VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
NASHVILLE 4, TENNESSEE
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

January 31, 1952

Dear Joshua,

Aha! The ever-tripping biologist. But Wisconsin is a fine place
to be in the summer - sailing on Michigan and Lake Geneva, the Delis,
fishing in the northern Zastness. But then I don't blame you since I
am certainly not staying here this summer; may take the phage course at
Cold Spring for the laughs.

My application to M.rck read to begin September 1, which is when
I get through here. If worst comes to worst the date could probably
be postponed (assuming acceptance of the application which is a big step)
until January 1, 1953. The interim might be filled in at Oak Ridge or
beachcoming and skibummin, southern Cal as a belli-hop. After the teaching
I8ve been doing, or rather, after trying to drug some knowledge into
the heads of fraternity and sorority playboys and playgirls, football
players, and smart-alek pre-meds who have already been accepted to such
pillars of learning as Alabama and B,ylor I need a rest.

Comcerning Oak Ridge there was an informal and principally social
gathering there last week-end of Kim Atwood, his asst. “rank Mukai,
Lil,Schneider, Stan Wainwright (Englishman, from Paris), and Sem Gross
(very sharp grad stud of Ryan's), but no Ryan. Kim didn't say anything
about what he was doing and there were too many wives around who are
not scientists to let the discussion enter the esoteric channels of
Research.

There is supposed to be a symposium at OR in April om bacterial,
or microorganismal, metabolism. I'm trying to get an invite from
Hollaender via Wolf, not to give a paper but just to attend.

Peg Lieb writes that she has crossed W1177 X a histidineless
lambda sens. Since most of the protos were sugar non-fermenters she is
not getting merely reversions. She has a map but I have cautioned her
on this.

The F factor sounds good. Light seems to increase rate of recomb
but then there may be some Texas effect from fluorescents, whose UV content
I do not know, even thru the top of the Petri. The F factor will turn
out to be a complex mucoglycohyalolipoproteopolysaccharide beyond doubt.

Lastly I see that I have attained my true importance in this life -
amongst the mating habits of the bower birds.

See you in Cincinnati -