Jean CHARCOT (1867-1936) polar explorer. L.A.S., aboard the "Pourquoi Pas?", Cherbourg October 8, 1928, to his beloved sister; 3 pages and a half in-4 on letterhead and vignette of the Pourquoi Pas? He arrives from a tour and learns of a relative's illness; he tries to reassure the family, not thinking it is "galloping phthisis"... " I am going to dismantle the boat here from where it will return as usual to St Servan; it will need major repairs and I will have to find the necessary money. [...] I still have nothing from the Ministry and it smells of disgrace - I didn't deserve this"; he sees nothing to reproach himself for and worries: "If it weren't for the future, my salary inherent in the Why Not? which I absolutely need, I wouldn't care, but what could I do to replace it? There's definitely a misunderstanding or a malice". He gives news of his wife and daughters, who have come to join him, but he must go to Paris. He is tired, but cannot rest: "apart from the steps for the boat, I have my book on Greenland to finalize, my complete report to write and two conferences to prepare, one on "navigation in the ice", the other for the Centenary of Jules Verne"...