Showing 4 results

Benet House, Mount Pleasant, Cambridge.—Sympathises with his difficulties. Has passed Part I of the English Tripos in the first class and has obtained a scholarship at Christ’s College. Smith’s family are in good health. Encloses an ordination card. Discusses Father Ryan, who has replaced Father Watkis at the parish church. Moreno’s lectureship has now expired but he is being paid for broadcasts to Spanish America. Praises Moreno’s family and refers wryly to the exploits attributed to ‘the Leavis progidy [sic]’ [Ralph]. Moreno has been visited by Wilson. Asks after Bewley and McLuhan.

Excelsior Springs, Missouri.—Is sorry that Smith’s ‘old distress’ has returned, and criticises Father Reeves’s response. Has felt lethargic since returning to America, but Mac [McLuhan] is ‘even worse off’ and Corinne [McLuhan] has suffered a nervous collapse after a series of parties. Deplores the current patriotic mood in America and the attitude of the Church, as exemplified by Jim Farley and Father Coughlin. Is anxious for the arrival of his books. Would appreciate some guidance from Leavis about his career. Sends greetings to the Singletons, Father Gilbey, and the Leavises. Has received «Scrutiny» and is reading «Gil Blas». Dennis [Enright] is ‘going to Evesham to pick plums with students from Birmingham’ and Remi Preston is thinking of moving to Leamington. Asks how Godfrey [Lienhardt] and ‘the young man who was psychoanalyzed’ fared in their exams; Birch Moody did well, but Illingworth is in a panicky state. Looks forward to the publication of Smith’s book on Shakespeare. Will return to England when he can. ‘Christopher Dawson’s last piece in Scrutiny was really quite true, & Leavis’s constant talk about standards & intelligent living seems more important to me the more hopeless it becomes.’

[Excelsior Springs, Missouri.]—Has felt unsettled since he came to America, but has done some painting, including a portrait of Leavis. Criticises various priests he has met. Has tried reading 'The Grapes of Wrath', but found it boring. Is considering teaching for a year, and wants to go to Boston this winter. Is going to Kansas City to consult Father McCabe. Praises American Jesuits, wryly. The early stages of the presidential election have pushed the war into the background. The latest 'Scrutiny' has not come yet, nor his books. Has asked Leavis for a letter of introduction to the American universities, and has been told that he (Bewley) got a first. McLuhan arrived about a week ago and is now in St Louis.

Monticello College, Alton, Illinois.—Has left the seminary and is now teaching ‘Criticism of the Novel’ at a girls’ college. Describes the setting of the college and the character of the girls and staff. Is reading to fill the time, but has read nothing for over a year which has made a substantial contribution to his life. Does not plan to stay at Monticello for more than a year. Discusses his mixed feelings towards the Church and the seminary. His friend at St Louis [McCabe] has suggested he might do better at St Anselm’s Priory in Washington, DC. McLuhan’s ‘performance’ seems increasingly inadequate, but on the other hand the Church seems ‘horrible’. Something of his feelings towards it are expressed by Orozco’s mural ‘Christ Destroys His Cross’. Is going to ask Leavis whether John Farrelly might get a scholarship at Downing. Has had news from Gordon and is delighted to hear about Father Hilary [see 1/91].