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19
Dec. 19th 1880
St James's Hotel, Piccadilly.
My dear Jervy-
Your letter did me good. It showed just the feeling that I've been often led to fear had died out of you. Keep it burning. As for the Boughtons--- well, I have lunched with and must dine with 'em, therefore must not criticize, but I share your notion regarding him to the full; as for his folks---I can't bet much on their ideas of artistic excellence, or opinions of art matters in any direction. This--- 'twixt ourselves---will sum up the lot: Miss Ward's success last season was so pronounced that they intended to call on her
but were prevented---fortunately for this season she failed & they don't care to patronize her! So much for so much. I presume my success is beyond doubt for I have lunched and will dine on 'em! Today I dine---for the 2d course---with Smalley, who has let me go gently by in his Tribune letters---yet he has seen me several times. His wife and family are very attentive & he is pleasant, but I don't think he regards my success as safe enough to write much about. Joseph [Hotton?], just from America, has sent a letter to the N.Y.Times---which ought
to appear tomorrow---if they print it at all.
I wish I could have been at the Century to hear you good fellows talk of dear old Gifford. I can't realize that he is gone-or Billy Floyd, one of the last that I shook hands with at parting; he is the twelveth of my acquaintance (several of them dear friends) that have passed behind the veil since I left home.
I don't think your remarks regarding your art & your own correct knowledge of yourself seems at all "irritable." They are solid truths & I recognize their applicability to myself in many respects. You assuredly do, and so do I, know best what is our best. My objection to the choice of picture for the Academy was based solely on the steep and subtle meaning---which always fails to reach the sympathies of purchasers & newspaper critics.
My business at the theatre is about the same as at the start---the pit & gallery are "sparsely settled" the stalls & boxes over-filled. I change the bill to "Fool's Revenge" on Monday. The critics are luke-warm, even quite cold & all of 'em sour. The public is "applausive" and the nobs I've met are enthusiastic & very hospitable. It is strange that [Leyuster?] should have visited the play tother night (Edwina saw him) without even a card to me. Somehow, I fancy that he fell off after his visit during my first week; but I may wrong him---or myself. God Bless you, Jervy, and send you a happy Xmas & many happier New Years that you've had of late. Mary is about the same-Edwina & I are [well?] All our loves to all of your folks. Sorry I can't give you longer letters. Ever thine Edwin