TŌKYŌ, December, 1898.
DEAR ŌTANI,--To-day I received the gift sent from Matsue,--and the
very nice letter with which you accompanied it. I think that a better
present, or one which could give me sincerer pleasure will never be
received. It is a most curious thing, that strange texture,--and a most
romantic thing also in its way,--seeing that the black speckling that
runs through the whole woof is made by characters of letters or poems
or other texts, written long ago. And I must assure you that I shall
always prize it--not only because I like it, but particularly because
your mother wove it. I am going to have it made into a winter _kimono_
for my own use, which I shall always wear, according to season, in my
study-room. Surely it is just the kind of texture which a man of letters
ought 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 poems this month interested me a great deal in a new
way--the songs separately make only a small appeal to imagination; but
the tone and feeling _of the mass_ are most remarkable, and give 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.