Volume II Part 23 (1/2)

I have not written you before because feeling under the weather--hungry for syet, and have no reason really to expect It is only long after one gets credit as a writer that one wins any recognition as a thinker My critics are careful to discriminate One assures reat man,” but that I must remember my theories can only be decided by the ”serious student”

Or in other words that I aet 10,000 a year for trying to do what I could do much better Poor myself must try to live on ”dream-stuff”

I am sorry you cannot read But still you are fortunate, because you are able to live without being at the reat happiness I aar work for fools at prices they would not dare to offer, if they did not iet away froe to live in Kyoto I should be glad of a very s how japan will revenge herself on the West Artistically it is very disappointing There are funny things--a naked woman (not a ”nude study,” but simply a naked woman in oil) for which the artist insolently asks 3000 It is worth about three rin The japanese don't like it, and they are right But I fear they do not knohy they are right

Ever with best regards, LAFCADIO HEARN

TO PAGE M BAKER

KOBE, May, 1895

DEAR PAGE,--It was _almost_ unkind, after all to have sent the very dear picture, because it brought back too vividly hours of pleasant talk and kind words and great projects and all sorts of things which have forever passed away But there was a pleasure in the pain too,--for it is quite a help in life to feel that ever so far away there is soe You look just the same I--I should scare you were I to send you a picture--you would think Time was much faster than he is For I am very ancient to behold

Well, love to you for the picture

Of news little to tell you that you do not get fro Peninsula; but the nation is full of sullen anger against Russia and the interference-powers The press is officiallyEven an overthrow of the existing Government is not impossible, and a return to that overnment of an essentially military race If the japanese house of representatives had not interfered seriously and idiotically with naval expansion, Russian interference would have been almost impossible

I was on the Matsushi+-shi+p She has few scars outside; but she must have been half torn to pieces inside Her decks were covered only a few months back with blood and brains She is only 4280 tons; and she had to fight with two 7400 ton battle-shi+ps and European gunners She lost half her crew, but won gloriously (The japanese really never lost one shi+p--only a torpedo-boat that got run aground) The people are proud of her with good reason; and the officers let them come with their babies to look at the decks where stains still tell of the sacrifices for japan's sake

Ever faithfully and affectionately,

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO PAGE M BAKER

KOBE, July, 1895

DEAR PAGE,--Your kindest letter has coe-payet letters from you upon those conditions The japanese PO people don't seeing all their foreign eet about 1000 a month (450 American money), and most of them are married on that!

No: I do not see the newspapers The clubs have them; but I take infinite care to avoid the vicinity of clubs Sometimes a friend sends me a paper (the _Herald_, for example); and the publishers sent me only a few notices this tih kindness of a man who about not ordering the dress just now

The taller the little Constance gets, the better she will look in one I fancy that the suure a little: the winter dress, for a cold day, makes one look a little bit roly-poly

Perhaps a little school-girl's dress would please you;--though it is not very dear, but rather very cheap, it is pretty,--quite pretty and of n ladies are especially rown-up Airdle, which is not tied round the waist, but round the hips,--so that japanese women, well dressed, look shorter-limbed then they really are, and they are short of limb compared with the women of Northern races Much stuff has been written, however, about the short-legged japanese I have seen as well-limbed men as one could care to see:--they are shorter of stature than Northern Europeans or Aood comparison with French, Spanish, or Italians--the dark types They are heavily built, too, sometiht of the men surprised me But the finest men, except labourers, that I have seen in japan are the men-of-war's-men,--the blue-jackets They are picked fro population of Southern japan, where the , and I have seen several over six feet

But I have been digressing It was very sweet,--your little picture of ho _fillette_ She is er, of course; but girls mature intellectually soto learn two languages,--each totally different in thought construction; but he knohen the poste it is written in I think, though it is not for me to say it, that the whole street loves his him presents and pets hi out to every foreigner,--soain,--”Hei, papa!” But the old sea-captains and the mercantile folk thus addressed would take hi captain with a red face atches for hi soon to another house; and we shall oing to stay out of it I think I can live byout here a couple of years more, anyhow,--and trust to luck My publishers seeht

Infinite thanks about the syndicate project I can certainly undertake the ure named,--for I won't be away more than six et certain proofs of a new book (not quite finished yet--so please don't h to start about October I should like one provision,--that I may choose another point, such as Java, in preference to Manila or Ryukyu,--supposing ugly circuht try a French colony,--Tonkin, Noumea, or Pondicherry At all events this would not hurt the syndicate's interests I should hope to be back in spring; and I would not disappoint you as to quality Perhaps the o to, the better for the syndicate

I don't knohat to tell you about war-matters The unjust interference of the three powers has to be considered, though, froer of the nationin the next Diet as to provoke a temporary suspension of the constitution The second is that most of us feel the check to japan was rather in the interest of foreign residents The feeling against foreigners had been very strong, not without reason, as the foreign newspapers, excepting the _Mail_ and the _Kobe Chronicle_, had mostly opposed the new treaties, and criticized the war in an unkindly spirit

Besides, there never had been any really good feeling between foreigners and japanese in the open ports Now there was really danger that after a roaring triuainst foreigners would take land i very much; and really I think the check will in the end benefit japan She will be obliged to double or triple her naval strength, and wait a generation In the ain much in other power, military and industrial Then she will be able to tackle Russia,--if she feels as she now does The arht Russia But Russia has enor power; and the fleets of three nations stood between the 150,000 men abroad and the shores of japan Of course it was a risk England ht have settled the naval side of the matter in japan's favour But ould have had sad consequences to industry and coht Besides, what does japan lose?--Nothing, except a position; for the retrocession er of the people is only a question of national vanity wounded;--and though they would sacrifice everything for war, it is better that they were not suffered by the feise heads to do so

I was sorry about your having to slap that fellow But you will always be the old-style Knight--preferring to give a straight-out blow, than simply to sit down at a desk and score a ly, as Northern editors do

I alad to hear of Matas I used to love hi in japan, there is no kissing Kissing is not ”forbidden”