Volume II Part 1 (1/2)

The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn

Volume 2

by Elizabeth Bisland

LETTERS OF LAFCADIO HEARN

LETTERS

1890-1904

TO ELIZABETH BISLAND

1890

DEAR ELIZABETH,--I feel indescribably towards japan Of course Nature here is not the Nature of the tropics, which is so splendid and savage and omnipotently beautiful that I feel at this verythe sa Martinique This is a domesticated Nature, which loves rey-and-blue way like the japanese women, and the trees seem to knohat people say about them,--seem to have little human souls What I love in japan is the japanese,--the poor si in this world approaching the nave natural charm of them No book ever written has reflected it And I love their Gods, their custos, their houses, their superstitions, their faults And I believe that their art is as far in advance of our art as old Greek art was superior to that of the earliest European art-gropings--I think there is more art in a print by Hokusai or those who ca--no, a 100,000 painting

_We_ are the barbarians! I do not s: I am as sure of them as of death I only wish I could be reincarnated in some little japanese baby, so that I could see and feel the world as beautifully as a japanese brain does

And, of course, I a student from one of the teether--Will write again if all goes well

My best love to you always

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO ELIZABETH BISLAND

1890

DEAR MISS BISLAND,--Do you think well enough of ular salary, somewhere in the United States I have permanently broken off with the Harpers: I as for the last three years have been scarcely 500 a year Here in japan prices are higher than in New York,--unless one can become a japanese employee I was promised a situation; but it is now delayed until Septe sonored, and starved,--and obliged to undergo er or cold,--that I have ceased to be ashaood word forfirive me steady employ, later on

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO ELIZABETH BISLAND

1890

MY DEAR SISTER ELIZABETH,--Now, as forto become country school-uage is unspeakably difficult to learn;--I believe it can only be learned by ear Teaching will helpenduring upon japan would be absurdly impossible Literary ill not support one here, where living costs quite as much as in New York What I wish to do, I want to do for its own sake; and so intend to settle, if possible, in this country, a a people who seem toin tees and sounding enor Buddhas Still, I do not as yet know anything whatever about japan I have nothing else worth telling you to write just now, and no address to give,--as I do not knohere I a next ain

Best wishes and affection from L H

TO BASIL HALL CHAMBERLAIN