Item 42 - Letter from Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item

Grand Hotel des Wagon-Lits, Peking. - Has just returned from Nankou: was drenched with rain as he walked down the pass, but found the scenery magnificent. Has had a full and fatiguing six weeks in Peking 'diversified by a fall from a dray and concussion of the head'. Discusses the political situation; the people are 'even more attractive and fascinating' than he found them at first. Says he is clearly 'Chinese not Indian' though believes he was Indian between the age of 20 and 25 and 'could have become an ascetic' with encouragement. Kung has not appeared, but Dickinson has met other Chinese, including Ku Hing-Ming [Gu Hongming], a linguistic genius. Expects to leave tomorrow for Tai Shan [Mount Tai] and Confucius' birthplace in Shantung [Shandong]; Dr Yetts goes with him, and R. F. Johnston is there. He will then go to Japan at the end of the month. Will be sorry to miss Surendranath Tagore, 'the most distinguished person' he met in India. The foreign community here is perhaps even more limited than it is in India; if he lived in China, he would become a 'sinologue', avoiding all Europeans, like Blackburn [?]. His health has been quite good, apart from some digestive trouble. Sends love to Bessie, and hopes Trevelyan's writing is going well.