
Nearly a month ago I sent you a request to vote (as a member of The Critic's Academy of Forty Immortals) for nine successors to the
members deceased since our leaders elected the Forty in 1884. I sent a list of about
65 unsuccessful candidates (or rather nominees) who were voted for at that time, &
asked you to pick out nine of them or to name nine others if you preferred. Nearly
all the
"Academicians" have sent in their votes; but I don't want to announce the result of
the thing till I hear from you. If you have lost the printed
slip, I can send you another. We shall not tell how any individual voted,
but only how they all voted—the net result. I hope you'll not disappoint
us.