I have to get the pa.s.sage and sail. Mother knows the rest. My intimate friend did not materialise yet and writes she will come some time in August, and she is dying to see a Hindu, and her soul is burning for Mother India.
I wrote her I may see her in London. Mother knows again. Mrs. Huntington sends love to Margot and expects to hear from her if she is not too busy with her scientific exhibits.
With all love to "sacred cow" of India, to yourself, to the Leggetts, to Miss (what"s her name?), the American rubber plant.
Ever yours in the Lord,
CLx.x.xVI.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
102 E. 58TH STREET,.
NEW YORK,.
24th July, 1900.
DEAR JOE, The sun = Knowledge. The stormy water = Work. The lotus = Love. The serpent = Yoga. The swan = the Self. The Motto = May the Swan (the Supreme Self) send us that. It is the mind-lake. (This explains the design on the Ramakrishna
Math and Mission seal, printed on the t.i.tle page of this volume - Ed.) How do you like it?
May the Swan fill you with all these anyway.
I am to start on Thursday next, by the French steamer La Champagne. The books are in the hands of Waldo and Whitmarsh. They are nearly ready.
I am well, getting better - and all right till I see you next week.
Ever yours in the Lord,
CLx.x.xVII.
To Swami Turiyananda
102 E. 58TH STREET,.
NEW YORK,.
25th July, 1900.
DEAR TURIYANANDA, I received a letter from Mrs. Hansborough telling me of your visit to her. They like you immensely, and I am sure you have found in them genuine, pure, and absolutely unselfish friends.
I am starting for Paris tomorrow. Things all turn that way. Kali is not here. He is rather worried at my going away, but it has got to be.
Address your next letter to me care of Mr. Leggett, 6 Place des Etats Unis, Paris, France. Give my love to Mrs. Wyckoff, Hansborough, and to Helen. Revive the clubs a bit and ask Mrs. Hansborough to collect the dues as they fall and send them to India. Sarada writes they are having rather hot times. My kind regards for Miss Boocke.
With all love,
Ever yours in the Lord,
CLx.x.xVIII.
(Translated from Bengali)
To a Brahmacharin (Brahmachari Harendra Nath) of the Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati
NEW YORK,.
August, 1900. DEAR __,
I had a letter from you several days ago, but I could not reply earlier. Mr. Sevier speaks well of you in his letter. I am very pleased at this. Write to me in minute detail who all are there, and what each one is doing. Why don"t you write letters to your mother? What is this? Devotion to the mother is the root of all welfare. How is your brother getting on with his studies at Calcutta? The Sannyasin-names of those there escape my memory - how to address each? Give my love to all conjointly. I got the news that Khagen has now fully recovered. This is happy news. Write to me whether the Seviers are attending to your comforts and other details. I am glad to know that Dinu"s health is all right. The boy Kali has a tendency to become fat; but this will all surely go away by constantly climbing up and down the hills there. Tell Swarup that I am very much pleased with his conducting of the paper. He is doing splendid work. Give to all others also my love and blessings. Tell everybody that my health is now all right. From here I shall go to England and from there to India very shortly.
With all blessings,
CLx.x.xIX.
(Translated from Bengali)