33 Ossington Street, Bayswater. - After 'the first shock of this great calamity' [war between Britain and Germany], she felt that if she put aside the poem [Trevelyan's 'Bride of Dionysus', which she is translating into German] she may not be able to take it up again, so since Trevelyan seemed to wish it to be finished she has kept on and almost finished it. When she hears that he has returned to the Shiffolds, she will send him the score of the last act and her manuscript. Thinks he ought to pay her less than first agreed since the work will not be put on in Germany.
52 Castle Hill Avenue. Folkestone. - Monday 27 will suit her very well to visit Trevelyan; is looking forward to working together and expects they will 'push on a good way' [with her translation of Trevelyan's 'Bride of Dionysus', set to music by Donald Tovey]. Thanks him for the information about Northumberland; cannot yet fix on a place as her friends are uncertain as to the dates. Visited the Paines; Mr Paine has had an operation on his throat and can only speak in a whisper. The Bach evening last night roused her girls 'to quite considerable enthusiasm'.
7 Longwall, Oxford. - Thanks the Trevelyans for their invitation: would very much like to stay the night. Asks if Trevelyan has a copy of the poem which he could spare for a few days, since she would like to show a friend who would be a good judge of her translation [of "The Bride of Dionysus"]; if so, asks him to send it c/o Dr Hoernlé, 8 Northmoor Road, Oxford. Agrees it is 'extraordinary' how differently the work goes from day to day. Will send Trevelyan the M.S.S. Lucky that Tovey is able to come at the beginning of August.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Her friend in Berlin, Anna Henschke, does not feel she can 'undertake the musical part of the opera' [Trevelyan and Donald Tovey's "The Bride of Dionysus"] so she would like to suggest Marie Busch: Oswald agrees she is very promising. Will write to her if Trevelyan is happy with the idea. Agrees that the translator must be musical and able to follow the score; it would be good to be able to consult Tovey as well, and she believes that Marie Busch knows him. Hopes Anna will return the copy from Longmans which she sent to Berlin.
Folkestone: from Tuesday to Friday, 7 Longwall, Oxford, then 52 Castle Hill, Folkestone. - Is going to Hindhead for the weekend on 11 July, and wonders whether she might call on the Trevelyans on Monday the 13th to talk over her translation of the first two acts [of "The Bride of Dionysus"] 'more or less independently of [Donald Tovey's] music; they could also make plans to meet up with Tovey, perhaps at the beginning of August. Saw Tovey briefly in Oxford after the Encaenia, but 'only to shake hands'. Has sent her translation to Mme [Elsie?] Mathis, 'an excellent judge', but will send it to Trevelyan as well before they meet; asks if he would also like the score.
Dr Veiel's Klinik, Cannstatt, Stuttgart. - Is putting Miss Busch's translation [of "The Bride of Dionysus" into German] into a vocal score, 'interleaving it with a helpful commentary'; will send it to her act by act. Would be glad of a couple of alternative versions of the new recitative in Act III and asks Trevelyan to avoid parenthesis; would also like one more clause to be added.
Windrush, Steep, Petersfield, Hants. - Thanks Bessie for sending his blue trousers, and apologises for leaving them behind. It was very good to be at the Shiffolds again, and a relief to learn the Trevelyans did not intend to leave but 'would adapt it to [their] future needs'. George [his brother] asks him in a letter to thank Bessie for the gift of the "Erholungs Stunden" which Timmy loves and can play with little difficulty. Sends New Year wishes, and 'kind remembrances' to Miss [Marie?] Busch. Originally enclosing a paper which fell out of his proofs.
Postmarked Folkestone. - Is in 'a wild despair' as she has twice written for the score [of Donald Tovey's "Bride of Dionysus"] and had no reply; asks if Trevelyan could write.
University of Edinburgh. - Sends Homer, Bradbury and Crusius. Term begins next Tuesday. Is getting on with the vocal score of Act II [of "The Bride of Dionysus"], working from and correcting the copy of the full score. Miss Busch has been; he thinks they have the [German] translation quite right now. The [Reid] Orchestra is guaranteed for the next three years, and he has organised a consultative committee 'to regulate its interior economy'; expects it to be 'six times as good as last year'. Grettie has been 'over-exerting herself'; is going to the country 'for rest & feeding-up', but he feels that though depressed she is 'more completely herself' than he expected her to be for months; thinks she is in 'a chastened mood', an 'awakening to health & common-sense' rather than the 'dismal dumps' and he is much encouraged.
8 Wearbay Road, Folkestone. - Has been meaning to ask whether Trevelyan and Tovey would prefer ["The Bride of Dionysus"] not to be mentioned while they were still working on it, including the possibility of it being performed in Germany. Has so far only told a few friends, but is often asked what she is doing and why she is not in London doing her usual work; since she has been 'hors de combat' for over a year, would not like to give the impression of bad health. When she is not giving lessons, she spends a great part of the day on her translation, in which she is more and more interested; the choruses give particular trouble. Would like to hear what Mr [Willi?] Strecker thought of her translation. Asks if Trevelyan was in Oxford for the Bach festival, which must have been delightful.
Rock Hall, Uckfield, Sussex. - Thanks Trevelyan for his invitation; extraordinarily, they are out of town this weekend, and will be again next Saturday. Sickert's wife plays twice a year in Daniel [?] Young's orchestra at Letchworth. Is glad the weekends with Miss Busch at Pembroke Gardens [working on Marie Busch's German translation of Trevelyan and Tovey's "The Bride of Dionysus"] are going well.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his mother for her letter, which arrived yesterday; they are having 'chilly weather now, but already a daffodil is out in the copse in front of the house, and the hazel-buds are nearly opening'. Bessie went to town last week to 'furnish her new room, which will be ready in about a week from now'; it is very kind of his parents to make her 'such a splendid present, which will be more than enough for the furnishing, and will enable to give some help to her friend and house-mate Miss Busch'. She has just gone to the village, Forest Green, to 'give her musical lecture and illustrate it by playing two violin sonatas with quite a good pianist'. Robert is staying at home and listening to the wireless, though 'there is nothing interesting tonight'; soon he will 'go down the lane to meet her and carry up her violin'. Julian 'seems quite well'.
147 Willifield Way, Golders Green, N.W.11. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for the 'noble edition' [his "Collected Works"?] which is like 'drinking very fragrant tea out of Sèvres cups, a pleasure in itself'. Sends Nellie Swanwick's letter to Henry Swadling; no doubt Nellie also 'experienced the faithfulness & practical help of [Trevelyan's] friendship' and Marie is glad he can feel her appreciation after her death. Says Nellie 'always had a greater opinion of virtue in women than in men - excepting her own (good but dull) Fred'. Since it was Nellie's last letter to him, Henry would like to have it back; he is in Hammersmith Hospital. Wishes Trevelyan 'as cheerful a Xmas as one can hope for at present'.
'Extract from last letter of Mrs Swanwick to Swadling', in R. C. Trevelyan's hand. No date. Helena Swanwick has heard nothing from Walter since his wife [Thérèse Lessore] wrote to say they were settled in Bath: Walter never writes. Leonard does nothing, as usual, and 'isn't fit to do anything'. Bessie [Sickert]'s orchestra has dissolved, and is working without salary in a government office; thinks she will stay if her health stands it; she still lives in her flat in Gower Street. Robert Trevelyan's 'dearest friend', Lord Allen of Hurtwood, died in the summer and he is looking after the widow and daughter. He is 'very heartbroken... one of the few men really capable of devoted affection'. Agnes is well. She herself can 'hardly walk at all' but the gardening is finished.
Gable House, Lawrie Park Avenue, Sydenham, S.E. - Was very glad to get Trevelyan's letter this morning; had felt they were over-riding him at times on Thursday, with the conversation chiefly between herself and Tovey, and this was not her intention at all. She was pleased to find Tovey in a 'reasonable and businesslike and concentrated mood' which needed to be made the most of. Whenever Trevelyan insisted on a point, it was obvious to her that he was right. Sydenham is a little out of the way, and she still has to be careful not to over-tire herself, but she can get to Pembroke Gardens by 2.30. Thanks the Trevelyans' for their suggestion that she could come to stay some time in the summer; she hopes they will be able to work together for a while. Tovey sent another scene yesterday.
147 Willifield Way, Golders Green, N.W.11. - [Irene] Cooper Willis has sent her the cuttings [about the death of Helena 'Nellie' Swanwick]; she has read them to their 'old friend' Henry Swadling [former manservant to the Sickert family] and now returns them. He could not find the last letter which Nellie [Swanwick] wrote to him, but will send it to her when he does. Has read [Robert Bridges'] "Testament of Beauty", which she only partly understands but likes what she can grasp of it; for the first time in her life she is 'getting closer to Shakespeare', and she is re-reading ["The Tale of"] Genji with pleasure.
147 Willifield Way, Golders Green, N.W.11. - [Irene] Cooper Willis has not sent the notice [of the death of Helena 'Nellie' Swanwick] but Trevelyan must not worry; of course the Manchester Guardian was the most likely paper to have it, but wonders if any of the other papers mentioned her death. Knows that he was fond of and admired Nellie; she recently came across an appreciative reference to him in a letter to old Henry [Swadling]; when she next goes to visit Henry in hospital she will ask to see the letter again. Thanks Trevelyan for planning to send some of his books: she has some, mainly later ones and of course "The Bride [of Dionysus]" which she still thinks one of his best; she never grew tired of either the poem nor [Donald] Tovey's music when she was occupied with it [preparing a German translation]. She will also miss Ursula Hoff, though she has seen less of her for the last couple of years; hopes she will be happy in Melbourne 'and develop new sides of her nature which is so gifted in many ways'; afraid she will be having a bad voyage, with 'God & Hitler giving ships an angry time'. Bessie must also have found the gales 'fast and furious' at Brighton, hope she has still benefited from the change.
Ridgehurst, Shenley, Herts. - Has just heard that the Adolf Busch Quartet will come to play for her husband in the afternoon of 30 October; wonders if the Trevelyans would like to come to hear them. If Mr Trevelyan is away and Elizabeth is staying in town with Miss [Marie?] Busch; afraid she cannot offer a bed for the night as her husband 'gets so very tired nowadays', but there will be tea after the music, before the quartet return to London.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - Thrilled to get Trevelyan's letter and the enclosure from Mr [Charles Prestwich] Scott; had not dared to think they would use her "Poor Traveller" [it appeared in the "Manchester Guardian" of 9 Jan 1923, under the name of 'M.B.']. Not surprised that this was the first Scott had seen of it; asks if Trevelyan could try him with "Resi". She is not sure about "The Ferry" and will hold it back. If he left early he has probably not received her letter enclosing "Aftermath", but it can wait; thanks him for all the trouble he is taking. Encourages him to see Bernh[ard] Sickert's paintings if he has time.
The Park, Prestwich, Manchester. - Julian and Ursula's brief visit has 'passed off most pleasantly' except for the rain of the last five days; they arrived on Monday evening and started home this morning. Much admires Julian's new overcoat for the fit and the tweed, which is 'so good in shade & quality'. They were 'highly pleased with all they saw at the Red Rose Guild stalls yesterday'; Ursula had a 'good talk' with Mr [Bernard] Leach and Mr [William Bower] Dalton about their exhibits; after lunch they then visited 'the fine collection of Watercolours at the Whitworth Art Gallery'. Much enjoyed having 'such easy guests, good talkers and considerate in every way'. Wishes they could have given her a better report about Bessie's eyes, but is glad 'Wireless has come in' so Bessie can listen to 'music, speeches and news every evening'. Hopes Bessie's new chauffeur drives carefully, since Julian tells her Matthews has given that up. The autumn 'tints' will be very beautiful in Surrey; all their trees are nearly bare. Hopes she can come and spend a week at the Shiffolds in the second week of January, and read aloud to Bessie. Julian and Ursula hope to 'go for Winter Sports to Austria at Christmas'. Sends love to Bessie and Robert, and regards to Miss Busch if she is staying with them.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - Good of Trevelyan to say he liked her 'little sketch' about her cousin Fritz Küchen and to suggest she should try to publish it; would be grateful if he could rid it of any 'glaring faults of style' and send it to the "English Review". Should it be accepted, a third of the fee should be his, as before. She, 'an absolutely obscure person' needs this recommendation, as she has offered them translations of much better known writers before, as has Miss Benecke, and never been accepted unless there was a personal recommendation at the outset. Since Trevelyan is going away soon, will send him the MS and type it up with his corrections; asks him only to make these if quite necessary since this piece is 'more personal & intimate'. Is reading [Trevelyan's translation of Aeschylus'] "Libation Bearers" and enjoying it very much, though it does not 'knock her down' as the "Agamemnon" did. Hopes he will have a good time abroad, and tells him not to let her piece cause him any trouble.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - Is sending 'the little sparrows which you had kindly invited onto your window sill to be fledged'. Would like to try to get "The Poor Traveller" published in the "Labour Leader", as suggested by Bessie, and the others in the "Manchester Guardian". Is afraid "Improvements" will annoy Trevelyan, and not please the "Manchester Guardian", so she has revised "The Ferry" as well and encloses that. Encourages Trevelyan to make any alterations in the English that seem necessary to him, and reminds him that if the pieces are accepted he is to take a third of the fee, though she is not optimistic. Hopes he had an interesting time at Gloucester. Very much enjoyed her visit to the Shiffolds.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - Is sending Trevelyan's MS first; her copy will follow by the next post. Wanted to get it done today, as Peter is coming for the weekend while his mother is making preparations to leave on Monday. Will write to B[essie] soon.
The Shiffolds. - The weather is bad again. Bessie and Julian are well. Miss Busch is on a visit here for about a fortnight. Last week Mrs Mann and Mr [John?] Foulds were here 'planning the production of... The Pearl Tree'; thinks it 'may come to something someday, though hardly this year'. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson also came for three or four days. Robert's play [The Pterodamozels] was 'well-reviewed by Clutton Brock' in the Times, also in the Nation, and 'seems to be selling a bit'.
Miss Colley [the new governess] 'continues quite satisfactory'; still, thinks it will be a 'good thing' when Julian goes to school. They go north around the 13th Sept. They are currently reading Conrad's Victory aloud; 'a good story, but hardly one of his best'. Will write to his father at the end of the week.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - Yes, she is trying to keep to Trevelyan's divisions of the lines [in his play "The Bride of Dionysus"] as much as possible, except when it would sound completely senseless in German: she wants it to make it 'as good poetry & good German' as she can and her first version, 'before its wings got clipped everywhere', is best in that respect. Asks if she should send [Max?] Reinhardt Trevelyan's work, telling him of her translation and asking if it could possibly be performed at his theatre; supposes Tovey would have no objection. Thanks Trevelyan for sending Tovey's letter, which she returns; his 'anxious and passionate hopefulness' [about his wife] is pitiful; hopes 'he may do her good, but it sounds a difficult case', and the worry cannot be good for his work. Enjoyed the Schubert and Debussy concerts, and is looking forward to the d'Aranyis. Wonders if Trevelyan has read Hayden Brown's book [Haydn Brown, "Advanced Suggestion: Neuroinduction" ?] and what he thought of it.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. -Sends Lucretius, which she enjoyed doing [typing up?] Is afraid paper is so dear that her fee is 9 shillings. Had a lovely time with the Trevelyans at Christmas; it was very good of them to fit her in when they knew they had room.
Is sending an "Exchange" supplement to the "Manchester Guardian", which may 'interest the architectural part of [Julian's] mind'. Elizabeth has gone to London, but saw Julian's letter before she left; they are both glad he is well and 'not mumping'; hopes he will not 'have to wander about the garden like a forlorn ghost'. Clifford Allen is staying for a few days. There has been another fire on Leith Hill, which is still burning unless the showers yesterday put it out. Miss Busch, who has been staying for almost two weeks and left with Elizabeth this morning, was angry that the Lord of the Manor, Mr Evelyn, did not send anyone to put it out. She and Elizabeth gathered some chestnuts; Miss Busch put one in 'the fire which was burning her dear trees', but it exploded.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - It will be good to see Trevelyan home in a few months time; she was glad to hear that he has had the chance of a week in Nice; kind of him to say he liked her typing. Asks if he has seen the articles by Lillie in the "Nineteenth Century" about Sophocles, which seem to have awoken so much interest that she feels sure Trevelyan's translation of Sophocles would do well.
19 Kensington Park Road, W.11. - It is very good of Trevelyan to take an interest in the publication of the Polish book;is glad he mentioned it to Mr Unwin. She has consulted Miss [Maria] Czaplicka, a Polish anthropologist who has 'a good deal of influence with her compatriots', has published several books, and is very energetic, who will ask the Polish Committee if there is any chance of support. This would mean some financial guarantee for the publisher; Allen & Unwin have been mentioned, or Blackwell may be approached again. Czapickla was also going to see if [Joseph] Conrad could be interested in writing an introduction. Marie Busch may eventually be glad of an introduction to Stanley Unwin; meanwhile will let Czaplicka know what Trevelyan says. If it cannot be published in book form, the "Polish Review" may put it out as a serial, but this would not bring it to the attention of the British public in the same way. Asks Trevelyan to let he know if he is ever in her neighbourhood, as she would love him to take a meal with her. Was very nice to see Bessie last week.
Gable House, Lawrie Park Avenue, Sydenham, S.E. - Has been working on Act II Scene I [of Trevelyan's libretto "The Bride of Dionysus"]; [Donald] Tovey has given her the music for this section, which she feels she needs to do the translation; is not working in a 'finished and final way' as Tovey says he has made many alterations in that scene, but she will have something to discuss when they next meet. Mrs Sickert has written to say they will see each other in May. Was unable to work for a couple of weeks due to the illness of the friend [Frances Enthoven] with whom she is staying. The poem appeals to her more and more, and she hopes she will do it justice.
Dr Veiel's Klinik, Cannstatt, Stuttgart. - Will be a 'great triumph' if Miss Busch succeeds [in revising her German translation of "The Bride of Dionysus"]; wants the Trevelyans to 'keep her spirits up' as he does not think she realises what a task it will be. She has asked him to make the lines that need altering, whereas it would be much quicker to mark the ones which do not; his time in education must have made him 'habitually judge by improvement than by actual attainment', as he wonders how he could have thought this version 'could be tinkered'. He knows that 'stock Italian operas are sung to very bad German translations', but not to 'unsingable ones'. Has great confidence in Miss Busch's 'thoroughness' and ability to 'deal with the problem once she has grasped its nature', which she had not when she wrote her first version. Now she has heard the opera sung, so may have it in her head, and she will have Tovey's 'explicit advice on almost every bar'. Hopes only that she will not be discouraged. It may be an advantage that 'the chief weakness in the Edinburgh performance was the enunciation' since the public could make out the story without hearing the words, though the first Nereid chorus needs revising. Miss Busch will soon get used to what Tovey thinks is unsingable or otherwise: 'Wagner's worst crackjaw (from which [he] can quote ad infinitum) is well within [his] powers of declamation at the proper tempo'.