I guess several of your good letters are unanswered, as are many
others of other correspondents. I've been gadding a good deal
lately--to New York principally. When I want a royal good time I go to
New York; and I get it.
* * * * *
As to Miller being "about the same age" as I, why, no. The rascal is
long past seventy, although nine or ten years ago he wrote from Alaska
that he was "in the middle fifties." I've known him for nearly thirty
years and he can't fool me with his youthful airs and tales. May he
live long and repent.
Thank you for taking the trouble to send Conan Doyle's opinion of me.
No, it doesn't turn my head; I can show you dozens of "appreciations"
from greater and more famous men. I return it to you corrected--as he
really wrote it. Here it is:
"Praise from Sir Hugo is praise indeed." In "Through the Magic Door,"
an exceedingly able article on short stories that have interested him,
Conan Doyle pays the following well-deserved tribute to Ambrose
Bierce, whose wonderful short stories have so often been praised in
these columns: "Talking of weird American stories, have you ever read
any of the works of Ambrose Bierce? I have one of his books before me,
'In the Midst of Life.' This man (has)[9] had a flavor quite his own,
and (is)[9] was a great artist. It is not cheerful reading, but it
leaves its mark upon you, and that is the proof of good work."
[9] Crossed out by A. B.
Thank you also for the Jacobs story, which I will read. As a
_humorist_ he is no great thing.
I've not read your Bohemian play to a finish yet, * * *. By the way,
I've always wondered why they did not "put on" Comus. Properly done it
would be great woodland stuff. Read it with a view to that and see if
I'm not right. And then persuade them to "stage it" next year.
I'm being awfully pressed to return to California. No San Francisco
for me, but Carmel sounds good. For about how much could I get ground
and build a bungalow--for one? That's a pretty indefinite question;
but then the will to go is a little hazy at present. It consists, as
yet, only of the element of desire. * * *
The "Cosmopolitan," with your poem, has not come to hand but is nearly
due--I'm a little impatient--eager to see the particular kind of
outrage Chamberlain's artist has wrought upon it. He (C.) asked for
your address the other day; so he will doubtless send you a check.
* * * * *
Now please go to work at "Lilith"; it's bound to be great stuff, for
you'll have to imagine it all. I'm sorry that anybody ever invented
Lilith; it makes her too much of an historical character.
* * * * *
"The other half of the Devil's Dictionary" is in the fluid state--not
even liquid. And so, doubtless, it will remain.
Sincerely yours,
AMBROSE BIERCE.
[The Army and Navy Club, Washington, D. C.,
September 7, 1907.]