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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, pages 1, 2 and envelope
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-12-1908
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Page 3
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-12-1908
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Joseph Lindon Smith Correspondence
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Luxor, 12th February 1908
Dearest Corinna,
Last night I left Cairo, in the eight o'clock train and had a compartment to myself all the way after Wasta and this morning at 9.30 arrived in Luxor and Arthur there to meet me - I had telegraphed him I was coming.
I woke up through the night at some of the various towns so well known to us now. Beni Suef. Feschn (?) where we missed Ticking (?). Abu Girgeh - where you all met me once. Siut and Nag Hamadi where I joined you for Christmas - all the dear old familiar little Nile towns with every one of which we have so many associations.
I cannot get it out of my head that you and the nest are not somewhere on the river - slowly coming up to meet me and a dozen times to-day I have noticed that a good sailing breeze was blowing from the North and have found myself saying 'they'll come along well to-day'.
Arthur's welcome and Hortense's was real and warm and has made me feel very gay and cheerful and when I get to work tomorrow morning I shall not be realizing so much how mich I miss you.
Luxor is much the same - a picket fence has been built all along the river bank on the edge from the Mission School past the Post Office to the Anglo American steps and then on again to the Cook's Landing.
Davis has gone up to Assouan - Ayerton found some beautiful jewelry 18th Dynasty and Davis is greatly set up and pleased.
Dal. has left also for Assouan, with the Tiffany's. I'm afraid I shall miss her.
Arthur's mother is her here - she is very nice and the baby is a nice little man. Hortense thinks she will send him back to England with Arthur's mother when she goes in about two weeks from now. All the servants here and the temple guards and the antiquity men and boys ask after you and the others. They all seem delighted to see me, as I certainly am to see them.
Not a single dahabeyah at Luxor.
Prof. Sayce left yesterday for Cairo, his old boat looking badly - Lord and Lady Carnarvon have just arrived and have begun work - Arthur went over to see them this afternoon - they are just as wild and exotic as ever.
Tyndale is over at Deir el Bahri doing some painting and Curelli (?) has been here but there is no excavation being done there this year - nor at Abydos either. "Wretched Jones" is with Lythgoe at Licht I believe.
Carter has been here all through the Summer - and is far from well, and in low spirits again Arthur says - they gave him the 'Service' home - where the Quibells were. He has been doing some of 'my subjects' as Henry Newman would say - but I'm afraid he can't do the trick yet. It don't come in a years work - or five either. Tyndale has written a very readable book on Egyptian subjects and well illustrated it. He devotes an interesting chapter to the discovery of Queen Tii's tomb, and puts in the item that Mr J. Lindon Smith, the American artist, was engaged to paint etc. etc. and was in the tomb once a week before others were admitted - and that he stopped daily at their camp at Bahri on his way home to Luxor, and whetted their curiosity by his descriptions - tho entombed in a death chamber for so many long hours, his spirits were not terribly affected and he remained one of the most amusing companions I ever met, etc etc.
I shall stay on here working until the Cuttings turn up and then on with them to Assouan and Abu Simbel.
Arthur is wild to have me make a camel trip with him to some wonderful remove place little visited - he wants me to go with him when I return from Nubia.
Nothing is to prevent me from painting at least ten good pictures, and then if there is a chance I might think of it. There might be lecture material forthcoming.
The season has been only moderately successful this year, a great scarcity of American visitors being noticed - but people are plentiful here in Luxor - and tho a short one they think it will be successful.
Mr and Mrs Ayer of Chicago are on a Nile steamer coming up.
I have been through the Antikas shops and there is nothing in quality (mi...)table (?) which is a comfort.
Arthur has grown a little fat. He says not and his mother thinks not but he looks so to me - he is looking very well however. They wanted to know all I could tell them about you and wished me to send you their best love and also to Grandma and Grandpa.
No more now - I am crazy to get one from you. There may be a letter to-day but it has been a long time to wait - from the 25th of Jan to February 12th - you I expect had to wait about 16 days for my first communication.
Lots and lots of love, dearest little Mama,
Joe
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1908-2-12 Letter by Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Smith
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3 page letter on Service d'Antiquités D'Égypte headed letterpaper.
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1908-2-12
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American Archives of Art, reel 5115
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Volume 15 1907-1908
-
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Pages 1, 2 and envelope
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-20-1908
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Page 3
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-20-1908
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Joseph Lindon Smith Correspondence
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From Dahabeah 'Serapis'
On the way from Luxor to Assouan
20th Feb 1908
Dear Family
I have been on the boat three days, and we are nearing Kom Ombos, and expect to get to Assouan tomorrow afternoon.
I wrote a letter from the Weigalls the morning after my arrival there, and since then have been so rushed with one thing and another that I haven't had a half hour to myself.
I began some painting at once, two pictures over at Kheni(?)-het and a large study in Luxor Temple of the head and shoulders [life size] of that fine bas relief which I did before - a small watercolor, whole figure which Emory Gardner bought.
Arthur had a tall scaffolding put up and I began the picture with the greatest interest, and it went very well and has come out a great success - and is one of the most real things I have ever done and you will all like it immensely I am sure - Mother will particularly admire it as there is some great cracks and stains etc.
When the Cuttings arrived, they wanted me to join them at once but I stayed on one more night at the Weigalls and went with Arthur and his mother to Karnak - by full moon - wonderfully grand and impressive as ever.
Arthur and I dined with the Carnarvons at the Winter Palace Hotel and Lord C. wanted me to visit them and see his pictures and Rothchilds also.
The cute Weigall baby is not at all well and they are to send him back to England shortly. Egypt does not seem to agree with him. Arthur's mother is going back in a couple of weeks and he will stay with her - Hortense goes back also but not until June or July.
Mrs Slater and her daughter turned up and this crowd and the Weigalls and Mrs Slater all lunched over at the tombs of the kings up there in the cool shade from of Sethi II.
As for this company, they are most charming and friendly and very good company indeed - Lady Sybil is attractive and pretty and her husband very very nice - Gordon Gardner is all that his many good friends in Boston told me he was - thoroughly equable and witty and jolly, and the two boys Bronson and his school mate Genoux just as nice as they can be - there is beside an agreeable young English doctor, named Bishop.
They gave me the warmest possible welcome and one of the nicest cabins on the boat and I found that they had heard of stories and other forms of entertainment which they were breathless to hear and see - and my slightest offering is most thoroughly appreciated, with roars of laughter and they beg for more - I hope I have enough to last through the voyage. It was nice to be warmly welcomed by people I had never seen before and I am having a delightful time - the service and food and everything on the boat is as you might expect superlative - and we are all well and having the time of our lives - that is not strictly true in my case - as you know well enough I should much prefer any one of our dear old slow dahabeyahs surrounded with you all.
Old Hassan and Iusef could not stop kissing my hand and saying 'how are you my master, my brother' and how is the sitt (...) little one and the big man and 'Becka and Tine' - they remembered their names. Our bank looks much the same except that there is not little bay or cove as there used to be - and Mr. Davis has no island this year.
The gaffirs in the Valley all came and shook hands and all asked after Corinna. I took lunch with Tyndale over at Currelly's camp and he asked after you all. Ayerton I did not see - as he had gone to Luxor the day I was in the Valley but I say Mary and Flox (?) - Mary has been a mother since I last saw her and a little Mary is about.
My painting started off so well - I feel sure that I shall do some splendid things. Arthur and I went up to Karnak and saw Legrain and his work - he sent an elaborate nonsensical message.
Dal turned up on Mrs Tiffany's dahabeya - and Bronson Cutting and I went there and dined with them - it was very nice to see Frances. She has enjoyed it greatly.
Yesterday we passed Uncle Theodore - on his way back from Assouan to Luxor - everybody was indoors and no one answered my spasmodic waves - the weather is ideal.
We have just arrived at Assouan - and I am going up to find Dowe and the others - Assouan Cooks very gay and animated - the hotels are full.
How I wish you were all here,
love from Joe
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1908-2-20 Letter by Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Smith
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3 page letter from Dahabeah 'Serapis' on way from Luxor to Assouan
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1908-2-20
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February 20th 1908
Volume 15 1907-1908
-
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Pages 1,2 and envelope
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-25-1908
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Page 3
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-25-1908
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Joseph Lindon Smith Correspondence
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Steam Dahabeah "Serapis"
Assouan
25th February 1908
Darling cute girl:
Yesterday I sent off a letter to the family just as soon as we arrived at Assouan. Not long after I met Abdalla on the front street. Looking more or less miserable as he always does with that familiar old shawl bundled around his head and shoulders and that tired listless smile and general bearing. He brightened up, however, and became quite animated and led me into the bazaar and in a few minutes Dowe came flying out of the mosque and was standing excitedly before me.
He was looking well in a light brown dress, well made, as all his garments are and he seemed prosperous.
We stood aside from the crowded little street opposite the mosque door and I went into a court and sat on the bench of a letter writer and talked with Dowe and Abdalla and others who quickly came from all sides. The letter writer came too and Dowe suggested I have a letter written to you which was done [enclosed] and all stood around and made suggestions, and approved, when it was done and the writer read aloud his sentences.
Dowe proudly assured the doubting assembled crowd that the sitt could not only read the letter but the Koran as well, and there was much wagging of heads at your attainments. Dowe reported a good season here, and particularly good for him as it has been a distinctly German invation this Winter, and Dowe and two other men are the only guides here speaking that tongue, so he has done well I expect.
Abdul Rackman, is on the 'Prince Abbas' running from Shellal to Halfa, and the other boys are all away working. Little Mohammed is in Assouan, but I haven't yet seen him.
Over opposite us on the sand bank at Elephantine is the old broken backed "Emis el Wuz" our dear old Ruby Anne in which old craft such happy months were spent by us - she makes me very very homesick for you darling.
Dowe says that the Newmans say they do not want to come out again next Winter and that their boat is for sale possibly to let but I cannot believe this. I will boldly ask them - because that would be just thing for us - if the price did not stand in the way.
The plan as at present formed is to go tomorrow to Shellal where the ship will be coaled, while we are seeing Philae and then the next day we expect to start off for Abu Simbel and they have arranged so that I shall have plenty of time for my painting there, as they all seem to feel that on no account must I miss having as much time as I need and they have brought a large tent so while they go up to Halfa I may camp out there and get that extra two or three days.
Gordon Gardner is a most attractive man, and most thoroughly amusing - we all get along beautifully together - there seems to be no Dahabeya Devil on board. The weather is very fine ad I feel splendidly well, as I always do in Egypt. John Phillips and his wife, are on a small Anglo American boat - the "Indiana" en route from Halfa and Kartoum - they dined with us last night and we had a rousing fantasia and later she sang, and I did 'stunts' - all the silly old ones - which still seem to be so acceptable and amusing - Mr Gardner gets to laughing so that he has to leave the room which is a tribute I rarely receive.
Asouan is full again with Greeks and Italians come to build the dam higher - and entirely submerge Philae - new shops abound, and the general appearance of the cute town so extremely prosperous, so it is light and gay - very different from Luxor - but Luxor is the place for me - another year we might go to Abu Simbel for December and take two or three weeks to float down to Luxor and have about two months there.
I find more and more subjects to paint in Luxor, and there is a wealth of untouched material [for me untouched] in the little painted tombs of Qurnah. Would you rather go to Japan, and spend the winter there or does Egypt tempt you more -
I hope to hear from you before we leave.
Lots and lots of love to all,
those dear cute kiddies - how I long to kiss and hug them and to kiss and hug you, my darling wife
I hope the dear old ones are all well
Your loving
Joe
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1908-2-25 Letter by Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Smith
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3 page letter from Dahabeah Serapis in Assouan.
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1908-2-25
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American Archives of Art, reel 5115
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February 25th 1908
Volume 15 1907-1908
-
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Pages 1, 2 and envelope front
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-26-1908
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Page 3, back of envelope
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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2-26-1908
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Joseph Lindon Smith Correspondence
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S.S. Serapis
Tuesday February 26
Shellal 1908
Dear Ones,
This morning, we left Assouan, and came up through the locks to Shellal, arriving about luncheon time and then visiting poor old Philae - now quite flooded out so that even the floor of the Hypostyle Hall is now under the water and one can only go up on the pylons - it is a pathetic sight and my only pleasure today was meeting Amam and some others of the old friends and remembering how much work I had done on the lovely isle when it was lovely and being thankful I had seen it then and that we all had too.
Hundreds of men are now at work again here - preparing to raise the dam - and there is great blasting three times a day and the constant and steady rise of pick and chisel all the time - it is the death knell to what remains of Philae - though there are rumors of a wall being built around it which I cannot believe in.
Tomorrow morning we start off and soon I shall see the great Kings - with their wonderful placid gaze - out across the river into the East and I shall get to work at once, as soon as I set foot in that delicious yellow sand. I shall write to you again when I arrive there and the letter will be posted at Halfa - I shall have the tent pitched, and not go up to Halfa as I want all the time I can get, to paint.
It is possible that we may get camels, and make a five days desert trip - into the country west of Abu Simbel - to visit a cute temple of Thutmoses IV there, which will be a very pleasant and unusual experience and there is a strong probability that Bronson Cutting will decide to go in April to Jerusalem. Damascus and PETRA and if he does, he wants me to go with him - what a splendid chance that would be - think of going to Petra in a caravan.
Mr Bayard Cutting, Bronson's brother has a Consular appointment in Milan - and he has to go back within a couple of weeks - and Lady Sybil goes to Palermo - Dr Bishop must go back to Varenna on the lake of Como, where he has a practice - he cannot longer leave - and the other man - Mr Genoux is going home - so Bronson is left alone - unless he follows some of these relations or friends [Mr Gordon Gardner goes to Europe also].
They all want him to stay on in the East and I believe he wants to very much - and will do so if I will promise to take the trip with him.
There is only one drawback that I can think of which is that I could not get home until June -
Of course it would be an exceptional opportunity for me - one not likely to occur again - and I suppose it would be the greatest foolishness not to go.
My next letter will probably give a definite report to you, concerning this matter. If I do it - we should come to Paris - via Constantinople, and I should make a study of that early sarcophagus in the museum there - a detail from it.
Meanwhile, I shall work like a slave at Abu Simbel and start three pictures there. An early morning - morning and afternoon picture -and I have six planned to do in Luxor - and three at Sakkarah. I am living in the greatest possible luxury - such good things to eat and such good care taken of me. I have grown fat and am feeling splendidly well. If only we were all together - I do so miss you all - I keep thinking that you are at Luxor - or on the river coming up.
I have had one letter from Corinna and that was written four days after I left New York and there is a chance that something may come to-night otherwise I shall get nothing for a week. I hope you have been getting my letters all right - I have written you eight times- [including this and some postals sent to the kiddies from Naples].
The fascination of the Nile and of Egypt is as strong over me as ever. It will allways exert a wonderful power over me. It seems more beautiful than ever before.
Lots and lots of love to you dear ones.
and to Auntie and that household.
And to Pa Pats.
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1908-2-26 Letter by Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Smith
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3 page letter from SS Serapis, Abu Simbel
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1908-2-26
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American Archives of Art, reel 5115
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February 26th 1908
Volume 15 1907-1908
-
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Pages 1 & 2
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3-4-1908
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Letter from Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Putnam Smith, Page 3
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Joseph Lindon Smith
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3-4-1908
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Joseph Lindon Smith Correspondence
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S.S. "Serapis"
Wadi Halfa
March 4th 1908
Dear Mother, Corinna, Daddy and Babies
This morning we left Abou Simbel at 11.30 and reached Halfa about five o'clock and have just come on board ship again after a long promenade through the pleasant shaded streets of the little town.
Tomorrow we all start off for Semneh - leaving before dawn - with cooks and servants guides, attendants, rugs, tents, beds, bedding, chairs, lamps, food, drink, washing water, guards and the 1001 things the Dragoman insists on taking for the six days and nights we are to be gone. Thirty camels are engaged? Just think of the grievous noises as all these pretty beasts are loaded with our outfit.
Page 403 in Baedeker's "Egypt" will give you a description of our journey. We did think a little, as I wrote you, of going in to the desert back of Abou Simbel - to the West, but the temple, said to be there, somewhere two days from the Nile, cannot be found and it seemed unwise to make that trip with little or no chance of finding our goal
My party fell in love with Abou Simbel and think it the finest thing the have ever seen on the Nile. They intend stopping a couple of days more on the return journey.
I painted 4! pictures - three are done, and one large one - of the two right hand figures is almost done, needing just two more sittings which I shall get.
Newman was horrified at my speed, and she was very 'sniffy' in fact they behaved exactly as they did here before and our party think them the 'worst old man and woman ever seen'. 'Regular rotters' - Gordon Gardner calls both of them. He is screamingly funny about them, and he and Lady Sybil came every morning and shouted out their enthusiastic approval of my work - so that Henry and Mary, sweltering in their tent, should hear the praise and we could almost see the tent writhe with their emotions.
Gardner is a most charming and entertaining fellow - Daddy wouldn't understand a word he says nor Lady Sybil for that matter, as both speak very pronounced English English.
Lady Sybil in particular has an affected manner of expression - reminding me strangely enough of dear Mrs Whitman - she is bright, witty and very good company - and she seems much entertained and amused with me - as I am with her. Bronson is a quiet reserved chap, but very nice and tremendously interested in all that happens - from a morning in an Egyptian temple to my Japanese in Constantinople stories in the evening. This morning the Prince Abbas brought me Corinna's second letter and mother's first. I was mighty glad to get both - the cute pictures of Totty and Tiney touched me in a very soft place. They seemed such eloquent little affairs. I could see them drawing them on Grandma's desk up in the studio.
Bronson Cutting hardly dares attempt the trip to Jerusalem and ... as he thinks there is not time enough now, before hot weather comes in and this is so - it would probably be pretty hot there in May - I don't know what he means to do - but I think he will most likely go to Italy with his brother.
I shall be with them all for about two weeks more, and then part company at Luxor and stay a couple of weeks perhaps with Arthur and Hortense, and then about April 1st I go to the Quibell's.
As I write this, I can hear the shouts of the caravan preparations and looking out of the cabin window can see - illuminated by electric light on the bank - the vast quantity of boxes and other things being made ready for the trip to be begun - it seems a curious outlay of time, effort and much more money - I can hardly image how much it all will cost - it will be camping out in the most luxurious manner possible - it will be an intensely interesting experience and I only hope we shall not find camel riding too fatiguing.
I shall not be able to get off a letter to you - will a week from to-day when we return - so you mustn't be alarmed at a long wait and gap in the regularity of my letters.
I am sure you will be delighted with my pictures at Abou Simbel, the big one particularly. It is about a yard high by two feet six inches wide - and shows the two splendid figures bathed in hot bright sunshine - with sharp purple shadows - and a great drift of that wonderful yellow sand.
Well! No more now dear ones
until I get back from this desert trip
Always lovingly
Joe
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paper
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Title
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1908-3-4 Letter by Joseph Lindon Smith to Corinna Smith
Creator
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Joseph Lindon Smith
Description
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3 page letter from SS Serapis at Halfa, preparing for trip into the desert by camel.
Date
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1908-3-4
Source
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American Archives of Art, reel 5116
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open source
March 4th 1908
Volume 15 1907-1908