Letter from John G. Neihardt to Julius T. House, December 31, 1936
It was bully to receive yours of December 25th.
Of course I'll write Lewis, as you wish, and it will not be difficult, as I feel that his idea is undoubtedly good and that he will be able to handle it in an effective way.
The news about Morrie Ryskind delights me. I am so glad for Mary, and I hope that some of the people in Wayne, who really meant no harm but were only petty, know all about her and her husband. Not long ago, Mona and I saw MY MAN GODFREY and we got a real kick out of it. I noted with pleasure that Ryskind had a hand in the making of that picture. It's hard for me to understand how in hell any man can make that much money, but since we are living in a sort of dog-fight civilization, I throw my hat in the air for any man who can make plenty of what it takes.
I suppose you would be unhappy if were in California with nothing to do but live and twiddle your thumbs, although I should think that you could be digging things out of yourself in between thumb-twiddlings. Surely you have more than one book in your system. I do hope that you will get the book you now have in hand as you want it, and see no reason why you should not. There ought to be a place for it.
You ask who would be likely to take my place here if I should leave to do my work. That question gave me an idea which might be worth considering, and I think you know what the idea is. I cannot yet have any definite plans as to when I can begin on THE SONG OF JED SMITH, but I know that I shall begin before too long. At present, I have in mind the possibility of putting over a number of things with the movies. One of the big firms is considering THE DAWN BUILDER, which I believe has the elemtns of a corking movie in it. If I could get by with this or with any one of a half-dozen of my short stories, I could probably push the Cycle, and there is certainly good stuff in that--especially in THE SONG OF THE MESSIAH, as I have it schemed for a movie. It seems possible that I may get hold and if I do, you could imagine how long I'd be in this smoky city. I'm not unhappy here and certainly it's a lovely job in every way. But there are better things to do. I have a chance to go to Buffalo University and to a women's college in New York State sometime in the late winter. Perhaps it will be possible to hook these up with an engagement in Charleston, but if I did not go any other place, I'd like to lecture in Charleston, so that you and I might have an old-time powwow.
I am about to give the final reading to that page, and it will have to be goodbye for now. You may be sure of my enduring love.
Always, Jno.