Letter to Seymour Hicks (16 june)
This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 16 june [year?] from Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex, to Seymour Hicks, who played Dr. Watson in play Under the Clock (1893).
Letter
My dear Seymour
It was very pleasant to hear from you. I look upon you as one who will do good work. Don't get deflected. I pray, upon theosophy or any side track. Insist upon proofs all the time. We build from below, brick by brick. They build down from the apex. They may be right. But I want rigid proofs.
The book (Mrs. White's) is very striking. Taken alone it might be fancy running riot, but her letter doubles its value. A good deal of it coincides with information from other sources. The Wilde episode was least convincing. I know him & I am sure he knew nothing of demon worship. Sensuality and green chartreuse was more his line. But the others are very striking & to some extent convincing. Tho' one wonders how far such things are allegorical. You will find in "Gone West" some pictures of hell, which are even more terrible.
I am trying to rest & will get on with my lecturing, for I grow older and my strength may not stand it long. I'll go till I can go no more — for I can no other. I am happier so. One can rest afterwards.
The fairies hold the field. They are an unimportant side show in this great subject, but they seem real enough. Anyhow the critics have not shaken them.
My wife sends all remembrance to your wife & yourself.
- Yours very sincerely
- A Conan Doyle.
