Thomas Mann an John (gen. Jack) Eastman Jr.

Beglückwünscht E. anläßlich der Vergabe einer Auszeichnung für besondere Leistungen auf dem Gebiet der Literatur an ein Mitglied der Senior Class der Deerfield Academy. »The love of literature and the gift for it is a beautiful present of nature [...]. He who has command of the word possesses a strong weapon, a mighty wand of magic [...]. But the gift of writing means a great responsibility as well. No other medium of expression, neither music nor the graphic arts, have such a moral effect upon human life as the word which therefore is capable also of doing more harm than they.«