fin de siecle_ stuff that then held
the boards and from which (I hope the recording angel will put it to my
credit) I steered him clear." I think so; but he was still very much
interested in it. He admired Aubrey Beardsley, the poster artists of
France, Verlaine, Baudelaire, Rops, the Yellow Book, even Oscar Wilde,
although his was a far more substantial and plebeian and even radical
point of view.

Unfortunately for L----, I have always thought, there now thrust himself
forward the publisher and owner of the magazine, who from previously
having been content to see that the mercantile affairs of the magazine
were in good order, had decided that since it was attracting attention
he should be allowed to share in its literary and artistic prestige,
should indeed be closely identified with it and recognized as its true
source and inspiration--a thing which in no fashion had been
contemplated by me when I went there. From having agreed very distinctly
with me that no such interference would at any time be indulged in, he
now came forward with a plan for an advisory council which was to
consist of himself and the very members of the staff which I had
created.

I could not object and it did not disturb me so much personally. For
some time I had been sensing that the thing was for me no end in itself,
but an incident. This same I felt to be true for L----, who had been
taking more and more interest in the magazine's technical composition.
At the same time I saw no immediate way of arranging my affairs and
departing, which left me, for a very little while, more or less of a
spectator. During this time I had the dissatisfaction of noting the
growth of an influence with L---- which could, as I saw, prove only
harmful. M---- was no suitable guide for him. He was a brilliant but
superficial and very material type who was convinced that in the having
and holding of many things material--houses, lands, corporation stocks,
a place in the clubs and circles of those who were materially
prosperous--was really to achieve all that was significant in the now or
the hereafter. Knowing comparatively nothing of either art or letters,
or that subtle thing which makes for personality and atmosphere in a
magazine or in writing (and especially the latter), that grateful
something which attracts and detains one, he was nevertheless convinced
that he did. And what was more, he was determined not only to make
friends with and hold all those whom I m