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[Aetat. 23 ] J O Y C E 205page history of English literature for use by the Berlitz school, he justifiedhis awarding first rank to Wordsworth (along with Shakespeare and Shelley)by citing the lyric, 'Where art thou, my beloved son?' 30Joyce's friends in Dublin had no idea of this keen interest in fatherhood,but the news made Gogarty hope for a reconciliation. A rare andamusing letter from Cosgrave soon brought Joyce this news:Dear Joyce,Nora has just reminded me of my rudeness in leaving your last cardunanswered; but you know my indolence. I had half a letter written afterreceipt of your novel but was unable to continue so I consigned it to domesticuses. News is plethoric so expect a short letter. Rumour engagesByrne to a Miss Heyden—Mrs Skeffington's anteroposterior diameter isunaltered.* I regret not having been the first to communicate the joyfulintelligence of Nora's delivery to Skeffington. Meanwhile accept congratulationsand give them to Nora for me. Hope the B. is doing well. I amunable to say anything about your novel as I have lost the continuity.Please send some more soon to Charlie and I will do my best to help youwith criticism. Meanwhile why in the name of J.—Lynch? Anything butthat. Gogarty has his M.B. at last and is now up for the Fellowship of theSurgeons. His sailor is going further still. Last time I met him he hadalmost reached the North Pole, but he complained of the weather,The Sailor feelsThe climatic rigorOh whales that swim and snort and blow!O Walruses whose front-teeth show!Oh Seals that still select a floeTo cool desire!I don't know how the Hell you goWithout a fire.The judgment of Providence overtook the crew captain for so ruthlesslychucking Sinbad overboard. They were driving on Death butbefore the final disasterThe Sailors hearThe Syren VoicesWhere weighed Atlantic's lift and powerAnd thunder down on LabradorThey heard beyond a din and roarLike Thor's great malletThe calling of the Coal-Quay WhoreWhich has no palate.At Christmas 'a stranger to you now' [Gogarty] gave me the following 'littlecarol' explaining that Christtime was limited to a few moments at Christmasand as he couldn't combat the misrepresentation of centuries he hadto grin and bear it. He also added a long harangue about the virtues of theCross—providing the protagonist with a backbone and being the sign inwhich he conquered. He takes a great deal of credit to himself about thesuccess of the menage a Trieste the town of the Man of Sorrows.* Francis Skeffington had married Hanna Sheehy in June 1903.