Dear Professor,
I thought I would write you the conditions here, so you wouldn’t be surprised at my decision later.
The fact is, the Grueby Co has been a failure, and ever since I’ve been here, it has been trying to raise money to keep it in existence, a fact just realized.
During my first six weeks here I was prohibited from doing anything, practically. At the end of six weeks the oil kiln arrived and since then I’ve been working with it. About two or three weeks after it arrived Mr. Grueby reluctantly gave his consent to my introducing experiments in the coal kilns. I’ve been able to produce some very good things in the oil kiln also in the coal kiln, where his glaze would be a failure. I’ve produced pieces in the cool kilns which two members of the firm have taken for the Grueby glaze a number of times, and I have done my best under the conditions, but Mr. Grueby was opposed to my coming here and has opposed me since I’ve been here although at times he has appeared otherwise.
About the third week after my arrival I disagreed with him on some results on their pottery and since then he hasn’t conferenced with me in regard to any of their difficulties, although previous to that time he would say, now if you don’t agree with me say so, so when I did not agree with him I said so, and you know the result.
The fact is the firm is to be reorganized with plenty of capitol back (?) of it and with Mr.
Lagenbeck as supt. and chemist, so I don’t see any thing here for me and might as well prepare to leave.
I’ll know definitely next week. Under the conditions the work would be of no interest to me and as far as assisting Mr. Lagenbeck or anyone else in pottery I don’t care to. Mr. Grueby is to turn his formulae over to Mr. Lagenbeck, so of course there will be no one for mine if they make them go. Of course Mr. Grueby told how well he liked me etc. and that if I had had a couple of years experience in a terra cotta plant he wouldn’t have considered Mr. Lagenbeck for the place at all. It’s well enough for since to talk and say nice things, but I think he has been prejudiced against me every since I’ve been here, as it is a fact that he fought against my coming (?) and seemed to be delighted if he saw the least chance to prove my opinions false. But he never had one chance to do it.
Would you advise me to stay under the circumstances i.e. if I have a chance to?
Would you analyze the Grueby glaze if I send you some?
Mar. 20, 1908 Most sincerely yours
Fred E Walrath 783 E. Fourth St.
So Boston
