To Waldo Coleman, a fan [Letter 213]

[Page 1]
May 18, 1946

Mr. W. R. Coleman
220 Iowa Street
Oak Park, Illinois

Dear Mr. Coleman:

Thank you for your letter. I liked it. It read as if your suggestions for what you take to be factual inaccuracies in THE FOUNTAINHEAD were prompted by a sincere interest, not by any ill feeling—so I will answer you in detail.

1. You say that “the scale for quarry workers is $1.62½”. So it is—now. You must have overlooked the fact that the quarry sequence in my book took place in 1928. I had a New York granite company check through back records to tell me the exact scale for that year, and the one I have is correct.

2. As to the business about the marble setters, I don’t know whether unionization was that strict in Connecticut in 1928, but if it was, do you think that would have made any difference to the characters and the situation involved?

3. You say that a D.A. would have arrested Roark for a sex crime. Even if he knew about it, the D.A. could do nothing about it unless Dominique pressed charges. Would she?

4. You say that Roark would not be allowed to take an exam for a license—“You couldn’t get away with that in Nevada.” Well, I don’t know about Nevada, but in the state of New York a man without a college degree is allowed to take an examination if he has worked in an architect’s office for a certain number of years. In my story Roark had worked the exact number of years necessary.

As to your analysis of Dominique’s psychology, you are wrong in explaining it as a reversion to what you call a “cave man type”. It is not a reversion, it is the way any truly feminine woman feels about a truly masculine man. Think that one over.

You say you will be watching for my next book. I hope you will like it. I am working on it right now.

[Page 2]
Page 2     Mr. W. R. Coleman     5/18/46

I am enclosing a printed letter which might interest you.

Sincerely yours,

Ayn Rand

Enc