Assuredly I merit the title of man of letters.'
'You certainly do.'
'By-the-by, what should you think of that title for a review--
Letters? It has never been used, so far as I know. I like the
word "letters." How much better "a man of letters" than "a
literary man"! And apropos of that, when was the word
"literature" first used in our modern sense to signify a body of
writing? In Johnson's day it was pretty much the equivalent of
our "culture." You remember his saying, "It is surprising how
little literature people have." His dictionary, I believe,
defines the word as "learning, skill in letters"--nothing else.'
It was characteristic of Yule to dwell with gusto on little
points such as this; he prosed for a quarter of an hour, with a
pause every now and then whilst he kept his pipe alight.
'I think Letters wouldn't be amiss,' he said at length, returning
to the suggestion which he wished to keep before Marian's mind.
'It would clearly indicate our scope. No articles on bimetallism,
as Quarmby said--wasn't it Quarmby?'
He laughed idly.
'Yes, I must ask Jedwood how he likes the name.
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