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A mere month out of office, the new Yale University Kent professor of law – yearly salary $5,000 – confesses his struggle to “get into a new trade.”
“I find myself embarrassed in the absence of my tools, my books, correspondence,” he writes, as he tries to “get down to the hard work of preparation as a teacher.” That is why he must turn down attending “Brother Washburn”’s Millbury Centennial and the Economic Club meeting in Worcester, as well as invitations to “make addresses on a great many interesting occasions.” Such invitations, he notes modestly - as befits a man who, as a sitting President standing for re-election, came in third - “will doubtless grow less as I fade away into obscurity”.
“I find myself embarrassed in the absence of my tools, my books, correspondence,” he writes, as he tries to “get down to the hard work of preparation as a teacher.” That is why he must turn down attending “Brother Washburn”’s Millbury Centennial and the Economic Club meeting in Worcester, as well as invitations to “make addresses on a great many interesting occasions.” Such invitations, he notes modestly - as befits a man who, as a sitting President standing for re-election, came in third - “will doubtless grow less as I fade away into obscurity”.
Typed Letter Signed, 1 page, quarto, on his personal letterhead, New Haven, April 6, 1913. To Charles G. Washburn
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WILLIAM H. TAFT
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
April 6, 1913.
My dear Brother Washburn:
I have your kind note of April 5th, but I am afraid that I can not attend either the Millbury Centennial or the Economic Club meeting in Worcester this year; and even if I should go to the Millbury Centennial, I should have to return here without attempting the three days' program in the vicinity. I am struggling to get into a new trade, and I find myself embarrassed in the absence of my tools, my books, correspondence, etc.,[sic]and I dont [sic] know that I shall be fully settled before fall. I am at a hotel and my books are in Washington. I am invited to make addresses on a great many interesting occasions. These invitations will doubtless grow less as I fade away into obscurity, but for the present I must deny myself the temptation and try to get down to the hard work of preparation as a teacher. You will understand that, I am sure, and therefore will know that it is no failure to appreciate the honor of the invitation that leads me now to express regret to you.
Sincerely yours
WM H TAFT
Hon. Charles G. Washburn,
Worcester, Massachusetts.
My warm regards to Mrs Washburn.
CGW
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
April 6, 1913.
My dear Brother Washburn:
I have your kind note of April 5th, but I am afraid that I can not attend either the Millbury Centennial or the Economic Club meeting in Worcester this year; and even if I should go to the Millbury Centennial, I should have to return here without attempting the three days' program in the vicinity. I am struggling to get into a new trade, and I find myself embarrassed in the absence of my tools, my books, correspondence, etc.,[sic]and I dont [sic] know that I shall be fully settled before fall. I am at a hotel and my books are in Washington. I am invited to make addresses on a great many interesting occasions. These invitations will doubtless grow less as I fade away into obscurity, but for the present I must deny myself the temptation and try to get down to the hard work of preparation as a teacher. You will understand that, I am sure, and therefore will know that it is no failure to appreciate the honor of the invitation that leads me now to express regret to you.
Sincerely yours
WM H TAFT
Hon. Charles G. Washburn,
Worcester, Massachusetts.
My warm regards to Mrs Washburn.
CGW
