London, 7 May 1892 

Dear August, 

So we can expect to see you here on Saturday," a week today.*7? 

Let’s hope you instil so much confidence into Paulus” while afloat that 
he will regard the crossing via Ostend as a trial trip for the crossing to 
Chicago.*’* For if he plucks up enough courage, he could go straight 
on to Chicago by water all the way— from Liverpool to Montreal 
on the St Lawrence and thence through the Great Lakes, after which 
he would for ever be immune; for on the big, inland lakes even the 
most seasoned old salts are sea-sick and, when the four of us survived 
a storm on Lake Erie without being affected in that way,*** we were 
regarded as prodigies by the entire company. 

But if you imagine I now intend to reply to your three letters in de- 
tail and in writing, you are mistaken. Louise has just come back from 

* 14 May-? Paul Singer 

town bringing with her a tremendous thirst, so that we have ventured 
on a second mid-morning glass of beer and are in exceedingly merry 
mood. For it is very warm outdoors and hence we must, to use a Prus- 
sian expression, bring about a change. 

You will be meeting Mendelson and his wife* who were here last 
Sunday and will also be able to go and converse with them at their 
house. 

The fact that we had good weather for May Day and you did not, 
serves you right. You should have been over here and then you’d 
have been able to see what it looks like when 600,000 people fore- 
gather in one place *’!; it was really tremendous; and an impression 
like that leaves one in no state to sustain even such criticism as is 
called for by the deplorable scheming and squabbling before the 
event, and yet sustain it one must. 

When you come over here, your doctor’s orders will safeguard you 
against any sort of public speechifying, always assuming that you 
yourself abide by the said orders. You know how it is— anyone who 
lets himself be talked round on just one occasion, is lost for good and 
all. 

Laura Lafargue writes to say that, while our chaps have so far been 
victorious in the French municipal elections*?° at a number of 
places, the real results, because of the second ballot, won’t be known 
until next week. So far I haven’t seen much about it in the press. 

Well, mind you bring with you a pair of good horny hands; we 
have already written to the Board of Works, instructing them to put 
at our disposal sufficient ancient trees in the parks of London to en- 
able you to uproot at least one a day for your breakfast.*7° 

Cordial regards from Louise. 

Your 
F.E.