Conquérir l'Américain n'est pas sans doute votre seul but. Le but du _Mercure_ a été de permettre à ceux qui en valent la peine d'écrire franchement ce qu'il pense--seul plaisir d'un écrivain. Cela doit aussi être le vôtre.
"The aim of the _Mercure_ has been to permit any man, who is worth it, to write down his thought frankly--this is a writer's sole pleasure. And this aim should be yours."
"Are they capable of enough mental liberty to read my books, for example, without being horrified? I think this very doubtful, and it will need long preparation. But why not try it? There are in all countries knots of intelligent people, open-minded; one must give something to relieve them from the staleness of magazines, something which will give them confidence in themselves and serve as a rallying point. As you say, one must begin by getting them to respect French individualism; the sense of liberty which some of us have in so great degree. They understand this in theology, why should they not understand it in art, poetry, literature?"
If only my great correspondent could have seen letters I received about this time from English alleged intellectuals! The incredible stupidity, the ingrained refusal of thought!!!!! Of which more anon, if I can bring myself to it. Or let it pass? Let us say simply that De Gourmont's words form an interesting contrast with the methods employed by the British literary episcopacy to keep one from writing what one thinks, or to punish one (financially) for having done so.
Perhaps as a warning to young writers who can not afford the loss, one would be justified in printing the following:
Many thanks for your letter of the other day. I am afraid I must say frankly that I do not think I can open the columns of the _Q.R._--at any rate, at present--to any one associated publicly with such a publication as _Blast._ It stamps a man too disadvantageously.
Of course, having accepted your paper on the _Noh_, I could not refrain from publishing it. But other things would be in a different category.
I need scarcely say that _The Quarterly Review_ is one of the most profitable periodicals in England, and one of one's best "connections," or sources of income. It has, of course, a tradition.