Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Glad to hear that all is well; hopes the extra nurse will stay until the A[bercrombies] move as she thinks the large party is too much for Elizabeth's nannie's nerves, though she is very good for Julian alone. Mary and H[umphry] leave today, to general regret. Thinks people are 'very foolish to take Belgians into there [sic] own families'; the money they spend would be much more efficiently used by the Committee. '[Q]uite wonderful how far Janet makes it go'; never realised she was so capable; hopes she will not over-tire herself, though understand why people do too much as the war is 'so pitiful & ghastly'. Finds it hard herself to stay at home and do so little, and 'one's power of helping in money is rapidly diminishing'. Nothing yet settled about No. 8 [Grosvenor Crescent], but it is not too expensive now. 57 men from Snitterfield have joined the army; they see 'a good deal' of the regiment based at Stratford. Lucky that Elizabeth is not nearer the sea because of the bombing. Charlie seems well; the little girls [Marjorie and Kitty, perhaps Pauline?] are to come to London soon.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Annie [Philips] is staying with them and is well; she takes a 'good walk' with Sir George in the afternoon. Has news of Bob in London; hopes he will not catch Mary's cold; was glad to hear from Mary that she was deferring her daughters' returns as they would catch colds if they came to London in this weather. There is influenza in Stratford, and the town is full: over a thousand soldiers, plus refugees and wounded. They went to see the hospital, which is 'a curious sight'; 'really wonderful how everyone is working'. Sir George is fairly well, and 'enjoys talking to the officers'; they miss the children. Sure the Abercrombies will be sorry to leave the Shiffolds when the time comes; asks if David could stay a while longer, or if he would be 'an anxiety'. Hopes Miss Evans has come back better; asks if Nurse Godwin has gone. Sends love to Robert. Sir George has recently read her "The Old Curiosity Shop"; it is a 'child's book, but the characters are vivid, and dreadfully exaggerated'. They have just started "Middlemarch", which is very good to read aloud. Has little time for reading as she is doing the accounts and 'making all sorts of resolutions of economy'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] sends her love.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Apologies for not having written earlier to thank Benn for sending his book ["The Greek Philosophers", 2nd edition?]. Had not read the first edition, only Benn's 'subsequent smaller books on the same subject' so it was 'a very great pleasure' to read his views in more detail. Not himself a student of Greek philosophy, so has 'little right to criticise', feeling 'much more inclined to enjoy and admire and learn'. Particularly interested in the chapter on the 'Religious Revival', and the chapters on Plato, whom he now hopes to re-read. Feels Benn is a 'little too severe on Aristotle's poetics', and that Aristotle may have meant something more like 'representation' than 'imitation' by mimesis, and 'a good deal more' by plot than Benn seems to think. Thinks he remembers some remarks of Matthew Arnold on this point. Benn says that Zeno's puzzles has 'never yet been satisfactorily solved'; this may be true 'but B[ertrand] Russell would not admit it' and insists that modern mathematics have done so; Trevelyan cannot judge. Has recently read Russell's last book, and found much of it too difficult to fully understand, though he was very interested it; recommends it. Hopes the Benns are 'keeping well and as cheerful as may be in so sad a time'. They had the Abercrombie family - Lascelles Abercrombie, his wife, and their three children - here for December and January, so the house was full.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon - Very sorry for Elizabeth's 'fresh trouble'; it is a 'slight complaint', so even if Julian does catch it he will soon recover, but it is still a nuisance. Mrs V[aughan] W[illiams] is a 'real "friend in need"'. Hopes it will not spread among Elizabeth's children; Elizabeth is right to get Miss Evans away. She herself has been ill since Saturday, with a bad attack of shingles, which is very painful. Hopes Elizabeth's trouble soon resolves itself; thinks '"other people's children" [in this case the Abercrombies] are always a bother'. Asks to be remembered to Mrs Vaughan Williams and Margaret; was hearing news of 'Mr Ralph V.W. in Khakhi'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Elizabeth for the photographs; particularly likes the one in which 'Julian & the cow contemplate each other'. Glad that the Shiffolds will soon be 'clear & disinfected' [when the Abercrombies move away]; she should know by Monday if Julian has 'escaped infection', though it will not much matter if he does have it. Hopes Miss Evans will now get well. Is recovering [from shingles] and thinks she will not have lasting neuralgia. Booa [Mary Prestwich] has her knee strapped up, but seems to be suffering from shock from the accident and for not resting enough. Hopes Bob's cold is better; they will be glad to be together again.
The Shiffolds. - Thanks his mother for the presents: the tie and 'very nice edition of the Sonnets', which 'will be a good excuse for reading them again'. But she has got the date of his birthday wrong: he is not 42 until the 28th; as he 'never remembers the date of anyone's birthday' himself, he is not surprised. He and Bessie have just been having the 'panetti di passe' which she kindly sent them; they are very good, 'not quite the same as we used to have at Ravello, but just as good'. The Abercrombies, who are staying till Monday, liked them very much. They are 'very pleasant guests, and the company of the children is good for Julian'.
Is going to London on Friday for Charles's 'Greenwich party'. He and Bessie 'entertained 7 of the tramps last Sunday at lunch'; [the Vaughan Williamses at] 'Leith Hill Place gave lunch to Haldane and several elders'. Haldane 'walked very bravely, though deliberately'. Robert and [Lascelles] Abercrombie walked to Dorking to meet them, then they all walked 'about seven miles to Leith Hill'; the Tramps then went to Gomshall [to catch the train], 'about five more miles. It was enough for a hot thundery day'. Sends love to his father.
The Shiffolds. - He and Bessie have just heard from Aunt Annie that his parents are both well. They are having 'very wet weather again, and the last of the snow has gone'. The Abercrombies leave on Friday; it has been a 'very pleasant visit', and it has been 'very good for Julian to be with the other children, in spite of occasional squabbles'. Robert now reads to him in bed for a while every evening; they 'get through a good deal, mostly poetry'. Julian 'listens to all with equal interest, but says he likes difficult poems best'; he certainly 'cannot understand all he hears', such as the Ancient Mariner. He likes Lucy Gray [by Wordsworth] and [Browning's] Pied Piper 'better still', as well as 'any poem about storms at sea, and people being drowned. His 'special poem', though, is Allingham's Up the airy mountain...[The Faeries], which 'is indeed a perfect bit of literature'. Julian almost knows it by heart now.
Bessie and Robert are now reading Great Expectations; it is a 'far better book than Our Mutual Friend, though the comic parts are hardly as good'. Bessie is very well. Robert saw Molly in London last week, who was 'cheerful, despite a cold'. George [her son, rather than her brother-in-law] 'seemed well, and had just had his first game of football at school'.
The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock. - The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock. - Has not yet spoken to Wilfrid [Gibson], but will do as soon as he sees him. He himself thinks 'very well' of Bob's scheme [for the "Annual of New Poetry"]; they should not worry about competing with "Georgian Poetry" and "New Numbers". True that "Georgian Poetry" 'is not asleep but sleepeth', as he understands, but "New Numbers" is 'dead as nail in door'. Cannot hurt "Georgian Poetry", which has 'never pretended to any monopoly', covers a 'much wider poetic field' and has a 'more aristocratic circulation'. Furthermore the first number of the "Annual" is likely to come out first, and will offer "Georgian Poetry" an 'attractive quarry to pick from', since it is 'frankly [Eddie] Marsh's own personal anthology [emphasised] of modern poetry', while in the "Annual" they would be 'trying to put as many of our wares before the public' as possible; however, would be best to see if Marsh objects. Regarding 'Mrs Lear' [Gordon Bottomley's play "King Lear's Wife], Marsh always said that Gordon's offer to let him print it first as 'great generosity', but the offer was on the understanding that "Georgian Poetry" would be published at once; since this did not happen, surely the offer is also off. Has always thought 'Mrs Lear' should be published as soon as possible.
Makes some tentative suggestions. The more poets on the magazine the less profit per poet; the poets should be chosen carefully, then there should be 'no editorial censorship on actual poems', since it would be difficult to choose an editor and communal editorship would be 'the devil'; the only control over contributions should be in the matter of space, and it would be best for the publisher to do this - suggests Constables as they 'are anxious to publish modern verse', and 'young Michael Sadler is... very nice & intelligent'. List of poets to contribute more important than the publisher: so far, provisionally, they have Gordon [Bottomley], [Thomas Sturge] Moore, Wilfrid [Gibson], Bob and Lascelles. Would also suggest Ralph Hodgson, W. H. Davies and R[obert] Frost; does not think there are others 'worthy to stand in our company, except of course [W. B.] Yeats & [John] Masefield', who would probably not join in. Frost thinks Walter de la Mare the 'greatest of living poets'; he himself does not rate him so highly, but would be happy to include him as a contributor. The profits for each number should be divided amongst the contributors, 'irrespective of space occupied'. Would like to talk to Bob about the scheme, rather than merely communicating in writing. Will see Bottomley when he goes to Grange [over Sands], and meanwhile may be in London soon; will let Bob know if he is. Feels 'honoured' to have been brought in so early the scheme's existence, and thinks it might be a great success. Catherine [his wife] is doing 'very well': apart from 'local effects of the operation' [for breast cancer] she feels better than she has done for a while; he thinks she also looks better. The two elder boys [David and Michael] are at Grange, and they will join them soon with baby [Ralph]. Was 'delightful' to see Bessie the other day.
Red Lion House, Chiswick Mall, W.4. - Is 'delighted' that Bob has sent her his book [his "Collected Works"]: is very proud to have it and see her own name and 'dear Lascelles'' together again in the dedication of "The Death of Man". He cannot know how much it means to her 'not to be forgotten by Lascelles' friends'; she misses 'so terribly all that splendid intellectual life' Lascelles gave her; though 'not an intellectual person' herself, she 'could & did revel in that splendid mind' and now 'the light has gone out & its dark & cold & always will be', except for the 'comfort' she gets from her children and old friends. Must think about Ralph and Michael's weddings, and 'how lovely it is to have acquired two new daughters, both dears'. Ralph 'looks a different creature now'. Very sorry Bob could not come to the wedding. The Gregynog Press want to start work as soon as possible to have the book [Lascelles Abercrombie's "Lyrics and Unfinished Poems "] out for Christmas; Ralph is seeing James Wardrop about it.
12 Westbank Rd, Birkenhead (MS correction to "The Gallows" headed notepaper. - Praises Trevelyan's poem "The Death of Man", which has been privately circulated in a small edition. Munitions work is tiring. Asks how Julian gets on with his poetry; the only one of his own family who is at all poetic is Michael, who is fond of rhyme.
Stick figure hanging from a gallows (labelled 'The Kaiser') used instead of an address. - The Abercrombies are settled back at "The Gallows": the bicycles restored after some neglect by the Frosts, and a new 'domestic' appointed. Ironic comments about both this woman and her predecessor. David is delighted with the daffodils: contrast of his romanticism with his brother Mike's realism. The children's fond memories of time at the Trevelyans'. Very interested in the news of the professorship in Toronto, has written to Dickinson to say that if there is a decent salary he will apply. Sends 'a specimen of your Favourite Passion'. Apologises for the mistake with Trevelyan's "New Numbers"; the Gibsons sent them out. The Abercrombies have bought a gramophone.
31 Redington Road, Hampstead, N.W.3. - Glad to receive Bob's book "Windfalls" yesterday: it went to Cornwall and back first, since [her son] Mike is there with his family and his maid did not know it was for Catherine. Has enjoyed all she has read of it so far 'enormously'; doesn't think she has read Bob's prose before. Lascelles would have liked it very much. Thinks Bob should write much more of the same, books such as those written by [W. H.?] Hudson, [Richard?] Jefferies or E. V. Lucas.: he has an 'enormous range of learning' and the ability to make the 'tiniest of nature's happenings seem exciting and important', while everything he says about beauty needs to be repeated nowadays. Is finding the heat very difficult; is changing her room to one on the first floor easier to entertain people and so hopes to contact Mr Badger [?] soon. Hopes Bessie is not too affected by the heat; remembers she does not like it much.
37 Weetwood Lane, Far Headingley, Leeds. - 'The Wolves' have sent Trevelyan's "Cheiron" [published by Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press]. Discusses it with great praise in detail. Has also recently received a Noh-play from Gordon [Bottomley]: 'just a little bit of a strain'. Is trying himself to get a book together, but of mostly old work. Trevelyan and Bessie's 'sympathy and generosity' has touched the Abercrombies greatly. Mikey has been ordered away from Leeds on health grounds.
Postmarked Dymock. - Birth of a son [Michael].