Short obituary, by 'a correspondent' [Frazer].
Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi. - Has not heard from Fry for a while: hopes Helen and Julian are well. Description of 'a Julian at the hotel': Julian Cotton of the Indian Civil Service, honeymooning with his Neapolitan wife [neé Gigia Riccardi Arlotta]. Other guests are Kershaw and his friend Perry, an ex-actor; 'the Lapchinski', who luckily only came for a week; and [William] Wyse of Trinity, an Apostle who has been forced by ill health to give up work for a year. Goes every day to the Cimbrone, passing Fry's old studio, and has overheard prayers there as if to 'rid the room of... some devil who has...haunted there since you painted him in your picture of St Antony'. Taking tea today with Mrs Read [sic: Mrs Reid, widow of Francis Nevile Reid of Villa Rufolo]. Bessie is learning Latin and Trevelyan is rewriting the old play 'which sent [Fry] and Helen to sleep once'. Has heard nothing from Johnson about "Polyphemus" and only seen two reviews. Bridges wrote him an appreciative letter, though he did not like the Faun's song or make much of the irregular metres. Will probably stay at Berenson's on the way north; asks if he and Fry might meet around Florence. Fry should read Defoe's "Moll Flanders", which is the best novel in English. Bessie is now reading "Robinson Crusoe" to him as a 'shaving book', which is also excellent.
University of London, University College - Giving dates William Wyse held the Chair of Greek. Accompanied by a telelphone message of the same day giving the same information.
Halford, Shipston on Stour - Going on a short holiday to Leamington, no time for a letter, sorry to hear Lady Frazer is unwell.
Magdalene College, Cambridge - In the letter of 3 Dec. Housman has suggested that Frazer be asked to write an obituary notice of William Wyse for 'The Times' as none has appeared. In the letter of 30 Dec. thanks him for his 'beautiful account' of William Wyse; 'It has given real pleasure to those who knew him intimately - & some of them are hard to please!'
Letter declining invitation to the 1905 Apostles' dinner.
Strathaird, Lady Margaret Road, Cambridge - Is glad to hear through Lady Frazer that he has recovered his sight; often thinks of Wyse.
Letters on questions of classical philology, many of them related to Duff's work on Silius Italicus' Punica. There are 15 letters, 1 post card and a sheet of notes dated 1921-1933 from A. E. Housman; 20 letters, cards, and notes from W. T. Vesey dated 1931-1932, and a letter from W. T. Heitland dated 4 Jan. 1933, from W. Wyse dated 25 July 1922, and a letter from J. Conington to H. A. J. Munro about his Lucretius dated 1 Dec. 1864.
Midland Grand Hotel, London, N.W. Dated 20 December 1929 - Is happy to hear that his health is improving; are moving to rooms in the Temple; his 'Myths on the Origin of Fire' will be published soon; his appreciation of William Wyse was in 'The Times'.
Halford, Shipston on Stour - Thanks him for his copy of 'The Golden Bough'; has a 'catastrophic cough' and seeks solace in the works of Peacock.
Halford, Shipston on Stour, Worcs. - Thanks him for the copy of the 'Fasti', confesses that 'tangor' with an infinitive still bothers him, thinks the passages cited by Housman are much easier to understand; hopes to find time to comment but all is not well: describes his sister's health issues, and his own: 'In old age there is no sap or green & the arrows of the Lord stick fast in us'; describes the departure of the maid who replaced the Cornish vicar's daughter in detail, and describes the present maid, who is old, deaf, and exasperating. Accompanied by an envelope with Frazer's note, 'W. Wyse (last letter), 3d November 1929, Ovid, Fasti, Servant troubles'.
Trinity Lodge, Cambridge. Dated May 13th 1930 - Thanks her for ['The Growth of Plato's Ideal Theory'?]; has read her letter and that of Sir James and her husband says he will bring it before the Council; it is a short term, and busy, with a new Chancellor's inauguration [Stanley Baldwin] with degrees to be awarded to Dr. Einstein and Prof. Planck and the Duke of Gloucester. Enclosed is a transcript entitled 'The Promotion of Social Anthropology', with a handwritten note in R. A. Downie's hand that the envelope carried Frazer's note that it was an outline scheme for the Wyse bequest.
Trinity Lodge, Cambridge. Dated May 16, 1930 - Brought his proposal to the Council but reports that they think they should wait until the [William] Wyse bequest is received.
Trinity Lodge, Cambridge - Is pleased to hear that Frazer's health is better; the College has appointed a committee to consider how the conditions of W. Wyse's will should be carried out; he will forward them her letter indicating Sir James' intention to lecture.
3 Belford Park, Edinburgh. Dated 29 September, 1906 - Thanks him for 'Adonis, Attis, Osiris'; when he retires he would like to show that Frazer's main argument confirms the traditional view of Christianity.
1 Brick Court, Middle Temple, E. C. - Mentions that the Frazers have received over one thousand letters after J. G. was knighted, including two 'horrid' letters from William Wyse, who objected to J. G.'s acceptance of the knighthood.
15 letters and two cards, accompanied by a clipping of Frazer's obituary.
Item 35: Dated 15 Dec. [no year]. Thanks him for his testimonial, and while the Aberdeen position is filled, he will endeavour to deserve the kind words in his future work.
Item 36: 23 June 1913 Congratulates him on the Oxford degree, will be sending a new and enlarged ‘Psyche’ and Part VI of the new G.B. to show that he has not been squandering his time or the trust placed in him.
Item 37: 25 June 1914 Thanks him for the congratulations; it is hard to be finished with the work, like the parting of an old friend; was grieved at the death of W. Aldis Wright, happy in his successor.
Item 38: 1 July 1908 Congratulates him on his new honour; asks if he has heard anything more of the Lorimer Fison business; visiting William Wyse.
Item 39: Letter to Sir Henry Cholmondeley Jackson, 26 Feb 1922. Thanks him for the copy of ‘Totemism’ which had belonged to his father; his father’s death has left a ‘sad blank’ at Trinity; wonders if his father had a chance to see his ‘Apollodorus’.
Item 40: 25 Oct 1887 Replies to Jackson’s criticisms and disagrees about the line between consummation and subsequent intercourse, and discusses the limitation of the effusion of blood as well, the value of virginity, and related matters.
Item 41: 27 Oct 1887 more of the same discussion.
Item 42: 9 Nov 1887 sends a copy of ‘Totemism’, sends a theory.
Item 43: 9 Nov 1887 a moment’s discussion with Robertson Smith has shown him the error in a theory.
Item 44: 1 May 1888 Refers to evidence from Samuel Gason on the prohibition of sexual intercourse.
Item 45: 22 Aug 1888 a long letter; discusses the comparison of metaphysics and superstition; asks him to save the letter for Robertson Smith.
Item 46: 24 Aug 1888 thanks him for being a sounding board for his theories, mentions that Robertson Smith is a stern utilitarian whom he does not dare to mention ghosts and spirits to.
Item 47: 18 Apr 1904 Asks his advice about Manchester.
Item 48: 2 May 1904 gives his reason for declining Manchester, encloses a letter from Baldwin Spencer criticising his circumcision theory.
Item marked as 'with 35-48': Undated Thanks him for the letter and cutting, is interested in the different motives and train of thought that influences men in different stages of culture; thinks McLennan treated savages as if they were influenced only by what we consider rational motives
Item marked as 'with 35-48': Undated, Friday asks him to put his last letter in the fire and that he should stick to facts, mentions an East Indian tradition that people leave their souls at home when they go out to fight.
Item marked as 'with 35-48': Card, undated about rules armies have about hair or feces falling into enemy hands where they can make magic with it
Item marked as 'with 35-48': Card undated refers to an article in Anthropological Journal discussing totem clans and rules for burying them in a certain direction.
Item marked as 'with 35-48': The Times obituary for Frazer
Bound album of 72 cuttings and offprints, primarily reviews of 'The Fear of the Dead in Primitive Religion' and 'Aftermath'.
Reviews of 'The Fear of the Dead' include a presentation offprint of a review in 'Revue de Synthèse' signed by André Varagnac (possibly originally with his letter to Sir James and Lady Frazer dated 18 Sept. 1935, housed as FRAZ 33/433); other reviewers include Ruth Benedict ('New York Herald Tribune'), Warren Dawson ('Folklore'), E. Dhorme ('Revue de l'Histoire des Religions') and Paul Valéry ('Revue de France'). Reviews of 'Aftermath' include those by E. N. Fallaize ('Manchester Guardian'), R. R. Marett ('The Observer'), E. E. Kellett ('News Chronicle'), Sir Alexander G. Cardew ('Literary Guide'), E. H. Blakeney ('Record'), A. L. Morton ('Criterion'), and H. J. Rose ('Man'). There are also several miscellaneous cuttings, including the announcement of William Wyse's estate bequests, with a description of the bequest in support of social anthropology; and Frazer's poem 'Trumpet Call of Peace' printed in the 'Times' 17 Oct. 1935, and a manuscript translation of the poem into French in an unidentified hand.
Halford, Kingston-on-Stour, Worcs. Dated July 8th, 1930 - Encloses a poem [transcribed], 'A Song of Trinity', found among her brother's [William Wyse's] papers; his books have been removed to Newnham.
Hotel Victoria, Messina. Dated March 3, 1902 - Describes a visit to Syracuse and Taormina; deplores the hotels; describes the area and a visit to the Cava di Spampinato in particular; finds the results of the College meetings disappointing; is going to Perugia, Bologna, Ravenna, Venice, and Rome.
Halford, Shipston-on-Stour, Worcs. [on mourning stationery] - Encloses a poem, 'A Song of Trinity', found among her brother's [William Wyse's] papers; his books have been removed to Newnham.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 21 July, 1905 - Discusses a passage in Euphorion [of Chalcis, as quoted by Athenaeus] and whether it means competitors were beheaded after being being severely beaten; has bought [J. G.] Lockhart's ['Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart'] and discusses the differing Toryism of Scott and [Samuel] Johnson.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 27 July, 1912 - Has been reading 'The Golden Bough' and disagrees with Frazer's hypothesis about Jesus and his connection to the tradition of using prisoners to play Haman and Mordecai; disagrees in the first place that the Jews at Jerusalem had any such custom; does not mean to agree with 'the extravagant scepticism of men like [Arthur] Drews'; but agrees that the Synoptic Gospels are not earlier than the destruction of Jerusalem.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 1 October, 1922 - Is conscious that politically they are diametrically opposed, but discusses the Entente Cordiale with France and his isolationist views, detests Lloyd George but thinks the mess in the Near East caused by Briand's choice of Franklin-Bouillon for the private mission to [Ankara]; thinks it unspeakable wickedness to rearm the Turks and disarm the Germans; is sunk in melancholy and contempt of mankind; the intellectuals are being literally starved out of existence; went to Moreton in Marsh for a fortnight, rooms too small and food not to their liking; is sorry to hear his wife has been unwell. Accompanied by a short note from A. E. Wyse to Lady Frazer sending New Year's greetings.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 31 December, 1922 - A long letter detailing his and his sister [Anne's] daily routine; asks about their situation [in Paris].
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 18 March, 1923 - Is sorry to hear they have both been ill and tells the story of being ill at the Hotel Saratz at Pontresina in 1901, where luckily [Lucas?] Ewbank of Clare and [R. R.?] Webb of John's were also staying; discusses the impact of the war on domestic help in the country and details ways they have of dealing with a maid who will only work 8 hours a day; admires Frazer for building his own house to dispense with a maid; has been made an honorary fellow of Trinity College.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 23 September, 1923 - Describes his health and the declining health of his sister [Anne]; has a good maid, but finds the change since the war in the attitude of labourer's women assisting with washing and charing depressing; the children are spoiled, theft is referred to as 'pinching'; a 14 year old girl they employed was an idle liar, the rise of gambling ought to be checked; mourns [Francis] Jenkinson and others who are dying and moving away.
Halford, Shipston on Stour. Dated 24 June, 1923 - A letter describing the lodgings in Moreton he and his sister Anne have taken, and the number of automobiles in the town and their effect on the countryside; describes the effects of the cold and dry weather on the garden; has not been on a train since 1919, the High Table at Trinity is full of strangers; hopes the house they are building will be ready when they want it.
Halford, Shipston on Stour, Worcestershire. Dated 14 July, 1929 - Domestic trials: maid trouble, young people who want to live in cities, have a young girl living as a companion who is ignorant for her years [Violet Wynne]; he and his sister are in ill health, is particularly troubled by bladder issues, asks whether Frazer's father's firm has instruments that could help; [Robert] Hicks had a stroke returning from [James] Glaisher's funeral and has died