Stuk 21 - Letter from Edwin Montagu to Venetia Stanley

India Office, London.—Will stay at Alderley for one night. Refers to his enjoyable stay at Penrhôs and to his cowardice in connection with ‘the Caligula arch incident’. Is enjoying work.

TRANSCRIPT:

India Office, Whitehall, S.W.
Nov. 1st 1911.

My dear Venetia

(I have somehow slipped into addressing you by the most beautiful name in the world [which happens to be yours] {1}—if you dislike it you will of course some time or other say so (please dont)—it is I suppose because I think of you thusly).

I have provisionally fixed Thursday week {2} for Oldham and will gladly stay at Alderley for that night.

How kind you were at Penrhos and how much I enjoyed it and you!

But I think you were too kind about the Caligula arch incident {3}; if a man or woman has tolerable or even at most conventional courage a small lacuna therein however eccentric can be pardoned. A brave soldier is not a poltroon because he is afraid of cats, nor would let us say Geoffrey be a coward because he might blanch in the dark—but I fear I am coward all through and through—physical and I fear nowadays moral. I venture little and I win about as much.

Nevertheless I am having heaps of fun here and am rather above myself with fight and energy—and its always fun writing to you—but I must deny myself more of it—because I’m keeping people waiting

Yrs ever
Edwin S. Montagu

—————

Black-edged paper.

{1} The square brackets are in the MS.

{2} 9 November.

{3} There is a Caligula Arch at Pompeii. Perhaps there is a copy, or a similarly-named arch, at Penrhôs.