H.L.MENCKEN

1524 HOLLINS ST.
BALTIMORE.

November 22nd

Dear Princess:-

The letter from the German woman to the British soldier rather alarms me. If there is a word in it about the League of Nations or the heroism of Our Boys, Nathan will come down with spasms, and I'll have his work on my hands. We have, in fact, a stiff rule against all war stuff. But why not let me see it anyhow? I am less violent. If 1,000 members of the American Legion were hanged every day I'd be satisfied, and call it enough.

I hope you are in Richmond at the end of the week. I am coming down with Hergesheimer on Friday to hand Gabell a wreath. Miss Clark, of the Reviewer, has asked us to dinner for Friday evening, and later on Gabell is giving a dance for his young step-daughter. I am far too decrepit to dance, but it will be pleasant to observe Hergesheimer's writhings. We'll stay over Saturday. I must be back in Baltimore Sunday afternoon. It would be a great pleasure to see you.

La Menken, it appears, was both loose and Yiddish; hence she is never mentioned in my house. I specifically deny her talents. Charles Dickens, who was a Jew himself, was in love with

H.L.MENCKEN

1524 HOLLINS ST.
BALTIMORE.

January 23rd

[1922]

Dear Princess:-

Now Hergesheimer has gone into the West on a four months' trip and I am in such a low state of health and mind that I feel almost.. like jumping into the Chesapeake Bay! But Hergesheimer will return, and I'll recover, I certainly hope. In fact, I begin to feel better already. The cause, according to the Faculty, was too much work at the desk and too little exercise. Now I do hard physical labor daily from lunch to dinner, and it seems likely to be effective. Thus I still look forward to the pilgrimage!

Horses are old friends of mine, but increasing clumsiness forced to me give up riding long ago. Now I incline toward a safe Dayton wagon. But if I can no longer ride a horse, I can at least drive one. Hergesheimer, I believe, is a poor horseman. He uses a step-ladder to mount, and has to be strapped to the saddle. I went up to West Chester a couple of weeks ago to spend a day with him. He has a lovely old house, with a distillery on the top floor. I wonder how you like his " Cytherea". To me it seems very good stuff -- in fact, the best thing that he has done.

Please remember me to the Prince.