Showing 11 results

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry to hear that 'Nannie is "hors de combat"'; was afraid the large group would be too much. Elizabeth must get one of her extra nurses, or she will wear herself out. Hopes Mrs Abercrombie recovers soon; if the baby [Ralph] needs to be hand-fed, Elizabeth must certainly get help. G[eorge's] expedition [to Serbia?] is risky but 'very useful, & the best he could do'; since no-one is safe, it is best to be doing something. She and Sir George are very busy, so she does not feel 'quite useless'. Feels 'more angry than alarmed', which the Germans will find is the general response of the English to their 'methods'.

Press cuttings with reviews from: "Everybody's"; "Adelphi" (review by H. V. Routh); "Time and Tide" (by Ralph Abercrombie); "Times Literary Supplement"; and "Public Opinion".

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Glad to hear that all is well; hopes the extra nurse will stay until the A[bercrombies] move as she thinks the large party is too much for Elizabeth's nannie's nerves, though she is very good for Julian alone. Mary and H[umphry] leave today, to general regret. Thinks people are 'very foolish to take Belgians into there [sic] own families'; the money they spend would be much more efficiently used by the Committee. '[Q]uite wonderful how far Janet makes it go'; never realised she was so capable; hopes she will not over-tire herself, though understand why people do too much as the war is 'so pitiful & ghastly'. Finds it hard herself to stay at home and do so little, and 'one's power of helping in money is rapidly diminishing'. Nothing yet settled about No. 8 [Grosvenor Crescent], but it is not too expensive now. 57 men from Snitterfield have joined the army; they see 'a good deal' of the regiment based at Stratford. Lucky that Elizabeth is not nearer the sea because of the bombing. Charlie seems well; the little girls [Marjorie and Kitty, perhaps Pauline?] are to come to London soon.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Annie [Philips] is staying with them and is well; she takes a 'good walk' with Sir George in the afternoon. Has news of Bob in London; hopes he will not catch Mary's cold; was glad to hear from Mary that she was deferring her daughters' returns as they would catch colds if they came to London in this weather. There is influenza in Stratford, and the town is full: over a thousand soldiers, plus refugees and wounded. They went to see the hospital, which is 'a curious sight'; 'really wonderful how everyone is working'. Sir George is fairly well, and 'enjoys talking to the officers'; they miss the children. Sure the Abercrombies will be sorry to leave the Shiffolds when the time comes; asks if David could stay a while longer, or if he would be 'an anxiety'. Hopes Miss Evans has come back better; asks if Nurse Godwin has gone. Sends love to Robert. Sir George has recently read her "The Old Curiosity Shop"; it is a 'child's book, but the characters are vivid, and dreadfully exaggerated'. They have just started "Middlemarch", which is very good to read aloud. Has little time for reading as she is doing the accounts and 'making all sorts of resolutions of economy'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] sends her love.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Apologies for not having written earlier to thank Benn for sending his book ["The Greek Philosophers", 2nd edition?]. Had not read the first edition, only Benn's 'subsequent smaller books on the same subject' so it was 'a very great pleasure' to read his views in more detail. Not himself a student of Greek philosophy, so has 'little right to criticise', feeling 'much more inclined to enjoy and admire and learn'. Particularly interested in the chapter on the 'Religious Revival', and the chapters on Plato, whom he now hopes to re-read. Feels Benn is a 'little too severe on Aristotle's poetics', and that Aristotle may have meant something more like 'representation' than 'imitation' by mimesis, and 'a good deal more' by plot than Benn seems to think. Thinks he remembers some remarks of Matthew Arnold on this point. Benn says that Zeno's puzzles has 'never yet been satisfactorily solved'; this may be true 'but B[ertrand] Russell would not admit it' and insists that modern mathematics have done so; Trevelyan cannot judge. Has recently read Russell's last book, and found much of it too difficult to fully understand, though he was very interested it; recommends it. Hopes the Benns are 'keeping well and as cheerful as may be in so sad a time'. They had the Abercrombie family - Lascelles Abercrombie, his wife, and their three children - here for December and January, so the house was full.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Very sorry for Elizabeth's 'fresh trouble'; it is a 'slight complaint', so even if Julian does catch it he will soon recover, but it is still a nuisance. Mrs V[aughan] W[illiams] is a 'real "friend in need"'. Hopes it will not spread among Elizabeth's children; Elizabeth is right to get Miss Evans away. She herself has been ill since Saturday, with a bad attack of shingles, which is very painful. Hopes Elizabeth's trouble soon resolves itself; thinks '"other people's children" [in this case the Abercrombies] are always a bother'. Asks to be remembered to Mrs Vaughan Williams and Margaret; was hearing news of 'Mr Ralph V.W. in Khakhi'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Elizabeth for the photographs; particularly likes the one in which 'Julian & the cow contemplate each other'. Glad that the Shiffolds will soon be 'clear & disinfected' [when the Abercrombies move away]; she should know by Monday if Julian has 'escaped infection', though it will not much matter if he does have it. Hopes Miss Evans will now get well. Is recovering [from shingles] and thinks she will not have lasting neuralgia. Booa [Mary Prestwich] has her knee strapped up, but seems to be suffering from shock from the accident and for not resting enough. Hopes Bob's cold is better; they will be glad to be together again.

The Mill House, Stanford Dingley, nr Reading, Berks. - Would like to publish the letters by [Robert] Bridges to her husband about his "New Verse" and "Testament of Beauty" which he copied out when staying with her, as well as about three letters from her husband to Bridges. Sir Edmund Bridges is planning to publish a selection from his father's letters and he would not like to affect the sales for this, so a small edition of about 60 copies is planned 'as a sort of personal homage to two poets that I admire'. Robert Bridges himself was in the habit of printing very small edition of his works before wider publication. As her royalty he would send her six copies, of which one would be on 'special paper'. Will start at once if she agrees. Feels a larger edition would be a mistake. Ralph Abercrombie had the proof issue of "Testament of Beauty" containing her husband's suggested alterations; he has lent it to Sir Edward.

The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock. - The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock. - Has not yet spoken to Wilfrid [Gibson], but will do as soon as he sees him. He himself thinks 'very well' of Bob's scheme [for the "Annual of New Poetry"]; they should not worry about competing with "Georgian Poetry" and "New Numbers". True that "Georgian Poetry" 'is not asleep but sleepeth', as he understands, but "New Numbers" is 'dead as nail in door'. Cannot hurt "Georgian Poetry", which has 'never pretended to any monopoly', covers a 'much wider poetic field' and has a 'more aristocratic circulation'. Furthermore the first number of the "Annual" is likely to come out first, and will offer "Georgian Poetry" an 'attractive quarry to pick from', since it is 'frankly [Eddie] Marsh's own personal anthology [emphasised] of modern poetry', while in the "Annual" they would be 'trying to put as many of our wares before the public' as possible; however, would be best to see if Marsh objects. Regarding 'Mrs Lear' [Gordon Bottomley's play "King Lear's Wife], Marsh always said that Gordon's offer to let him print it first as 'great generosity', but the offer was on the understanding that "Georgian Poetry" would be published at once; since this did not happen, surely the offer is also off. Has always thought 'Mrs Lear' should be published as soon as possible.

Makes some tentative suggestions. The more poets on the magazine the less profit per poet; the poets should be chosen carefully, then there should be 'no editorial censorship on actual poems', since it would be difficult to choose an editor and communal editorship would be 'the devil'; the only control over contributions should be in the matter of space, and it would be best for the publisher to do this - suggests Constables as they 'are anxious to publish modern verse', and 'young Michael Sadler is... very nice & intelligent'. List of poets to contribute more important than the publisher: so far, provisionally, they have Gordon [Bottomley], [Thomas Sturge] Moore, Wilfrid [Gibson], Bob and Lascelles. Would also suggest Ralph Hodgson, W. H. Davies and R[obert] Frost; does not think there are others 'worthy to stand in our company, except of course [W. B.] Yeats & [John] Masefield', who would probably not join in. Frost thinks Walter de la Mare the 'greatest of living poets'; he himself does not rate him so highly, but would be happy to include him as a contributor. The profits for each number should be divided amongst the contributors, 'irrespective of space occupied'. Would like to talk to Bob about the scheme, rather than merely communicating in writing. Will see Bottomley when he goes to Grange [over Sands], and meanwhile may be in London soon; will let Bob know if he is. Feels 'honoured' to have been brought in so early the scheme's existence, and thinks it might be a great success. Catherine [his wife] is doing 'very well': apart from 'local effects of the operation' [for breast cancer] she feels better than she has done for a while; he thinks she also looks better. The two elder boys [David and Michael] are at Grange, and they will join them soon with baby [Ralph]. Was 'delightful' to see Bessie the other day.

Red Lion House, Chiswick Mall, W.4. - Is 'delighted' that Bob has sent her his book [his "Collected Works"]: is very proud to have it and see her own name and 'dear Lascelles'' together again in the dedication of "The Death of Man". He cannot know how much it means to her 'not to be forgotten by Lascelles' friends'; she misses 'so terribly all that splendid intellectual life' Lascelles gave her; though 'not an intellectual person' herself, she 'could & did revel in that splendid mind' and now 'the light has gone out & its dark & cold & always will be', except for the 'comfort' she gets from her children and old friends. Must think about Ralph and Michael's weddings, and 'how lovely it is to have acquired two new daughters, both dears'. Ralph 'looks a different creature now'. Very sorry Bob could not come to the wedding. The Gregynog Press want to start work as soon as possible to have the book [Lascelles Abercrombie's "Lyrics and Unfinished Poems "] out for Christmas; Ralph is seeing James Wardrop about it.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Julian's journey seems to have gone well: he was cheerful when he arrived and looks 'very bonny'; he has gone to Cambo this morning. Welcombe has been 'declined as a [war] hospital'; they are relieved as it would have been 'most disagreeable', but it was the right thing to do. Is thinking of fitting out an empty house in Snitterfield for Belgians; if the plan succeeds, asks if Elizabeth could visit to make sure all is well and 'put the people in'. She herself is much better and would go, but does not like to leave Sir George who is 'terribly moved and anxious about the war'. Thinks the furnishings could come from Welcombe, and it would 'do for middle class people - not peasants'. Julian says he is glad to be at Wallington and that the 'house was not knocked down'. Will send a letter to Bob to say Julian has arrived; hopes the baby [Ralph Abercrombie?] 'flourishes'. Asks if Elizabeth if she has read the Marquise de la Tour du Pin's memoires, which are 'very interesting and amusing'. Miss Evans [Julian's nanny] is 'very lively' and pleased to be at Wallington again.