I've been in New York again but am slowly recovering. I saw Neale. He assures me that the magazine will surely materialize about June, and he wants the poem, "A Wine of Wizardry," with an introduction by me. I think he means it; if so that will give it greater publicity than what you have in mind, even if the mag eventually fail. Magazines if well advertised usually sell several hundred thousand of the first issue; the trick is to keep them going. Munsey's "Scrap Book" disposed of a half-million. * * * * * * was to start for a few weeks in California about now. I hope you will see him. He is not a bad lot when convinced that one respects him. He has been treated pretty badly in this neck o' the woods, as is every Western man who breaks into this realm of smugwumps. My benediction upon Carmelites all and singular--if any are all. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. Doubleday, Page & Co. are to publish my "Cynic's Dictionary." [The Army and Navy Club, Washington, D. C., April 20, 1906.] DEAR GEORGE, I write in the hope that you are alive and the fear that you are wrecked.[8] [8] The San Francisco earthquake and fire had occurred April 18, 1906. Please let me know if I can help--I need not say how glad I shall be to do so. "Help" would go with this were I sure about you and the post-office. It's a mighty bad business and one does not need to own property out there to be "hit hard" by it. One needs only to have friends there. We are helpless here, so far as the telegraph is concerned--shall not be able to get anything on the wires for many days, all private dispatches being refused. Pray God you and yours may be all right. Of course anything that you may be able to tell me of my friends will be gratefully received. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Washington, D. C., May 6, 1906.] DEAR GEORGE, Your letter relieves me greatly. I had begun to fear that you had "gone before." Thank you very much for your news of our friends. I had already heard from Eva Croffie. Also from Grizzly. * * * * * Thank you for Mr. Eddy's review of "Shapes." But he is misinformed about poor Flora Shearer. Of course I helped her--who would not help a good friend in adversity? But she went to Scotland to a brother long ago, and at this time I do not know if she is living or dead. But here am I forgetting (momentarily) that awful wiping out of San Francisco. It "hit" me pretty hard in many ways--mostly indirectly, through my friends. I had rather hoped to have to "put up" for you and your gang, and am a trifle disappointed to know that you are all right--except the chimneys. I'm glad that tidal wave did not come, but don't you think you'd better have a canoe ready? You could keep it on your veranda stacked with provisions and whiskey. My letter from Ursus (written during the conflagration) expresses a keen solicitude for the Farallones, as the fire was working westward.