TŌKYŌ, November, 1902.
DEAR MRS. WETMORE,-- ... I have had your beautiful letter in my drawer
for about a week, before daring to 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 am quite sure that I do
_not_ know anything 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 know
_what_ I know better than I myself know,--or perhaps you can give me to
eat a Fairy Apple of Knowledge. 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--to my Fairy: therefore it is essential that I make the
following declaration:--
_I have learned about Japan only enough to convince me that I know
nothing about Japan._
Perhaps your kind professor suspects as much;--for has he not plainly
said that no (American) university would hire me to teach English or
French literature? That means accurate perception of my range, in one
direction. Possibly, therefore, he would not expect from me any attempts
at a pretence of exact knowledge.
I have held a chair of English literature here for nearly seven
years, by setting all canons at defiance, and attempting to teach
only the emotional side of literature, in its relations to modern
thought;--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 attempt to lecture about Japan, I imagine that it
would be necessary to allow me nearly the same liberty in America. I
might hope to be suggestive,--to set minds dreaming or darkling in new
directions. But I could not pretend to impart exact knowledge. I could
not afford to fail: that would be ... a great shame to my good name
at home. So I cannot answer "Yes" without being certain of my ability
to perform all that could be reasonably expected of me,--as a small
"man-of-letters" (not as anything else).