_To John Jay Chapman._ Cambridge, _Apr. 30, 1909_. DEAR JACK C.,--I'm not expecting you to _read_ my book, but only to "give me a thought" when you look at the cover. A certain witness at a poisoning case was asked how the corpse looked. "Pleasant-like and foaming at the mouth," was the reply. A good description of you, describing philosophy, in your letter. All that you say is true, and yet the conspiracy has to be carried on by us professors. Reality has to be _returned to_, after this long circumbendibus, though _Gavroche_ has it already. There _are_ concepts, anyhow. I am glad you lost the volume. It makes one less in existence and ought to send up the price of the remainder. Blessed spring! blessed spring! Love to you both from yours, Wm. James. The next post-card was written in acknowledgment of Professor Palmer's comments on "A Pluralistic Universe." _To G. H. Palmer._ [Post-card] Cambridge, _May 13, 1909_. "The finest critical mind of our time!" No one can mix the honey and the gall as you do! My conceit appropriates the honey--for the gall it makes indulgent allowance, as the inevitable watering of a pair of aged rationalist eyes at the effulgent sunrise of a new philosophic day! Thanks! thanks! for the honey. W. J. TO THEODORE FLOURNOY. CHOCORUA, JUNE 18, 1909. MY DEAR FLOURNOY,--You must have been wondering during all these weeks what has been the explanation of my silence. It has had two simple causes; 1st, laziness; and 2nd, uncertainty, until within a couple of days, about whether or not I was myself going to Geneva for the University Jubilee. I have been strongly tempted, not only by the "doctorate of theology," which you confidentially told me of (and which would have been a fertile subject of triumph over my dear friend Royce on my part, and of sarcasm on his part about academic distinctions, as well as a diverting episode generally among my friends,--I being so essentially profane a character), but by the hope of seeing you, and by the prospect of a few weeks in dear old Switzerland again. But the economical, hygienic and domestic reasons were all against the journey; so a few days ago I ceased coquetting with the idea of it, and have finally given it up. This postpones any possible meeting with you till next summer, when I think it pretty certain that Alice and I and Peggy will go to Europe again, and probably stay there for two years....