Volume II Part 46 (1/2)

Thanks for the Martinique clippings The Swede's account seems toThe other man did, apparently, visit Saint-Pierre, and explore the vicinity--I opened and re-read that black day a letter fro a spray of arborescent fern, labelled ”Fro in which I o abroad, forfor a possible s of the way; and if you can put a spoke inthe su to brag of, I need scarcely say I should like some easy post, for about two years ”Easy posts”for the possible New York is, of course, the place where I do not want to go--fortrip there,--if the Gods allow

For the ti, I aard authors uns who, like Kipling, can force strong respect I need scarcely tell you that iven up thinking about the business side of literature, and a s Still, by reason of various translations into Swedish, Danish, Gerements

I believe you know that I have three boys: they are sturdy lads all--though the eldest is rather too gentle up to date I live altogether in Old japan, outside of lecture-hours; and s” Of course, I have become somewhat old--it is more than twelve years since I saw you! And then I have had to learn a s But, as they say here, _shi+kata ga nai_! There's no help for that!

japan is changing rapidly, as you can ies are not beautiful I try to keep within frager here and there, like those bands ofjapanese pictures Within these wreaths of the lifting e, all is Fairy-land still; and my hoo But in the raw light outside, the changings are ugly and sad

Ever faithfully, Y KOIZUMI

TO MRS WETMORE

TOKYO, November, 1902

DEAR MRS WETMORE,--I have had your beautiful letter into re-read it And I have been thinking in circles,--about how to answer it

For--O fairy! what have you dared to say? I a about japanese art, or literature, or ethnology, or politics, or history (You did not say ”politics” or ”history,”

however, and that seems to be what is wanted) But perhaps you knohat_ I know better than I ive e At present I have no acquaintance even with the japanese language: I cannot read a japanese newspaper; and I have learned only enough, even of the _kana_, to write a letter home

I cannot lie--todeclaration:--

_I have learned about japan only enough to convinceabout japan_

Perhaps your kind professor suspects as much;--for has he not plainly said that no (Alish or French literature? That e, in one direction Possibly, therefore, he would not expect froe

I have held a chair of English literature here for nearly seven years, by setting all canons at defiance, and atte to teach only the eht;--playing with philosophy, as a child can play with the great sea I have been allowed to do just as I pleased,--on the condition of being interesting (which condition the students take care shall be fulfilled) Should I atteine that it would be necessary to allow estive,--to setin new directions But I could not pretend to ie I could not afford to fail: that would bea great shaood na certain of my ability to perform all that could be reasonably expected ofelse)

What I could do would be about thus:--

I could atte incidentally with psychological, religious, social, and artistic impressions,--so as to produce in the minds of iven in books So, perhaps, in the manner of Mr Lowell's ”Soul of the Far East” (incoreatest of all books on japan, and the deepest),--but from a different point of view

What I could _not_ do would be to put myself forward as an authority upon japanese history, or any special japanese subject The value of estiveness,--not upon any crystallizations of fact

Again, there is a doubt to be solved--concerning _quantity_ as well as quality To do ly insisted upon Howone term--distinct lectures? and how many hours would be demanded for a lecture? You see, the conditions in Tokyo are monstrous: I have to lecture twelve hours a week on _four_ different subjects;--thatwhat reporter's work ine that I could endeavour to do so about equal to the work of Professor Rhys-Davids in his American lectures,--as to bulk The six lectures represent a volues Lectures to represent, in printed fores would represent my best effort

For I have reached that time of life at which ”the state of the weather”

becomes a topic of enormous importance

And the rest of what has to be said I shall put into a letter, which I pray you to read, and to poke into the fire if it is not satisfactory

To fail, after being recoainst all the higher virtues Can't risk it

Well, if President Schurs within ht to your Palace of Faery before going elsewhere Only to see you again--even for a moment,--and to hear you speak (in some one of the Myriad Voices), would be such a ently, touching things”?