_Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Autumn_ 1892.
_To the Artist who did the illustrations to_ ‘_Uma_.’
DEAR SIR,—I only know you under the initials G. B., but you have done
some exceedingly spirited and satisfactory illustrations to my story _The
Beach of Falesà_, and I wish to write and thank you expressly for the
care and talent shown. Such numbers of people can do good black and
whites! So few can illustrate a story, or apparently read it. You have
shown that you can do both, and your creation of Wiltshire is a real
illumination of the text. It was exactly so that Wiltshire dressed and
looked, and you have the line of his nose to a nicety. His nose is an
inspiration. Nor should I forget to thank you for Case, particularly in
his last appearance. It is a singular fact—which seems to point still
more directly to inspiration in your case—that your missionary actually
resembles the flesh-and-blood person from whom Mr. Tarleton was drawn.
The general effect of the islands is all that could be wished; indeed I
have but one criticism to make, that in the background of Case taking the
dollar from Mr. Tarleton’s head—head—not hand, as the fools have printed
it—the natives have a little too much the look of Africans.
But the great affair is that you have been to the pains to illustrate my
story instead of making conscientious black and whites of people sitting
talking. I doubt if you have left unrepresented a single pictorial
incident. I am writing by this mail to the editor in the hopes that I
may buy from him the originals, and I am, dear sir, your very much
obliged,