I thank you with all my heart for all you say.

You appear not yet to have noticed that arms-bearing is printed alms- bearing. It was the alms, not the bearing, that I objected to. It is of little consequence. The other matter is more so. You will see why if I recall an occurrence which can hardly have wholly escaped your notice when, two years ago, I was dismissed from the Departmnt of Parks, being then absent in Europe on sick leave, Godkin, in a letter to the Tribune, referred to me in some such way as you have done, perhaps as “the Creator of the Central Park.” Thereupon Vaux published in all the papers a sharp, excited, bitter and sarcastic protest, [435] in much such terms as he might have used if I had claimed to have made the park all by myself. Thereupon the Times, being then engaged in “booming” Andrew H. Green, took the opportunity of intimating in a leading article that in point of fact my part in the making of the Park had been a very insignificant one and that I was a humbug. The truth was that so far from making such claims I had taken particular pains to publish Vaux’s rights in the matter and to give him quite all the credit he could ask. Godkin replied courteously denying that he had meant to represent me as the exclusive designer and my son published a few lines to set me right. Vaux then called on my wife to say that he was sorry; acknowledged that I had done him full justice but thought that some of my friends habitually neglected to do so and confessed that he was morbidly sensitive about it, feeling that he had never had nearly the credit due him for his work on the Park, which is unquestionably true. Much truer of him than of me. I am sure that if the word “originator” stands it will painfully stir him up nor can any note to be added salve it over.

I hope that you will ask if my suggestion is not feasible — that is, if the page is cast, to cut out the work originator and substitute executive. Of course I should prefer some other phrase as “one of the joint designers", or “a leading spirit”, or a more direct recognition of Vaux if that were practicable — Vaux’s son is Putnam’s proof reader, and I must not be known in the matter. I am sure you will excuse my anxiety about it.