51. 1925:
Palmer, Sask.    June 7, 1925

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Dear Phelps,

We arrived here last Thursday and are camping among the bare dry hills of the Missouri Coteau where I am soaking in the atmosphere of "Our Daily Bread" - 9 miles from town.

I seem still to find cause to worry. It seems the "Settlers of the Marsh" is printing and proofs must have gone astray; if that is so, there will be no chance to incorporate the "fortifying" changes we discussed and which seem to me more and more important. Well, we'll charge it up to fate.

The convention offered a few points of interest, not much. I was interested in meeting Dr. Gordon & Roberts, both of whom I had evaluated correctly from their books. What struck me most forcibly is that among the ca 100 delegates there no more than 3 or 4 figures worth taking seriously - and that not necessarily artistically: the rest were pure rank & file. The chief preoccupation of most - when in private discussion - seem to be with "copy" and "markets" rather than with the essentials. Dafoe gave them a few jolts which I should have delighted in giving them myself. Dafoe is "somebody".

I have sent quite a bit of material to the Forum but have received no answer so far.

Through A.J. Jones, my short-story agent in N.Y., Harper Bros. have asked me to submit things to them, a novel or so. I have, of course, not acted upon it, but am keeping them in mind for the serializing of "Our Daily Bread".

Well, Hope Mrs. Phelps, Ann, and you are all well,

Yours
F.P.G.