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\setdate{February 7, 1981}
\myletter{John McCarthy}{Professor of Computer Science}{4430}
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Prof Hisao Yamada\cr Department of Information Science\cr
Tokyo University\cr Tokyo, JAPAN\cr
}

Dear Hisao,

Many thanks for your letter and card and the magazine with your translation
of the Lermontov poem.  I was touched by the appropriateness of its
dedication to Vera.

Though Vera loved Russian poetry, in our short life together,
this was something we never had a chance to share, though we did read
some Russian prose --- Voinovich's {\it Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin}.


I found the Lermontov books, and I think you will make better use
of them than I, so I have sent them to you.

Unfortunately, my study of Japanese stopped far short of understanding
the translation and appreciating your idea of using Romanized Japanese
to emphasize the sound pattern of the poetry and avoiding the connotations
of the appearance of the characters.

\signed{Best Regards}{John}

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