January 15, 1929. Mr. Joe de Yong, 5 Chappala Court, Santa Barbara, Calif. Dear Joe: Your letter answering my proposition was received and as soon as I get the stuff together, will let you know. I will be glad to have you come down do the work for me. I have been writing letters to some of Charlie’s friends, asking them to write me their impressions of him. Now, I am asking you, when the spirit moves you, to also write me your impression of Charlie. I don’t mean a long letter or to use material that you want yourself later but just a short direct statement of what Charlie means to you in his art as well as his personality. I want to use these letters in the Biography that I’ m working on and I feel that getting about eighteen letters would give a pretty wide spread to the book. You may not feel like doing this before you come down and there is no hurry but some time a fellow is simply possessed with something and if you get a hunch, put it in writing and send it to me. Will you give me Mrs. Rinehart’s address? I’m going to ask her for a letter. I don’t think she would care about doing it but she might and anyway, she can refuse. Beil came over to see me yesterday. He and his wife have taken an apartment in Hollywood until June. The fire burned him out in Great Falls and destroyed a lot of work that was ready to be shipped. That’s always a shame. When I see you, I will have to tell you some funny things that have happened. Mr. Conway is no longer connected with the Commercial Club. You know I told you about the loop that a man drags will hobble him and he’ll get wound up in his own string. Lots of love to you and your Mother. Sincerely, NCR:ED [Transcript by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-09-27]