Volume II Part 38 (1/2)

Affectionately, LAFCADIO

[Illustration: MR HEARN'S LATER HANDWRITING]

TO MITChell McDONALD

TOKYO, Deceone and been and _done_ it” This wise:--You see I kept thinking about things--discounts andinto each other's hands,--and the possible worthlessness of the work,--and the necessity of ih prices,--and the wisdo half of it,--and the risks of shi+pment and shi+pwreck and fire and dishonest post-office clerks--till I got nearly crazy! If I listened estions and advice, I should have gone _absolutely_ crazy Therefore in fifteenperfectly packed and labelled and addressed in various languages, and shot eastward by doubly-registered letter--dedicated to Mrs Behrens, but entrusted largely to the Gods And to save myself further trouble of mind, I told the publishers just to do whatever they pleased about ter the the perfu day ”Ghostly japan” will concern me no more--unless the shi+p is wrecked, or the ht about The book is gone, and the illustrations go by next mail Pray to the Gods for the book--that's all that we can do now

I hope the foot is not any worse You are an i still, instead of rushi+ng things Please take all good care of yourself till I run dohich will be very soon

Affectionately, LAFCADIO

TO ERNEST FENOLLOSA

TOKYO, Dece, and after thenew hoain--not at least before the year 1900 I suppose that I am a beast and an ape; but I nevertheless hope to make you understand

The situation er's burthen,--_Vive nos aerous than my enemies These latter--with infinite subtlety--spin webs to keep o,--and tell stories of me to people whom it would be vanity and vexation to meet;--and they help me so much by their unconscious aid that I almost love them They help ularity of work, and the solitude which is absolutely essential to thinking upon such subjects as I aed on Blessed be my enemies, and forever honoured all them that hate me!

But my friends!--ah! my friends! They speak so beautifully of my work; they _believe_ in it; they say they want more of it,--and yet they would destroy it! They do not knohat it costs,--and they would break the wings and scatter the feather-dust, even as the child that only wanted to caress the butterfly And they speak of communion and converse and sympathy and friendshi+p,--all of which are indeed precious things to others, but -up of habits of industry, and the sin of disobedience to the Holy Ghost,--against whoiven,--either in this life, or in the life to come

And they say,--Only a day,--just an afternoon or an evening But _each_ of the And the sum of the days in these holidays--the days inevitable--are somewhat more than a week in addition A week of work dropped forever into the Abyss of what ht-have-been! Therefore I wish rather that I were lost upon thecity of Tokyo,--where a visit, and the forced labour of the university, are

Now if I were to go down to your delightful little house, with my boy,--and see his,--and yield to the charm of old days (when I must confess that you fascinatedwhat the consequences to ht eventually become Alas! I can afford friends only on paper,--I can occasionally write,--I can get letters that giveis out of the possible I must not even _think_ about other people's kind words and kind faces, but work,--work,--work,--while the Scythe is sharpening within vision

Blessed again, I say, are those that don't like hts and wishes contrary to the purpose of the aeons and the Eternities!

When a day passes in which I have not written-- in the completion of work But I have not been the loser by et that wonderful story? And so I have given you more tih the seasons--I ain disappear Perhaps _le jeu ne vaudra pas la chandelle_; nevertheless I have some faith as to ultirateful and kindly sentiment,

LAFCADIO HEARN

TO MASAnobU OTANI

TOKYO, Deceift sent from Matsue,--and the very nice letter hich you accompanied it I think that a better present, or one which could give me sincerer pleasure will never be received It is a e texture,--and athat the black speckling that runs through the whole woof is made by characters of letters or poeo And I must assure you that I shall always prize it--not only because I like it, but particularly because yourto have it made into a winter _ki to season, in my study-room Surely it is just the kind of texture which a ht to wear! My best thanks to you and your family,--most of all to your kind mother,--and my earnest wishes for a fortunate year to come

Your collection of poereat deal in a neay--the songs separately ination; but the tone and feeling _of the ive me a number of new ideas about the _character of the ”folk-work”_

With renewed best wishes for a happy and fortunate New Year to you and yours,

Sincerely, Y KOIZUMI

TO ----