RK-649

41 12/12/'58

[illegible] In the Grove RK, Wash Sunday Morning -

I was not a little unusual that you, my dear Bob - should manifest surprise at my "nonsense" - I, who more than other men, cultivate that convenient commodity as a circulating medium of inter= =change - I have seen a great many fine conversationalists and am inclined to the notion that good talking consists in saying just nothing at all - but it must include the happy faculty of saying it pleasantly -

Perhaps I should not assume this point as universal There are those who seem to be

So felicitous in words & so fortunate in ideas that they can whirl beautifully around a conclusion as a ball of string does around your finger - or at their pleasure whirl you around than in such enchanting dalliance that, you prefer to give yourself over to their mystic circle, to having any notion or will of your own

Is it not true that if you knew what a man likes - & can sprite up at the instant any variety of flavor, as the French chemist does oders & perfumes out of the most inoderous substances, you have the key to that man - in spite of himself?-

You can open him - eyes - ears & mouth - make him snap like a turtle at anything you say & gulp it down whole! There, don't you remember that toady that was after you yesterday?- You ought to have taken a shark's hook - baited it with a slale of frozen elephant's meal - from the Frigid [illegible] - You would have had his jaws fast for the rest of the winter - When next you saw him he would have been swallowing & swallowing! - next time, give him a mouthful at "autipodes" with his taste & note what becomes of him - It's no great matter what becomes

of him after all [illegible] save his hide - you'll need it to wrap his successor in - for he's sure to have one -

On the whole I think that man is the most [illegible], who has an idea, & keeps it - If it be original he better keep it from productial considerations - No-body likes to see his chicks pecked & plucked of all their plumage. The [illegible] of the world is, this day, so full of the pimps & bare bones of antiquated knowledge that a full fledged singer of the 19th century must have some brass as well as melody to presume to "peep" in the presence of such a time worn, cadavarous crowd.

Blessed is the man, who, when he is "weighed in the balance", the "prince" of these days findsthe nothing in line - You are prospering & I need not say it gratifies me to hear of your "good 'sess". Long may you wave - Cordially - Yrs, C. S. Chase