Recollections Part 10

And so G.o.d be with you.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray, 8th May 1896_.

My Dear Christie Murray,--I have been in Egypt and have only just got back and received your note. Poor Holmes is dead and d.a.m.ned. I couldn't revive him if I would (at least not for years), for I have had such an overdose of him that I feel towards him as I do towards _pate de foie gras_, of which I once ate too much, so that the name of it gives me a sickly feeling to this day. Any old Holmes story you are, of course, most welcome to use.

I am house-hunting in the country, which means continual sallies and alarms, but I should much like to meet you before I go away, to talk over our American experiences. I do hope you are not going to allow lecturing to get in the way of your writing. We have too few born story-tellers.-- With all kind regards. Yours very truly,

(Sgd.) A. Conan Doyle.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray (undated)_.

My Dear Sir,--I think that your idea of a statue to Was.h.i.+ngton to be erected by public subscription in London is an admirable one. The future of the world belongs to the Anglo-Celtic races if they can but work in unison, and everything which works for that end makes for the highest. I believe that the great stream which bifurcated a century ago may have re-united before many more centuries have pa.s.sed, and that we shall all have learned by then that patriotism is not to be limited by flags or systems, but that it should embrace all of the same race and blood and speech. It would be a great thing--one of the most n.o.ble and magnanimous things in the history of the world--if a proud people should consent to adorn their capital with the statue of one who bore arms against them. I wish you every success in your idea, and shall be happy to contribute ten guineas towards its realisation.--Yours very truly,

(Sgd.) A. Conan Doyle.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray, 6th May 1897_.

Dear Sir,--I have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of May 1st I thoroughly appreciate the spirit of your suggestion, but am inclined to doubt its wisdom at the present time. I do not see how any human being on either side of the Atlantic can dispute the good-feeling already entertained towards the United States by every cla.s.s of the population here. I am afraid, however, that it is not generally reciprocated, and the Americans are apt to misunderstand some of our efforts to conciliate them, and to attribute them to less worthy motives. I have heard several distinguished Americans protest against the "gush," as they call it, in which we indulge. Under these circ.u.mstances, I think the project of a statue to George Was.h.i.+ngton should be, for the present, postponed,--I am, yours truly,

(Sgd.) Joseph Chamberlain.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray, 22nd February 1897_.

29 Delamere Terrace, Westbourne Sq., W.

My Dear Sir,--May a delighted reader of your articles in the _Sun_ presume on a very slight acquaintance with their author to say how greatly he admires them? The paper on d.i.c.kens seemed to me to dissolve that writer's peculiar charm with a truer alchemy than any criticism I had ever read. And now that with such splendid courage you tilt against the painted bladder-babies of the neo-Scottish school,--with so much real moderation too, with such a dignified statement of the reasons for such a judgment,--I cannot rest, I must say "Bravo." The distinction between the false North Britons (mere phantoms) and the true Stevenson and Barrie (real creatures of the imagination, if sometimes, in their detail, a little whimsical, even a little diminutive) is put so admirably as I had not yet seen it put.

I am eager for next Sunday's article, and as long as these papers continue I shall read them with avidity. I detect in every paragraph that genuine pa.s.sion for literature which is so rare, and which is the only thing worth living the life of letters for.

Pardon my intrusion, and accept my thanks once more.-- Believe me to be, faithfully yours,

(Sgd.) Edmund Gosse.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray (undated)_.

Undershaw, Hindhead, Haslemere

My Dear Murray,--I shall be delighted and honoured to have a first glance at the ms. I never read anything of yours which I did not like, so I am sure I shall like it, but there are degrees of liking, and I will tell you frankly which degree I register.

Now you will bear that visit in mind and write to me when you are ready and your work done.--With all kind regards, yours very truly,

(Sgd.) A. Conan Doyle.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray (undated)_.

Undershaw, Hindhead, Haslemere.

My Dear Murray,--I have just finished your critical book and think it most excellent and useful. I couldn't help writing to you to say so. It is really fine--so well-balanced and clear-sighted and judicial. For kind words about myself many thanks. I don't think we are suffering from critical kindness so much as _indiscriminate_ critical kindness. No one has said enough, as it seems to me, about Barrie or Kipling. I think they are fit--young as they are--to rank with the highest, and that some of Barrie's work, _Margaret Ogilvy_ and _A Window in Thrums_, will endear him as Robert Burns is endeared to the hearts of the future Scottish race.

I have just settled down here and we are getting the furniture in and all in order. In a week or so it will be quite right. If ever you should be at a loose end at a week- end, or any other time, I wish you would run down. I believe we could make you happy for a few days. Name your date and the room will be ready. Only from the 16th to the 26th it is pre-empted.--With all kind remembrances, yours very truly,

(Sgd.) A. Conan Doyle

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray. 9th Sept. 1897_.

148 Todmorden Road, Burnley, Lanes.

My Dear Sir,--Will you kindly excuse the liberty I take in writing? I have just bought and read your new book _My Contemporaries in Fiction_. and feel that I must thank you.

The task you a.s.sumed was, I think, necessary, and your estimate of the various writers just, and on the whole generous. I know my opinion is of little value, but I have long felt that several of our modern novelists were appraised miles beyond their merits, and I have often wished that some man of position, one who could speak candidly without fear of being accused of being envious, would give to the world a fair and fearless criticism of the works of novelists about whom some so-called critics rave. Thousands will be glad that you have done this, and I hope your book will have the success it deserves.

It will be a matter for thankfulness, too, that you have tried to do justice to George Macdonald, and to give him the place he deserves. To read the fulsome stuff which is so often written about Crockett, and then to think that Macdonald is quietly shelved, is enough to make one sick at heart Certainly, I shall do all that lies in my power to make your work known.

I do wish, however that you had devoted a few pages to one who, a few years ago, loomed large in the literary horizon.

I mean Robert Buchanan. I know that during these last few years he has poured out a great deal of drivel, but I cannot forget books like _The New Abelard_, and especially, _G.o.d and the Man_. It is a matter of surprise and regret that one of Buchanan's undoubted powers should have thrown himself away as he has done. All the same, the man who wrote _G.o.d and the Man_ and _The Shadow of the Sword_, hysterical as the latter may be, deserves a place in such a book as yours, and an honest criticism, such as I am sure you could give, might lead him, even yet, to give us a work worthy of the promise of years ago.

I am afraid you will regard this letter as presumptuous, nevertheless, I am prompted by sincere admiration. Years ago I read _Joseph's Coat_ and _Aunt Rachel_, and still think the latter to be one of the tenderest and most beautiful things in fiction. I also remember the simple scene which gave the t.i.tle to the book called _A Bit of Human Nature_, and shall never cease to admire what seems to me a flash of real genius. Consequently, when I stood close by you at a "Vagabond's" dinner, on the ladies' night some months ago, I was strongly impelled to ask for an introduction, but lacked the necessary audacity to carry out my one time determination.

Again thanking you for a book which has afforded me a genuine pleasure to read, besides giving me much mental stimulus,--I am, dear sir, yours very truly,

(Sgd.) Joseph Hocking.

_Copy of Letter to David Christie Murray. 17th June 1897_.

Dear Murray,--I am getting so weary of controversy that I must decline to take part, directly or indirectly, in any more. Possibly, in the heat of annoyance, I may have said harsh things about Mr Scott, but if so, I have forgotten them, and I think all harsh things are better forgotten. I am sorry, therefore, to hear that you are on the war-path, and wish I could persuade you to turn back to the paths of peace. You are too valuable to be wasted in this sort of warfare. I daresay you will smile at such advice from _me_, of all men, but believe me, I speak from sad experience.

I was sorry to hear about the fate of your play, but 'tis the fortune of war, and I hope it will only stir you to another effort which may possess, not more merit, possibly, but better _luck_, which now-a-days counts more than merit.

--With all good wishes, I am, yours truly,

(Sgd.) Robert Buchanan.