Showing 40 results

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - News of Julian, who is well despite not having a good night's sleep according to the nurse, who has just taken him off for a drive, 'he & old Maria [the maid?] looking equally delighted'; he is getting onto his feet more now. She herself will take him to the village this afternoon. Hopes Elizabeth found all well at home; was very good to have her for such a 'long quiet visit'; if only they had not had 'the sad little tragedy' [the death of George's son Theodore]. Has heard no more from George; hopes Geoffrey Young 'is helping to console him'. Enjoyed seeing Robert very much; hopes he can settle to work now. Mrs Catt says she has not had so much pain for the last few days.

Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks them for letting him see the letter from Julian; thinks [his European travels, including a trip to Mount Athos] 'just the right thing for him to be doing at this stage in his life'. Asks if they know Geoffrey Young's poem on Mount Athos in "Wind and Hill". Is sending back Julian's letter and Sir George Trevelyan's letters to them both; thanks them for lending the letters and encloses 'proposals for further excerpst' [in his memoir he is writing of his father'. Thinks his visit to the Shiffolds was 'particularly pleasant and memorable'; glad they felt the same; 'the past.. seemed rising around us like a mist and enveloping us'.

Trevelyan notes that Geoffrey Winthrop Young told him the first time he saw Trinity as a boy with his father Sir George Young, he was told that his father saw William Whewell jump up the hall steps in cap and gown. Lord Adrian notes that he saw an undergraduate jump the steps in a gown after hall in summer in 1955 or so.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for "Aftermath": glad he has been able to 'salvage' so many poems of which George is so fond [from the fire at the publisher's warehouse which destroyed the stock of Bob's recent "Collected Works"]; they have both suffered from the 'family connection with Longmans, though he does not mind much for himself, as he is 'past caring whether anyone reads one's books... in this night of time' and has 'no more desire for continued existence as a writer than for life after death'. The Geoffrey Youngs are staying in the Lodge for a few days, preparing to move into 'half a house near by'; good to have them back in Cambridge. Tells Bob to visit some time in summer. He and Janet hope to go to Hallington at Easter, staying in the gardener's cottage; the Hall has begun again as a hospital, and they will see 'more of it and its inmates than when it was an RAF affair'. Hopes that they have good news of Julian from Egypt. Notes in a postscript that Aubrey and Lina Waterfield's son John has been killed in Malta.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Arrangements for a visit by Mary to Bessie at the Shiffolds; gives train times and where she should be dropped off by Bessie's nanny to be met by Janet's nanny and Humphry; detailed description of her diet; will make sure she has 'some little occupations', but she 'will love playing with Julian'; asks Bessie to read with her for twenty minutes after tea. Will be very pleased if Bessie writes to Berne to tell her what she thinks of Mary. George has got on well recently; hope to get to Stocks tomorrow or Wednesday. Wasn't him and G[eoffrey] Y[oung[ who spent the night on Snowdon, but a much younger cousin of Geoff's and another man; Geoff was 'very much disgusted that he should have been thought capable of such foolishness'. Caroline and Sir George are pretty well.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie and Julian arrived on Saturday, 'both in very good health', and 'seemed to have enjoyed their stay at Welcombe very much'. Hopes his parents are both by now fully recovered. The weather here has been 'perfect' since he returned. Had a 'very interesting week at Snowdon, getting to know a quite new country, and a number of new friends, also the rudiments of a new art, that of rock-climbing'. Too late, when over forty, to take to it seriously, but 'under the leadership of [Herbert?] Reade and Geoffrey Young', he managed so 'safe but fairly serious climbs, on Lliwedd, the Parson's Nose, Tryfan, and elsewhere'. Does not remember whether his father knows Snowdon well; thinks the views from the top are 'finer on the whole than from any of the Cumberland hills'.

Julian is now very pleased with the little garden which the gardener has made for him; he has planted fox-gloves, and 'wants to put up a notice up that the foxes must not come into the garden to get new gloves, unless they pay sixpence each for them'. Robert is reading Aristophanes' Peace, which is 'rather a favourite' of his, though it is not usually though of as one of the 'great ones'. Saw Shaw's play [Pygmalion?] in London, and 'laughed a good deal'; does not think it is 'a very satisfactory play perhaps, but few of his are'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very pleased about Julian [that the operation on an umbilical hernia has gone well]. They had a very pleasant visit from Geoffrey [Young] who told them all about Robert and Charles; most interesting meeting him 'after his experiences of the last 18 months' [with the Friends' ambulance unit]. The Master [of Trinity, Henry Montagu Butler] has let them see 'two most bright and ideal letters from [his sons] Gordon and Jim about the evacuation of Gallipoli and their voyages'; compares them to 'young Athenian hoplites at Potidaea in the great days of Athens'; 'But nothing is too rare and good to be spent in the service of the country'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Would like to see Robert and Julian in the hay. Their own hay-making was 'deplorable' last year, but the crop has been wonderful this year and was 'practically made in the course of a week'; this makes a difference to the household, as a tea has to be sent out each day to the hay-makers. Strange how children 'like young nations' take verse for their first 'natural channel of literary production'. Is beginning to read Aristophanes in chronological order, with Latin between each play; is currently following up the "Acharnians" with [Cicero's] 'marvellously interesting speech on Sextius'. Judges Cicero to be the best 'orator who reads well': Macaulay reads very well, but 'it is primarily literature'; Gladstone is 'so deficient in matter'; Demosthenes and Bright lack 'the volume of historical and literary, and philosophical matter. Plans to read many of Cicero's best speeches, and Suetonius. Sends a letter from Hilton Young, referring to a 'really beautiful poem of his'; the 'Praed blood' seems to be coming out in him and Geoffrey [a reference to Winthrop Mackworth Praed?] as is 'the old naval blood of the builder and namer of Formosa' [Admiral Sir George Young, of Formosa Place, Cookham, Berkshire]. Has had a letter from Sir George Young about his 'own studies in English prosody, which he is making his old age occupation'; will send it to Robert when he finds it.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thinks Elizabeth is right to change [Julian's nanny]; thinks she had become 'really unsettled and uncomfortable'. Hopes Miss E[vans] gets married, since waiting for it seems to have made her more nervous, and that Elizabeth will find someone who can do some teaching if she wants. Feels a little disconnected after six months in the South. [Charles and Mary's] 'Cambo children' are nice; they took Mary out with Marjorie for a drive yesterday. Charlie is coming home tomorrow; George is 'extremely interesting about Italy', and hopes to get Geoffrey Young's ambulance there; expects he will go with it and be very useful. She and Sir George are reading "Emma Darwin [: A Century of Family Letters" edited by Henrietta Litchfield]; very odd that the Wedgwood family, at least the women, 'seem to have taken no interest at all in the pottery'; would think they 'would have been so proud of it'. Glad Julian recovered quickly; thinks he will cope well with all changes.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to have 'so cheerful and hopeful an account of Julian' [from school]; sure Robert and Elizabeth will be most interested. They have much enjoyed a six day visit from Iris [Abel Smith] who has been working for three years as a nurse at the convalescent hospital set up by Meta [Abel Smith] at her house, Goldings; she is a charming good girl 'with her grandmother [Sir George's sister Margaret]'s height and beautiful, expressive eyes', and reminded him very much of Margaret 'as an unmarried pet of her uncle [Macaulay?], which was the way to [his own] heart'. Has instructed Drummond's to pay fifty pounds into Robert's account as usual. Some 'very hopeful and at all events resigned' news about Geoffrey [Winthrop Young] and [?] Sessions; does not know if the latter is a friend of Roberts.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline send best Christmas wishes to Robert and family. Appreciates Robert's treatment of his points 'in the Chorus of [Aristophanes's] "Lysistrata"'; discussion of Athenian familiarity with the Doric dialect, including comparison with the intelligibility of 'broad Aberdeenshire' to English people; [Benjamin?] Rogers seems to be 'very thorough'. Thinks Geoffrey [Winthrop Young] is arriving later than George.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear about the Slingsbys [the family of Geoffrey Winthrop Young's wife to be, Eleanor]; true there is an age difference 'but Geoffrey is ever young' and he is sure the marriage will go well. Plenty of marriages which go wrong in Arnold Bennett's early books, which he has been reading or re-reading; all 'very carefully constructed... fresh, and vigorously thought out'. Sees there are two more he has not read, "Leonora" and "The Glimpse" and wonders if they are good. Asquith has just sent Sir George his book; cannot remember if he sent Robert Asquith's letters, and does so now; he has 'caught Macaulay [?]tripping'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear that the [Apostles] Society is likely to revive: it is a 'most important element in the future of the University'. Very touching about Geoffrey Young; wishes he had been there when the three of them met at the Lakes before the other members of the Hunt arrived. Sir William Church is staying for a day; they started Harrow on the same day; Sir William, though six months older, is 'a great deal younger than [Sir George] in years and in walking prowess'. Asks Robert to send him his Theocritus. Most interested to hear about his 'literary doings'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Bessie's letter with the six poems came this morning; will see John [Dower] again tomorrow and show him some, though John 'chiefly wishes to show [Bob] some new ones of his own'. John 'talked a good deal' yesterday, but was 'rather breathless'; seems he 'still tries to believe that he can get well'. Is in the room with George L[owthian Trevelyan]'s furniture in which used to be his father's room; the bed is 'very comfortable', though there is 'no washing apparatus'. Besides Kitty and her family there are several children, but he 'can't make out who they all are'; they spend all day outside, and are 'quite quiet as a rule'. There is also 'a Mrs [Esther?] Bicknell' and a friend of Kitty's whose name he has forgotten; and a daughter of Sybil Thorndike [Ann or Mary Casson] who sings 'chiefly folk-songs - not very interesting, but quite nice'. Len and Geoffrey [Winthrop Young] are coming just as he leaves, but Bessie will see them. Charles and George have gone out shooting; saw George at breakfast, and expects he will visit him [at Hallington] before he leaves on Tuesday. Expects Bessie will soon hear from Miss Dyson; asks whether 'that really is a certainty now'. Asks to be remembered to Miss Cook. Forgot to give Bessie a 'note Ursula Wood made about nurse-housekeepers', which he thinks might be worthwhile Gordon B[ottomley] trying; sends it now to send on if he thinks it worthwhile. Sends love to Bessie; is sorry he will not be at Wallington with her, but at least will see her on 27 August.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - They are still having 'wonderful weather, and not too hot', though he fears there may be drought in the South. Kitty has gone with Eka [Erika?] to Edinburgh, but they will be back on Saturday. The house has become 'rather more noisy, but not unbearably so, except at meals'; since Charles and Molly are 'both very deaf', people 'have to shout at them, and they at each other'. Gets little chance to talk to anyone, though has managed to with Kitty on the last couple of days. It will be better when Bessie is here, since Geoffrey and Len [Winthrop Young] will also be staying, and later E. M. Forster for a few days. Jarvis [?] Young is staying this weekend, whom Bob finds 'quite conversable'. Hopes that Bessie will get Julian to take her from Waterloo to Kings Cross; passes on recommendations from Jarvis Young on the journey; will talk about things when he sees her on Wednesday evening. Is going to see John Dower tomorrow for 'the third and last time'. There was a 'lovely' picnic at the Rothley Lake yesterday. Will be good to see Bessie again, even though it will only be for a short time. Has some more proofs to correct and many letters to write.

Wallington. - Has no news, though Geoffrey and Len [Winthrop Young] are coming to lunch. Will write to Tet Htoot to thank him for the letter [see 17/171]. Thinks his eczema is much better, though there are 'some bad tickles left', Charles is reading "Middlemarch" in the evening, which he does very well, 'simply, not rhetorically'. Molly's laryngitis seems to be improving, though she is still writing out words to save her voice. He is doing some translation of Homer, not much. Catherine [Abercrombie] seems well, and 'enjoys being here'. Has been to see Edith Bulmer, who is well herself but 'as usual worried by the boy [Martin]'s having a bad cold'. Hopes Elizabeth is well, and that she enjoyed Van Stuwe's visit.

Hallington Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. - Thanks Bob [for sending his translation of Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura"]. Geoffrey and Hilton Young are staying here and reading the book 'with delight'; George will start on it tomorrow. It is a 'great work' to have published 'at last', and he congratulates Bob 'heartily'.

Wallington. - All is well here; the house is kept 'quite warm nowadays' and they 'shut the windows more'. Is breakfasting in his room, but getting up soon after that; has been for some short walks though not yet as far as the garden; is leading a 'lazy life, lying on the sofa a great deal', but has also done some Homer translation. The house is quiet as there are no children here yet; the Weavers are coming in a few days, as are Kitty and her family. The only other guests have been 'Dr Boon and his nice wife and children' who have now left. Charles and Molly 'seem quite harmonious, and in good health except for Molly's laryngitis'. The Geoffrey Youngs have been away, but are now returned and are coming to tea tomorrow; he has been 'very unwell lately'. Bob is staying in the 'tapestry room', which is comfortable though there are 'no clothes pegs, and of course no water'; however, the house seems 'tidier and cleaner than it has been for a long time'. His eczema seems better. Hope Bessie has had a pleasant visit from van Stuwe and feels well and happy. Catherine [Abercrombie] is well, and getting on with Charles and Molly. Very kind of Tet Htoot to send the letter by Bob's grandfather [Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan: see 17/171]; will keep it to show Joan [Allen], and write to thank Tet Htoot. Asks to be remembered to Miss Goddard and the rest of the household.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Everything is going well; Bob is walking a little further each day, though she does not press things; his legs are 'marvellously better with this new treatment'. The Geoffrey Youngs came to lunch yesterday; they will visit them next week. Finds Wallington 'fascinating', and everyone is 'so kind & anxious to do all they can for Bob's comfort'. He and Sir Charles play a game of chess every day.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Desmond's article about Bob in today's "Sunday Times" is beautiful. Had a 'very good week of seeing him in the nursing room here' after Desmond left, when he still talked 'so clearly and well about books' even though he could not be clear about anything else. Bob's death is a 'merciful release': George does not 'pity old people who die - particularly nowadays'; George had 'many hours good reading' in his life. Thinks the poetry of his middle and later life was better than that of his youth, when he was 'obsessed by theories of what poetry ought to be and so missed expressing himself [emphasised]'; was both a strength and weakness that he was a 'learned poet'; needed to be to produce his translations, which 'all scholars praise'. Wonders if Desmond knows the work of two other poets of their generation who have been overlooked: Geoffrey [Winthrop] Young (who has found fame as a mountaineer) and Margaret Cropper (whose Westmorland poems he thinks 'much greater than the Dorset and other dialect poems the world has acclaimed').

The Shiffolds [this is an error for Wallington]. - Very glad to hear from Bessie's letter that her 'oily difficulties are solved'. His legs are much better, but there is still some eczema on the thighs and arms. Very glad that Morgan Forster is recovering, if slowly. Does not know if he can find a quotation for him [for the libretto of "Billy Budd", see 3/83], but when he returns home to his books he will try; agrees it should not matter whether it is a real quotation. The paper Bessie sent was not an income tax receipt, but a tithe receipt. Went to tea at the Two Queens' yesterday; Geoffrey and Len [Winthrop Young] were both very pleasant, and they hope to see them again. Catherine [Abercrombie] is going by bus to Edinburgh to stay the night with [her son] David one day next week. Kitty's Elizabeth and Catharine arrived this morning, and he thinks Kitty and Erika come on Monday. Things 'seem to go smoothly here'; Charles is 'cheerful'; Molly's laryngitis is much better; Catherine sends love to Bessie. Hopes the Bluths will be able to come; later on if he [Karl] is not better.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes that Julian enjoys school; thinks he should, as he is 'fond of his fellow creatures, not too sensitive, and very sensible'. Was amused by Elizabeth taking him to church; thinks it is sensible to do so occasionally so there is no 'mystery about it'; it is pleasant as a 'cheerful meeting of neighbours' and she goes herself sometimes for that reason. Encloses money for his suit, and asks Elizabeth to take a snapshot of him in it. George has 'got away from his work' and may get back to London today. Janet is delighted, and Sir George is very relieved; he 'fretted about him... after the casualties'. Expects Geoffrey [Young] will return to England soon; false limbs are so good now that 'he will be able to walk, though of course not to climb'. A charity event in Cambo on Saturday collected over twenty-two pounds for the Red Cross, and a whist drive tomorrow will raise more; everyone is looking forward to it, and it seems most people here play whist on winter evenings. Georgie has fallen from a tree at school and hurt himself; surprising that climbing without a master being present is allowed.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Cold weather here, with some rain and hail, but the house is 'kept fairly warm'. Kitty left this morning; her children stay here. Marjorie's children are 'nice but noisy, talk the whole time, but are charming and amusing'. Going to tea tomorrow to say goodbye to the Youngs. Catherine [Abercrombie] was driven by a friend to Edinburgh, and stayed a night with [her son] David. [Claude] Colleer Abbott is coming on 18 April for the night. Molly's laryngitis is better, but she needs to be careful not to talk too much. Very glad the Bluths are better; asks Bessie to give them his love. Is better himself in general, 'but it is a slow business'; the 'lotion bottle' and parcel arrived all right.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - They have written to Dr McKenna to see if he can see Bob on Thursday afternoon; would start home from there around 5 pm if so. Will let Bessie know as soon as possible; meanwhile the eczema seems 'a good deal better'. Kitty has gone hiking with a friend, leaving the children here. Molly's laryngitis is 'very much better'. Went to tea [with the Winthrop Youngs] at the Two Queens, which was 'very pleasant'. Charles is 'cheerful and active', and is reading "Middlemarch" to them in the evenings, which he does very well. They have seen Edith Bulmer sever times; she is worried about her boy, Martin, who 'is always getting bad colds and coughs'; she sends Bessie her love. Hopes the Bluths are well; sends his love. Hopes that Mrs MacEvoy is well, and sends 'kind remembrances' to her, Miss Goddard, and Mrs Young.

12 Holland Street, London, W.8. - Bob's poems ["From the Shiffolds"] have given them great pleasure. As Bob knows, Geoffrey admires the 'increasing humanity' of his later work. Jocelin has returned after over six years at sea [in the Royal Navy]; he is 'Tired and strained', but 'much in heart, and with wisdom added'. For the first time in years therefore they have both children at home. Send 'joint love to Bessie, and wishes for her health and ease'.

Wallington. - The [Cambo] Exhibition went quite well, with only a couple of short rain-storms; watched the sheep-dog trials, and went through the tent which was full of exhibits. Today is wet, but not cold; he is well 'with less tickles [from eczema]'. Catherine [Abercrombie] also seems all right, and is sleeping well. Has not yet seen Edith Bulmer, but has arranged to visit her tomorrow. Geoffrey Young and Len had to go south to see a very ill friend, but they will probably return tomorrow. Geoffrey Trevelyan is here with his child and Gillian; likes 'him a lot, her rather less so'. Liked Clough W. Ellis very much; he 'drew out Charles to talk, and did something to cheer up George'. Sorry to miss Julian and Mary; hopes they will come again soon;; sad about Hogarth. Does not think his spectacles are ready, but Catherine has heard from Odell's about hers; they will pick them up on their way home through London.