[17-2-49]
Dear Nathan,
It’s seduction to a life of idle luxury here. The sun smiles, untroubled, and people lounge about more or less naked and for a while forget the struggle for existence. I myself would also be doing so, if I hadn’t heedlessly promised to comment on about 19 papers for a book appearing about my lifework. So I’m writing away, always dissatisfied with what is written, and yet incapable of doing better. 
Florida does seem to have something to offer the health, though. One gets hungry, the old crate functions better, and one develops something like a belly. I think that you would need it more than I do, but you would also have stronger internal resistance to it.
I’m very sorry about S. Wise. Such a slow departure into eternity is not a nice business, especially for someone unsuited for solitude. The anonymous Jewish wise man said it well:
The only right thing is not to be born
But hardly one in ten thousand is granted this mercy.
All the best for the time being and to a happy reunion, 
Yours,
	A. E.
[ALS]