The current "Literary Digest" has some queer things about (and by) Pound, and "Current Literature" reprints the "Fere" with all the wrinkles ironed out of it--making a "capon priest" of it. Fo' de Lawd's sake! don't apologise for not subscribing for my "Works." If you did subscribe I should suspect that you were "no friend o' mine"--it would remove you from that gang and put you in a class by yourself. Surely you can not think I care who buys or does not buy my books. The man who expects anything more than lip-service from his friends is a very young man. There are, for example, a half-dozen Californians (all loud admirers of Ambrose Bierce) editing magazines and newspapers here in the East. Every man Jack of them has turned me down. They will do everything for me but enable me to live. Friends be damned!--strangers are the chaps for me. * * * * * I've given away my beautiful sailing canoe and shall never again live a life on the ocean wave--unless you have boats at Carmel. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Washington, D. C., Easter Sunday.] DEAR GEORGE, Here's a letter from Loveman, with a kindly reference to you--that's why I send it. I'm to pull out of here next Wednesday, the 30th, but don't know just when I shall sail from New York--apparently when there are no more dinners to eat in that town and no more friends to visit. May God in His infinite mercy lessen the number of both. I should get into your neck o' woods early in May. Till then God be with you instead. AMBROSE BIERCE. Easter Sunday. [Why couldn't He stay put?] [Washington, D. C., March 29, 1910.] DEAR GEORGE, I'm "all packed up," even my pens; for to-morrow I go to New York--whence I shall write you before embarking. Neale seems pleased by your "permission to print," as Congressmen say who can't make a speech yet want one in the Record, for home consumption. Sincerely, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Guerneville, Cal., May 24, 1910.] DEAR GEORGE, You will probably have learned of my arrival--this is my first leisure to apprise you. I took Carlt and Lora and came directly up here--where we all hope to see you before I see Carmel. Lora remains here for the week, perhaps longer, and Carlt is to come up again on Saturday. Of course you do not need an invitation to come whenever you feel like it. I had a pleasant enough voyage and have pretty nearly got the "slosh" of the sea out of my ears and its heave out of my bones. A bushel of letters awaits attention, besides a pair of lizards that I have undertaken to domesticate. So good morning. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [The Key Route Inn, Oakland, June 25, 1910.] DEAR GEORGE, You'll observe that I acted on your suggestion, and am "here." Your little sisters are most gracious to me, despite my candid confession that I extorted your note of introduction by violence and intimidation.