1889-05-03 to Clara Lanza

Autograph letter signed, University of Texas at Austin, 563 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple

[Friday] May 3rd 1889

Dear Clara Lanza

I received your letter relative to [the] World this morning. It seems to me quite shocking to have such a good friend as you and not to see her. I am crazy enough for anything, even to go to New York — that is to say, to go to you, for to me New York is neither less nor more than Clara Lanza. But if I went you might think me the greatest bore that ever came across the Atlantic on a wild goose chase. Enfin, I hope we shall meet some day. It seems to me that I know you through your letters as I know one of my own characters.

And apropos of your paper on fascination, I sometimes wonder how often you have been fascinated. Once or twice I should think. Every woman worth anything has been. Yes, the lady who replied suggesting that you had not laid enough stress on the magnetism of goodness and truth is profoundly ignorant or profoundly hypocritical — probably both.

I am very anxious about my Don Juan. I am anxious about the quality of the work and I am still more anxious about the publication. Vizetelly is being prosecuted again for publishing Zola and I daresay this second prosecution, if successful, will break him up. You know how timid publishers are and of course these prosecutions will create a panic.

There is really nothing in the book — it is nowise worse than A Drama in Muslin, but all the same it will go hard with me to find a publisher. No society was ever more immoral than London society at the present moment; young girls are faster than the married women; therefore finding no virtue in their lives, and as desire of virtue is an ingredient in human nature, books must become pure for the impure. I wonder if any American publisher would care for my book. I shall not call it Don Juan of course.

And your novel, how goes it? I am looking forward to it with great interest.

You can tell Mrs. Langtry that I feel sure of being able to do a play that will for a time at least attract attention. I do not know that it will run 300 nights but I feel sure it will be greatly talked about.

One thing that I omitted in the scenario. An explanation is absolutely necessary that Margaret did not kill the old lady. She may have been kept in captivity by the Indians and died. No audience would stand a couple of murderers getting off scott free.

I send you a copy of the new edition of the Confessions. The portrait is more like than the other and more like than the photograph.

The pictures of your dogs interested me very much and I am much obliged to you for sending them. They help me to know you.

I think I shall go to Paris next week. My dearest friends live there. Why don't you go and live there?

Most sincerely yours

George Moore

The name Abelard Buchanon is capital. I was not satisfied with my article. It seemed to me to read half a note flat.