In early March 1897, Robert Walser wrote a letter to the poet and journalist Robert SeidelSeidel, Robert, editor-in-chief of the socialist newspaper Arbeiterstimme (‘The Worker’s Voice’). Founded in the early 1880s, the paper was based in Zurich where Walser had been living since the previous year. Even though his birthday was more than a month away, Walser told SeidelSeidel, Robert he was nineteen. The letter asked whether he might be considered for a clerical post. SeidelSeidel, Robert was informed that Walser’s present position was in the travel insurance business, where he worked as an assistant accountant, but that the work was not to the young man’s taste and he yearned for more meaningful employment. Documents were enclosed attesting to Walser’s previous experience and SeidelSeidel, Robert was assured of the loyalty and diligence he might expect, mentioning also that the young man spoke two foreign languages, being reasonably fluent in French and proficient in Italian.