Blank printed order forms for "The Death of Man". Press cuttings, most sent to Trevelyan by Durrant's Press Cuttings agency, from: the "Westminster Gazette" [also reviewing "Three Days" by Rose Macaulay]; "Athenaeum"; "Nation" [also reviewing John Still's "Poems in Captivity" and Macaulay's "Three Days"]; "Challenge", reviewing both Trevelyan's "Ajax of Sophocles" translation and "The Death of Man", as well as several works by other writers]; "Expository Times", printing Trevelyan's poem "Clouds" in full; and the "Spectator" [also reviewing the works of several other poets]. Also a review by Rose Macaulay from an unknown newspaper of "Some Recent Verse", including "The Death of Man", and another unidentified review of this plus the "Ajax" by 'B. S.'
Veronica, Silverdale, nr Carnforth. - Thanks Bob for sending his "New Parsifal"; will get him to write his name in it when he comes north. Read it with much 'zest and enjoyment' as if he had never done so before; thinks it has all 'come quite fresh and delightful'. Sure it is 'first rate and... will last a long time'; eager to see what the reviewers say, as soon as Bob has a 'bundle of cuttings' he can spare'. The 'Chiswicks [Chiswick Press] have managed the cover very well'; the 'arrangement with Bickers' [printers and booksellers] sounds good, and will probably be 'more efficient' than Longmans or 'liitle [Charles Elkin?] Matthews'. Will remember all this for "Mrs Lear" [his forthcoming "King Lear's Wife"], but thinks he should try Heinemann first as Bob suggests. Thanks Bob for taking the trouble to see [Edward] Marsh and writing; will follow up this opening as soon as he can; unfortunately the typescript [of "King Lear's Wife"] is not yet ready, since he has had a 'few bed-days', and there is an 'Old-Man-of-the-Sea of a plumber here' who makes work 'impossible'. The house is ready to move into; they are going to Allithwaite on Friday, on to Well Knowe for a fortnight, then 'back here for ever. This is a 'damned place, full of old maids collecting for the provision of woollen comforters for deep sea fishermen'.; mentions the suggestion in the local directory that Silverdale is named after 'Soever', a 'hardy Norseman'. Promises Bob that 'Mrs Lear' will be his 'Lenten task', and to get the typescript to Marsh by Easter.
Had a letter from [John] Drinkwater three weeks ago, who said he had seen Bob, and also asked for the 'refusal' of 'Mrs Lear'; have therefore promised to send him a typescript too. Drinkwater sent his [play] "[Oliver] Cromwell....."; Bottomley at length replied he was 'on his side about King Oliver', but that Drinkwater should not 'write poetry like a partisan'. Ernest Newman was 'offensive and vulgar' about [Wagner's] "Parsifal"; loathed' him as Bob did. Wishes he could have seen the opera with Bob. As it has just gone out of copyright, has bought a cheap score; expected it to be 'good but vegetarian and flabby' so was glad to see it 'so much huger' than expected; thinks 'the Amfortas... more moving than anything else in Wagner'. Has got hold of a Bohn edition of the Grimm "Fairy Tales" 'just like' Bob's, and now he and his wife read them out loud in the evening. Very glad that Julian is better: 'suppressed influenza' seems to have been a great danger for children recently, and Lady A[lice] Egerton says her little niece almost died of it. Hopes Sir George is also better. Adds a postscript to say that the French musical review S. I. M. ["Société internationale de musique"] for 1 January has a 'good portrait' of R[alph] Vaughan Williams and a piece on "Les Post-Elgariens" by Marcel Boulestin.
On printed notepaper for York Street, Covent Garden. - Notice will be printed at once; Whittingham will continue to do printing requiring special care [at the Chiswick Press]. Wilkins has left the firm; family cut links with him through the Chancery Court.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking; sent to Lady Trevelyan at 8 Grosvenor Crescent, London S.W. - Thanks his mother for her letter. Is 'very sorry to hear about Geordie's measles'. While Robert was out, Bessie opened the letter and read it; he thinks it is better she should know, and his mother should not fear she will worry about it. Of course Bessie hopes Paul won't catch the measles, but if she feels if he does her mother-in-law and Booa [Mary Prestwich] will do everything necessary; he probably would not get it badly, as Geordie has a mild case and Paul seems 'quite strong' now. They are both sorry Caroline has 'so much trouble and worry from this, on top of other troubles'.
Bessie is well, and 'was up most of today'. He has 'stupidly' addressed a letter for his father to Wallington, so this will be delayed; also forgot to enclose Lord Rosebery's letter [see 12/146] so sent it by the next post, also to Wallington. Hopes 'the publishers' dinner will be a success'; has now got the specimen page [from the Chiswick Press, for his new book Sisyphus: An Operatic Fale] and has sent it to Fry for his opinion; he himself thinks it 'looks fairly right now'.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking; sent to Lady Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Bessie is 'going on very well still' [after labour and the death of their new-born daughter Susan Caroline in September]; the doctor came today and 'seemed quite satisfied'. Has not yet replied to his father's last letter but will do soon. They are glad to hear Paul is 'so well' despite the heat; has been cooler here recently though still fine.
The Chiswick Press [printers of his new book Sisyphus: An Operatic Fable] seem 'very dilatory', and will not send a 'specimen page': until they do he cannot begin getting proofs. Expects he will not be able to get the book published until December now. Hopes Aunt Meg 'will find Phil's case is not a serious one', and that his parents are well.
Pegasus Club, 9 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, WC. - Very nice of Trevy to send him a copy of his "New Parsifal": it reached him a while ago but he had to write to the Chiswick Press to get Trevy's current address. Has read the book and was much 'interested & amused' by it; thinks it 'contains certain truths' which the majority have forgotten but should remember. Thinks the 'chase of the Phoenix by the aeroplane' is 'great'. Tells Trevy to 'come and pull [him] out for tea' if he is ever in the area, and hopes his wife is well.
16 Upper Brook Street. - Philobiblon books should be distributed soon, including to the newest member, [A. P.] Stanley; sends manuscripts for printing - care must be taken with Mr Gibson's; proofs of Greville's journal should be sent to Henry Reeve. Postscript: will addd name and forward Dean Stanley's copies if they can be sent here.
Fryston, Ferrybridge. - Requests revision of Stonor MS etc.
Will send Richard de Bury article for printing. Requests copies for Mr Gibson and himself; also copies of Greville journal for himself and [Henry?] Reeve. Would like proofs and extra copies of Mr [Evelyn?] Shirley's article.
Sends revision of lecture on [Richard de Bury?] and sixteen letters for careful printing 'under your own eye' and swift return. Postscript: Mr [Henry] Huth's address is 30 Prince's Gate.
Fryston. - Now thinks article unsuitable for Philobiblon Society, but would like sixty copies printed for himself as it is typeset; a proof of the [Marat?] letter should be sent to Upper Brook Street on Saturday 20th.