did that for his own vulgar satisfaction, though
personally he could not use the money when he had it; no matter, he has
aided civilisation enormously. He as good as created the steamship
industry in America; he reorganised the railway system with admirable
results; by adding so much to the circulating capital of the country,
he provided well-paid employment for unnumbered men. Thousands of homes
should bless the name of Vanderbilt--and what is the state of a world
in which such a man can do such good by such means? Well, I have
nothing to say to it. It is merely part of the tremendous present,
which interests me.

'And I once stood up in my pulpit, and with mild assurance addressed
myself to the task of improving the world! Do not make fun of me when
we meet again, dear friend; I am too bitterly ashamed of myself.

'It seems a long time since you told me anything of Thyrza. I do not
like to receive a letter from you in which there is no mention of her
name. Does she still find a resource in her music? Are you still kind
to her? Yes, kind I know you are, but are you gentle and affectionate,
doing your utmost to make her forget that she is alone? You do not see
her very frequently, I fear. I beg you to write to her often, the
helpful letters you can write to those whom you love. She can repay you
for all trouble with one look of gratitude.'

(_Three months later_.)

'I am sending you Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass.' I see from your last
letter that you have not yet got the book, and have it you must. It is
idle to say that you cannot take up new things, that you doubt whether
he has any significance for _you_, and so on. You have heart and brain,
therefore his significance for you will be profound.

'I would not write much about him hitherto; for I dreaded the smile on
your face at a new enthusiasm. I wished, too, to test this influence
upon myself thoroughly; I assure you that it is easier for me now to be
sceptical than to open my heart generously to any one who in our day
declares himself a message-bringer to mankind. You know how cautiously
I have proceeded with this American _vates_. At first I found so much
to repel me, yet from the first also I was conscious of a new music,
and then the clamour of the vulgar against the man was quite enough to
oblige me to give him careful attention. If one goes on the assumption
that the ill word of the mob is equivalent to high praise, one will
not, as a rule, be far wrong, in