Hopes that Julian is recovering and will be able to come home on Wednesday. The rabbits are in 'their moving hutch on the lower lawn', and one of the black hens is in the oat field below the garden, 'near the didikai's hut', expects the 'naughty thing' is 'eating Shaw's oats'. Asks how "Baron Munchausen" is getting on and whether he has caught 'the eight-legged hare yet'. Bert, Alice, Mabel and Peter [servants and family] went to a 'Peace tea at Coldharbour last night and did not come home until quite late'; Peter enjoyed himself as there was 'a brass band and dancing'. Will now post this at the box on the Abinger Road. Comments in a postscript that this is a 'fine sheet of paper'; tells Julian not to look inside [the two pages are stuck together] as 'something might jump out': 'BO! says the bogie' is written inside.
Includes a table of 'stocks and share of Indian, Colonial, and Foreign Railways', in case Julian would like to take his money out of the Post Office and 'invest it in Antofagasta consols ord., or perhaps in Sorocabana 4 ½ %'. Sees 'that stupid Astronomical Correspondent still goes on babbling about the stars', but Julian will not be interested in that now; doubts that the sky in Manchester is 'ever visible through the smoke'. Duncan Tovey is visiting, and has made 'a pretty model in clay of an Egyptian God.' Bert [Elms] is going to London tomorrow to see the motor bicycle show at Olympia.
The Shiffolds. - Forgot to return the enclosed [a letter from Charles Adams, see 12/194] to his father in his last letter; hopes Mr [Henry] Adams is now recovering. Returned home on Tuesday, and 'found Bessie and Julian very well'; Bessie was 'a little tired by the moving [the replacement of the Enticknaps as cook/ housekeeper and gardener by Elms', but now seems all right. All seems to have gone smoothly, and so far Elms has been 'satisfactory'. Mrs Enticknap was 'not in the right frame of mind evidently, but Enticknap all along has been very nice, and has made things easier'. It is 'really a relief to have got rid of Mrs E[nticknap]'.
Spent a weekend with Aunt Annie; she did not look well, but seems to be recovering from her cold, and will have an 'easier time'. Thanks his mother for her present of the teak seat, which is now on the lawn, it 'looks splendid, and will be a great thing to have in the garden in the warm weather'. Is 'very sorry to hear that Booa [Mary Prestwich] is ill', and hopes to hear good news about her soon.
Trevelyan has filled in the sections printed on the front: 'Written by' with 'R.C.T'; 'Commenced' with 27 August 1923 [looks like 8]; 'School' with 'Ἡ ΓΗ' ['The Earth' in Ancient Greek]. Notes in his first entry that he has been reading Ponsonby's book ["English Diaries" by Arthur Ponsonby] which has inspired him to start this diary.
Mentions of Mabel [Godwin?], Marian [?], Alice, Bert and Bobbie Elms; Bessie and Julian; his parents; Miles Malleson and his wife [Joan] and uncle [Philip Malleson]; O[liver] Simon at the "Fleuron" (who asks him to translate the "Acts of the Apostles", to be illustrated by Paul Nash); Miss Ewing [later wife of Walter Rea], Nicky Mariano; Bernard and Mary Berenson; Frances and Arthur Dakyns (visiting the Ponsonbys at Fernhurst); his brother George (who has written to the "Times" saying the matter between Greece and Italy should be referred to the Powers not the League of Nations); Margaret and Ralph Vaughan Williams and their mother; Mrs [Jane] Russell Rea; Irene [Cooper Willis or Noel-Baker]; 'Miss [blank left], with whom Rennier had an affair. She is now private secretary to [Henry?] Hamilton Fyfe'; Francis Birrell; Clifford and Joan Allen; 'an Italian-French lady' whom Trevelyan had met at I Tatti; Barbara Strachey; [Simon] Bussy [paintings by]; John Rodker 'and his child [Joan] by Sonia [Cohen]'; a 'nice rather muddle-headed young man.. Labour candidate for Petersfield' [Dudley Aman]; Bertrand Russell.
Works on: translations of Theocritus; his 'Flood poem' ["The Deluge"]; possible continuation of "Pterodamozels"; review of books on metre by Lascelles Abercrombie and E[gerton Smith] (Smith is the first person he has 'attacked' in a review; wonders if Desmond MacCarthy will think his comments 'too strong); review of Sturge Morre's "Judas" for Leonard Woolf at the "Nation"; his 'Pandora play'.
Reads (as well as Ponsonby, and sometimes with Julian): the "Manchester Guardian", Spenser's "Mother Hubbard ['s Tale]", Epicharmus, "Henry IV pt 1", Phaedrus, Macaulay, Aristophanes, the 'Summer number' of Julian's "Hurtenham Magazine", Lucian, the "Mikado"; Ssuma Ch'ien [Sima Qian]; Hastings' "Dictionary of the Bible" [at the London Library]; a "Classical Review" with Duff and Bailey on Lucretius; Molly MacCarthy's autobiography ["A Nineteenth-Century Childhood", 'Very charming']
The Shiffolds. - Is sorry that his father is not recovering more quickly; must be 'tiresome for him to be in bed for so long'. Hopes that when he can get up the bad weather will be gone, and there will be a 'fine autumn. Bessie and Julian came home last night; both 'seemed very well, and all the better for their two weeks in the North'. Had 'quite a pleasant time here alone', but was still glad when they returned. The Elms family leave some time next week, when 'it comes to the point we are very sorry they are going'.
Would have liked to see more of his mother, and had brought some poems and translations from Theocritus to show her; if she likes, could send her typewritten copies of some since he has duplicates. Hopes to bring out a book of translations next year, and perhaps also a book of poems. Sends love to his father and Booa [Mary Prestwich]
The Shiffolds. - Returned yesterday after a 'very wet hunt [the Lake Hunt], though they had a 'good day on Monday, and plenty of fun', which partly made up for the wet weekend. They went out on Saturday despite the rain, but it was 'rather poor sport'; they stayed at home on Sunday, and walked to Lodore after tea. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, but it was 'disappointing only to have one good day'.
Bessie seems very well; the Sangers and 'Mrs Clifford Allen with the baby', are here till Sunday, and the weather is fine but cold. Julian writes 'quite cheerfully'. Remembers liking James's The American Scene, 'especially the chapter about Richmond. They have heard of 'two promising couples, that may do as successors to Alice and Bert [Elms], but nothing is yet settled. Thought Charles and Molly 'both very well, and in good spirits'. Has been translating much of Theocritus' poetry, and hopes to bring it out in a book this autumn or next spring; perhaps also a book of new poems, but he 'must try to write a few more this summer'.
He and Marie are very grateful for the Trevelyans' kindness and hospitality in having them to stay over the winter, so that ill-health seems 'at least temporarily a good fortune'. He himself is pleased to have got some work done, due to the 'almost excessive freedom' allowed him by Bessie; he has his 'little ways' which do not always please other members of the household. Has happy memories of the way Julian joined in the Christmas play. Sends kind remembrances to Bert, Alice, Peter and Mabel [Elms]. 'Tremble[s] in [his] boots' when he thinks of what an 'old donkey' Wordsworth turned into at his age.