December 2, 1935

Dear Oliver:

Your letter of November 30 has just arrived and I thank you for the remarks regarding the article, I shall go over them carefully when I read proof and decide wither it is worthwhile to stake any changes. In regard to the paper itself, I have not had any concern about it except that I thought that perhaps you should be included as an author. I still feel confident that the interpretation given for ortho chloro-phenol and similar substances is correct, but I have become a little less certain in regard to the pyrol explanation although I still think that it is probably right. At any rate, I think that it is worthwhile to publish the suggestion, Mr. Stilt and I have had reasonable success with aniline, our predicting the second overtone spectrum agreeing pretty well with your data. In case that the three other amines show a second overtone spectrum different from that of aniline, and the theory also looks pretty well for them, we shall have considerable confidence that the interreactions that we neglect are not very important.

The missing fundamentals and second overtones in chelated compounds show that the phenomenon of decreased absorption is not due to increased symmetry of the potential function, but instead probably to a big shift in frequencies as you suggest.

Why don't you give a reasonably complete discussion of the ortho- compounds in your paper? It seems to me that the data should be discussed when they are reported, and there is no reason why you shouldn't give the discussion. Also when you publish your work on pyrogallol and similar substances, I think you should discuss the data. There is no reason for you to feel at all hesitant about using the explanations given in my article, or, indeed, about giving alternative explanations or criticizing my suggestions. I do not intend to write any more papers on the interpretation of your data (except the amine paper) and I would be greatly disappointed if you were not to use my suggestion in making interpretations yourself.

Yours very sincerely,

Linus Pauling

Friday, 7 ⁴⁰ PM

Dearest little wife:

We all hated to see you go-I most of all, I think, but I restrained my emotions manfully, as is fitting for a man with a beard. After you left we drove home by the same route, except that we traversed Colorado as far as Hill, to see all of the decorations. We also stopped for a few minutes to admire the big Christmas tree. Linda stayed upright until we passed the Athenaum [sic], and then suddenly lay down, but got up again when I said we were nearly home. Lola offered to put the children to bed, but I did so; the two little ones asked to sleep with me, and they are now in our bed sound asleep. Lola put cold cream on Linda's face. Peter reminded Linus to remind me to call Priscilla, and then later asked me to be sure. She will come.

I seem to have a little cold. I have taken some NaHCO₃ and am drinking some rock and rye, which tastes good (this is a symptom of an incipient cold-at other times it doesn't taste good).

Lola said that Reba called to say that she was sorry to hear of grandma's illness.

I'm going to mail this letter now, and perhaps go to bed with the Itzies. I love you, darling Ava Helen, and I hope you have found your mother well. Give her my love.

Your own husband,

Linus

December 14, 1935

Dearest Ava Helen:

It is now 5 30 - you have been gone twenty-three hours. We are all lonesome for you. Peter said today that he wished you were here. Linus has just come into my office, having returned his library book and got another.

Last night I read a mystery story and then went to bed with Peter, after putting Linda in her own bed. This morning the children & I shopped - Lola made good baked beans and doughnuts for lunch. After lunch we all went out for oranges and then spent two hours in the Monrovia park. The children and I walked along the path up the canyon while Lola read. I have now been correcting examination papers, and shall soon go home to dinner.

No mail or telegram has come.

I love you, little darling, and hope that you will soon come back to us.

Your own

Linus

SA230 10 NM=PASADENA CALIF 14 1935 DEC 14 PM 11 33

MRS LINUS PAULING=

4314 SOUTHEAST 34 AVE PORTLAND ORG=

WE ARE ALL WELL BUT LONESOME LOVE TO YOU AND GRANDMA=

LINUS.

Dec 16

1935

11 ⁴⁵ PM Sunday

Dearest little wife:

I love you very much, dear Ava Helen. I hope that you are sound asleep and happy and comfortable in a pleasant room and bed, and that your mother is well and that the day has not been too hard for you and that you have not had any unpleasantness with anyone. Did you like getting my telegram? You should receive two letters tomorrow. We haven't yet heard from you.

Today I made waffles, and Lola broiled bacon. Then I went to the laboratory, and talked with Jack and James and Beach. James said that ballet tickets are selling fast-I shall buy some for us. Last night Mary Helen and Robert called for a while, with a letter about Dr. Noyes' brother-Robert's aunt said that they called him Snuffer Noyes, but that his mother called him Dove Eyes. He died some years ago, leaving no money. His son began clerking in A&P's (he and his wife refusing Dr. Noyes invitation to come and live with him) and is now manager of a store and well thought of. After the Mullikens left, offering to do anything they could, I read a book and went to bed, sleeping with Linda.

We had a good lunch, and then read the papers and listened to the concert. Then I went to the institute and worked on hemochromogens [?] with Coryell till five. On returning I found the house a bedlam-Angy in the kitchen bothering Lola, who was trying to get dinner, and Bob

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and Siegrid in the living room, with the Ward girl beating Peter and Linda and raising Hell generally, while Eric yelled in order to be doing his part. Bunny grounded Linda's head on the floor, jumped wildly on the davenport and cushions, and in general behaved in such a way that I had difficulty in restraining a desire to blister her behind and then throttle her. They stayed until six-I managed to get some order restored during the latter half of the hour. They ask ed me to come to dinner, but I said I preferred to stay with the children. We had a fine dinner, too-a flank steak with peas and carrots and mashed potatoes, and a chocolate cake. The children are now in bed, with Linus in our bed, this being his turn. Linus has been very good; in fact all of the children have been fine. They are even better about eating than when you are here!

After the children went to bed I rewrote (for the last time) my paper with Ermon, and then read a mystery story, which I have just finished. Oh-I heard the broadcast last night; it was very good-fifteen minutes devoted to an old alchemist scene reenacted and to sound effects from high-voltage laboratory, and then fifteen minutes to Millikan's talk, which was not especially good but was also not bad. I love you, darling, and I'd like to hold you close. Your Lover

Linus

DEC 17

830 AM

1935

[Peter writes;]

DEAR MAMMA:

COME ON FRIDAY BECAUSE WE GOING MISTLETOE HUNTING ON SATURDAY. DADDY SENDS THIS. LOVE,

PETER

[Below, LP writes;]

Dearest Ava Helen

Your telegram has arrived, and I am answering it after calling Dr. McMillan. If Grandma has cancer of the gall bladder she will die soon.* A blood transfusion would give her strength for a week or more. It is advisable only in case that she is not in pain and would be made happy by this additional span of life. Ultimately she would go through the final stages of weakening and dying. I hope that you are not too upset, dear heart. If you want me to come to you telegraph at once.

Your own loving husband,

Linus

*Unless it is operable, which is improbable.

[Western Union telegram dated 1935 Dec 16]

SA34 11=PASADENA CALIF 16 847A

MRS LINUS PAULING=

SELWOOD 0084=4314 SOUTHEAST 34 AVE PORTLAND ORG=

RECOMMEND TRANSFUSION FOR TEMPORARY STRENGTHENING EFFECT ONLY IF COMFORTABLE OR HAPPY=

LINUS

9 AM Tuesday December 17, 1935

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter written on the train and your first letter from home have arrived, making me very happy, although I am afraid that you will be upset by Grandma's serious condition. On receiving your telegram yesterday I called Dr. McMillan and then telegraphed you and sent a card. Please send for me if conditions begin to weigh on you too heavily. Tell Grandma that I love her and that I am looking forward to her next visit to us.

Yesterday I finished correcting examination papers and assigning grades, and worked on a paper with Jack. Last night after dinner with the children and after putting them to bed (Peter in our bed) I went to see Lena and Sidney, who had asked me to dinner (I thought it better to stay with the children for meals). I took Lena some candy. At ten I came home; then Bob and Angy stopped by for an hour, saying that they had been driven nearly wild by Bunny the night before at our house. When they left I started to read and drink whiskey and ginger ale, and went to bed at 2:30 - it is getting harder and harder for me to go to bed, even with Peter. Reba came while I was at Lena's, bringing Marie to visit with Lola and bringing some yarn and knitting needles for Lola. Lola likes Reba immensely. Lola has been perfect.

Tonight at 7 I am going to the Tylers for dinner - Betty just called this morning; I thought of refusing, but decided it was better to accept, the children being in bed by 7 anyway. Now I am going to write a hemochromogen paper with Coryell for next month's Proceedings Nat. Acad.

I love you with all my heart, little darling sweetheart, and we are all anxious for you to come back to us. Be sure to call me to you if the situation begins to weigh too heavily on you. The children will be all right without us for a while. Oceans of love from

Paddy

930 AM Wednesday

Dearest Ava Helen:

I think a great deal about you, dear girl, and hope that you do not find the situation too difficult. I wish that there was something for me to do. Remember that I love you. Give my love to Mother.

Your letter to Linus (and all of us - the children like the circles and crosses) came yesterday. I hope another letter to me arrives soon.

Yesterday I took Peter and Linda shopping after lunch and then for a ride for an hour - up Lake, then towards the Arroyo, and East again along the Foothills. They are feeling fine. It is rather cold here - the air was wonderfully clear yesterday, with the mountains beautiful in their clean outlines and sharp

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detail.

Linus has a slight sore throat and is staying in bed today. His dentist's appointment has been changed to Friday at 4. I hope that he will be well for his plays.

I went to the Tyler's at 7 last night for dinner. The Mirsky's & Barbara McKlintock (whom Reba called a hermaphrodite, thus making her angry) were there. We talked and played ping-pong. On returning home (1030) I read a book, "Mottke the Thief" by Sholom Asch, and then went to bed with Linda at about 1230. Now I am continuing the composition of a paper with Coryell for next month's Proc. Nat. Acad. I have just received a letter from an able German, H. Beutler, asking if there is any place for him here, as he has been dropped from his position at the University of Berlin. We have received Christmas cards from the Buiges, Bauer, and Freuel.

We all love you, darling, and want you to come back soon.

Your Linus

Wednesday, 6 PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

I am very happy, having just received your letter saying that Mother is not in pain and that you are not too upset. Please do not work too hard and please keep calm; be sure to keep a nurse and not become exhausted. I'm sorry that the specialist impressed you poorly. I think that you should follow your judgement regarding doctors, since it is always good, you being not impressed by pomposity and superficiality.

There is enclosed a letter from Lola and the children. They are all anxious for you to come back. Will you come back at the time planned? Linus has stayed in bed all day; he seems to be feeling pretty good now, and I think that he will go to school tomorrow. I have been doing hemoglobin work today. Now I am going to dinner with Coryell.

I love you with all my heart, sweet little wife. Come back soon.

Your Linus

over

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I saw Robert Op. today. He asked about my book (with Wilson) & I took him to my office & gave him a copy, with an inscription "To Robert, from Linus", He seemed pleased. We talked for several minutes about scientific things.

Tohman is going to give the last radio talk, on "Cosmology". None will be given on Chemistry.

Love from your husband

Linus

[Letter]

Wednesday Afternoon

Dear Mrs Pauling,

Peter and Linda have asked me to write for them They are enjoying the little radio very much. We are getting along nicely Mr. Pauling is wonderful with the children.

Peter wants me to say that Peter is being a good boy and wants a Xmas tree. Linus is a good boy. I hope Mrs Miller is feeling better. We are all lonesome for you.

Every good wish Lola and

the children

over please

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Monday Morning

Peter

Love

[Childlike scrawls of X's and O's cover the rest of the page.]

1 PM Thursday.

Dearest little darling wife:

This morning I took the two little children to town. They walked along beside me very nicely. Little Linda was very excited about the Christmas trees and decorations in Kresse's, and commented in a very loud voice and lively manner. They talked to Santa Clause there, who was a fine looking old fellow with real white whiskers. He looked very much like Mother Miller (except for secondary sexual characteristics) - he had a fine smooth face, except for pleasant wrinkles, a naturally rosy complexion, and an expression of great kindness and resignation. Linda said "My mother is with Grandma, but she will come home to us for Christmas." I'm afraid that it is necessary that you come. I was greatly moved to see the children with Santa Clause; they almost burst with happiness and excitement.

Linus went to school this morning, but is staying in bed this afternoon in order to be in good shape for his play tomorrow. He looks all right now.

I went to the Coryell's (his mother's house) for dinner last night, and told Coryell & his wife that they should have a little house of their own near the institute.

Please come home to us soon, sweetheart. We all miss you greatly. Give our love to Grandma.

Your own

Linus

PS Shappell came this morning to see me. He has saved a lot of money and is going for a voyage about the entire Pacific and perhaps around the world, lasting several months.

L.

PPS. I have thought of a good dramatization for a chemistry broadcast - on sex hormones. An old doddering man comes in, not lifting his eyes towards some frivolous chorus girls who tempt him in the ways used on St. Anthony. Then Rucizka & a nurse come and give him some androsterone. The last scene I leave to your imagination ...

Your loving Paddy

1 PM Friday.

Dearest little sweetheart:

Your Wednesday letter arrived this morning. I am glad that your mother is not in pain, and I am sure that she is happy that you came to see her. A down comfort will be a fine present for her. You should give it to her at once.

I am extremely happy to think that you will start back to us tomorrow night. We all miss you terribly.

This morning I took Liny in his costume to school and saw his play*, sitting with Reba who, however, left early. Linus was fine. The other little boy paid strict heed to Mrs Lassiter--he said "He did ass-ass-ask--".

Tonight I am going to the entertainment with the Mirskys. Last night Mary Helen and Robert came over and asked me to go with them. When I said I has already to go with the M's Mary Helen said "Go with that greasy little eskimo, with her greasy bangs!" She acted quite put out, but said perhaps we could shake the Mirskys later in the evening.

_____________________

*They had two little lambs, which bleated and struggled continuously (even one that was supposed to be sick.)

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Peter and Linda send their love to you. Linda cried last night, and said she had a cold, but she seems to be all right now. Linus is all right too. I am all right, except for a very slight cold, which would be made well by your arrival.

Oceans of love from you own

Linus

P.S. We go after mistletoe tomorrow.

Linus