Showing 163 results

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Is being given the 'N.Q.' [New Quarterly], and finds it splendid. An essay on Poggio [Bracciolini], which MacCarthy encouraged him to send to the United States, has been rejected. Is going to Founder's Feast soon. Thanks Trevelyan about Stokoe, who must have moved. Lady Holroyd (who knows Trevelyan] has called, as has Mrs Barnes. Sends love to [Trevelyan's son] Paul.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Has heard from Miss V. W. [Vaughan Williams] about Trevelyan's accident at the Pageant: hopes he has recovered. Asks where Paul's 'playground' was purchased, as he would like to buy one for [Hugh Owen] Meredith's children. Returns two books, and his 'silly Dante paper'. 'Miss Bartlett' ["A Room with a View" has been rejected by the USA. Visits Meredith next week, then Mrs Hope Wedgwood; goes to Abinger next and on the 5th September may join [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson in Italy. Wishes that Trevelyan could come too. Is reading Marco Polo, inspired by Masefield's introduction.

Hollycroft, Cavendish Avenue, Cambridge. - Is glad that Trevelyan's wife is as well as can be expected [after the death of their son Paul]; asks if they are in Holland. Has been staying with [Hugh Owen] Meredith in his new house; goes tomorrow with Mrs Barger to join a party in Wales. Is reading "L'Iles des Pengouins" [sic: "L'Île des Pingouins", Anatole France] but is rather disappointed.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Congratulations about [birth on 20 Dec 1906 of the Trevelyans' son] Paul. Has been ill but now seems to have recovered after being sick twice: 'bis vomui' [Latin].

Postmarked Abinger Hammer. - Is sorry that he has not been able to visit while staying at his aunt's; but 'of all human beings a baby keeps the longest' so he will have to leave Paul 'in his Tarsian stage' for a few months more. Is arguing with Blackwood 'over the colonies' and thinks he will have to go elsewhere [for the publication of "The Longest Journey"]. Has received "The Arabian Nights."

Thinks this [referring to an enclosure now not present?] is a 'really dear old letter'; he is 'human enough to prefer such 'thinking aloud' to 'propriety' though he would not have written it himself and hopes he will 'be spared a correspondence'. Very pleased that Elizabeth so likes his book ["Garibaldi and the Thousand"]; values her opinion 'highly'. She is 'quite right about the Sicilians'; if it were not for his considerable debt to 'individual Sicilians', he would have been 'more humorous at the expense of their absurd countrymen'. Comments on what a 'jolly time we have on the Fifth of November'. Is lunching with 'the Jans' [Jan Hubrecht and his wife] tomorrow at Cambridge. Notes in a postscript that he knows about Aunt Annie [Philips] and has heard from her.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Left Rome a fortnight ago and has been settled at home for ten days, so is afraid she cannot help Bessie's 'singing friend' [Jeanne Salomonson Asser?]. Does not think she knows any musical people in Rome, and would not have thought it a very promising place to go, but expects the friend has 'good introductions'. Found it 'simply splendid' to return to her babies; Theo's talking has come on a great deal. Would love to see Paul again; thinks he looked 'too duckish' in the picture Bessie send to Caroline at Christmas; jealous that his hair seems to be curlier than Theo's. Mary is becoming 'more & more of a personage', and turns three next month; Janet exclaims she will 'soon have to be thinking about religious instruction!' Asks whether Bessie and Bob are both coming up for Donald Tovey's first concert on 12 February; would be good if they dined at Cheyne Gardens first; sure George will want to go - or she will make him want to. He returns next Friday, having had to stay on to work. Sends love to Bob and 'a kiss to the Dutchman' [Paul].

Stocks Cottage, Tring. - Sweet of Bessie to write about the babies and their whooping cough; they have it 'quite slightly' and the doctor thinks it will last no longer than three months so she and George still hope to get to Wallington, probably towards the end of August. They are going to Robin Ghyll a week on Monday; expects the air there will do the children good. It is a 'foul disease'; 'maddening' that there is nothing to be done to help the children while they have a coughing fit, but at least they do not 'dread the next fit' as an adult would; she has a 'cressoline lamp [sic: cresolene]' which seems to be the one thing the doctors believe helps. Sorry Bessie is worried about Paul; thinks she remembers Mary losing weight in her first six months 'trotting around'; not surprising that with teething and hot weather Paul has too. Bessie's three weeks alone with him must be tiring; hopes she is 'managing not to lift him' [due to her pregnancy?] but knows that must be hard.

She and George are going to have a third child; has only been sure for about ten days; has not even told her parents or Caroline yet, but could not write to Bessie without mentioning it; at present it is 'called Janetina'. They are in the train going to see the Chelsea Pageant and dine with Sir Edward Grey; expects he is being 'extra nice to George because he doesn't want any more inconvenient letters in the "Times" about Russian Exiles!' [cf. perhaps George's letter "Personal Liberty In Russia", "Times" (London, England), Jun 23, 1908; pg. 13; Issue 38680]. Janet can 'still be quite dissipated', and has not yet had to have her evening dresses let out'.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Her baby [Humphry] has been much better yesterday and today, though he is not quite well yet. Did know about the Walker-Gordon milk, and will order it when Humphry returns to cows' milk; at the moment he is 'only having white-of-egg and water in his one bottle'. He is obviously 'very sensitive to the slightest impurity in milk' and they will have to be careful, but has stayed 'most cheerful' throughout. Thinks of Bessie and Bob 'so often & so sadly'; is sure [the death of their son Paul' 'must get worse & worse' for them. Tells her to come and see her again soon. Notes in a postscript that her other two are 'quite flourishing again'; Theo 'has been turned into a real boy, with knickers and short hair!'

Robin Ghyll. Langdale, Ambleside. - Thanks Bessie for her letters; has wished she could see her. It is eight days since they lost him [Theodore]; it 'does somehow get better... chiefly by dint of that old steam-hammer of Dame Nature's, which goes on thump, thump, thumping the same knowledge into one's head & heart'; meanwhile 'his lovely little life is taking form & shining out more perfectly than ever', till she sometimes already feels it 'as a perfect whole, not as the piteous little broken bit it was... at first'; asks if that feeling grows, or if 'the pity of it gets ever stronger'; has often thought that Bessie, if anyone, must know [having lost her own son Paul].

Thanks Bessie for reminding her of 'that sweet little story'; remembers [her children's] 'outspoken surprise when they found [her] to be "the wrong Auntie Bessie"' very well. Dora Sanger is 'indeed a warm-hearted soul', and Eleanor Acland has written to say that 'all the Chelsea mothers & Chelsea Nannies look at each other through tears'. She and George will be at Stocks or the Cottage for at least two months, not London; thinks Bessie must 'come & make a pilgrimage among the family babies', since Molly's will also be at Watford.

Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside. - Very sorry to hear of Bob's accident and Paul's ill health; seems that neither are serious, but he would appreciate confirmation. Mary cannot quite shake off her whooping cough, so they are kept in isolation. They like Robin Ghyll 'immensely'; thinks it is 'healthier' than Seatoller for a long stay; does not have 'such wonderful woods behind it' but the view is even better than that at Seatoller. Is just beginning to write his new volume ["Garibaldi and the Thousand"], and Janet is getting on with her history of Italy ["A short history of the Italian people "]. They go out for drives and picnics in a pony carriage they hired in Ambleside.

2, Cheyne Gardens. - Has signed the transfer and sent it on to Maurice Bell. Has seen [Ralph] Hawtrey 'about the B.M. [British Museum] salaries question' [see also 14/65]; seems that the pay scale is the same as 'for the majority of the Civil Servants', though 'the Treasury, Home Office, Education, and India' and perhaps another earn more. George thinks the British Museum employees should be on this higher scale, but fears 'the Treasury would be stiff'. Charles is going to enquire how the pay of the 'higher posts' at the Museum compare with that of those 'the ordinary Civil Servant rises to', so Bob should 'prod him about it' when he sees him; he is 'quite sympathetic'. Waiting for news about Bessie [due to give birth]; sends love to her and Caroline; leaves England on Friday morning.

Grand Hotel Boulouris, St Raphael, Var, France. - Congratulates Trevelyan [on the birth of his son Paul]. Apologises for not writing sooner; has had a 'sprained arm & consequent rheumatism'. Is not an expert on the 'statistics of infancy', so does not know whether what Trevelyan says is good, but it sounds so. Trevelyan has now 'a still firmer anchorage in the old house', and with the new house and new baby he supposes he will not see him here for some winters to come. Glad the child is a boy, and hopes he will keep up and add to the reputation of the family name. Sends regards to Elizabeth Trevelyan.

Bagley Wood, Oxford. - Is very sorry to hear of Bob's 'great loss'; knew that [Paul] was ill, but not that he was in any danger. He 'cannot bear to think about what [Bob] and Bessie must be suffering', though he knows she 'will have courage'.

Fortezza, Aulla, Lunigiana, Italy. - Sends a 'thousand congratulations on the happy event'; they [he and Lina] were glad to get Bob's letter with news of Paul and Bessie. Glad the Enticknaps approve. Is following Bob's plan and goes for walks with 'pockets full of books' everyday, but rarely reads them, instead sits 'basking in the sunshine & the stillness'; describes the surroundings. Lina is 'doing away with the pigions [sic] because they don't pay'; he objects, but will have their tower room for 'a study from which to wander in the roof garden' as compensation. Needs Bessie 'badly to paint the ringhiera [banisters or railing]'; sends love. They miss the Trevelyans both very much this Christmas.

Higher Coombe, Haslemere. - Sending congratulations to Trevelyan on the birth of their son Paul. Henry and Winifred [her son and his wife] are here and also send best wishes. Sends love to Bessie; is very glad to 'think of her happiness'; hopes that she and Paul will 'get on excellently always'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that Robert is reading his book [Volume III of "The American Revolution"]; asks him to tell him about mistakes or misprints; the book seems 'well subscribed for'. Sorry to hear about Paul and glad he is better. Sends love to Elizabeth; he and Caroline are interested in the marriage between [Arthur] Richmond and [Theodora] van Riemsdijk. Caroline is in London for a few days; he has his 'very old, and tall, friend Sir Steuart Bailey' to keep him company. Sir Walter and Lady Trevelyan 'turned up on a motor journey yesterday' so he gave them tea; Sir Walter is 'immensely improved in manner and bearing' and she is a 'bright little lady'. Is interested by the 'Wattses [paintings by G. F. Watts?] at Compton'; does not know 'who has Compton [Watts's house there?]'

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Delighted to have the news of the birth of Elizabeth and Robert's son; wants to know how much he weighs and so on; hopes the labour was not too hard. Wonders if Robert 'has ventured to hold the baby'; he must start when it is small. The hounds [the local hunt] have been here this morning and she and Sir George went out to them; looked 'very pretty'. Asks whether they have decided the baby's name is to be Paul; Sir George likes it. Amusing to think of the 'three boy cousins' [with Theodore and George Lowthian Trevelyan] so close in age.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sure Elizabeth is glad to be in bed in this cold weather, though since there was sunshine yesterday and today she and Sir George have taken some walks. The nurse has kindly written a long letter with much she wanted to know about Elizabeth and Paul. Is very glad to hear the nursing [breastfeeding] has begun so well; Mary and Pauline were both 'troublesome' though the boys [Theodore and George Lowthian] were not. Longs to see Elizabeth and Paul but must wait, as both she and Sir George are going to be careful not to catch chills. Has been busy with the accounts, and has 'embarked on another large Vol. of Sorel'. Asks if Elizabeth has had visitors yet; sure Miss Noel will be delighted. Janet is coming on 7 January, and her mother the next day; 'rather alarmed' at the thought of having Mrs Ward for 'two whole days'. Asks if Paul has been out yet; likes the idea of him 'being carried up and down the Tannhurst [sic: Tanhurst?] Terrace which is so sheltered & sunny'. Long holiday at Stratford, with Christmas, bank holiday and local holiday; there has been tobogganing on the hill behind the house, and the pond will soon be frozen enough for skating.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Robert's account of the [recently discovered passages from?] Menander is very interesting; would like to see the book and will return it to the [London?] Library; this is an exception to his usual preference for not reading the classics when he is working. Paul 'winds himself round one's heart'; can see 'steady progress' and hopes this will be a turning point. Very glad Bessy has had her cousin with her. Sends a 'really amusing letter' from Everett. Asks the meanings of the titles of Menander's plays. Caroline will not write today.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Will be glad of the Menander and Robert's observations; sends a short amusing letter by [William] Everett, who is very clever about the quotation from Herodotus. Also sends some papers about 'a French Who's Who?'. He and Caroline are getting very fond of Paul; sure a long change of air will be good for him; when he fends off attention it is like 'a pretty squirrel scolding'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has read [Menander's] "Samian Woman" and is a little disappointed; interesting to feel the difference in the Greek. Asks which of the other plays Robert liked best; would like to read more but will wait to hear. Is going to shoot partridges at Hartington, and will take Paul out for a drive; he is 'infinitely amusing'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland [struck through], Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for the "Hippolytus" [Gilbert Murray's translation of the Euripides play?]. Has heard from Caroline about Robert's "Sisyphus [: An Operative Fable]" and is keen to see it. Glad to have Robert's account of Bessie; hopes the 'Northern air' will help her as it did Paul.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland [crossed through], Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie and Paul have returned to Robert 'in good case [shape]' and that they have good weather. Thanks Robert for his 'researches in Murray' [a reference to the Oxford English Dictionary, currently in production under the editorship of Sir James Murray?] but defends his own use of 'insistent' [in the last volume of "The American Revolution"] rather than 'persistent', citing authorities including George Eliot. The hounds are coming to Wallington today; is glad to be watching them, not hunting.

The Green Farm, Timworth, Bury St. Edmunds. - Arrangements for Trevelyan's visit to Timworth: the trains are difficult. If Trevelyan is going to the concert at Northlands [Sophie Weisse's school] he should not spoil it by worrying about getting to Liverpool Street. Is writing on Desmond's behalf as he is busy with his "Independent [Review]" article. Is very sorry that Trevelyan's wife is not coming with him, as she would have liked to hear more about Paul, and the MacCarthys have a lovely piano which was a gift from Miss Weisse (they can only play "The Bluebells of Scotland" on it), but understands that she cannot leave the baby.

L.B.S.C.R [London, Brighton and South Coast Railway?]. - Apologises for not writing: has been very tired and Helen 'in the difficult exalted mood'. Is going to Paris for two days, 'museuming' with a Trustee [of the Metropolitan Museum of Art]. Is sorry not to have seen Trevelyan; hopes Helen's phase will pass soon as it is 'far more trying than the depression'. Asks to see Trevelyan's "Sisyphus". The Frys have taken a house at Guildford for nine months, then hopes their own will be built. Hopes Paul is well again.

Hampstead. - The rain on Sunday made it too uninviting to bicycle on Sunday: they stayed in the shelter of Shulbrede Priory and rode back some of the way this morning. He had written to Helen about Paul [Trevelyan]; the letter from her, originally enclosed, is a response. Would be good if Bessie could write a little note about Paul and other 'domesticities', but the doctor does not want her to have much strain from correspondence; the doctor seems to think she is getting on slowly. They enjoyed their stay with Bessie and saw some good sights on the way to Petersfield, including Bedales where he hopes Paul will go one day with Julian and Pamela. Is going to Failand to see his children soon.

Brighton. - Writes with the news that Donald [Tovey]'s mother died on Christmas Day and the funeral is on Tuesday. Wants then to take Donald and his father back to Northlands for a few days, then hopes Donald will still come on to the Trevelyans instead of going back to Worplesdon. Sends best Christmas wishes to the Trevelyans. Does hope Donald's brother and 'his very capable little wife' will look after Mr Tovey at the Rectory so that Donald can come to the Trevelyans; perhaps Bessie could 'urge it a little'. Fears he will not come to Scotland with her now.

Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Trevelyan for 'Henry Adney' [Ariadne: i.e. Trevelyan's first draft of the libretto for "The Bride of Dionysus" and apologises for not acknowledging receipt sooner. Will calculate the length of scenes and the whole, but does not think it will need much altering; suggests replacing the Satyr and his song [Act III, Scene II] with a second chorus of Maenads, and ending the work with a 'short Bacchic-philosophic chorus' modelled on an earlier 'captive-chorus'. Is already very excited about the work, and feels it has 'any amount of poetry & contrast & flow': sketches out the moods of the four acts. Miss Weisse also thinks it very beautiful. Is not sure when he will be able to begin, but will try some 'crude extempore experiments' very soon; doesn't expect major rhythmic difficulties, though he may have to sacrifice certain 'verbal rhythmical effects' which will not be noticeable when set to music. Trevelyan can publish his poem before the opera is ready, as long as they ensure the rights do not interfere with those of the poem: it would be awkward if the opera had to be published without words, or if Richard Strauss were to 'combine Ariadne with an operatic version of Bernard Shaw's Philanderer' before he was ready. Will 'agitate at Oxford' as soon as he starts composition, and ask for help 'in wire-pulling & preparing the ground'. It will be a 'large undertaking' and he fears his intention of doing it with 'a pre-Wagnerian orchestra' will not be feasible; will know more when he has sketched out the first act, and will do it for a small orchestra if he can.

Tovey returns to the letter 'three days later', with about twenty pages of detailed suggestions for the libretto: some of these are alterations of a word or two, others suggestions for additions or rearrangements, to best suit Tovey's conception of the characters and / or musical needs. Has other suggestions which he will make later. Emphasises that most of his alterations are very slight, a line or two only, except for the speeches of Minos and Dionysus in which he has suggested new arguments. Thinks Trevelyan has chosen a splendid story and succeeded despite Tovey's 'croaking'; he has written a play which 'cries out for music & is unlike any opera-book... that has ever been seen.' Will soon be 'boiling over with themes & contrasts'; finds it significant that all the musical ideas he has begun to have so far are connected with points which are 'most entirely [Trevelyan's]', who has taken up Tovey's past suggestions patiently but made them his own; he therefore has no hesitation in sending 'all this screed of details' as he knows Trevelyan will make of them something better than he could have imagined.

Gets through the first act in his head with extempore music, probably a little quick, in forty minutes; this is 'not very alarming' for four hundred lines out of fifteen hundred and fifty lines. Wishes Trevelyan would publish the text 'nicely got up' like his "Polyphemus", and omitting any alterations made by Tovey which are 'merely musical or practical'; it would 'aid its career as an opera if it is understood as literature' beforehand and even performed as such, maybe with choruses set to Tovey's music. Invites Trevelyan, his wife and son, to see 'the Miltonic Arcades' [at Northlands?] for which he has composed the songs.