34 Bigelow St. Cambridge, Mass.
Jan. 7. 1894.
Sunday Night.
With this letter, dear, I sent you that translation of the Japanese story. [Note: the story was not in the envelope with the letter when I acquired it.] It is just about as I left it in N.Y. - only some small changes. It seems to be still questionable whether you want the story at all, be it well or ill-translated, it doesn't seem to compare favorably with your other Japanese tale. Still this is pure Japanese, of that you may be sure, and very characteristic. Nakashima has again & again assured me that it is one of the best of the numerous child-stories that every Japanese child knows & tells. As for the translation, why it is done well enough at least so that it is in a tangible form for criticism & alteration. You will not let the other two editors be foolish & spare it any because it's S & not you who have made the translation. And you yourself of course will not feel called to defend it in any measure[.]
Today I asked Buck if he would accompany me on my next journey to S. Hadley & he answered with a ready & gleeful yes. So I think you may expect us on the 16th Feb. That saint's-day falls on a Friday, you may have noted, dear, a most happy chance, & I don't see that a better [...] could be fixed on for our visit. I cannot very well come sooner than that.
Today no [?] company of Buck & two other fellows I went into Boston and heard Minot Savage preach. As you doubtless know, he's one of the heavy guns of the Unitarian Ch. His sermon & his personality (as far as I could judge the latter from this single sermon & his appearance) please me. He talks not so much religion as morality. But the morality is very pure & high & presented in such a way who hears that it is likely I think to inspire them & show effects in their lives. I fancy he does a good deal of good in the circle to which he preaches. He is not a deep man either intellectually or spiritually, but he says commonplace things in an impressive & effective way & that perhaps is of as much service in the end as greater depth. His particular personal gospel you know is freedom of thought, & he uses a good deal of his ammunition on the wall of traditionalism.
Today he preached about the man in the family. 'Twas very interesting & breathed a lofty moral spirit. Part of the discourse was of course given to the relation between man & wife. In the household where the true love of a true marriage reigns there is, there must be no head. The government here is not a despotism but a democracy. Every right that the husband has, the wife must also have. They are absolutely equal. He has no more right to rule her than she him. In all which I agree fully with Mr. Savage.
Good night
Thy Lover
George