Pièce 248 - Letter from Sir George Trevelyan to R. C. Trevelyan

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Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Is very sorry for the difficulties with 'poor Miss Boucher [Julian's governess]; glad that Caroline will see Elizabeth to hear about it; also glad that Julian is well, and 'quite contented that he should get his intellectual nourishment largely through pictures'. A 'strange metaphysical friend' of Henry Sidgwick's, who was 'too odd and unkempt to be an Apostle' used to tell Sir George he had the 'Shoshonee [Shoshone] mind' since he said their 'alphabet was all in pictures'. Has seen a portrait of 'the late Mr Willett, the father of daylight saving'. Does not know whether the Cambo household will return; afraid Pauline is not well. Has been busy; the Shakespeare tercentenary was held in Stratford tastefully and 'rather successfully', and he felt he should 'repay the neighbourliness and friendliness' of the people by attending some of the celebrations, and making some speeches. Stratford has 'ceased to be an American town'; instead of twelve or fifteen thousand last year, there were only two hundred and fifty four [visitors]. Thanks Robert for [Charlotte Lennox's] "The Female Quixote"; has been reading "Humphry Clinker", which he has always thought Smollett's 'most readable' work, though there is 'nothing like the naval scenes in Roderick Random'.