Volume II Part 43 (2/2)
And what is the use of founding a new journal? There are too many journals now You can publish whatever you ithout founding a journal If you found a journal, you will be obliged to write for it quickly and badly; and you know that good literary work cannot be done quickly,--cannot be made to order within a fixed time A new journal--unless you choose to be a journalist, and nothing but a journalist--would mean not only waste of ti in this way, because I think that literature is a very serious and sacred thing--not an a to trifle and play with
Handicapped as you now are,--with an enormous number of class-hours,--you cannot atte your health and injuring your brains It is et a position allowing you more leisure
And finally, I have slish literature by japanese students and scholars I should infinitely prefer to hear of new studies in japanese literature Except with the sole purpose ofa new _japanese_ literature, I do not sylish or French or German studies
There is my opinion for you I hope you will think about it,--even if you do not like it Work with a crowd, and you will _never_ do anything great
Many years ago, I advised you to take up a scientific study It would have given you more leisure for literary work You would not You will have future reason to regret this But if you want advice again, here it is: _Don't_ belong to societies, _don't_ write anything that comes into your head, _don't_ waste the poor little time you have Take literature seriously,--or leave it alone
Yours very truly, Y KOIZUMI
TO YASUKOCHI
TOKYO, November, 1901
DEAR MR YASUKOCHI,--Not the least of raph, so kindly sent toyou appear to be Let h nition of the favour
Your letter of Septe about you at all since the last visit you made to my little house in To to kuh I often wondered about you, I knew nobody who could inform me (I had, indeed, one ku been in raduating--to say good-bye) The experience of army-life which you have had ine that, after all those years of severe study and e to another and physical discipline ood from the point of health I think that it probably lad you were in the artillery-corps,--where one has an opportunity to learn sovalue But I trust that ain needs your services in a military capacity
It was kind of you to re happened after the last timehim One in my household drea very pale, and speaking of a an to print the first accounts of the shi+p beingThe coincidence was curious The matter of which he seemed to have spoken was looked after, as he would have wished
I have no doubt at all of good things to co as your picture now proves you to be The rest will be, I think, only a question of time and patience I look forith pleasure to the probability of seeing you again (Except that I have got greyer, I fear you will find me the sa very steadily, rather than hard; but by syste just exactly so much every day, neither ood deal in the course of a year I ood deal” in the sense of ”quantity”--the quality, of course, depends upon circuain, for your kindness in sending the photograph, and for the pleasant letter about yourself May all good fortune be yours is the earnest wish of
Y KOIZUMI
TO YRJo HIRN
TOKYO, January, 1902
DEAR PROFESSOR,--About a week ago I received froely impressive these Northern na-ss-design, and--my name and private address in japanese thereon! I have sent a book for Mrs
Hirn If there are any of my books that you do not know, and would like to have,--such as ”Gleanings in Buddha-Fields” or ”Youlad to have theraph I had i, precise lines, but in a blond setting Yet soraphs--so that I am not yet quite sure how far ined--but a shade or two stronger in line
As for raph at present I aet photographed usually in profile, or looking doard I a, was very dark, with the large alarine that you have been tactfully kind in your prefatory notice of uess; but your letter confiruesses
The article by Zilliacus, to which you refer, I do not know: I cannot read Gerny in the _Revue des Deux Mondes_ was a mere fantasy,--unjust in the fact that it accredited e which I do not possess The mere truth of the matter is that I have had a rather painful experience of life, for lack of the very qualities ascribed to round--I passed rindstones)
As for the choice of the subjects translated, it gave me most pleasure to find soue: it was a bracing experience The selections froured by faults of ”journalistic”
style, and ritten before I really began to understand, not japan, but how difficult it is to understand japan Nevertheless your judgeeneral decision: the story of the shi+rabyoshi+ has, for exaes It is a story of the painter Buncho,--and the merit is in no wise mine, as I rateful, please, because I expressto follow in Swedish the ht,--and I iined that the translator had successfully ailish sentences