'I Believe' and other essays Part 20

"Yours very faithfully."

And here is another kind letter from Bridgewater, again from a man:--

"DEAR 'MR. THORNE,'

"Will you please accept my best thanks for your book, _When it was Dark_. I started to read it as one distinctly prejudiced against it, but I finished the last page saying, 'It is wonderful.' I only wish that those who condemn it would read it for themselves and see the forcible manner in which you have depicted what the world would be if the Resurrection was a myth. Faith cannot but be strengthened by reading it, and the coming Eastertide will be more real to me through having read _When it was Dark_.

"Wis.h.i.+ng you every success and happiness."

From Brantford in far-away Canada this letter reaches me:--

"DEAR SIR AND FRIEND,

"After reading your splendid edition, _When it was Dark_, I take this manner in addressing. The book impressed me very greatly from start to finish, and it always will be henceforth a great pleasure, and I am sure a great help, to read your publications. We greatly need in this world to-day good strong men who will set forth their thoughts in a fearless manner.

This is in a very large measure the way the book appealed to me.

"It is with a great deal of sincere pleasure I note in the---- Magazine (which publication is in our home) for a coming issue the beginning of one of Guy Thorne's stories. The writer is a young man of twenty years and a Methodist, and presume I am taking up too much of a good man's time. But I might say my idea in writing was to convey from a Canadian my thanks for the good which I have received, and many others in our city, from the reading of this one work.

"Wis.h.i.+ng you every success in your work,

"Yours sincerely."

From Brixton:--

"DEAR SIR,

"Among the shoals of letters which doubtless you now receive may I place this, so that I may thank you for the invaluable work which you are doing in writing your novels.

"The article in to-day's _Daily Mail_ shows me that you have grasped the ideal which I have tried to attain since my teens (three years).

"I am one of the lonely digits in 'diggins,' who either fall or rise, according to the company they keep. I have thus found that religion is to man what the rudder is to the crew of a s.h.i.+p.

"I have regularly attended church since my exile, and delight to hear the beautiful service of the English Church. Are they not precious words and inspiring. The service effectually clears me of that ugly black cloak of worldliness which clings to me during the working days.

"This, I believe, is the lesson which you are engraving so well on the minds of all people.

"I conclude with the wish that your pen will ever respond to the spirit which now animates you."

Again from a far country, this time near East Guzna, W. Tarsus, Cilicia:--

"MY DEAR SIR,

"For weeks I have wanted to write and thank you for your book, _When it was Dark_, but I have been laid aside with fever. It stirs thousands of us, and you must feel thankful as you look round to see the success which is granted you in drawing people to ponder upon subjects of such weight. You will like to know that I have spread your book right and left in Cyprus, having obtained three copies, one of which I sent to a Judge.

"Your account of the ride to Nablous is a vivid word picture, and you must, I think, be familiar with the East.

"May I say that I find a dignity and vivacity in your book, dealing as you do with so solemn and glorious a subject as our Lord's Resurrection, which I firmly hold, and have been accustomed to put in the forefront of my teaching as missionary both in Australia and Russia.

"At present my work lies in Cyprus, where I find good opportunities of helping on friendliness with the Greek Church.

"I am now on holiday, and have just given away my last copy of _When it was Dark_ while staying in the Carmelite Monastery at Haiffa, with those charming French Peres, to an American canon who was also there.

"Sir, what I want to do is to suggest that you should have your book translated into French and German. I lent it to a French engineer a month ago, and I feel sure it would do good in those countries. Think this out. You might take the advice of some competent friend.

"I should like to do the translating myself, but I should make so many mistakes, _Magna est veritas, et praevalebit_.

"Have sent home for _A Lost Cause_, and am expecting another treat, with some salt of sarcasm.

"With sincere respect and grat.i.tude."

My kind correspondent's idea has been carried out, I am glad to say.

The book in question has been translated into French and German and several other languages. And in this regard I may perhaps mention the surprise I have felt on learning that the French issue has already gone into three editions. I am in France a good deal each year, and know something of the temper of the reading public there to-day. I had not thought that many people would read the book.

From San Remo, in Italy, this letter comes:--

"DEAR SIR,

"I read last week _When it was Dark_ and wish each of my children to have a copy, as it will show them what the Christian Faith means to the world. I still hold to the simple faith of my childhood taught me by my dear parents, which carried each through a _peaceful death-bed_. Our Heavenly Father, the King of kings and the only Ruler of princes, sacrificed His beloved Son for His people, and allowed His cruel death, knowing that in the future the thought of His terrible sufferings would touch the hearts of most and often keep them from sinning. I have never doubted _His Resurrection_, neither would I allow any person to suggest that doubt in my presence. And to me the convincing proof that He was indeed the Son of G.o.d is, that He rose again from the dead, He ascended to Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of His Father--G.o.d only could possess this power. How very lax we are apt to become and take as our due that great sacrifice.

"I send to Mr. Guy Thorne my little testimony and best wishes, as I cannot thank him personally for _reminding me so fully_ how dark it would indeed be for us all had we not our beloved Saviour always ready and willing to intercede with His Holy Father for us poor erring mortals. Some one said to me, of course Guy Thorne makes a good thing out of his book. I replied, certainly, it is his due to be paid for the labour of his brain, and in this case he fully deserves it, as he might have written a book leading many farther away instead of bringing them nearer to the Cross. Also the interesting style of _When it was Dark_ will induce many to read it. Whereas, if it were very dry, none of us would wade half through."

An old clergyman in Wales writes thus:--

"Rectory, Brecon.

"DEAR SIR,

"I am seventy; at seventeen I had read more novels and other literature than nine out of ten lads of my age. For years past I can't read novels. My daughters sometimes induce me to start one, but after a couple of chapters I throw it on one side feeling strongly inclined to exclaim with Conan Doyle's school-boy, 'Rot.'

"After reading the _Life of Father Dolling_, one of my married daughters brought me _When it was Dark_, which I promised to read, and enjoyed it very much. My wife _devoured_ it.

"This won't interest you very much, but the following fact may.

A few days after finis.h.i.+ng your book our rural post-messenger--an old army man--we live quite in the country--came to me, quite confidentially, and said he had a book he was quite sure I should enjoy; he produced it--it was _When it was Dark!_ Poor fellow! he seemed so disappointed when he found I had read it. A fortnight ago an Irish lady and her daughter stayed with us. They were _good church women_. They left me a book for perusal. It is _A Lost Cause_. I have read it and enjoyed it. It reminds me of Father Dolling and Kensit and Son.

"I hope you will give us many more. We want Catholic truth placed before people in an attractive dress. We want to break down the great wall of Protestant ignorance and prejudice. Your books are doing this.

"Don't heed letters in the Daily Press. I saw a letter in the _Daily Mail_. These letters are only a proof that your books are _telling_. Go straight forward and may every success and blessing attend your efforts. This is the earnest wish of

"Yours truly."

I was intensely interested to receive this letter from India:--

"---- Mission, "Madras, "South India.

"DEAR SIR,

"As you are not unwilling to receive letters from strangers, perhaps this from a distant land might not be unacceptable to you. I am a missionary and have not read two novels during the last five years (but thousands before then), but a friend of mine having read your _When it was Dark_ persuaded me to read it.