Volume II Part 31 (1/2)
I don't well know I like to be out of the shell--butcould only result in the blue devils After seeing men like you and the other Guardset back into the world which produced you both, back to the U S A,--out of Governrind, out of the unspeakable abomination and dulness and selfishness and stupidity ofoften--not _yet_ I have too many little butterfly-lives to love and take care of Soet back for a time Meanwhile I must face the enemy and stand the hbinder romance when I next ive ood et him to tell them, and to understand them properly when told Your ”Prussian officer” is delicious; but I fear ht to be told Maupassant--Kipling--they would delight the world with such a thing Never mind!--I aive ain at the table, supporting that beautiful cap with its silver-eagle,--and I shall talk and talk and talk until you tell lad to hear that my new book will be finished this month,--perhaps this week? Then for the ”Stories fro of that kind
Ever affectionately yours, LAFCADIO HEARN
TO MITChell McDONALD
TOKYO, January, 1898
DEAR McDONALD,--I got your kindest reply tofor not writing sooner But I told you never to bother yourself about writing me when you do not feel like it or when you are in the least busy; and I shall never feel neglected if you be silent, but only think that you have business on hand, and hope that you will have good luck in the undertaking
Why, yes: I et down some Saturday, or Friday afternoon--that would be still better--so as to return to Tokyo Sunday night: for my Saturdays are free But not _too_ soon It is only about teeks since I ith you--though I acknowledge that it seems to me like three ain, I think, you would be tired of my chatter soon (I knohat you would protest; but it doesn't ue too h I shall scarcely be able to name an exact day in advance
I have never been in San Francisco, unfortunately But that matters little, if I can ask all the questions I want The value in a literary way of the scenes would be less the scenes themselves than the impression which they made upon your ownyou about it, as well as delight in hearing the story itself
What will you think ofto tell you a bad story about o, like I did about the Club-Hotel story in your carriage, for fear of being questioned as to direct facts) s, together hat affected to be a manuscript history of ested that I should correct, alad to publish it withread it with considerable anger, I laid it aside for a couple of days,--during which time I effectually restrained the first impulse to write a furious letter Then I hly as it could possibly be corrected--but not with pencil or pen: such instru quite inadequate for the purpose In short, I corrected, amended, and rejected it all at the same time--with the assistance of a red-hot stove They shall never know; but as murder will out, I must tell soards to the doctor,--ever with hopes to see you _soon_,
LAFCADIO HEARN
TO MITChell McDONALD
TOKYO, January, 1898
DEAR McDONALD,--It would do reat deal of harm if I could believe your appreciations and predictions; but I am quite sure you are ood fortune would consist in being able occasionally to travel for about six e or beautiful literary e that et so far independent that I can escape froet to Europe for a time, in any case, to put my boy there But all this is drea kind isto write what the public want, by refusing to accept any popular standard, by refusing to write anything to order I grant it is not the way to make money quickly; but it is the way--and the only way--to hat sincerity in literary effort ought to obtain My publishers have frankly gone over to the Philistines I could not write for them further even if they paid ! You areme talk too much about my own affairs, and you would really spoilto me of fame and hundreds of thousands of dollars! Of course I should like to have hundreds of thousands, and to hold them at your disposal; but I should also like to live in the realization of the life of the Arabian Nights About the truth of life seeet what you wish for only when you have stopped wishi+ng for it, and do not care about keeping it
I see your name in the papers often now, and in connections that fill ain in the land--wish you could be here for longer than you are going to stay But, after all, that would not be best for you--would it?
Affectionately ever, LAFCADIO
TO MITChell McDONALD
TOKYO, January, 1898
DEAR McDONALD,--_After all_, instinct isn't a bad thing Your just-received excellent advice is precisely what my ”blind instinct”--as scientificwithout consulting you
Well, I iine that not _next_ Friday, but the Friday after will be most convenient to you I'll try the later date, therefore (Friday need not be a Black Friday in japan--I used to hate to do anything on that day--landed in japan on Good Friday (!) but now I belong to the Oriental Gods)
Wonder if you know that the _Revue des Deux Mondes_ has sent a poet here to write up japan--M Andre Bellesort He is aliterary calibre, and has a rare wife--who speaks Persian About as charlish, Italian, and Spanish besides Trying to get them interested in Amenomori They are at the Hotel Metropole,--perhaps on account of the Legation