; and told me that one of his plans to induce slumber was to count thousands of imaginary sheep running through a phantom gate。 Also he would rise and walk about the streets to cause weariness。
A very interesting gentlemen whom I knew was the late Mr。 Meredith Townsend。 He was one of the editors and part owner of the Spectator; out of which journal he told me he drew a fortable 5000 pounds a year。 His conversation was particularly delightful and informing; especially when he spoke of India。
I have before me a letter that he wrote to me before I visited Iceland; in which he says:
It would be worth living to read your account of a Berserk; a white Umslopogaas; with a vein of pity in him for women only。 。 。 。 You are aware that the Berserks when they left their Aryan home on the northern slope of the Hindoo Koosh took with them hemp and the dangerous knowledge of its quality of producing the temporary fury of battle。 The secret still remains in India; and natives who mean killing swallow bhang。
I think that this hint gave me the idea of my Norse character; Skallagrim。 Mr。 Townsend told me that he would live to be eighty; which he did。 I; he said; should die at sixty; as by then my highly strung temperament would have exicans say。
Another person whom I knew very well was Miss Marjorie Barber; who has since bee famous on the strength of her delicately written and arresting booklet; “The Roadmender;” which was published after her death。
My intimacy with Marjorie was brought about by the fact that her sister Agnes — a woman with as fine a literary sense and more all…round ability; although circumstances and a family have allowed her but little time to make use of them — became my sister…inlaw as I have said; and; before that event; for