Cambo (on headed notepaper for the Board of Education, Whitehall, London, S.W.) - Enjoyed reading Bob's "Sisyphus" during Christmas week, and congratulates him; found some of the metres difficult. Expects Bob will be feeling little 'enthusiasm for becoming a Taormina landlord just now [he had been left property in the will of Florence Cacciola Trevelyan'. Hopes [Salvatore] Cacciola has not 'perished in the general wreck' [the huge Messina earthquake of 28 December 1908]; asks if Bob has heard how much damage Taormina has suffered, and whether it is true that Sydney Kitson has built himself a villa there; only sees a reference to a relation of Kitson [Robert?] being there. The family have just got home and all are 'very flourishing'; sends love to Bessie and Paul.
Trinity [on college notepaper]:- Hears [his parents] are visiting the Sidgwicks around the 28th. George says that Charlie is coming to Cambridge tomorrow. Everything is 'very dull here' and there is no news. George made a speech in the Union, which Robert has been told was 'a very good one as a first speech'; he did not hear it himself. Hopes George will go on speaking there. Kitson [Robert or Sydney?] is in Cambridge today, but Robert has not yet seen him.
Went to Harrow yesterday, and had dinner in the evening; Bowen is well. The 'situation in the House [of Commons, or at Harrow?] seems to be satisfactory'.
Trinity:- Not sure when he is coming up to London; probably on Friday. Expects he will go to the theatre in the evening and stay with his parents next morning. Was 'very glad to see Charlie'; expects he will be in Scotland next Friday so Robert will not see him then. The government 'seems to have had a great victory on Thursday and... succeeded in putting the Lords in a very awkward dilemma. The best thing they can do to educate the electorate is to throw out the clause'.
He, George, and two others read Othello this morning, and decided 'it was the best play all round [they] had ever read'. George 'acted Desdemona with great pathos, and the Iago was splendidly done by [Maurice] Amos'. Kitson [Robert or Sydney?] is here today; says that Charlie visited him last Friday, when he was 'looking after a very deaf old aunt' and so not able to see him properly. Has been reading a story by F[red] Benson in the English Illustrated [Story of a Mazurka?], which was 'very poor'. Hopes Dodo will be better; they are 'all waiting' for the six shilling edition, due to come out in the winter.
Hopes his father is well and 'not too busy'; supposes he does not have much time for reading, and has not come across any new interesting books. Sees there is a 'new French book about Napoleon', but has not had time to read it.
Trinity:- Addresses his mother first as 'Mama', then crosses this through and puts 'Matutchka'. Has 'spent a very uneventful week' and has 'nothing to report', except that he has bought a new suit which he hopes she will like. Muggins was in Cambridge yesterday 'to attend a dinner of some Conservative association, formed in imitation of the Eighty Club'; he said it was 'very dull and long', and that he left at 12, and it is said to have gone on for some time 'until the Hotel servant turned off the gas to make them go, and... to get to bed'. Muggins made Robert 'go and bathe at 9 in the morning today': Robert considers this to 'have been both a rash and a virtuous act'.
McTaggart is also up for the day; he has to be at home this term as 'his people have returned from New Zealand for the summer and he has to attend them, much to his annoyance - for he is not a dutyful [sic] son'. Kitson [Sydney or Robert?] is also here. Hopes C[harles] and G[eorge] will enjoy their play.