I often ask myself what advantages our "good society" possesses over that of the "savages" and find, the more I see of their customs, that we have no right to that we have no right to look down upon them. Where amongst our people could you find such hospitality as here? Where are people so willing, without the least complaint, to perform every task asked of them? We have no right to blame them for their forms and superstitions which may seem ridiculous to us. We "highly educated people" are much worse, relatively speaking. The fear of traditions and old customs is deeply implanted in mankind, and in the same way it regulates life here, it halts all progress for us. I believe it is a difficult struggle for every individual and every people to give up traditions and follow the path to truth. The Eskimo are sitting around me, their mouths filled with raw seal liver (the spot of blood on the back of the paper shows you how I joined in). I believe, if this trip has for me (as a thinking person) a valuable influence, it lies in the strengthening of the viewpoint of the relativity of all cultivation and that the evil as well as the value of a person lies in the cultivation of the heart, which I find or do not find here just as much as amongst us, and that all service, therefore, which a man can perform for humanity must serve to promote truth.
I do now want a German professorship because I know I would be restricted to my science and to teaching, for which I have little inclination. I should much prefer to live in American in order to be able to further those ideas for which I live. But how to do this, I do not know. Well, I cannot do anything about it now and I shall have to wait patiently and see how the matters develop when I return... What I want to live and die for, is equal rights for all, equal possibilities to learn and work for poor and rich alike! Don't you believe that to have done even the smallest bit for this, is more than all science taken together? I do not think I would be allowed to do this in Germany. Remember you once wrote me about your father, that all his actions, all his work was for his fellowman. It is the best that can happen to a man, to be able to be fully effective in that way. Whether successful or not, is it not the kind of work that gives the greatest satisfaction? And you, dear girl, will always help me. If my strength should weaken, you will give me renewed strength--just as you give me new strength here... But I must return frm my dream to harsh reality! The activities of the Eskimo, the howling of the dogs, the screaming of the children, all in this small iglu, call me back. I often wonder while sitting in this company at night, in what sort of company you are. At least you have the advantage of being able to speak with them. I have, however, sometimes found that what one hears in "society" is worth [no mor for me than] the conversation of these people here.