s I
get: the fellows are practised but of all the damned fools: you've no
idea: they know the trade in a way: but such infernal asses: as send
things up: but this is very good: that sentence does run _nicely:_
but I like your point: make it a little longer and then send it in:
I've got another book for you to review: you know Robert Bridges? Oh
very good, very good: here it is: about two columns you know: by the
way: keep the Ruskin for yourself: you deserve that anyhow."

Here I got a word in: one of protest and thanks. But Mr. Cotton
insisted on my accepting the Ruskin. So I am really to serve Laban.
Laban proves on analysis to be of the consistency of brick. It is
such men as this that have made our Cosmos what it is. At one point
he said, literally dancing with glee: "Oh, the other day I stuck some
pins into Andrew Lang." I said, "Dear me, that must be a very good
game." It was something about an edition of Scott, but I was told
that Andrew "took" the painful operation "very well." We sat up
horribly late together talking about Browning, Afghans, Notes, the
Yellow Book, the French Revolution, William Morris, Norsemen and Mr.
Richard le Gallienne. "I don't despair for anyone," he said suddenly.
"Hang it all, that's what you mean by humanity." This appears to be a
rather good editor of the _Academy_. And my joy in having begun my
life is very great. "I am tired," I said to Mr. Brodribb, "of writing
only what I like." "Oh well," he said heartily, "you'll have no
reason to make that complaint in journalism."

But here is a mystery. Nowhere in the _Academy_ columns for 1895
or 1896 are to be seen the initials G.K.C., yet at that date all
the reviews are signed. Mr. Eccles, who was writing for it at
the time, told me that he had no recollection of G.K. among the
contributors--and later he came to know him well when both were
together on the _Speaker_. In any case, the idea of reviewing for no
reward except the book reviewed would scarcely appeal to a more
practical man than Gilbert as a hopeful beginning. Perhaps the
mystery is solved by the fact that soon after the date of this letter
Mr. Cotton got an appointment in India. To Mr. Eccles it appeared
somewhat ironical that the unpaid contributors to the _Academy_ were
circularised with a suggestion of contributions of money towards a
parting present for their late editor.

The actual beginning of G.K.