2.-

misfortune has come upon him. His brain has gone. It is quite
hopeless, paralysis of the brain, he has been sent to a doctor's
home. I knew nothing of it until about a fortnight ago, when I got
a letter from his wife. He is a great loss to me, a great personal
loss and a great practical one. I thought of him a good deal when
I wrote, always considering his approval or disapproval, and his
support in the Atheneum, which I always had when I wanted it, was
very valuable. I have never known whether I liked or disliked his
wife. She is beautiful, but I am inclined to think hard. I thought
her letter hard, she seemed so anxious that one should know that
she had taken every necessary step instead of simply expressing
her sorrow. I think she would have been better matched with some
rich man, above all with some man of stronger will than Symons.
I think over-work had something to do with his breakdown, he always
seemed to me to be struggling to give her a more luxurious life
than he could afford as if he feared losing her. His last couple
of years have been spent in trying to pay off a debt incurred to
decorate their country cottage. Not a large sum, two or three
hundred pounds, but a great deal for a man with no popular gift.
Mrs. Symons says in her letter to me that he had to be sent away
to a Home because his madness took the form of wanting to lock her
into a room with him. I imagine he was very much in love with her.
He had very careful habits and great industry but lacked, I think
will power indeed this very lack made him a charming companion, one
could talk to him with the certainty of finding not a competitor
but a listener, he was not a creative energy. I wonder who among
my friends will fall in love with his wife.

3.

I haven't yet read your story and have such a bad
cold at present that I may not do so before post-time. The Theatre
is doing very well at present, in fact it is paying in spite of the
fact that the stalls remain empty. I don't suppose these good
audiences will continue quite in their present state for they
generally drop off after Christmas.

Your affectionate son,

W. Y.

Mrs. Campbell came to her first rehearsal yesterday, was very fine but said she felt on our small stage like a "gay elephant upon a table".