2. Ein Absagebrief

ist ein Absagebrief usw. Aber mancher versucht sich mehr Mühe zu geben, wie der Verleger Arthur C. Fifield, der an Miss Gertrude Stein schrieb:

FROM ARTHUR C. FIFIELD, PUBLISHER,
13, CLIFFORD’S INN, LONDON, E.C.
TELEPHONE 14430 CENTRAL.

April 19, 1912.

Dear Madam,

I am only one, only one, only one. Only one being, one at the same time. Not two, not three, only one. Only one life to live, only sixty minutes in one hour. Only one pair of eyes. Only one brain. Only one being. Being only one, having only one pair of eyes, having only one time, having only one life, I cannot read your M.S. three or four times. Not even one time. Only one look, only one look is enough. Hardly one copy would sell here. Hardly one. Hardly one.

Many thanks. I am returning the M.S. by registered post. Only one M.S. by one post.

Sincerely yours,

(Signed ‚A. C. Fifield‘)

Miss Gertrude Stein,
27 Rue de Fleurus,
Paris,
France.

Faksimile hier (Dank für den Hinweis an Simone Kornappel!)