Volume II Part 14 (1/2)

Almost at the same time there came to me news from the Gulf of Mexico

Perhaps you will remember that I wrote a novel about some islands there

I used to pass my summers in those islands They were about sixty miles from the city of New Orleans Well, on October 4th, a stor more than 2000 people The island of Grand Isle was covered by the sea in the night; and everything--houses, trees, and people--carried away Hundreds I used to know are dead It is a year of storms and calamities, surely, in all parts of the world

I rite a better letter later: I a now to answer your questions about those sentences:--

(i) ”Choppy”--”chopped” or ”chapped” by cold: ”chapped hands”--hands of which the skin is _cracked_ by frost ”His hands are all chapped”--that is, all _roughened_ by frost ”Choppy” is not so often used as ”chapped:” it is a poetical use of the word

(ii) ”He had torn the cataracts from the hills” You iant ”Cataracts” is used in the sense of ”waterfalls” The waterfalls are frozen into solid s them round his waist

[Illustration]

(iii) ”And they clanked at his girdle like _manacles_” (fro: it is ”manacles”)

”Manacles,” iron fetters for the hands;--handcuffs They are ether by a chain, and closed by a key They _clank_ when they strike together,--(i e)metallic noise--because they are of fine steel usually The sound made by iron is ”clank”--”_to_ clank” (verb), ”_a_ clank” (noun) Why does Shelley use such a simile? Because Winter is like a jailer, like the keeper of a prison He fastens up, or imprisons, the rivers, lakes, and ponds with ice So he is described as a keeper of prisoners,--withto his waist, ready for use Ice striking against icenoise, very

And why does he put his chapped finger to his lip? To put the first finger on the lips is a sign for ”Be silent!” ”Do not speak!” In winter the world becoone; the insects are dead

P S

DEAR NIshi+DA,--I waited over last night to hunt up the quotation for you; and during the nightboy,--dark eyes and hair; he has soh to send kind words, and to tell you what I was intending to tell you ood health this year

I intended to write more, but I am too tired for the moment,--as I have not been in bed for ards to you and yours always from

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO SENTARO NIshi+DA

kumAMOTO, November, 1893

DEAR NIshi+DA,--Everybody is well up to date: the little boy looks prettier every day, and gives very little trouble He scarcely cries at all Many people come to look at him, and express surprise that he looks soto have a nose sorows up

Setsu advises me to write you about anotherto kuistered as my lawfully married wife, but the ansas always the same--that it was a difficult ed in Tokyo, if at all The day before yesterday, Ithe birth of the boy The registry people said that as the parties came from Matsue, Izue by Matsue authority,--and that I had better write to Matsue But at the same time, they said words to this effect: ”The law is difficult for you If you wish the boy to reister hiister hiner”

Of course we all want the child to be a japanese citizen, as he will be the heir and stay of the old folks after I aoes abroad for a few years' study or no Prudence see is a puzzle By beco would be settled Even that, however, is ain, I believe that I could beco direct application to the Governht not be for the best An Englishman in Yokohama, who became a japanese citizen, had his salary iure, with the observation: ”Having become a japanese citizen, you must now be content to live like one” I don't quite see the morality of the reduction; for services should be paid according to the market-value at least;--but there is no doubt it would be land, I am married: that has been duly announced Perhaps I had better wait a few years, and then beco a japanese citizen would, of course, make no difference whatever as to my relations in any civilized countries abroad It would only make some difference in an uncivilized country,--such as revolutionary South Aood thing to have But the long and the short of the matter is that I am anxious only about Setsu's and the boy's interests;concerned only at that point where their injury would be Setsu's injury I suppose Igood to do, however, I will be very grateful

Every day, it strikes me more and more how little I shall ever know of the japanese I have been working hard at a new book, which is now half-finished, and consists of philosophical sketches chiefly: It will be a very different book from the ”Glimpses,” and will show you how ine that syner to obtain,--because of the ay of the two races We only guess at each other without understanding; and it is only a very keen guesser, indeed, of large experience, who can ever guess correctly I haveis so curious as to sit down and talk for hours with a japanese of the ordinary Tokyo modernized class You understand all he says, and he understands all you say,--but neither understands more than the words The ideas behind the words are so different, that the more we talk the less we know each other In the case of the students, I foundI now teach ive them lectures and dictations on various difficulties of the preposition, for exa out with the announcement that they must not allow themselves to think of the japanese preposition at all

I have followed this plan with great success in teaching the articles, the value of English idioms, etc, and the comparative force of verbs

But it sho hopeless for a stranger to see deeply into the japanese round to that of Lowell

Faithfully ever, LAFCADIO HEARN

TO OCHIAI