Sir, - There I was, with my second work of fiction published, all ready to request an application form for membership of Aosdana - the suit cleaned and pressed, the blue shirt washed and ironed, even a haircut. "I know it's a lot of trouble," I said to my good lady wife, "but I have aspired to this for years - think of the honour and fulfilment in being admitted one of that number, those noble, artistic souls, those quiet contemplative geniuses, poets, novelists, musicians, playwrights, sculptors." She even agreed to subject me to a mock interview for practice purposes. I might have made the short list, you'd never know.
Then, out of the blue, there came the news that they had awarded a Saoi ship to Francis Stuart! Ni bhionn saol gun locht, mar a deir an sean fhocal, and you can say that again. I realised immediately that the better element among those enlightened artists would soon be resigning. The company would no longer he congenial and my ambition, silly and all as it was, shrivelled and died.
Yours, etc.,
Lower Salthill,
Galway.