I have your letter of the 13th. The enclosed slip from the Pacific
Monthly (thank you for it) is amusing. Yes, * * * is an insufferable
pedant, but I don't at all mind his pedantry. Any critic is welcome to
whack me all he likes if he will append to his remarks (as * * * had
the thoughtfulness to do) my definition of "Critic" from the "Word
Book."
Please don't bother to write me when the spirit does not move you
thereto. You and I don't need to write to each other for any other
reason than that we want to. As to coming East, abstain, O, abstain
from promises, lest you resemble all my other friends out there, who
promise always and never come. It would be delightful to see you here,
but I know how those things arrange themselves without reference to
our desires. We do as we must, not as we will.
I think that uncle of yours must be a mighty fine fellow. Be good to
him and don't kick at his service, even when you feel the chain. It
beats poetry for nothing a year.
Did you get the "Shiloh" article? I sent it to you. I sent it also to
Paul Elder & Co. (New York branch) for their book of "Western
Classics," and hope it will meet their need. They wanted something,
and it seemed to me as good, with a little revision, as any of my
stuff that I control. Do you think it would be wise to offer them for
republication "In the Midst of Life"? It is now "out of print" and on
my hands.
* * * * *
I'm glad of your commendation of my "Cosmopolitan" stuff. They don't
give me much of a "show"--the editor doesn't love me personally as he
should, and lets me do only enough to avert from himself the attention
of Mr. Hearst and that gentleman's interference with the mutual
admiration game as played in the "Cosmopolitan" office. As I'm rather
fond of light work I'm not shrieking.
* * * * *
You don't speak of getting the book that I sent, "The Monk and the
Hangman's Daughter"--new edition. 'Tisn't as good as the old. * * *
I'm boating again. How I should like to put out my prow on Monterey
Bay.
Sincerely yours,
AMBROSE BIERCE.
[The Army and Navy Club, Washington, D. C.,
June 8, 1907.]