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ungainly structure with a tower； as being not a hundred miles from
the scene of disappearance； but then I have no proof。 THE TRAGIC
MUSE you announced to me as coming； I had already ordered it from a
Sydney bookseller： about two months ago he advised me that his
copy was in the post； and I am still tragically museless。
News； news； news。 What do we know of yours？ What do you care for
ours？ We are in the midst of the rainy season； and dwell among
alarms of hurricanes； in a very unsafe little two…storied wooden
box 650 feet above and about three miles from the sea…beach。
Behind us； till the other slope of the island； desert forest；
peaks； and loud torrents； in front green slopes to the sea； some
fifty miles of which we dominate。 We see the ships as they go out
and in to the dangerous roadstead of Apia； and if they lie far out；
we can even see their topmasts while they are at anchor。 Of sounds
of men； beyond those of our own labourers； there reach us； at very
long intervals； salutes from the warships in harbour； the bell of
the cathedral church； and the low of the conch…shell calling the
labour boys on the German plantations。 Yesterday； which was Sunday
… the QUANTIEME is most likely erroneous； you can now correct it …
we had a visitor … Baker of Tonga。 Heard you ever of him？ He is a
great man here： he is accused of theft； rape； judicial murder；
private poisoning； abortion； misappropriation of public moneys …
oddly enough； not forgery； nor arson： you would be amused if you
knew how thick the accusations fly in this South Sea world。 I make
no doubt my own character is something illustrious； or if not yet；
there is a good time coming。
But all our resources have not of late been Pacific。 We have had
enlightened society： La Farge the painter； and your friend Henry
Adams： a great privilege … would it might endure。 I would go
oftener to see them； but the place is awkward to reach on
horseback。 I had to swim my horse the last time I went to dinner；
and as I have not yet returned the clothes I had to borrow； I dare
not return in the same plight： it seems inevitable … as soon as
the wash comes in； I plump straight into the American consul's
shirt or trousers！ They； I believe； would come oftener to see me
but for the horrid doubt that weighs upon our commissariat
department； we have OFTEN almost nothing to eat； a guest would
simply break the bank； my wife and I have dined on one avocado
pear； I have several times dined on hard bread and onions。 What
would you do with a guest at such narrow seasons？ … eat him？ or
serve up a labour boy fricasseed？
Work？ work is now arrested； but I have written； I should think；
about thirty chapters of the South Sea book； they will all want
rehandling； I dare say。 Gracious； what a strain is a long book！
The time it took me to design this volume； before I could dream of
putting pen to paper； was excessive； and then think of writing a
book of travels on the spot； when I am continually extending my
information； revising my opinions； and seeing the most finely
finished portions of my work come part by part in pieces。 Very
soon I shall have no opinions left。 And without an opinion； how to
string artistically vast accumulations of fact？ Darwin said no one
could observe without a theory； I suppose he was right； 'tis a fine
point of metaphysic； but I will take my oath； no man can write
without one … at least the way he would like to； and my theories
melt； melt； melt； and as they melt the thaw…waters wash down my
writing； and leave unideal tracts … wastes instead of cultivated
farms。
Kipling is by far the most promising young man who has appeared
since … ahem … I appeared。 He amazes me by his precocity and
various endowment。 But he alarms me by his copiousness and haste。
He should shield his fire with both hands 'and draw up all his
strength and sweetness in one ball。' （'Draw all his strength and
all His sweetness up into one ball'？ I cannot remember Marvell's
words。） So the critics have been saying to me； but I was never
capable of … and surely never guilty of … such a debauch of
production。 At this rate his works will soon fill the habitable
globe； and surely he was armed for better conflicts than these
succinct sketches and flying leaves of verse？ I look on； I admire；
I rejoice for myself； but in a kind of ambition we all have for our
tongue and literature I am wounded。 If I had this man's fertility
and courage； it seems to me I could heave a pyramid。
Well； we begin to be the old fogies now； and it was high time
SOMETHING rose to take our places。 Certainly Kipling has the
gifts； the fairy godmothers were all tipsy at his christening：
what will he do with them？
Goodbye； my dear James； find an hour to write to us； and register
your letter。 … Yours affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO RUDYARD KIPLING
＇VAILIMA； 1891。＇
SIR； … I cannot call to mind having written you； but I am so throng
with occupation this may have fallen aside。 I never heard tell I
had any friends in Ireland； and I am led to understand you are come
of no considerable family。 The gentleman I now serve with assures
me； however； you are a very pretty fellow and your letter deserves
to be remarked。 It's true he is himself a man of a very low
descent upon the one side； though upon the other he counts
cousinship with a gentleman； my very good friend； the late Mr。
Balfour of the Shaws； in the Lothian； which I should be wanting in
good fellowship to forget。 He tells me besides you are a man of
your hands； I am not informed of your weapon； but if all be true it
sticks in my mind I would be ready to make exception in your
favour； and meet you like one gentleman with another。 I suppose
this'll be your purpose in your favour； which I could very ill make
out； it's one I would be sweir to baulk you of。 It seems； Mr。
McIlvaine； which I take to be your name； you are in the household
of a gentleman of the name of Coupling： for whom my friend is very
much engaged。 The distances being very uncommodious； I think it
will be maybe better if we leave it to these two to settle all
that's necessary to honour。 I would have you to take heed it's a
very unusual condescension on my part； that bear a King's name； and
for the matter of that I think shame to be mingled with a person of
the name of Coupling； which is doubtless a very good house but one
I never heard tell of； any more than Stevenson。 But your purpose
being laudable； I would be sorry （as the word goes） to cut off my
nose to spite my face。 … I am； Sir； your humble servant；
A。 STEWART；
CHEVALIER DE ST。 LOUIS。
TO MR。 M'ILVAINE；
GENTLEMAN PRIVATE IN A FOOT REGIMENT；
UNDER COVER TO MR。 COUPLING。
He has read me some of your Barrack Room Ballants； which are not of
so noble a strain as some of mine in the Gaelic； but I could set
some of them to the pipes if this rencounter goes as it's to be
desired。 Let's first； as I understand you to move； do each other
this rational courtesys； and if either will survive； we may grow
better acquaint。 For your tastes for what's martial and for poetry
agree with mine。
A。 S。
Letter： TO MARCEL SCHWOB
SYDNEY； JANUARY 19th； 1891。
MY DEAR SIR； … SAPRISTI； COMME VOUS Y ALLEZ！ Richard III。 and
Dumas； with all my heart； but not Hamlet。 Hamlet is great
literature； Richard III。 a big； black； gross； sprawling melodrama；
writ with infinite spirit but with no refinement or philosophy by a
man who had the world； himself； mankind； and his trade still to
learn。 I prefer the Vicomte de Bragelonne to Richard III。； it is
better done of its kind： I simply do not mention the Vicomte in
the same part of the building with Hamlet； or Lear； or Othello； or
any of those masterpieces that S