Showing 15 results

17, Berners Street, W.1. - Is very pleased that Trevelyan wishes to dedicate a book to Oswald ["Thamyris: or, is there a future for poetry?"]; looks forward to reading it. Is going to stay with her father at the Albany for three weeks while the Berners Street house is being painted; would like to see Trevelyan, but perhaps the question of the papers [whether to publish her husband Oswald's papers, see 6/63] should wait until her return as everything has been put away.

17, Berners Street, W.1. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter enclosing one from Roger Fry. Is happy for Oswald's papers to be published; Arthur Waley suggests that the Hogarth Press might take them, especially if Walter [Sickert] were to write a foreword. The papers need revising, and she would be very grateful if Trevelyan could do this; he must say if he is too busy. If he is in town soon they could lunch and discuss the idea.

A7, Albany, Piccadilly, W. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter [on the death of her husband]; Oswald was only ill a fortnight, and seemed to be recovering. Suspects it must have been coming on a while and that Madrid was the worst place for him: wishes they had known. Thanks Trevelyan's wife for her love and sympathy.

12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - The Sickerts have been very distressed by Stanley [Makower]'s illness; at first there was thought to be no hope but his temperature has gone down and the doctors thought they may have made an error in diagnosis. Robert has paid several brief visits and says that Stanley 'talks quite naturally' and is able to read. His wife despairs, but Eleanor thinks she still believes the first diagnosis. More on Stanley's illness; recommends Trevelyan write to hiss wife if he wants to visit. Oswald and Bessie are well; Oswald soon to have a holiday.

12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Letter of condolence on the death of the Trevelyan's new-born daughter, Susan Caroline; sends love to Elizabeth Trevelyan and says she hopes she will take care of herself, for Trevelyan and Paul. Finds that young mothers often do not look after their eyes properly: Agnes Makower hurt hers when Ursula was born. Oswald [her son] and Bessie have taken a furnished house in Wellington, New Zealand and will not be back before June; now Oswald has an office Bessie was finding hotel life lonely; hopes they have solved 'the servant difficulty'.

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'.

Diccionario Enciclopedico Hispano Americano, Fernanflor, 6 - Madrid - Apartado 847. - Asks Trevelyan if he can look out of a young Chinese friend of his, F. P. Ling, who has recently come to London and is currently staying at the Chinese Legation. They worked together for a year in Shanghai; Ling is very young, affectionate and clever. Does not know what 'overlay of bright & vague Americanism' he might have acquired during his year in the States; Sickert feels it is wrong that so many Chinese look back with affection to America rather than England. Don Julio [Álvarez del Vayo] has returned to Madrid with his wife, 'very full of Bolshevik propaganda in Germany' but unsure how their methods would work in Spain; Duran is still 'a staunch believer in violence wherever & whenever', but fortunately, since Sickert does not know how he would manage without him, this resolution 'is somewhat in abeyance here'. The Liberal leaders totally insipid: they not been heard of since Dato called a new election early next year. Supposes that one reason for the Liberals' failure is that though they 'want things for other people - for Irish, Indians & working men... they have not for a generation & more wanted anything for themselves' and would therefore be content, 'selfishly & personally' with a regime they do not approve of. Sorry Trevelyan has, at least for the moment, put aside his work in which a young man went through 'a wonderful medley of adventures... embracing, like the encyclopaedia, the whole range of human experience.' Excitement in Madrid as Catalina Bárcena is returning to perform "Pigmalion" [sic: Shaw's "Pygmalion"]; does not know if Trevelyan remembers her from the Eslava [theatre]; says Margarita Xirqu is the only other actor worth talking about. Argentinita not yet back from the Argentine. [Ramón] Menéndez has suddenly returned from Toulouse: he does not like the French, which Sickert believes is generally the case with Spaniards. Ocaña is studying for a consular exam so Sickert has not seen him for months: cannot imagine a worse consul. Would like to see Cossio again: liked him and did not find him a bore. His wife has been reading "Howards End', the latest book by Pio Baroja, "Sensualidad Pervertida" and three new Russian grammars by Fowler; she liked "Howards End" as much as ever, and has always admired Forster. Sickert himself did read Corneille in the past, but he was either too young or 'not up to him'. Hopes to see Trevelyan's Swedish friend. Sends regards to Trevelyan's wife; his own enjoyed the Hague very much when she was on a conference in Flanders 'under false pretences'; says he cannot forgive [Walter] Jackson for not having a Dutch encyclopaedia instead of a Spanish one.

Diccionario Enciclopedico Hispano Americano, Fernanflor, 6 - Madrid - Apartado 847. - Very pleased Trevelyan has send him his Lucretius, and has much enjoyed reading it, especially as he has been reading 'a very competent book which accords modern scientific theories with Genesis'; praises the translation. Apologises for not replying to Trevelyan's letter of 5 June; is coming to the conclusion that he is 'not inordinately egoistic nor singularly selfish, but... a pig'. Since his wife went home he has 'lived off Duran' at the office 'where he is unusually competent', at lunch, and sitting outside for coffee; Alcalá, where they sit, is currently being resurfaced in an inefficient way, which elicits Duran's irritation, he believes communist government will solve such problems. Suspension of "El Sol" newspaper for refusing to either reduce its size or change its cost, as ordered by 'the hopeless Dato', who is premier again. Is surprised at the Spanish people's lack of interest or judgment in political affairs; they should not have allowed [Joaquin] Sánchez de Toca to be driven out of power by 'military intrigues'. Troubles in Barcelona. Goes to see dancing whenever he can, but the best dancer, Amarandina [?] comes on at midnight, so he has only seen her twice. Argentinita and Raquel Meller are in Buenos Aires, everyone else at San Sebastian. Ricardo Baeza is in London writing for "El Sol"; he managed the company which produced "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto" [Wilde's "Importance of Being Earnest". Cancha [?], the 'funny man' of 'El Sol', is also in London. Bagarria [sic: Lluís Bagaria i Bou ?] is in Toledo, 'talking 23 & painting 1 hour of the 24'. Brilleas has been going to the Cantabrian coast for a month, but Echevarría the painter, who was to accompany him, went to see his father for his birthday at the end of July and has not returned. Mrs [Luis] Araquistáin and Mrs Don Julio [Álvarez del Vayo] are in Switzerland; Don Julio is in Warsaw if he has left Berlin. Tells Trevelyan to write 'lots of good poetry quickly': his grandfather's advice to his father was 'mahl gut und schnell'.

Madrid, Palaza de Oriente, 8, pral. der, Apartado 847, - Has not been to the apartado since Trevelyan left, but 'the good Mr. Angus' has been twice a day, and Sickert cannot explain 'the hush in correspondence addressed to you and.. the ebb in the tide of Manchester Guardians'. The flat has 'lost some of its style' since Trevelyan left: they 'eat off a table cloth and so never see any news'. Have seen Mrs [Alys?] Russell. They only go to lunch at the Universal, and for theatre, the Argentinita. Did not find [Manuel Bartolomé ?] Cossio boring when they went there, but they have only been once. Mrs Jimenes is a 'dear', she ought to be in Malaga with her husband but is still here with influenza. Has not seen Menendez [Ramón Menéndez Pidal] since Trevelyan left, but he gives Angus a lesson every day. Reports on the progress of the various strikes. The new Minister of War [José Villalba Riquelme] says he will dissolve the Juntas Militares, which Sickert has heard before. Has read only a little Quijote, which he likes better and better. Has had a card from Don Julio [Álvarez del Vayo] in Berlin; recognised his first article from its first word, 'Reinhardt', which might be expected from 'such a theatre-maniac' though it was another Reinhardt [probably therefore not the director, Max]. Ocaña met [Montefiore?] Follick at the club and formed a low opinion of him for thinking Lucretius was Greek. Hopes the lessons suit Julian. His wife 'has reached the advanced stage of not being able to listen to any music', and they have not yet found the Flamenco music Arthur [Waley] talks about, though Duran believes it exists somewhere. Parsifal is on at the Real, would go if a stall cost fifty centimos. A film of [Jacinto] Benevente's is being produced next week; knows Trevelyan claims never to have heard of 'the most famous contemporary Spanish man of letters'. Has an 'extra-ordinary feeling of satisfaction & gratification' when he thinks of Arthur being there [at the British Museum].

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.

13, Hanover Terrace, W. - Has ordered a couple of copies of the poem, which sounds delightful from Goldie [Dickinson]'s account. The latest news of Stanley [Makower] 'astonishing and splendid': he is gaining weight and his temperature back to normal; his brother-in-law, visiting from Switzerland, agreed that the illness was the 'fatal one' [tuberculosis?] diagnosed by the English doctors, but thought more should be done, so he is being treated from Zurich. Going to Dieppe tomorrow with his mother, Leonhard and Robert to Dieppe. Lengthy postscript: has read and much enjoyed [Forster's] "Howard's End", but was a little disappointed with [Bennett's] "Clayhanger" and "Old Wives' Tale"; had previously much enjoyed Bennett's short story ["The Death of Simon Fuge"]. Is reading a 'charming' book given to him by Michel Bréal, his "Pour Mieux Connaître Homère".

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.

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'.

The Shiffolds. - Thanks his mother for her letter; Bessie had to go to London on Tuesday as her tooth-ache worsened, but has not been troubled with it since. They are going to London on Tuesday with Johannes [Röntgen], who is going to see his fiancée [Julia Fentener van Vlissingen]; they will go to the Russian Ballet in the evening with Oswald Sickert and his wife, who are back from Spain. As Julian seems to be 'quite happy and getting on well [at school]' she will not visit him this week.

Hopes his mother's journey to Wallington will not be 'too uncomfortable'. Will write to his father soon. Bessie sends thanks for her letter, and 'for the French book, which she will read'. The weather is 'very lovely... not too hot. But the Country wants rain very badly'. Johannes' visit has been 'very pleasant, and it has been good for Bessie to have someone to talk Dutch to, and to play music with'. He returns with his fiancée in August. Donald Tovey has 'not appeared again', nor have they heard 'how things are with him'.

Apartado 847, Madrid, Spain. - Thanks his mother for her letter, which reached him yesterday. Will probably stay in Madrid and not go on elsewhere, though may make a day trip to Toledo and Segovia. Is presently staying with [Oswald] Sickert, but soon will move into rooms at a pension, as Sickert's wife is coming. So far the weather has been 'beautiful' and not too cold, but he expects this will soon change'. Madrid is mostly a modern town, but there are 'some charming 18th century parts, and also pleasant parks'. Gets on 'fairly well with reading Spanish, but can't talk it much'.

Has only been twice to the Prado; Velasquez and Goya interest him most of the Spanish painters, but there are also some 'fine Titians, and other Italians'. Has made friends with 'several young men, friends of Sickert, journalists and literary men' who are 'very pleasant and easy to get on with, and speak either French or English'. Spain as a country is 'rather disturbed', and he does not think he will go to Malaga, where there is currently a general strike; expects he will stay in Madrid for a few weeks before returning home.

Bessie and Julian seem well; Bessie will have told his mother her plans of 'keeping him at home, and getting someone to teach him this winter'. Hopes his father has recovered from his fall, and that Hearn [the butler] is better. Will write to his father soon. When the weather is fine, he goes 'out by tram... to work in a park outside the town'; today it is raining, but this won't go on long. Confirms that 'plays never begin here before 10.15 or 10.30, and people get up here at 11 or 12, and don't take siestas'.