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But I am a fictitious article and have long known it。 I am
read by journalists； by my fellow…novelists； and by boys；
with these； INCIPIT ET EXPLICIT my vogue。 Good thing anyway！
for it seems to have sold the Edition。 And I look forward
confidently to an aftermath； I do not think my health can be
so hugely improved； without some subsequent improvement in my
brains。 Though； of course； there is the possibility that
literature is a morbid secretion； and abhors health！ I do
not think it is possible to have fewer illusions than I。 I
sometimes wish I had more。 They are amusing。 But I cannot
take myself seriously as an artist； the limitations are so
obvious。 I did take myself seriously as a workman of old；
but my practice has fallen off。 I am now an idler and
cumberer of the ground； it may be excused to me perhaps by
twenty years of industry and ill…health； which have taken the
cream off the milk。
As I was writing this last sentence； I heard the strident
rain drawing near across the forest； and by the time I was
come to the word 'cream' it burst upon my roof； and has since
redoubled； and roared upon it。 A very welcome change。 All
smells of the good wet earth； sweetly； with a kind of
Highland touch； the crystal rods of the shower； as I look up；
have drawn their criss…cross over everything； and a gentle
and very welcome coolness comes up around me in little
draughts； blessed draughts； not chilling； only equalising the
temperature。 Now the rain is off in this spot； but I hear it
roaring still in the nigh neighbourhood … and that moment； I
was driven from the verandah by random rain drops； spitting
at me through the Japanese blinds。 These are not tears with
which the page is spotted！ Now the windows stream； the roof
reverberates。 It is good； it answers something which is in
my heart； I know not what； old memories of the wet moorland
belike。
Well； it has blown by again； and I am in my place once more；
with an accompaniment of perpetual dripping on the verandah …
and very much inclined for a chat。 The exact subject I do
not know！ It will be bitter at least； and that is strange；
for my attitude is essentially NOT bitter； but I have come
into these days when a man sees above all the seamy side； and
I have dwelt some time in a small place where he has an
opportunity of reading little motives that he would miss in
the great world； and indeed； to…day； I am almost ready to
call the world an error。 Because？ Because I have not
drugged myself with successful work； and there are all kinds
of trifles buzzing in my ear； unfriendly trifles； from the
least to the … well； to the pretty big。 All these that touch
me are Pretty Big； and yet none touch me in the least； if
rightly looked at； except the one eternal burthen to go on
making an income。 If I could find a place where I could lie
down and give up for （say） two years； and allow the sainted
public to support me； if it were a lunatic asylum； wouldn't I
go； just！ But we can't have both extremes at once； worse
luck！ I should like to put my savings into a proprietarian
investment； and retire in the meanwhile into a communistic
retreat； which is double…dealing。 But you men with salaries
don't know how a family weighs on a fellow's mind。
I hear the article in next week's HERALD is to be a great
affair； and all the officials who came to me the other day
are to be attacked！ This is the unpleasant side of being
（without a salary） in public life； I will leave anyone to
judge if my speech was well intended； and calculated to do
good。 It was even daring … I assure you one of the chiefs
looked like a fiend at my description of Samoan warfare。
Your warning was not needed； we are all determined to KEEP
THE PEACE and to HOLD OUR PEACE。 I know； my dear fellow； how
remote all this sounds！ Kindly pardon your friend。 I have
my life to live here； these interests are for me immediate；
and if I do not write of them； I might as soon not write at
all。 There is the difficulty in a distant correspondence。
It is perhaps easy for me to enter into and understand your
interests； I own it is difficult for you； but you must just
wade through them for friendship's sake； and try to find
tolerable what is vital for your friend。 I cannot forbear
challenging you to it； as to intellectual lists。 It is the
proof of intelligence； the proof of not being a barbarian； to
be able to enter into something outside of oneself； something
that does not touch one's next neighbour in the city omnibus。
Good…bye； my lord。 May your race continue and you flourish …
Yours ever；
TUSITALA。
End