Pièce 229 - Letter from Bertrand Russell to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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Little Datchet Farm, Malvern, R.D.1, Pennsylvania. - Thanks Bessie for sending the gratifying comments of her German friend Dr Bluth about his book ["An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth"?], though is puzzled by Bluth's allusion to [Hans] Reichenbach, whom he got to know well when he was at Los Angeles. He is 'a man of simple kindliness', he thinks 'remarkably free from complexes' and 'his philosophy is thoroughly sane'; never encountered 'reactionary sentimentality' in him. Visited [G.E.] Moore at Princeton, who was 'exactly as usual'. They had an enjoyable visit from Joe Wedgwood, who has 'got into hot water' for suggesting the British constitution may be better than the American in some points. Is afraid the British government has been 'foolishly harsh' about German refugees, and public opinion is just as bad; expects it will get worse. In America, people are so far 'fairly reasonable' but fears this will not last. All the more difficult to be optimistic about the world after the war. Asks how the war touches Bessie's daily life 'in physical ways': does she constantly hear aeroplanes, are the woods cut down and the beauty of her surroundings destroyed? Is very sorry her eyes are so bad: hopes Bob continues to read books to her. She has read to him and Russell so many times: hates to think of her being unable to read.