Volume I Part 34 (1/2)
S C--”Miss E-liz-a-beth Bisland--?”
C--”No, sir!”
S C--”Isn't this 136 Madison Avenue?”
C--”Yes--Used to live here--Moved”
S C--”Do you not knohere--?”
C--”No, sir”
S C--”None of her friends or relatives here, who could tellof the door here made a Period and a Finis
Then I wandered away down a double row of s than petrifactions,--astonishments of loftiness and silent power,--and wondered how Miss Elizabeth Bisland must have felt when she first trod these enormous pave to touch themy friend Krehbiel's house I rey eyes of E B
LAFCADIO HEARN
TO H E KREHBIEL
SAINT-PIERRE, MARTINIQUE, 1887
DEAR KREHBIEL,--I was delighted to get your letter, the first which reachedh I have written a good many short letters; but the a enormous,--and I have only had five idle days, caused by a fever due to iot wet, and ca headache The result was not serious except that I had to stop all writing for a while
You ask me to send you a hint aboutabout it I have a very largeto do with it: it is not polished as I should wish, but I hope to work it into proper shape in a few days more
It consists simply of a detailed account of impressions, sensations, colours, etc I have tried to put the whole _feeling_ of the trip on paper Then I have about 60 worth of photos to illustrate it My photo set is very complete;--I have also a rich collection of Coolie and half-breed types, including e as you ination is not stimulated, but paralyzed by the satiation of all its aspirations and the realization of its wildest dreams, The artistic sense is numbed by the display of colours which no artist could paint; and the philosophical sense is lulled to inactivity by the perpetual current of novel impressions, by the continual stream of unfamiliar sensory experiences Concentration of mind is impossible
It pleases me, however, to have procured material for stories, which I can write up at home; and for romantic material the West Indies offer an unparalleled field of research I shall return to theround is absolutely untilled, and it is not in the least likely that anybody in the shape of a Creole is ever going to till it
[Illustration: SAINT-PIERRE AND MT PELeE BEFORE THE ERUPTION]
By this time you will have seen the doll I want to remind you that this is more than a doll; it is really an artisticearrings and all The real earrings and necklaces are pure gold; the forh as 500, 600, even 900 francs
In case this reaches you before leaving New York, I hope you will be able to es in a place of safety for a day or two, until I can try to arrange ed to stay a short while in New York,--and shall want a room badly, untilhas been done on ”Chita” With affectionate regards to all,
Very truly yours, LAFCADIO HEARN
P S I return with the Barracouta
My inquiries about the Marimba and other instruments have produced no result except the discovery that our negroes play the guitar, the flute, the flageolet, the cornet-a-piston! Some play very well; all the orchestras and bands are coloured But the civilized instruinalities The only hope would be in the small islands, or where slavery still exists, as in Cuba, There are one or two African songs still current, but they are sung to the tam-tam--
Welleli, welleli, hm, hm!
Papa mon ce papa mon hm, hm!