Letter to Sir John R. Robinson (3 november 1894)
This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 3 november 1894 to Sir John R. Robinson (editor of the London Daily News) from Amherst House, Amherst, Mass., USA, while on his American lecture tour.
The letter was published in "Fifty Years of Fleet Street", edited by Frederick Moy Thomas (Macmillan & Co., 1904, pp. 358-359).
Letter
- AMHERST HOUSE, AMHERST, MASS.,
- Nov. 3rd, 1894.
My dear Robinson
May I make you my mouth-piece in conveying my warm remembrances to friends of the Reform, above all to Payn and Reid? Also to Parkinson and Barclay, should you see them.
I have been five weeks here, and "it's a great country, Sir." I came, as you know, with high expectations, but the reality far surpasses them. Naturally I have only seen the pleasanter side of life, but still I have already travelled many thousands of miles and seen many towns, so that I have some experience from which to talk. The people are far more lovable than I expected, so good-humoured and affable, infinitely more so than our own folk. There never was a country so maligned by the travelling Briton as this one. He has picked out all the little things to talk about and missed all the big ones. Every globe-trotter has paragraphs about the number of spittoons in a hotel bar (as if it matters!), but they pass over such trifles as that there are no hereditary chamber and no landlords. There is an absence of affectation and a kindly frankness, too, on all hands which is not to be computed in spittoons. They are naturally hurt at being so maligned, and we have estranged them considerably, though not, I think, irredeemably.
By Jove, when I see all these folk with their British names and British tongues, and when I consider how far they have been allowed to drift from us, I feel as if we ought to have a statesman from every lamp-post in Pall Mall. We've got to go into partnership with them, or else to be overshadowed by them. The centre of gravity of the race is over here, and we have got to readjust ourselves. I've done what I could by tongue and pen over here to plant some seeds. Some of them may sprout. Who knows? We think we are influencing things and we are really floating in a current which is outside ourselves.
I have lectured at New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Detroit, Toledo, Boston, Worcester, etc. etc. etc., so, you see, I have not been stagnant. I came over here with three lectures, one on Meredith, one on the younger school of fiction (both with illustrative readings), and one which is mainly personal, with readings from my own work. This last I included under protest, owing to strong representations from Pond, my agent. His view proved to be correct, for audiences always want that one, so that I have hardly had a chance of delivering the other two. I have had very good audiences-halls full mostly-but I don't think there is much money in the business. What with the long distances, the hotel prices, the agent's commission, etc., I am sure one could earn much more at one's desk at home. But you have the education and travel gratis, and you wouldn't get that at your desk. Anyhow, I am very glad I came. I have met Howells, Cable, Eugene Field, Riley, Hamlin Garland, and most of the rising men of letters.
I leave on Dec. 8th, and I hope to reach England about the 15th. I shall spend Christmas with my family at Davos; I hope to look in at lunch time and see you all some time between those two dates.
With kindest remembrances to all friends and my very particular affection and good wishes to Payn — Yours most sincerely,
- A. Conan Doyle
