Cannonsburg Pa Jan 1, 1908.
My dear Professor,
I enclose an application to the United States Civil Service, which I wish you would fill in the blanks of voucher no 1., and then send on to Mr. Wilcox, for him to fill in for the other voucher.
I recieved a very nice letter from Major McIntire at the head of the Bureau of Insular Affairs and he says there is a position open in the Geological department of the Bureau of Science at Manilla. They wish someone “conversant with the development of clays and other non-metallic minerals,” in their own language. The position is a good one and I believe I could fill the bill. I have always been anxious to go to the Philipines and this seems my opportunity.
I am still staying with mother and father in Canonsburg. The pottery at New Castle is still practically shut down although Mr. Whittaker writes he will want me in a few weeks if I am still unemployed.
This enforced idleness has come at a hard time for me because I had not succeeded in getting all my debts paid up and so had nothing ahead. All of the other potteries seemed to be in about the same fix as at New Castle and although I recieved many nice promises nothing developed and will not I judge for a month.
To keep me busy lately I have taken a course in bookkeeping and also read a lot of chemistry and in the Sprechsaal.
I hope school is running as well as ever and hope that Alfred will be well represented on the program at Columbus next year. I hope you will be able to stir them up about boric acid (?).
Purdy’s paper on ‘Fritted Glazes’ seems to have a number of points that could be used to prove that it is a base.
I hope you will be able to recommend me for the position as no doubt your word will go a good ways with them.
I will also enclose stamps which I wish you would enclose to Mr. Wilcox, and for you to send the letter to him.
I hope you not have any trouble securing positions for ’08 graduates, but I advise them not to try whiteware anyway.
Wishing you a successful New Year I remain
Yours respectfully Guy
