Volume II Part 41 (2/2)
Society,--pay the fees,--and wait for fame, in order to take the publishers privately recommended to me We shall see
What a tre is the English reading public! The man who can bore into the basalt of that mass must have a diamond-drill I tell you that I feel dreadfully minute,--microscopic,--when I merely read the names of the roll of the Authors' Society Love to you from all of us,
LAFCADIO
TO MITChell McDONALD
TOKYO, June, 1899
DEAR McDONALD,--Do you know that I felt a little blue after you went away the other day,--which was ungrateful ofMarcus Aurelius, I found a quotation that partially explains: ”One man, when he has done a service to another, is ready to set it down to his account Another is not ready to do this A third in a manner does not even knohat he has done, but he is like a vine which has produced grapes, and seeks for nothing more after it has once produced fruit” And I feel somewhat displeased at the vine--inasard to rapes
The heat is gorgeous and great I dream and write The article on woot it nearly two thirds--yes, fully two thirds done I ae the sentence ”lentor inexpressible” which you did not like It is a kind of old trick ith me I send you a copy of the old story in which I first used it,--years and years ago Don't return the thing--it has had its day
I feel queerly te, instead of , and the finishi+ng up of a little business ”Business?”
you ly exclai a student's way through the university-- him work, however, in return for it And Ihied all his obligations Don't think he will be grateful--but I h I can't be quite so good, Ito being good is to imitate the acts and the unselfishness of Vines
LAFCADIO
TO MITChell McDONALD
YAIDZU, August, 1899
DEAR MITChell,--I areat difficulties, and on a floor,--and therefore you ood
Got to Yaidzu last night, and took a swirey--and not a day for you to enjoy I saw an irio up, as this time you would have plenty of company
Sorry I did not see dear Dr Bedloe; but I hope to catch him upon his way back to the Far East
Hoish you could come down some fine day here--only, I _do_ fear that you could not stand the fleas I must say that it requires patience and perseverance to stand theet that--_fleas_ and all other things are of no consequence
Also I am afraid that you would not like the odours of fish below stairs, of _daikon_, and of other things all ether _I_ don't ad else makes much difference
You would wonder if you sa I a it a the fisher-folk I love them I am afraid that you not only couldn't stand it, but that you would be soht to have known better,” etc Nevertheless I want you to come for one day--see if you can stand it ”Play up the Boyne Wather softly till I see if I can stand it” Ask Dr Bedloe the result of playing the Boyne Wather softly But I a you fairly and fully
Affectionately, LAFCADIO
P S I am _sure_ that you could not stand it--perfectly sure But then--think of the value of the _experience_ I had a japanese officer here last year and _he_ liked it
TO MITChell McDONALD
YAIDZU, August, 1899
DEAR MITChell,--Went to that new hotel this afternoon, and discovered that the people are all liars and devils and Therefore it would _never_ do for you to go there Then I went to an ice and fruit seller, who has a good house; and he said that after the fourteenth he could let you have sleeping rooress, so that the houses are crowded