Page:The Spirit of Japanese Art, by Yone Noguchi; 1915.djvu/86

Rh mention his name and kindly comment on his work in the Graphic. That was in 1906, when he was about to leave London after a few years' stay there. "Shall I go to England again for a change or to take a few pictures of mine?" he often exclaimed. England was his dream, as she is mine. How unfalteringly our talk ran; every time the subject was England and her art.

"Now is it settled, let us suppose," Hara would say in the course of talk, slightly twisting his sensitive mouth, holding up straight back his well-poised head (what a philosopher's eyes he had, gentle and clear), "that we shall go to England some time soon in the future. Yes, we shall go there even if we are not begged by Japan to leave the country. The most serious question is, however, where we shall sleep and dine. I have had enough experience of a common English boarding-house; I am haunted even to-day by the ghosts of Yorkshire pudding and cold ham. And suppose that a daughter or a son of that boarding-house might sing aloud a popular song every Saturday evening; I should like to know if there is anything more sad than that. Still, suppose that one next to you at table will ask you every evening how your work might sell; certainly that will be the moment when you think you will leave England at once for good. But it is England's greatness that she has art appreciators as well as buyers. Oh, where is the true art 6