Pièce 136 - Letter from Sophie Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 item.

18 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh. - Apologises for not replying sooner to Bessie's 'kind note': is in 'agonies of packing up all vestiges' of her life here, and 'cowed and horrified at the spectacle of Europe in flames of war'. Remembers what happened to her in 1914, spending six weeks in Berlin as a prisoner of war before being allowed to leave for Holland, in a troop train on the way to the siege of Paris carrying 'die dicke Bertha' [one of the 'Big Bertha' cannons'], with 'thirty trucks of concrete for the emplacement'; the troops suddenly had to turn round when Russia over-ran East Prussia. Cannot get thoughts of this, and the Russian war now, out of her mind. Would be comforted if Bessie could send her any pictures [of Donald Tovey?] and perhaps the copy of the "New Statesman" she mentioned. Has heard nothing from Mollie Grierson and is anxious: 'Professor Richmond seemed bent on putting her out of the university altogether!'. Cannot dislike Professor Newman, but thinks he seems likely to be 'a small round peg in a large square space'; list of his prizes printed by the "Scotsman" means little as she fears 'they manufacture mediocrities'. Wishes Casals could write to them. When Joachim and Hausmann volunteered to play three Trio concerts in Berlin with Donald, she thanked Joachim and said she was glad he could say she had made Donald a good musician; he replied that Donald was not just a good musician, but 'was music' (quote given in German).