. Emile Zola; a biographical and critical study . mpted to sit down tomy table to write. And as I have no secretary,for it would take me much too long to explain toanother what I can do myself, I let the letters accu-mulate on my table, till the day comes when I girdmy loins up bravely, and rid myself of all my arrearsof correspondence at a single stroke. Speaking about the letters he receives, Zola said:* A great number of young people write to mo—infact, the youthful element predominates in my mail-bag. A number of young people write to me to askme for advice, and whenever I am able to do so
. Emile Zola; a biographical and critical study . mpted to sit down tomy table to write. And as I have no secretary,for it would take me much too long to explain toanother what I can do myself, I let the letters accu-mulate on my table, till the day comes when I girdmy loins up bravely, and rid myself of all my arrearsof correspondence at a single stroke. Speaking about the letters he receives, Zola said:* A great number of young people write to mo—infact, the youthful element predominates in my mail-bag. A number of young people write to me to askme for advice, and whenever I am able to do so togood purpose I send off a few words in reply. Tothose who write to me to express sympathy or totestify to their devotion to me, I answer simply wdththe words Thank you on my visiting-card. Allthose letters do not take up much time, but what Idread is the letter of the gentleman who sends me along series of questions to answer, and w^ho does notseem to know that an authors time is taken up byexact daily duties. I equally dread the people who. LIFE AT MED AN—LA TERRE; ETC. 219 ask for a word of recommendation, and who sendcertificates and other documents which one is obligedto return. Just the same as with the people who sendyou manuscripts—another pest. I remember a womanwho had sent me a huge packet of manuscript whichunfortunately got lost, and who went so far as tothreaten to come upstairs with a policeman to find itagain. As to the people who enclose stamps by wayof forcing you to answer them, I never allow myselfto be influenced by this precautionary appeal to myhonesty, because I cannot admit that a strangershould trouble a person for three-halfpence. Norhave I any scruple in using the stamps so sent mefor other purposes, when I do not judge proper toanswer the sender thereof. Sometimes in tearing upthe letter the stamp gets lost, but if it is found andplaced in my stamp-box I have not the slightestscruple in using it. I receive a great number ofapplications for m
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