Item 158 - Letter from Gordon Luce to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item.

British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, S.S. Arankola. - Got Trevelyan's letter just as he was leaving Burma for Sabathu, an I.A.R.O. [Indian Army Reserve of Officers] training school near Simla; writes waiting for the tide at the mouth of the Hoogli. Was happy to see Trevelyan's hand again: had found it difficult to forgive him for not coming to Burma years ago, where he might have made 'friends' of the temples of Pagan [Bagan]. Has been reading Trevelyan's "New Parsifal"; has never seen or heard Wagner but likes the play. He reads little modern poetry, but writes his own 'dolorous sentences in verse', and has just sent a 'gloomy batch' to Keynes, perhaps for publication. "Parsifal" reminds him of Trevelyan reading "Mustapha" and "Alahan" to him; supposes it is hard to get the complete works of Greville these days, but he would very much like to read his poem on taxation and the Royal Exchange. Still remembers 'the fraternity' [the Apostles]; has learned to love Burma and its people, and only 'a foolish sense of duty to phenomena' drives him to the army. Wishes Trevelyan had written more about himself, Forster and Dickinson. 'Schloss (Waley)' sends him his Chinese poems, and he likes them.