Volume II Part 33 (2/2)

4 Average of thirty to fifty invitations to charitable, s

5 Average of a hundred and fifty social afternoon calls

6 Average of thirty requests for contributions to japanese publications

7 Average of a hundred requests for pecuniary contributions froe of four requests per e of a hundred calls fros--chiefly to waste _the professor's_ time

This is only about half the list I say ”No” to _everything_--softly, of course Otherwise how should I exist, breathe, even have time to think?--much less write books? Oh dear, oh dear!--What a farce it is!

When they first started, they wanted the professors to wear a uniforold--not quite sure about the scarlet) The professors kicked at the gold,--luckily for themselves!

Ever affectionately, LAFCADIO

TO MITChell McDONALD

TOKYO, March, 1898

DEAR McDONALD,--Sunshi+ne, warmth, and beauty in the world to-day; and sunshi+ne and warhostly suhts in Yokohama ”When the earth is still by reason of the South wind”--that isthe photo of our friend, which re ho your Aot to put it into the valise? Oh! but you _are_ queer--always, always drea! And don't you feel just a little bit ashamed?” I do feel ashamed, but more than a little bit

Also I send you a little volu ”The House and the Brain”--published in other editions under the title ”The Haunted and the Haunters” (Usually it is bound up with that tree Story” of Bulwer Lytton) Professor Saintsbury calls this the best ghost-story ever written But you ought to read it at night only--after the hotel becomes silent

By way of precaution I ain until about Tuesday noon, I think The tiffins, dinners, ”irresistibles,” and above all that Blue Soul, were too h,--and when I go down again to Yokohama I must live in the most ascetic manner I feel constitutionally de Still, I e of the weather is partly responsible for the feeling

Now, really--don't you feel tired of all this talk? Of course I know--but the conditions are so e friendshi+ps that they seem more of dreams than of reality

Ever affectionately, LAFCADIO

TO MITChell McDONALD

TOKYO, April, 1898

DEAR McDONALD,--Your kindest letter ca of re all my troubles to your broader shoulders,--a remorse tempered somewhat, of course, by the certainty that you find a pleasure in helping your friend, but nevertheless, a re more than you find it pleasant and inexpensive to do

We are under the weather for the moment We shall not be able to profit by the holidays I have escaped cold and all other troubles; but I could not escape the generally depressing influence of this chilly, sunless, muddy, sli

Probably the sight of the sun will ain

Of course I shall be unhappy till I get your photos,--both et, I want Don't hurry; but--don't forget me, if you think I deserve to be remembered

I am a little anxious lest war take you away from japan, which would leave me less satisfied with this world than I now am But I should like indeed to accompany you in a descent on Manila, and to chronicle events picturesquely

I should never be able, however, to do anything so wonderful as did Loti in describing the French attack on the coast of Annareatest literary feat ever done by a naval officer; but it nearly cost him his place in the navy, and did in fact suppress him for several years In his reissue of the narrative I see that he was obliged to suppress the terrible notes on the killing

Ever affectionately, LAFCADIO HEARN