RAINER MARIA RILKE professions which, while they make show of a relatedness to art, in practice deny and attack the existence of all art, as for instance the whole of journalism does, and almost all criticism and three- quarters of what calls itself and likes to be called literature. I am glad, in a word, that you have overcome the danger of ending up there,? and remain solitary and courageous somewhere in a raw reality. May the year that lies before you preserve and strengthen you in that. Ever yours: R. M. RiuikE. 44