I am ashamed to confess how little I know about physical make-up of any of my books. I haven't even a first edition⁴ of "O Pioneers!"⁵, but I remember that it was bound in ribbed cloth, about the color of a mustard plaster, and very ugly. Later it was put out in a darker cloth⁶ and was, I thought, a distinctly better looking book thatn that first issued. I have not one at hand to consult, but that is my impression. It is this second printing which is now on the market.

The "Song of the Lark"⁷ was first issued⁸ in a rough blue cloth,- not exactly ribbed, but a cross-weave. I haven't a copy of the first edition of that either, I find. I have only copies of the English editions of those two books⁹, because I thought them much better looking than the American editions.

I think the total printing¹⁰ of "The Troll Garden"¹¹ was not more than 1,200 copies. I assure you it is no fault of mine that the new edition¹² of "April Twilights"¹³ is to be sold at such a shocking price. I, too, am sensible to expense,—but as you have probably gathered, I am not sensible to first editions, since I haven't them of my own books. I suppose it's no use telling a collector that the two-dollar edition will be just as good!

I don't believe Professor Phelps¹⁴ and I could possible agree on any book. A few years ago I couldn't help calling attention to some of the amazingly stupid things he was glibly spinning off about Russian literature¹⁵, and I don't believe he liked it. It's amusing that a man should appoint himself a specialist upon a literature written in a language of which he doesn't know a word; a perfectly childish performance.

I must ask your indulgence for this long delay. I have been out¹⁶ of town² and have had to neglect many things. And now I am able to give you very little information.