Volume II Part 36 (2/2)

TO MITChell McDONALD

TOKYO, October, 1898

DEAR McDONALD,--I alad that I wrote you that selfish letter,--in spite of the protests of lad, because I felt _quite sure_ that you would understand, and that the result would be a very sweet note, which I shall always prize Of course, I mean three months at the outside: I have vowed to finish by the year's end, and I think I can As for letters, you can't write too many It takes me five minutes at most to write a letter (that is, to you); but if it took an hour I could always e that

”Like the little crab,”--yes, indeed Thursday, three eneo in and out by the back way, now, so as to avoid the risk of being seen from afar off

Ever most affectionately (with renewed thanks for that delicious letter),

LAFCADIO

TO ELLWOOD HENDRICK

TOKYO, 1898

DEAR HENDRICK,--Verily I think I ought to be apologizing for my blues But it is such a relief to write the Besides, it may interest you to hear of a small professional scribbler's ups and downs I used only to pray for opportunity: if I could only get an audience! Now I have one--a small one An offer of 1200 from a syndicate, which would make for me nearly 3000 here; and plenty of others _And I can't write_ That is, I can do nothing except ould lower the little reputation I have gained

In such a case the duty is plainly not to try, but to wait for the Holy Ghost,--or (as I a of the Gods I aht, but have written half of a book that will probably be dedicated to E H,--or will certainly unless another incomplete book should be ready first, a book to be called perhaps ”Thoughts about Feelings”

I am quite uncertain, however, as to the realization of this latter book Looking back through my life I find that, with the exception of West-Indian and a fe Orleans experiences, I rereeable It was a rule with s; and in trying to forget thereeable,--just because ”a sorrow's crown of sorrows is res” So the past is nearly a blank Then another queer thing islived in hopes and iinations, the smallest practicalabout Nothing, for exaarden

Nothing about what a ht to do under any possible circu but sensations and books,--and ht to have beco of that kind Still, I believe I have a new key to the explanation of sensations,--if I can find the incident to peg the essays upon,--the dummies for the new philosophical robes So far the book of reveries consists of only two little chapters The better part of ht just as well never have been lived at all I ae, and my next birth will probably seeelse essentially torpid and speechless

Of course, I can write and write and write; but the in to write for money, vanishes the little special colour, evaporates the sain; and the public wonders why it ever paid any attention to so commonplace a fool

So I must sit and wait for the Gods

Yet a little while, I shall be all hope and pride and confidence; and again a little while, up to h of Despond And the beautifully raved notes you talk of will stay in the pockets of practical people

LAFCADIO

_Afterthought_

DEAR OLD MAN,--Speaking on the subject of ”Life”--have you read ”Amiel's Journal” (_Journal Intime_)? If not, I would advise you to, as its fine delicate analysis of things is in pure haro In it there is a paragraph about Gerraph in your letter; and there is an admirable analysis of ”society,” with some severe but just (just at the time written) animadversions upon American society

It seems to me, however, that neither Amiel nor anybody else has exactly told us what society means Amiel comes very close to it I think, however, the real truth would be more brutal Is not the charm (and its display) of womanly presence and power the real force? Because it is not really intellectual, this society Intellectual societies are societies of artists, men of letters, philosophers, where absolute freedom of speech and action and dress are allowed The polite society only delicately sniffs or nibbles at intellectual life, or else subordinates it to its fairy shows and transforesting even the ghost of anything new,--but I wish only to suggest that I think (in view of all this) that nobody has ever, in English, dared to say what society really is as a systes I don'tof that sort It is quite proper in the existing order of things, or else it wouldn't be But there are evolutional illustrations in it

By the way, a japanese friend tellsthe Oxford beast's revelation ”Why?” I asked ”You have no patience Those who have no patience have only one soul I have four souls” ”How many souls can one have?” I enquired ”Nine,” he said

”Men who canwill: they have nine souls, or at least a great many”

Good-bye,--I think you have several souls

LAFCADIO

TO MRS FENOLLOSA