TŌKYŌ, March, 1898.
DEAR McDONALD,--I am looking and looking for your last kind letter; but
for the moment I cannot find it. So I must give it up for to-night, if I
am to write you.
I'm through with the university; and I must get down to Yokohama, either
to-morrow or Monday, and try to bore you, and to coax that story from
Mrs. Burns (is that the name?),--but I shall make another visit later,
if the weather allows. This will be only an expedition--partly in search
of literary material. I feel I must get a few stories, to keep on the
surface. Otherwise I'll get heavy and sink. I have been rather heavy
lately. My dog-sketch has developed into such a nightmare that I myself
am afraid of it, and don't want to think about it for a few days. Then
I have just finished a short sketch, "In a Pair of Eyes"--considerably
metaphysical. Such things may interest; but they will not touch hearts;
and an author must try to get loved by his readers. So I shall forage.
Consul General Gowey gave me an agreeable start the other day by sending
me a number of "The Philistine"--you know the little thing, very
clever--with a pretended quotation from one of my books. The quotation,
however, hit what I _think_,--though I never put the matter in just that
shape. It was nice of the consul to send it--made me feel jolly. I must
some day send him something to amuse him. Not to like him is impossible.
I think you must have hosts of friends now calling on you,--since the
battle-powers of the great Republic are gathering out this way. I hope
you won't have to get yourself killed for Uncle Sam; but if you have, I
want to be in the conning-tower about the same time. I fancy, however,
that Manila would not be a mouthful if the navy is ordered to gobble it;
and that the chief result of the expedition to U. S. officers would be
an uncommonly large and fine supply of cigars.
I have last week declined three dinners. It strikes me that the average
university professor is circumstanced about thus:--