90 The Vale
London N.W.11
England

22 August 1935

Ezra Pound

Maestro,

Although only 19, I have completed a
university course and still find myself with a desire
and a need to write; but threatened with the profession
of journalism. I am not allowed to do the work I
want to do owing to my age, finances, obscurity, and
the fact that I have been marked out for an occupation
I abhor. But I cannot give it up.

I am, naturally, anxious for work. Of
course, I am reading and writing hard at present but
it is blind, purposeless, as well as unlucrative.
Going on like that is hopeless, both for my writing
and for my life.

If I find no outlet or encouragement, I
suppose I shall have to be a "journalist" (ie a reporter,
a newspaperman), either shelving my ambitions or
scrapping them.

310 San 'regorio

VENEZIA, Italy 35 Ag

Aje/ A. CO

Training AS journalist damn sight more use to
anyone who wants to WRITE than anything they will have
taught you in any god damn university.

Piffling brit. lower middle bug/washeye snobism
looks down on "journalism"

AND the shit of Punch, and a
centuries bastardization of news, has made the
practice mostly that of lice.

Hemingway learned a lot by being a journalist.
even Dickens learned a lot that at Arnold and Edwin
didn't.

///

As for outlet, every writer now worth a cent bean
is AWAKE to economics.

If you aren't, GET that way,
or be damned.

///

You needn't bitch yr/ earning capacity prematurely
by signing honest stuff with yr/ own name.

Bardsley prob. wears a high hat in bed. But overlook it.
The Social Credit Secretariat, 163 a. Strand. W.L.Bardsley

NEEDS JOURNALISTS.

you won't get money now, but in 10 years
time you will be someone. I mean ahead of the poops
who are merely licking pots.

If you've GOT a job as reporter, be thankful for it.
I wish to heaven I had one at yr/ age. It would have
saved me a decade.

If Bardaley can't put you to WORK, I will find someone who can.

NOTE, that you use a different SIGNATURE for exercise in expression of IDEAS.

and that you WORK on yr/ reporting for NARRATION of particular facts, details.

I can't be bother with anyone who is too lazy to read at least my econ. and a dozen other books on the subject. Colbourne, McW. Wilson, Gesell, Douglas or some summary of his views, some of Brenton.

adding possibly Jeff. Mark. , H. Corke's pamphlet in Nott's series, is brief and useful.

Someone MUST do in smaller papers, part of the job I attempt in the Morning Post etc. etc.

At any rate have a try at Bardaley. TAKE his damn order
orders for a few weeks, to find out whether he has
brains enough to give my orders. If he hasn't, report
to me.

Better see Montgomery Butchart

48 Bloomsbury St. W.C.I

to him

take this note, he will fill in the blanks.

90 The Vale
London N.W.11

28 August 1935

Dear Mr Pound

Thank you for your letter. I am
sorry if I whined at you in mine.

Your "ABC of Economics" I know. When
I was at school, in 1931 I think, Major Douglas came
and gave us a talk on his ideas. That was my
introduction. Nevertheless, I have not read much
economics and Mr Bardsley would want me a bit more
knowledgeable, I should think, before beginning to
write. I am looking up the authors you mention
whom I donot know.

Perhaps a difficulty at first will be
a lack of kick in the writing, owing to little personal
hand-to-hand experience with the workings of firms,
banks etc.

I'll write you how I get on with Mr

Bardsley.