Faithfully, with every most grateful and kindly sentiment,
Lafcadio Hearn.
TO MASANOBU ŌTANI
Tōkyō, December, 1898.
Dear Ōtani,—To-day I received the gift sent from Matsue,—and the very nice letter with which you accompanied it. I think that a better present, or one which could give me sincerer pleasure will never be received. It is a most curious thing, that strange texture,—and a most romantic thing also in its way,—seeing that the black speckling that runs through the whole woof is made by characters of letters or poems or other texts, written long ago. And I must assure you that I shall always prize it—not only because I like it, but particularly because your mother wove it. I am going to have it made into a winter kimono for my own use, which I shall always wear, according to season, in my study-room. Surely it is just the kind of texture which a man of letters ought to wear! My best thanks to you and your family,—most of all to your kind mother,—and my earnest wishes for a fortunate year to come.
Your collection of poems this month interested me a great deal in a new way—the songs separately make only a small appeal to imagination; but the tone and feeling of the mass are most remarkable, and give me a number of new ideas about the character of the “folk-work.” ...
With renewed best wishes for a happy and fortunate New Year to you and yours,
Sincerely,
Y. Koizumi.