BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 9 FEB. 1932
BRACERS 47027. TLS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by A. Duncan

<letterhead>
Telegraph House,
Harting, Petersfield1
9th February 1932

Dear Wardour,a

Dame Rumour is a curious lady. Harvard invited me to come for a term next year, and I very seriously considered the invitation, but in the end I refused.

I am much amused with what you tell me about the Vatican library. You have discovered one of the lofty motives which have led to the making of this collection, but one must remember another. In order to combat sin effectively, we must understand it, and I gather that Catholic priests in general do not fail in this part of their duty.

With a view to my new book I have been reading about Vanderbilt and Jay Gould, and such folk. They were jolly ruffians, and I can’t help having a certain liking for them. But I cannot manage any liking at all for John D.

With best wishes to you both,

Yours very sincerely,
<signed> Bertrand Russell.

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  [document] Proofread against a microfilm printout of the original.

Textual Notes

• a

  Wardour a misspelling of  Warder