Every evening coffee is made for me in my rooms, but I have not yet
ventured to take it from _your_ cup for fear of an accident to the
cup. Some of the women in this house are stark, staring mad about that
cup and saucer, and the plate.
I am very sorry Carlt finds his position in the civil service so
intolerable. If he can do better outside he should resign. If he
can't, why, that means that the Government is doing better for him
than he can do for himself, and you are not justified in your little
tirade about the oppression of "the masses." "The masses" have been
unprosperous from time immemorial, and always will be. A very simple
way to escape that condition (and the _only_ way) is to elevate
oneself out of that incapable class.
You write like an anarchist and say that if you were a man you'd _be_
one. I should be sorry to believe that, for I should lose a very
charming niece, and you a most worthy uncle.
You say that Carlt and Grizzly are not Socialists. Does that mean that
_they_ are anarchists? I draw the line at anarchists, and would put
them all to death if I lawfully could.
But I fancy your intemperate words are just the babbling of a
thoughtless girl. In any case you ought to know from my work in
literature that I am not the person to whom to address them. I carry
my convictions into my life and conduct, into my friendships,
affections and all my relations with my fellow creatures. So I think
it would be more considerate to leave out of your letters to _me_ some
things that you may have in mind. Write them to others.
My own references to socialism, and the like, have been jocular--I did
not think you perverted "enough to hurt," though I consider your
intellectual environment a mighty bad one. As to such matters in
future let us make a treaty of silence.
Affectionately,
AMBROSE.
[The Army and Navy Club, Washington, D. C.,
March 1, 1911.]