The struggler whom you COULD help does his own helping; it would not occur to him to apply to you, stranger.

He has talent and knows it, and he goes into his fight eagerly and with energy and determination--all alone, preferring to be alone.
That pathetic letter which comes to you from the incapable, the unhelpable--how do you who are familiar with it answer it?
What do you find to say?
You do not want to inflict a wound; you hunt ways to avoid that.

What do you find?
How do you get out of your hard place with a contend conscience?
Do you try to explain?
The old reply of mine to such a letter shows that I tried that once.

Was I satisfied with the result?
Possibly; and possibly not; probably not; almost certainly not.

I have long ago forgotten all about it.