. Also "Sehnscht", a treatment of a simple Russian love theme by Eisenstein, with wonderful photographs of trees and water - terrific motion and change at first - falling giant trees, crashing surf - and great quiet and beauty at the end. A French film "Rain," had some fine effects of reflections of walking people, horse, and vehicles in the wet street. There was a very amusing animated film - microbes that are the [second page] germs of politicians, mothers-in-law, etc- made in France in 1908 .

I walked down the rue de Notre Dame des Champs + Boul. Raspail to rue de Bac before finding a cab. I've got chafed from walking so much.

Today was Thanksgiving Day, so for dinner I had Dubonnet, vegetable soup, 12 snails

(I don't eat much)↑

beer, endive salad, Brie cheese, Camembert cheese, and plum pie, and coffee. The waiter, whom I had that I didn't eat meat or fish or fowl, said "Le medecin a oublié les escargots".

I spent half of the day getting my plane reservations. From London to New York my ticket read "subject to load". I was sure that this meant that I wouldn't be taken, + the weather in London is such that I'm not sure that I could get there; fortunately and extra flight has been arranged for Paris - New York on Tuesday, + I have a solid reservation on it (flight 4973),T.WA). [sic]

I saw Marguin [?] today. Bauer (with whom I'll dine tomorrow night) said he wanted to see me. He wanted some biographical data for a report that he said was scheduled to make to the Academie des Sciences. He sends regards to you, from his wife too.

Its cold now - below freezing. I'm going to take a bath to warm up before going to bed, if there is hot water.

There's a wonderful copper watering pot in my young friends's [large picture of

place, but its about two feet high, so I can't bring it to you. watering pot]

I cabled Martin that I wouldn't be in London, and I'll write Ideal (or Mrs. R.)

Today was St. Catherine's day, when the dress makers' assistants celebrate. Several bands of them in costume were dancing down the street this morning.

Much love from your

Paddy