I infer from something Mrs. O. writes that it has been concluded that Phil shall go to Japan. Through Profr. Sargent he should learn much of value, tho’, as far as I can judge, there is no landscape work—no landscape designing—in Japan—using the word landscape in any useful sense. I enclose something from the Times of today by Kipling which you may think well to send him. It seems not to be a familiar view of Japan.

Since the night after our Thames trip I have been sleeping pretty well, and think that I am daily gaining ground. In order that I may, however, my movements are much restricted. I have been to town every day but have accomplished little. Not one single person upon whom I have called has been in. Even the shops are half-manned. Monday is Bank Holiday, and it seems as if half London had, in view of two holidays coming together, & the prospective short season before the new Parliament meets, taken the occasion for a vacation. Today a continuous cold heavy rain confines me—the heaviest & longest heavy rain I have known here. I am preparing myself to go north, having seen almost none of all the people I had laid out to see. I shall try to visit Kew and some of the grand places, more especially with reference to Biltmore. But mainly my movements will be governed by desire to recover health. I assume [559]that soon after my return it will be desirable—extremely desirable—that I shd take a very long R.R. Journey. Rochester, Chicago, Louisville, Kansas City, Biltmore, Atlanta, & various places nearer home, I did not mention Milwaukee & Marquette.

I have learned something on the trip, but chiefly have greatly gained confidence. There is much less Art of Design in Landscape in England & France than in Brookline. I mean, of course, as far as I have yet seen. Almost everywhere, & most in the newest work, the Landscape end is confused with & subordinated to other ends—Japanese ends. In spite of this, such is the advantage of a temperate & moist climate, there is nothing in America to be compared with the pastoral or with the picturesque beauty that is common property in England. I cannot go out without being delighted. The view before me as I write, veiled by the rain, is just enchanting. Sometimes the question comes to me, whether, even on the Atlantic slopes, we are not so far removed in climatic conditions from those on which this pastoral beauty depends, that it is futile to contend with our difficulties. But when I ask what is the alternative, I always conclude that we must be only the more fertile in expedients to make the most of our opportunities. The absurdity of seeking {…} pastoral beauty in the far West is more & more manifest. I looked over a fine collection of photographs of Spain the other day but could find nothing helpful to us in studying our Western problems. There was no landscape work; no agreeable foreground (domestic) landscape, and the decorative gardening work seemed to me either forlorn or puerile & frittering.

The reports that came today of many deaths because of the intense heat in the U.S. make me anxious about you. I greatly hope that you will have happened to be at home, and on a visit to the Vineyard. I do not suppose that vegetation will have been much discouraged on the whole at Chicago. The water plants will probably be the better for the heat & by this time the watering apparatus will be generally available to keep turf alive. The expansive work of iron will have been well tried. The reports, which are sensational, will be apt to discourage the idea of coming to America next year, though, in fact, the chances of a cool summer, are increased. The papers have nothing from Chicago. It seems as if there was a conspiracy to exclude information about the progress of the Fair. And since your last letter, more than a month ago, not a word about it, except of the indecisive action in Congress. Neither John nor Phil so much as mention Chicago, tho’ the scheme must have been at the crisis of its developt. I infer that all {goes} well, but not without much trial to you.

Faithfully.