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[ Aetat. 23-24 ] J O Y C E 221George Moore or Thomas Hardy or even Pinero, in such a work asSecond Mrs.TheTanqueray, would have been rejected in the middle Victorianperiod. 'And if a change is to take place I do not see why it shouldnot begin now.' 1 9Richards did not yield; instead he emphasized his objection to the useof the word 'bloody' in 'Grace.' Joyce in reply imprudently pointed outthat the word appeared in other stories as well:—'And one night man, she brought me two bloody fine cigars, &c'—Two Gallants—'Here's this fellow come to the throne after his bloody owl' motherkeeping him out of it till the man was grey . . . &c'—Ivy Day in the Committee-Room—'if any fellow tried that sort of game on with his sister he'd bloodywell put his teeth down his throat, so he would' &cJoyce wrote on May 13:The Boarding-HouseThe first passage I could alter. The second passage (with infinite regret) Icould alter by omitting the word simply. But the third passage I absolutelycould not alter. . . . The word, the exact expression I have used, is in myopinion the one expression in the English language which can create onthe reader the effect which I wish to create. Surely you can see this foryourself? And if the word appears once in the book it may as well appearthree times. Is it not ridiculous that my book cannot be published becauseit contains this one word which is neither indecent nor blasphemous? 20He asked why Richards had not objected to 'An Encounter,' and of courseRichards promptly did, and asked him to removeit. Joyce was besidehimself with outraged logic. For him these were not mere 'details,'Richards suggested; in short stories they were crucial; effacing them wouldleave Dubliners 'like an egg without salt.'The points on which I have not yielded are the points which rivet the booktogether. If I eliminate them what becomes of the chapter of the moralhistory of my country? I fight to retain them because I believe that incomposing my chapter of moral history in exactly the way I have composedit I have taken the first step towards the spiritual liberation in mycountry. Reflect for a moment on the history of the literature of Ireland asit stands at present written in the English language before you condemnthis genial illusion of mine which, after all, has at least served me in theoffice of a candlestick during the writing of the book. 21The more Joyce conceded the more was asked of him; Richardsasnowdeclared that 'Two Gallants' would have to be omitted. Joyce could not,the publisher suggested, afford to be so heroic about his art: if I hadwritten your stories I should certainly wish to be able to afford your atti-