Jan. 19, 1889 - 66 Rue de Seine, Paris

My dear Mr. Waters

I just received a letter from Papa in which he sent me your address in London. It is funny I had just written home and asked what it was. I had an idea that the American Exchange had gone to pieces and it would be no use writing there, I have been intending to write ever since I left home.

I was sorry to hear of your friend James Emmerton’s death, it is awful the way Salem people seem to be going off . . . then a quiet old pastor Fielder Israel (?) goes off quietly and cuts his throat, somehow it is impossible for me to realize that, when I think of him plodding along the street, a book under his arm, his hands folded in front of him, and bowing pleasantly to everyone he met for fear he would consciously cut somebody. Imagine that man cutting his throat.

I am having a good time here in Paris, there are a lot of Americans here and ten or twelve of us take our meals together at the Café d’Orsay down by the river, where I will take you when you come to Paris again. If you think of it just drop me a line and I can promise you a pleasant time while you are here I am sure, if you like American fellows -- as I believe you do.

At present I am studying French -- working in an architectural atelier connected with the Beaux Arts, and taking four lessons a week in watercolors - so my time is well taken up.

It is my intention now to leave Paris about the first of March and go down to Italy with Josselyn (a Rotch Scholarship man) to spend a few months. This is provided the family do not sit on my plans, and I do not see any reason why they should. Your brother Joseph and I reviewed the Salem Corps of Cadets the day before I left home, they were drilling on the Common preparatory to going to a muster in Boston of all the troops of Mass.

He was telling me of his various physical troubles, but to the unmedical (sic) I, he looks better than I ever saw him before, he isn’t as stout as he was, but he looks brighter, and was certainly as active as I ever saw him.

I bought my skates over and have had two days of immense skating. I hope to get to England before I go home, to get some architectural books, if I have money left, and I shall get you to introduce me to your friend, on the Strand, I think he was.

If you see the Bridges, I wish you would kindly remember me to them.

Very sincerely yours, Paris, Jan. 19, 1889, John Prentiss Benson