BR TO CHARLES DEGEN, 10 NOV. 1955
BRACERS 131179. TLS. David Harley Collection
Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
41 Queen’s Road
Richmond
Surrey1
10 November, 1955.

Dear Mr. Degen,

Thank you for your letter of November 4 and for the chapter of your book which you enclose. I have read the chapter with much interest and naturally the subject of making old age enjoyable is one which has a personal interest for me. I think the matter is not altogether within the control of the individual. So long as one can be active and find something to do that seems worth while, old age is no great hardship; but, if a man loses his memory and becomes physically incapacitated, time is likely to hang heavy on his hands. I agree, however, that a great many old people could be much happier than they are, and your book contributes to that end; it will serve a very useful purpose.

I remember vividly the difficulty of getting into Cooper Union on the occasion you mention, though I think I never knewa to whose help I was indebted.

Yours sincerely,
<signed> B. Russell.

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Textual Notes

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  knew corrected from know