12 Leamington Road Villas
Bayswater, London W.
March 26th 1908
My dear professor Haeckel,
Last week when I was lying ill with sudden attack of influenza ‒ which kept me 9 days in bed ‒ there came that delightful parcel from you. ‒ The contents ‒ the much-prized volume with your generous & kindly inscription & the welcome pictures ‒ gave me such indescribable pleasure that I verily believe they greatly helped in putting me || to heights again.
The views of you in your study, your beautiful home the Zoological institute, where I see you at one of the windows, & then the reproduction of your postcard from the drawing (most beautiful & interesting) have all been looked at and studied over and over again, till I seem to have paid you a real visit in Jena!
Accept my warmest || and sincerest thanks for your goodness & generosity. ‒
The essays I shall enjoy, indeed I have already read the first, & mean to have all read before going on Monday to the Deanery, Canterbury, where I am to recruit. So I shall be well equipped for discussion with my dear brother in law the Dean. But he rarely touches church questions with me, Iʼm too far off the right road!! ‒ Well I follow my own beloved Väterchen, as well as my dear and revered friend & Professor whose teachings opened up to me so vast & grand a view of life & the universe.
With heartiest thanks again, & every good wish for yourself believe me,
Most sincerely yours
L. Dora Schmitz
To Prof. E. Haeckel
Jena.
