Originally enclosing a 'rag of a News-sheet, which has been practically edited by C.A. [Clifford Allen] for the P.M. [Ramsay MacDonald] under very difficult circumstances'; for example, he 'could not get the P.M. to improve his obscure and somewhat crude article'. It may be a 'beginning of something valuable'; it is mainly 'addressed to Labour people'. Bessie is writing to [Maria] Germanova and hopes she can come over with Andreyusha [Kalitinski, Germanova's son]; unfortunately he will have to be in Edinburgh from about 18 March until the end of the month; everything is going well there at present [re the production of his and Donald Tovey's opera the "Bride of Dionysus"] as far as he knows. Francis Birrell has asked for Julian's address, as a young cousin of his is studying at the Sorbonne and thinks it would be good if they could meet. Julian's picture is now hung up in the library, and looks good there. Asks if Julian has borrowed a 'small "Tristan Shandy" and "[The Brothers] Karamazov". Will send his own new book ["Rimeless Numbers"] soon.
Metelliano. - Hopes Trevelyan has returned safely home 'without more internal troubles'; sends on a letter. Pancrazi is urging him to finish the article on [George] Moore and to talk about his novels, which he does not have at all; asks for help in getting hold of "Esther Waters", "A Modern Lover", and "Drama in Muslin", he will pay Trevelyan back through Nicky [Mariano] if it is a question of Birrell not wanting to send out unpaid-for books. Expects "The Lake" and "Aphrodite in Aulis" through Trevelyan's 'kindness', and has already read "Abelard", which he enjoyed very much, and "Memoirs of My Dead Life". Hopes Trevelyan can think out happily 'the meeting of St Francis with Flaminius' ghost'. Asks to be remembered to 'Lord Alan' [Clifford Allen]; the Allens should be persuaded to come to Italy.
Addressed to Trevelyan c/o Prince Antoine Bibesco, Hotel Meurice, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. - Has not got Trevelyan's address, so hopes Prince Antoine will forward this card. Thanks Trevelyan for the postcard; very kind of him to have ordered her book ["A Pier and a Band"], though she is 'sure it is most unsuitable to read in Paris'. Asks him to tell Francis Birrell, with her love, that 'the great Lytton Strachey' liked her book so her 'price went up in Bloomsbury where the poison of asps lies under tongues'. Asks how Trevelyan is enjoying his work. Postcards always give her 'complete brainstoppage'. Desmond sends his love. Hopes she 'may find [Trevelyan] in the bathroom one day when peace has broken out'.
League of Nations, Sunderland House, Curzon Street. - Is here and keen to see Bob again. Has been appointed Director of the Press Review, and started work this morning: it is very interesting, though London is 'fearfully hot'. Asks when and where he can see Bob. Saw Francis [Birrell] in Paris with Sigis [Waley] about three weeks ago.
Conseil Supréme Economique, 26 Rue de Bassano. - Addresses Trevelyan as 'Bob Trev': sorry he has taken so long to reply, but has been very busy with his new job as head of the French press service of the Supreme Economic Council which he started in 'April last'. Pleased that Bob values their acquaintance: he himself took great pleasure in the 'most delightful evenings' they spent together, and looks forward to seeing him again. Will be in England very soon as he is about to join the League of Nations (probably as the head of one of the sub-sections), and hopes to get down to Dorking to see Bob. Very glad of the post: Bob knows he has 'always been interested in peace questions'. Expects Bob found his wife and son well: must have been a 'real joy' to see them again; is keen to meet them. His own wife gave birth to a son, Yves-Bernard-Georges, on 22 May: both are in 'perfect health'. Had lunch with Francis [Birrell] and the Waleys last Tuesday: Mrs Waley is 'also at the Supreme Economic Council'. Peace has come at last: will do his best to 'make it durable'. Yvonne [his wife] sends regards.
British Museum, W.C. - Lucky that he did not come [to visit Bob, see 17/4], as he developed flu; is alright now, and asks if the weekend of 17 May would work instead. Hopes the Shoves came; has not seen them; sure Francis [Birrell?] arrived. Has been 'deluged' with proofs for "Jap[anese] Poetry", "The Story of Ts'ui Ying-ying ", and "More Translations from Chinese", though the last is not due to be published until September so he need not rush. Asks if Bob would be kind enough to look it over after Miss [Beryl] de Zoete, who is 'fairly good at spotting howlers'. The sum he mentioned as a possible fee from the Art Theatre '[for Bob translating Aeschylus' "Prometheus", see 17/2?] was too large; believes it would be about twenty-five pounds, but this is unofficial. Enjoyed James [Strachey]'s piece about Claudel's "L'Otage" in the "Athenaeum", as well as Lytton [Strachey]'s essay on Lady Hester Stanhope [in the issues of 4 and 11 April]; it 'ought to be rather an entertaining periodical under its new management'.
Received a cheque for a hundred and forty five pounds from Constable; this seemed very little, but it turned out to be for his cousin Adolf Waley for "The Re-making of China". He himself had sold about 1300 copies [of "A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems"] by 31 December. Asks Bob whether he agreed terms with Constable for his [translation of Sophocles'] "Ajax"; heard that he could not do so with Unwin. Yoshio Markino visited him yesterday and 'got very excited trying to write down his favourite Chinese poems'; however, he could not remember the characters and 'sat holding his head in his hands & groaning'; he learned them in Japan as a child, nearly fifty years ago. Heard from [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson 'discovering a "Chinese passage" in Shakespeare'; has 'not quite succeeded in deciphering his letter'. Dickinson also told him that Thomas Hardy prefers Cranmer-Byng to him which is 'hardly surprising'; he was 'astonished' to hear Hardy liked his own versions at all. Ezra Pound is going to settle at Toulouse, where he will 'wake up the sleepy Meridionals'. Wonders if [John] Rodker's [Ovid] Press has begun to print yet; feels he should order some books from it, but knows he would 'hate them so when they came'. Has got a gramophone and 'catalogues of all the exotic music of the Globe' but does not know how to choose. Has lots of 'India, Chinese, Lithuanian, Russian, Arabian, Serbian, Hungarian and Spanish records [to choose from?]'; has only got Mozart and rag-time at present.
Was very sorry not to see Trevelyan during his visit. Met Roger Fry again here; they have talked about Trevelyan, and Fry has translated an article about him from an English newspaper; it was very complimentary and Fry says justly so. Translating the article, and commenting on it, almost made Fry miss his train. Hopes to see Trevelyan in England in May.
c/o Prof. [Herbert] Grierson, 12 Regents Terrace. Edinburgh. - Encloses a cheque for expenses and 'fee as designer and scene-painter' [for a recent production of Robert's "Meleager"]: Julian did 'a great deal of work' and 'the result was very successful'. Will also send a cheque. Has just read his paper on metre, which seemed to go all right with 'a fog-diminished audience'. Bessie is at Welcombe; will join her there next week then go abroad. Has not yet heard from [Umberto] Morra, but will probably visit him first, then go to Aulla [to see the Waterfields] around the time Julian comes out. May get [Hasan] Suhrawardy to come out with him, but is not sure. Sorry that [Arthur?] Waley is 'trying to get out of his heresies [ie, of giving a paper to the Heretics Society]; wonders how Wittgenstein's paper went; asks if 'Francis B.' [possibly Birrell?] is going to read a paper despite an initial refusal.
Feels guilty towards Trevelyan: every day means to write to him and then puts it off. Is at Vence with Roger Fry at the moment: they often work together, and often talk of Trevelyan. Asks how [Francis] Birrell is. The weather is quite good; many flowers are growing and the croaking of the frogs in the evening is 'alarming'. Thinks he will definitely be in Paris when Trevelyan comes back from Italy and passes through, to have the pleasure of seeing him. Is not going to London this year. Sends regards to Mrs Trevelyan.
Postmarked Azay-le-Rideau; addressed to Trevelyan at Mission Anglo-Americaine de la societé des Amis, 53 Rue de Rivoli, Paris. - Apologises for not coming to see Trevelyan before leaving due to pressure of business. Hopes his card will find Trevelyan in Paris; tells him to write to him with his news and that of his friend [Francis] Birrell. Gives his address as archivist to the SPCA at the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Thanks Trevelyan for his letter and what he has done to help her: it is a 'great moral path' for her, and she hopes that with the help of a heart 'as great and generous' as Trevelyan's, she will be able to 'remedy this misfortune'. She encloses her letter to [Maxim] Litwinof and also that to her little one [her daughter Olga]. Adds in a postscript that she is also enclosing her letter to 'the sister of Monsieur Fray' [Roger Fry's sister Ruth, general secretary of the Friends War Victims Relief Committee]: asks him to read it, and if he does not think it too foolish to give it to her; also to let her know the response as soon as possible. If there is no hope of sending a Quaker to search for her daughter, she will go herself immediately to Warsaw (she is applying for her passport) and perhaps there will be a way of getting to Kiev from there. Marchand despairs and does not want her to leave because she is so weak; she is made worse due to her 'torment' [of worry for her daughter]. She went to the Ukraninian mission [embassy?] again yesterday, and spoke there to a colonel who came from Kiev a month ago, who says that Kiev has become a 'totally dead city', and that everyone who can has left; the peasants no longer bring their produce as when they do the Bolsheviks requisition it and take it to Moscow; they take everything from 'unfortunate Ukraine', which is becoming increasingly poor. There are no trams or streetlights working; worse, there is no piped water, and those like her family who live a distance from the river are suffering terribly. People cannot get new clothes, or shoes; they go bare-footed with boards tied to their feet; lack of water means that there is much dirt and fever. The colonel said the 'atmosphere is so sad and overwhelming', and that he himself was maddened almost to suicide, but preferred to 'do even the lowest work here and eat only dry bread than to return there'. He travelled for a week in goods wagons, standing all the way, 'packed in like cattle' with ill, dirty, drunk and coarse people. She does not know if she can live knowing that her daughter is so much suffering there.
Marchand writes to Trevelyan on the back of Sonia Lewitska's letter: thanks him for everything he has done for Sonia: is very saddened by all that [Sonia has learned] . Had news this January from Mademoiselle [Angela] Lavelli. Asks how Trevelyan's family is. Has not seen [Francis] Birrell again.
Service photographique et cinématique de guerre. - Asks 'what has become' of Trevelyan; wants to know some information. Hopes now to be demobilised at the beginning of March and to take up his paint brushes seriously again; also his life before the war, though he asks whether they will find again that 'lost paradise'. Would love to see Trevelyan again before his departure for the south; asks him to come and find him one day and they can lunch together; would be very happy if M. [Francis] Birrell were in Paris and could accompany them.
Learned that Trevelyan [?] came once to the Restaurant du 3 Ponts [?] while Marchand was on leave, and must therefore have returned from his voyage; asks whether he will soon have the pleasure of meeting him. Asks him to tell him his news, and whether he started the new year well; asks what has become of M. [Francis] Birrell. Postscript saying he is still at the same address: if Trevelyan comes to find him there they can go for lunch together.
Is 'very culpable and negligent' towards Trevelyan, but he is 'always so indulgent' that Marchand hopes he will be pardoned again; he is obviously an 'almost disgustingly lazy being'. Begins by thanking Trevelyan as well as 'the young artist' [Julian]: asks if Julian still likes Corot, and if so to continue his appreciation of that artist, whom Marchand himself loves more and more. As Trevelyan thought, they are at Vence; he had a hard job 'detaching Sonia [Lewitska] from the hill' where she 'incrusts herself every winter like a crab on a rock'. Hasn't seen Trevelyan for a long time; has a fond memory of the first time he met Madame Trevelyan, for whom he feels much affinity; his regret for not visiting her at 'Gluffolds' [an error for Shiffolds?] is greater, and he regrets that he no longer knows when he will be in London again, since the exchange rate is 'ruinous' and the future 'quite sombre'. Wonders what has become of everyone who was gathered then: has not seen [Francis] Birrell or [Arthur?] Waley since then, though he thinks often of them. Waley sent him a book which he read slowly and has re-read continuously about the works of Lao-tse and other Chinese writers, translated by Vignier: it is both full of old experience and new goodness, and some phrases apply perfectly to the current situation. Is only returning to Paris in the last week of April; Trevelyan will give him great pleasure if they can meet then. Adds a postscript as Sonia sends best regards to both Trevelyans. Marchand asks if Trevelyan is still working on his translation of Aeschylus and Sophocles. Has seen that in the last election 'notre ami' Winston Churchill was beaten again: he can then leave it all for his 'mad passion - that of painting'. Asks Trevelyan to send him Waley's address if he has a chance.
2 Rue St Martin, Neauphle-leChateau, (S[eine] et O[ise]) [from envelope). - Apologises for not replying sooner to Trevelyan's letter: being in the country he has been working very hard, although has not therefore done anything which has satisfied him. Did not see [Francis] Birrell at all: he cannot come to Marchand's house without Marchand knowing. Marchand left at the end of May and came to a 'little place' in the Isle de France, Neauphle-le-Château. Sonia [Lewitska] is already doing better than she was in Paris but she still has a lot to do to recover completely. He 'regenerates himself as well as he can, without having found the ardour of the past': believes the last five years will 'weigh heavily' on their 'much-maltreated generation'. Vignier [?] is 'always equal to himself', and claims in fact to surpass himself as he is working hard to progress without a pause.
Saw Miss Deacon twice during her stay at Paris, but in a very unexpected way. Regrets that he has not received Roger Fry's article, and so has not thanked him, but hopes to send soon to send Fry an almanac he has illustrated in collaboration with several artists. Hopes to come to London some time around November; will be very pleased to meet Trevelyan's wife and 'young amateur of landscapes' [Julian], who seems typically English to him as he has often noticed that the English have a 'predilection' for this genre of painting. Sonia has finished her woodcuts for the Joinville [Jean de Joinville, "Le Livre des Saintes Paroles et des bons faits de Notre Saint Roi Louis"], and they both send best wishes to both Trevelyans. Adds a postscript that he does not have many details about his exhibition [at the Carfax Gallery?]: asks whether it was not 'too disparate' despite the range of periods it covered.
Postmarked London; addressed to Trevelyan at Furzen Wood, Abinger Common, near Dorking. - Would love to come on 21 May; knows that Francis [Birrell] much regrets that he cannot. Is still 'brooding over the Epistle'; there are parts he likes very much.
Apartado 847, Madrid. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter [in response to 6/45]: is writing to Birrell and Garnett for Ormond, "Milton's Prosody" [by Robert Bridges] and Bradley; asks Trevelyan to check if they received the order if he is there before he goes to Florence. Tells him not to stop writing verse but do his work on metre as well. Finds his age [fifty] which Trevelyan is approaching is 'difficult and depressing', and asks what is to be done about it; their upbringing requires them to 'grin and bear it', but 'since this idiotic Freud one suspects that is no solution'. Not in Sevilla yet but waiting for a second proof from the printer; does not know what they will think of Sevilla, having been there for a week; supposes it is all right if you live there and fall in love 'with a girl behind a reja [grid]' like Michel Bréal, but 'for a contemplative person... [it] is not different enough, not a sufficient spectacle to remain outside'. Japan 'the only fit place of exile'.
Menéndez has given up his post at Toulouse; he says the French and French literature are too 'middle class'. Duran 'the most amusing & capable person, & lovable too', he ought to be doing something more with his gifts, though Sickert suspects his dreams of revolution will not come true. His wife sees Mrs Jimenez sometimes, who has a second baby. Much enjoyed a conference of Cossio's on some pictures going to the Casa del Greco in Toledo, which reminded him of 'a perfectly rounded little effort of Ruskin's'. Ocaña still consul in Lille [?], spending weekends in Paris. Has been into the little palace at Mancha, which Trevelyan might remember; they are making it into a museum; he loved it. Had a lovely month when Argentina was at the Romea [theatre]; is sorry Trevelyan never saw her, as he thinks she is the best dancer of any kind he has seen. Describes her at length. They went backstage and 'worshipped' twice; 'then she is like a very intelligent Jewish pianist'.
Thinks Trevelyan has not heard any canto flamenco; La Niña de los Peines has been on, in better form than last time. In contrast to the views of the 'stupid critics' who write on 'difficult composers', canto flamenco is popular but 'much too subtle & difficult for the educated young people who... could take such a thing as Parsifal like milk'. Arthur [Waley?] is right that records are needed to 'cope with such music', but records have a different and unpleasant timbre so it is necessary to know the music already. Wishes he got on better with the words, but they are hard to catch and understand; they are not poetical. Is very interested in the prospect of [Lascelles] Abercrombie's book; remembers how good he was when discussing the article for a children's encyclopædia they were going to publish, but wonders if Abercrombie is right to select a scene from Shakespeare. His love for Don Quixote.
No-one has talked about anything but the 'Morocco tragedy' [during the Rif War] since July; 'self-deprecation all-round. Spaniards are the least chauvin [sic] people in the world.' Don Julio [Álvarez del Vayo] flew back from Berlin, gave a talk on Russian literature which Sickert could not attend, and returned at once. Posters out about the revival of "España". Bagaria the caricaturist has 'outdone himself' in "El Sol". The theatres are very dull: younger people may criticise Benevente, but since he stopped writing plays there is nothing worth going to see, and Catalina Barcena is having a baby so there is no good acting.
Could not find a house during their week in Sevilla so his wife returned to try again, once more in vain; she wants a house belonging to 'the mad Marques de la Vega Inclán', who wants 2000 pesetas per month; their rent in Madrid is 550 pesetas. The Marques owns the Casa del Greco in Toledo, which Trevelyan may remember is a 'duck of a place', and has 'invented' what seems to be an equally charming Casa de Cervantes in Valladolid. Remembers the 'jolly lunch' the day he left. Goldie [Dickinson] was 'a dear'.
Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London W.C. - Trevelyan should stay on Friday night. If they do not meet earlier in the day, will see him at the 1917 Club. Has asked Francis Birrell to dine with them if he can,
Eight days ago he and his sister went to the 'marvellous concert' Trevelyan had so kindly directed them towards: thanks him again for giving them such pleasure, of such high quality. If he had known Trevelyan's friends the performers [Adila Fachiri and Jelly d'Arányi] before the concert, he would have appreciated their 'rare qualities' even more. The elder [Adila] has a very human style of playing; one senses she is an 'ardent, passionate woman, a "panther"'. Her sister [Jelly] is a young girl with a 'seraphic' style of playing; 'an angel of the order of "Powers"'. Madame Fachiri performed the Bach "Chaconne" with a 'prodigious' sustainment and balance, while Mademoiselle d'Arányi played Mozart's serenade very well. Loved their performance of the Bach sonata together, while an adagio brought him to tears. The second part of the concert allowed the artists to 'showcase all their delightful sounds', but the music descended from the 'elevated spheres' of Mozart and Bach. He and his sister went to the foyer afterwards to greet the performers, who welcomed them enthusiastically:Trevelyan's name was a 'precious key' which opened wide the door. Went the next day to Princess Bibesco's to pay his respects to Jelly and her mother. Their kind welcome touched him greatly, and he had the 'boldness' to ask if he could escort them to the theatre one evening; therefore had the great pleasure of taking them to the Nouveautés to see "Chouchou poids plume"; unfortunately Marguerite was unable to come. Promised them that he would come to England at last next year in June and July; hopes that the pound [exchange rate] will allow the journey then, as today the difficulties are 'insurmountable'. It is four o'clock, so Trevelyan's friends will be arriving now at London; they were dreading the journey so he hopes the crossing was not too hard. Asks Trevelyan to pass on his admiration and friendship when he sees them next. Will have the pleasure of spending the evening with Fr[ancis] Birrell next Monday; Birrell came to see him the other day when they arranged the evening, and Gicquel found him in good form if a little skinny; he is always full of spirit and charming.
St Cloud. - Thanks to the workers, who have brought them this holiday [the first May Day], he can write to Trevelyan. Has just looked out of the window: all the shops, cafés and businesses are shut; there are a few walkers despite the rain, who seem 'astonished... by this extraordinary rest'. Does not know what is happening in Paris: everything is calm here, but perhaps things are more disturbed in Place de la Concorde; will know tomorrow, as there are no newspapers today, [in an article appearing] between two related stories: one about the financiers in London, the other about the dinner of Count Brockdorff-Rantzau the [German] ambassador.
Feels as if he is talking to Trevelyan, despite the time and distance between them: has continued to think often and sympathetically about him, and is very glad to have met him in Paris due to a 'romantic idea of Geoffrey' [Hardern]: is also grateful for the friendship of that young man, who made a surprise visit to them last Sunday, He is at Dole, with his fiancée, and promised to visit when he returns. Gicquel's sister, with whom he often talks about Trevelyan, greatly appreciated Geoffrey's 'beautiful nature', and was also pleased to see him again. She and their parents send warm regards to Trevelyan. Madame [Magdeleine] Greslé is in Lisbon: her journey to Spain and Portugal was 'very rudimentary' in terms of comfort, and she wrote to Marguerite Gicquel that she found herself very far away and almost lost: hopes she does not flee [?] into a 'new revolution'.
Trevelyan is back as head of the family after his long months away: Gicquel greatly appreciates the work he has accomplished and the role he has played during the war, and his services as well as those his friends are still rendering are invaluable. Trevelyan can now live happily, proud of the labour he has accomplished, with his wife and child among all his books in his beautiful countryside. Sends all his best wishes to Madame Trevelyan. Counts on seeing the likeable [Francis] Birrell soon; he must be about to return [to France]. If Trevelyan sees him before his departure, asks him to let him know how pleased Gicquel will be to see him again in Paris; also asks Trevelyan to write when he has a moment.
Received a card from Geoffrey [Hardern] yesterday evening, sent from London and informing him of his arrival in Paris yesterday - Monday - at one; naturally could not see him then, but has sent him a message this morning at rue de Rivoli, and is waiting to see him now with great pleasure. Asks how Trevelyan and [Francis] Birrell are, what happened at five o' clock on Saturday, when they will next talk, and go to visit Madame Beaumont. Is waiting for Trevelyan to let him know when he has an evening free. His sister saw Trevelyan at the Yvonne Astruc concert, but was unable to speak to him.
St Cloud; addressed to Trevelyan at Hôtel Britannique, 20 Av[enue] Victoria. - Hopes that Trevelyan has returned satisfied with his journey. Will meet him as he did the other week next Thursday at the Palais-Royal metro station to go to Madame Greslé's house. Asks him to let Geoffrey [Hardern], if he is in Paris, know; received a letter from Geoffrey yesterday, dated 15 November from Manchester, which said he would definitely be in Paris tomorrow (Thursday) with his sister. Félix has written to Geoffrey at rue de Rivoli, but also at his request to him in England; thinks Geoffrey could not have got his letter before his departure, as he himself only got Geoffrey's yesterday. Asks Trevelyan if he has discovered whether Hirth [?] is a 'monsieur or a madame'. Will be glad to see him again on Thursday. Sends his regards to [Francis] Birrell.
National Liberal Club.- His father's letter reached him yesterday, having been forwarded. Is writing to his mother to thank her for her 'great kindness in making us these presents on her birthday'; also thanks his father 'most gratefully' for his 'participation in the plan'. Is writing to Bessie, and hopes she will get his letter tomorrow. No doubt his father will see her soon when she is at Cambo with Julian.
Is going to Anglesey next week to stay with Lascelles Abercrombie, Professor of English Literature at Leeds, 'a fine critic, and a fine poet too, though of late years lecturing has taken up all his time'. Is just going to lunch with 'young [Francis] Birrell'; expects he will also see Birrell's father, whom he 'always like[s] meeting. He is still as charming a talker as ever'.
Before Bessie went away they had just finished reading Orley Farm, which seemed to them 'as fine a novel as any of Trollope's' though some things in the 'trial and the procedure seemed somewhat improbable and even a little absurd. But it is a superb plot'. Will join Bessie at Scarborough later in the month, then return with her and Julian to the Shiffolds.
St Cloud. - Madame Greslé will be at home on Thursday, and will see Trevelyan with pleasure. Will meet Trevelyan and Geoffrey [Hardern] at five o'clock at the Palais-Royal metro station the evening of "Plus ça change" [revue by Rip]; they will go directly from home to their lovely friend's house. Was delighted to meet [Francis] Birrell. 'Here is the next peace!'. Wants to see Trevelyan 'again and again', so that when the Channel is between them once more, their friendship will be as strong as if there were no distance. His sister [Marguerite] will also be very happy to get to know Trevelyan, and will be at her friend [Madame Greslé]'s house. Adds a postscript with Madame Greslé's address in case by some accident he is unable to meet them and take them there.
Greville House, Little Baddow, Chelmsford. - Very kind of Bob to send his poems "From the Shiffolds". Heard from Kim that Philip Erasmus [Bob's grandson] has 'joined us all in this sorry place'; sends best wishes to Bessie and the whole family. Enjoyed "Windfalls" so much that he bought two copies, one to give away; thinks Bob may have found it hard to show himself 'so frankly to the world', but it is 'beautifully done' and Cross is glad he wrote it. Apologises for not writing before, but 'what is there to say? When will this horror end?' Hopes Bob has not got 'too depressed'; thinks work is 'the best sedative'. Has been quite busy himself with 'nebulous schemes which are unlikely to mature', and 'repair of damaged buildings', which are 'depressing'. Hopes the Trevelyans have had nothing to disturb the Shiffolds; he had a 'near miss' once, and the house is 'frequently shaken', with tiles lost and doors and windows broken, but nothing serious has happened so far. Has just finished '"Social England" by the Master of Trinity' [George Macaulay Trevelyan's "English Social History"]: it 'just suited [his] mood' and he 'had difficulty putting it down'; has also read the 'small book on Trinity' ["Trinity College: An Historical Sketch"]: 'Tradition still has humble admirers'. Comments on 'How miserable Goldie [Dickinson] would have been and Francis [Birrell] too'. Can still see Bob 'charging the barrier at a French railway station - successfully of course'.
St. Cloud. - Had been sorry about Trevelyan's speedy departure, because it prevented her seeing him again [beforehand]; was glad to get his message on Saturday morning. Thanks him for coming to the office: always gives her great pleasure to shake his hand, and she is pleased to count herself among those whom he does not forget. Her family were glad he remembered them.
Félix Gicquel's message is written on the front of the postcard, above and below the illustration: he will go eagerly to hear the Hungarian violinist [Jelly d'Arányi or her sister Adila?]. Hopes Trevelyan found his wife and son well. Will be very pleased to see [Francis] Birrell again, as long as Birrell's pipe does not keep him in 'some bad place' at the time he had arranged with Félix.
70 Elm Park Road, Chelsea, S.W. - Has just had the 'shocking news' from Geoffrey Hardern that Felix [Gicquel] has 'died of galloping consumption after a month's illness'; encloses the letter [no longer present]. Bob may also have had news of the internment. Geoffrey is 'very overwrought', and Birrell fears this may 'finally send him over the edge'. Finds Felix's death 'extremely distressing'; Birrell 'loved him very much indeed &... shall never [meet] anyone quite like him again'; is sure Bob feels the same. Wonders if Bob could write a letter to Hardern: understands if he cannot, but feels a letter 'from someone definitely considerably older... might be advantageous to his morale'. Has written himself in a 'rather unaccustomed strain... urging him not to collapse under this. After all, Felix was his only check'.
British Museum, London: W.C.1. - Has not written before as he did not know where Bob was; but 'Mrs Riviere says Mrs Sickert says' Bob is near them, so he thinks this may well reach him [in Spain?]. The newspapers lead him to believe that Bob must be 'starving', but if he has flour 'there are all manner of amusing things' he could make. Binyon's adaptation of "Shakuntala" was acted at two matinées, but 'received rather gloomily'; he himself found it 'hopelessly boring', though Bateson and Ricketts were 'separately & independently enraptured'. [Alfred] Cortot has been performing a great deal; Waley now likes him less, and thinks it is only really the 'moderns' he plays well, while his performances of Beethoven, Chopin and so on are 'quite silly'; he will not play early music though he 'does it very well', but 'rams vulgarities like the worst sort of Liszt fireworks into his programs'. Forgot it 'infuriates' Bob when he talks about music. Expects Bessie and Julian are at the Shiffolds. Seems 'no prospect of Francis [Birrell] appearing in London' soon, which is 'very depressing'; hears that G Franklin has arrived, but 'not in this district, happily'.
13, Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove, W. - Very sorry that Bob has been 'having such a bad time with this disease', and is sending 'an inhaling apparatus which is an infallible preventative' [see 17/35]; hopes it will reach him in time. Has given the "Summons to the Soul" and the "Pitcher" exclusively to [J.C.] Squire for the "New Statesman"; has only his Po translations and cannot 'stain the pages of "Reconstruction" with such bilge'; would send anything he had gladly, and perhaps by next month will have some more Po Chu-I poems. His elder brother [Sigismund] is getting married on Tuesday 'with oriental pomp'; Hubert is at home with a cold, having a 'very good rest'. Saw Goldie [Lowes Dickinson] at the [1917?] Club on Tuesday, in 'great spirits'; also sees [Eric?] Maclagan sometimes, who is 'still rather washed out'. Asks Bob about a line of poetry, "And my young wife walks up the path alone", which he had thought came from the 'Chinese poems' in [Robert] Bridge's [anthology] "Spirit of Man". Has found a Li Po poem which he thinks is the original of the English line; it ends 'young wife alone mounts tower'.
Sees that [Laurence] Binyon has another volume of poetry out ["The New World: Poems"]; he is currently 'lecturing to soldiers in France on the Civilization of China', and Bob may see him in Paris. [Campbell] Dodgson, the Keeper of Prints [at the British Museum] has received an Order of the British Empire [CBE], but 'did not seem unduly elated'. Must be 'great fun being translated into French'; hopes 'Vildrac will soon get going' on him, and that 'poets are demobilized early in France'; 'Makers of "India rubber Medical appliances" came first on the list in England. Sir Auckland [Geddes] is evidently afraid of an undue increase in the birth-rate'. Sends his love to Francis [Birrell], and asks Bob to tell him Waley has lost his letter about where to get a 'copy of Foy [?]'. Wonders if [his translation of] the letter from Wang Wei to a friend could do for "Reconstruction" and encloses a copy [no longer present], but will not mind if it is no use. Thinks the "Summons" will be in the "New Statesman" and will send Bob a copy (possibly one for B.B. [Berenson] as well); will also send the second number of the Bulletin [of the School of Oriental and African Studies, in which further translations by Waley of Po Chu-'s works appear] when it comes out. Understands that [Thomas] Sturge Moore will continue to come to London [after a move to the countryside], and has organised 'a "poetry reading" for a proximate date'; would be 'harrowing if he were absolutely banished'. W.H. Davies has 'been in a tremendous flutter' due to sitting for a portrait by Augustus John; he has 'a passion for being painted by swells'; afraid that Davies' new poems are not selling well; does not think Fifield are good publishers.
552 North Waller Ave., Chicago. Ill[inois]. - Thanks Bob for the 'charming translations' [of Aeschylus's "Oresteia"] and letter; hopes Lewis Gannett's copy will arrive safely. Has forwarded Gannett's letter to him at New York; he is an editor at the "Nation", and Binder thinks he will make sure a reviewer sees it if he does not review it himself. Suggests other publications Bob should send the book to. Has given his copy to an associate on the "Chicago Daily News", which 'has an excellent book review section for an American daily', who is a professor of classics and 'also a bit of a poet' [Keith Preston?], asking him to write a review and return it. 'Midwest dailies do not give much space to classical literature', but this may help bring it to the notice of classics lovers; will send Bob a copy. There are of course 'learned journals' in the States who would review the book, but he does not know them well, and expects Bob sees most of them. Glad that Francis [Birrell, with whom he and Bob worked in France for the Friends War Victims Relief Committee] is 'prospering'; hopes to see them all again some day. Has been on the staff of the "News" for some months; it is 'the most powerful of the afternoon papers in the United States and rather a nice sheet to work for'. Dorothy [his wife] is managing to write a little, but their son is keeping her 'pretty busy' and their second child is due next month; they are, however, not to busy to enjoy Bob's Aeschylus, which he hopes 'has a good response from America'.