p.

among writers in Japan. When informa-
tive about a certain form of belief
or custom is wanted, even high
authorities on Japanese subjects
do not disdain to ask me.
You see how conceited I am;
but my conceit is based on
facts.
- However, I don't
feel very conceited about
my next book, which I
hope to send the rest
of by next mail. It
seems to me rather heavy,
- there is a preponderance
of serious articles I always
get tired of long before
they are finished, - so
that I cannot fairly
judge their value then.