Item 162 - Letter from Donald Tovey to Elizabeth Trevelyan

Miss Weisse is in good spirits and health, and 'jingo German in cork-shooting effervescence', shedding some important, if partisan, light. Was under military as well as diplomatic protection during her travels, since the 'little governess' whom she was escorting to Berlin is a general's daughter. She will probably ask Bessie to come and see her; even if not, Tovey encourages her to do so and take Bob. Not necessary to believe that 'all that is in English newspapers is false & all that is in German true', but it is interesting that there are '7 million German soldiers who have not yet begun to move', and that the [Dowager] Duchess of Sutherland, whom Tovey saw return yesterday on the same boat as Miss Weisse, 'indignantly denies the "German atrocities" stories'. Fritz Busch conducted a 'patriotic concert' on the 12th, and the Burgomaster of Aachen may 'much against Fritz's will' insist on him being employed thus 'instead of as Kanonenfutter'. De Wed-Tjeenk turns out to have been 'the Rontgens' housekeeper'. A postscript on the back of the envelope notes that Tovey's brother [Duncan] is going to the front.