Item 51 - Letter from Lascelles Abercrombie to R. C. Trevelyan

The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock, Gloucester. - Hopes Trevelyan is enjoying Seatoller; he himself has "constant northward yearnings", but the strongest "landskip-impression" in his mind is still Italy. Tremendous impression made by their tour of Florence, Perugia, Assisi and Siena; has discovered that, as a pessimist and anti-religionist. his nature demands sunlight. Hates to think of the passengers on the "Titanic" with the "awful booing mooing" of "Nearer my God to Thee" in their ears. Agrees with Trevelyan on the role of the chorus in Greek drama - it should not partake in the action (as seen in "Murrayed drama") - and discusses how the modern stage can accommodate it. Hopes to be able to stage Trevelyan's "Oresteia", and touches on an old debate between them about opera and verse drama. Has written nothing since returning from Italy, but is considering something called "The Lion of God" on the death of Ali. Has heard nothing yet of Forster. Is much worried because Lord A[lfred] Douglas has sued his friend Arthur Ransome over Ransome's book on Wilde.