18 Iowa Circle,
Washington, D. C.,
January 19,
1901.
My dear Sterling,
I've been a long while getting to your verses, but there were many reasons—including a broken rib. They are pretty good verses, with here and there very good lines. I'd a strong temptation to steal one or two for my "Passing Show," but I knew what an avalanche of verses it would bring down upon me from other poets—as every mention of a new book loads my mail with new books for a month.
If I ventured to advise you I should recommend to you the simple, ordinary meters and forms native to our language.
I await the photograph of the pretty sister—don't fancy I've forgotten.
It is 1 a. m. and I'm about to drink your health in a glass of Riesling and eat it in a pâte.
My love to Grizzly if you ever see him. Yours ever, A. B.
Washington, D. C.,
January 23,
1901.
My Dear Doyle,