[35A School St., Andover, Mass.]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
19 Carlyle Mansions
29 November 1954
Dearest Emily

ICultivation of Christmas Trees, Thesent uninscribed;a1 was glad to get your letter of the 17th, but shocked to hear that my Christmas verses were uninscribed. I can only think of two explanations.1 One is that you didn’t open the leaflet in the right place; the other that I addressed the envelope first, and thought that I had already inscribed the verses. (If so, I wonder how many other people, who don’t know me well enough to mention it, got uninscribed copies – I have had to send about 130 so far). Anyway, I will send another copy, inscribed, at once. I am glad however that you like the verses. ButCultivation of Christmas Trees, Theexplained as publishing venture;a2 the format is not quite the same as that of the original ‘Ariels’, and neither I nor the Sales Manager is pleased with it. The cover looks like a solemn little pamphlet, or account of some charitable society, whereas it should look like a Christmas Card, bright on the outside and suitable for the mantelpiece. This was a bad mistake on the part of the Production Department.

IPerkins, Edith (EH's aunt)sight failing;g8 am distressed to hear about the progressive deterioration of Mrs. Perkins’s eyes. This will also make life still more trying for you, I fear; and presumably add to the expenses. Does the beneficent Mrs. Lyman continue to fill the gap in emergencies?

IHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin)invites TSE to stay in Boston;e8 think I mentioned that Eleanor Hinkley had invited me to be her guest in Cambridge. This was very unexpected and surprising. I have accepted with the proviso that it should not be for the whole of my stay, on the ground that I am an inconvenient guest who occasions many telephone calls, who is out most of the time, and who must treat his hosts as unpaid hotel keepers. Also, Berkeley Place is not altogether the most convenient quarter for me: itEliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law);g7 would be better if I staid at the Faculty Club and took my meals with Theresa, who is used to my ways.

AssmokingTSE gives up;c1 for news of myself, I am well, and, no doubt as a consequence of having given up smoking, free from bronchial trouble. I'Goethe as the Sage';a3 have finished myUniversity of Hamburgawards TSE Hanseatic Goethe Prize;a1 Goethe Address – at least, I have given it to my secretary to copy out fair – it is very long and will have to be cut in delivery, but they will print it in full (in German).2 Itravels, trips and plansTSE's deferred 1955 visit to Hamburg;i6proposed for spring 1955;a3 must now take up the question of when to go to Hamburg. I must avoid the winter (the earliest possible now would be late January) sotravels, trips and plansTSE's 1955 visit to America;i7;a2 I want to fit it in as late as possible in the spring before coming to America – say late April. Until this date is fixed I cannot make any reservation (I suppose I shall have to come by air). I want to leave America on such a date in June as will make it impossible (1) toHarvard UniversityClass Reunion at;d1 attend a Class Reunion at Harvard – that means leaving before June 14th; (2) to go to a Congress in Florence at the urgent request of the Mayor for the 3d year running: this means staying in America till about June 14th. It is difficult.

You say nothing about your Christmas play, or about your Christmas holidays. I only pray that the situation at Commonwealth Avenue will not develop in such a way as to rob you of all the days of rest at Christmas time. And I imagine that Aunt E. is fretful if any of the traditional Christmas ceremonies and social exercises are omitted.

It has happened lately that I have got involved in diplomatic courtesies to a greater extent than usual: IHägglöf, Anna;a1 had to propose the vote of thanks last week toHägglöf, Bo Gunnar Rickardsson;a1 the wife of the Swedish Ambassador reading a paper on Queen Christina of Sweden;3 this week a Jugoslav reception; andMassigli, René;a3 next week farewell receptions by two departing ambassadors, the Italian (who is going to Washington) and the French!4

devoted love
Tom.

I have noticed that the gum on the envelopes of those Ariel poems is weak.

1.The Cultivation of Christmas Trees (Ariel Poems new series): published on 26 Oct. 1954.

2.TSE’s address ‘Goethe as the Sage’ was to be printed first as a pamphlet entitled Gedenkschrift zur Verleihung des hansischen Goethe-Preises 1954 der gemeinnützigen Stiftung F.V.S. zu Hamburg durch die Universität Hamburg an Thomas Stearns Eliot (Hamburg: Gebrüder Hoesch, 1955), with a German translation by Ursula Clemen.

3.BoHägglöf, Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (1904–94): Swedish Ambassador to the UK, 1948–67. HisHägglöf, Anna wife was Anna Hägglöf.

4.TSE to René Massigli (French Ambassador), 16 Nov. 1954: ‘I add one more to the letters of appreciation, regret and good wishes from English friends and admirers that you will have already received. I am one of those who know only by report and by inference of your great achievement, during these ten years, in the area of political diplomacy; but who know from experience and observation of your great achievement in the no less important work of social and cultural liaison. To whatever degree Your Excellency may consider me competent, I wish to offer my testimony; as well as my expression of personal appreciation and gratitude on many occasions.’

Cultivation of Christmas Trees, The, sent uninscribed, explained as publishing venture,
Eliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law), witness to the Eliots in 1926, draws TSE, co-hosts Murder party, remembers TSE's intention to marry EH, her immaturity, expresses solicitude for EH, careless of Henry's health, inflator of rumours, apparently ill, a 'lovely person', as correspondent, more agreeable than an Eliot, TSE on, unsuited to resist Margaret, and Henry's mania for Eliotana, wishes to take Henry on holiday following illness, made fretful by Henry, relationship with Henry, ignorant of Henry's true condition, on EH and TSE, after Henry's death, sends TSE Henry's old greatcoat, EH reports on, visits lawyer with TSE, avid for Eliotana, star-struck, undergoes operation on ear, for which TSE bears cost, hosts TSE in 1952, hosts TSE in 1955, custodian of Henry's collection, hosts TSE in 1956, visits England, on whether to return EH's letters, on TSE not marrying EH,
see also Eliots, the Henry
'Goethe as the Sage', 'maddening',
Hägglöf, Anna,

3.BoHägglöf, Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (1904–94): Swedish Ambassador to the UK, 1948–67. HisHägglöf, Anna wife was Anna Hägglöf.

Hägglöf, Bo Gunnar Rickardsson,

3.BoHägglöf, Bo Gunnar Rickardsson Gunnar Rickardsson Hägglöf (1904–94): Swedish Ambassador to the UK, 1948–67. HisHägglöf, Anna wife was Anna Hägglöf.

Harvard University, rumours of TSE defecting to, TSE's student days at, makes TSE feel inadequate, Annenberg Hall disparaged, its society, English 26 (Modern English Literature), class described, on Shaw and Chesterton, on Hardy, positive feedback on, on Yeats, on modern poetry, on Joyce contra Lawrence, final lecture, compared architecturally to Yale, hockey match, compared to Princeton, produces Murder, TSE's student cooking at, engages MacNeice at TSE's instance, TSE's election to Phi Beta Kappa Society, where TSE's writers' cramp began, Harvard calendar given to TSE, TSE's student bodybuilding regime at, speaking engagement at, poetry reading at, confers honorary degree on TSE, stages Murder at Germanic Museum, Theodore Spencer Memorial Lecture, produces Murder again, Class Reunion at, which TSE gets out of, possible deposit for Hale letters,
Hinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin), announces presence in London, TSE regrets speaking lightly of, un-deracinated, compared to TSE, TSE shares EH's frustrations with, less perceptive than her mother, gives party for Eva Le Gallienne, unworldly, theatrical success might improve, takes TSE to football match, dances with TSE, at second Norton lecture, as EH's friend, unflattering photograph of, and EH attend American Murder, suspected of writing by the book, to Aunt Susie as Hope Mirrlees to Mappie, pursues adult education, prejudices TSE against George Baker, cossetted, TSE feels remote from, explodes two Stearns family myths, reportedly writing novel, and life after Aunt Susie, turned carer, passes up EH's invitation, recollected as girl, TSE attempts to lure to England, her impersonality, invites TSE to stay in Boston, reports on Margaret's funeral, TSE's improved relations with, as 1956 hostess, reports on EH, informs EH of TSE's health, engineers correspondence between EVE and EH, adaptation of Emma, central to TSE falling for EH, Charlotte Brontë play, TSE presents to London Play Company, TSE's verdict on, compared to Dear Jane, Dear Jane, to be produced in New York, consumes her, TSE happy to dodge premiere, but hopes to catch over Christmas, well reviewed in certain quarters, White Violets,
see also Hinkleys, the

5.EleanorHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin) Holmes Hinkley (1891–1971), playwright; TSE’s first cousin; daughter of Susan Heywood Stearns – TSE’s maternal aunt – and Holmes Hinkley: see Biographical Register.

Massigli, René, awards TSE Légion d’honneur,

1.RenéMassigli, René Massigli (1888–1988), diplomat: French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1944–55.

Perkins, Edith (EH's aunt), her relationship to EH queried, to accompany EH to Scripps, asks TSE to dinner, at first Norton lecture, shares pew with TSE, accompanies TSE to Symphony Concert, in audience at Milton Academy, catches cold in Florence, in TSE's private opinion, TSE's occasional poem for, her relationship with EH analysed, dislikes Jeanette McPherrin, explains EH's breakdown to TSE, on the Harvard Murder, as Campden hostess, and TSE's wartime instructions to EH, gives lunch at American Women's Club, gives TSE balsam pillow, requests English edition of Cats, as horticulturalist, without Campden garden, compared to Irene Hale, gives TSE photograph of EH, attends Ada's funeral, reports on EH's Millbrook situation, pressed for ham and pineapple recipe, sight affected in one eye, gives lecture, sight failing, sight deteriorates in other eye, thanked for 1946 hospitality, gives to Books Across the Sea, according to EH, asks TSE to present slides to RHS, which TSE does, on EH and TSE's relationship, and Hidcote House, friendly with Marion, TSE pitches her book to publishers, depressed by the heat, somewhat recovered, approaching 80th, faced with husband's death, letter of condolence to, sent birthday poem, visited in Boston, has sciatica, reports on EH's dramatic activities, Miss Lavorgna on, in her old-age infirmity, suffers 'shock', sacks nurse, EH preserved from, sends funeral tribute to Cousin Will, and the Hale letters, nursing home sought for, moved into nursing home, where TSE writes to her, suffers stroke, deteriorating, relations with EH, her legacy to EH,
see also Perkinses, the
smoking, like a schoolboy, with Jim Clement, despite Mt Holyoke rules, and TSE's definition of 'civilised', a pipe again, Chesterfields, tobacconist to Dr Perkins, cigarettes versus gaspers, birthday cigarettes, JDH's Christmas cigars, bedside cigarettes, French cigarettes versus Ringer's Mild Shag, as practised by Virginia Woolf, pipes from the Tandys, and drinking, French cigarettes, TSE forced to halve intake, against doctor's orders, TSE gives up,
travels, trips and plans, EH's 1930 trip to England, EH's proposed 1931 England visit, called off, EH's 1932 summer holidays, the Eliots' Derby Day excursion, related, the Eliots' July 1932 Hindhead visit, the Eliots' August 1932 Eastbourne holiday, described, TSE's 1932–3 year in America, Norton Professorship offered to TSE, and the prospect of reunion with EH, which TSE refuses to see as decisive, which angers EH, who writes and destroys a response, TSE's financial imperatives, TSE's itinerary, and the question of discretion, opportunity for adventurous lecture-tours, TSE speculates on attendant feelings, TSE on the voyage over, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, the Eliot family's Randolph holiday, TSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps, proposed to EH, and TSE's need to lecture, possibly via St. Louis, TSE's itinerary, possible stopover in Seattle, a shameful source of happiness, still a happy thought, described by Havens and others, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, TSE wonders at after-effect on EH, EH urged to reflect honestly on, Ada on, and a conversation about divorce, in EH's recollection, possible EH 1933 summer in England, TSE's 1933 Faber summer holiday, set for mid-August, postponed, rearranged, TSE buys summer outfits for, described, TSE's 1933 tour of Scotland, possible itinerary, Morley's preparations for, described for EH, TSE's 1933 trip to Paris, mooted, described, EH's 1934–5 year in Europe, TSE delighted at the prospect, attempts to coordinate with TSE's 1934 summer plans, the Perkinses due in Chipping Camden, EH's itinerary, TSE's initial weekend at Chipping Campden, TSE books rooms in Lechlade, TSE visits Campden again with family, and again alone, which visit TSE reflects on, TSE's plans to entertain EH en route to Europe, EH's continental itinerary, VHE and propriety inhibit pre-Paris arrangements, L'Escargot lunch, weekend in Sussex for EH's birthday, possible London tea-party, second lunch at L'Escargot, EH and TSE's November excursions, a month which TSE reflects happily on, EH's summer 1935 plans, EH departs England, EH in Florence, arrived in Rome, TSE coordinating with EH's return, TSE recommends Siena, EH returns to Florence, EH sails for Riviera, EH returns from France, L'Escargot lunch on EH's return, EH sails for Guernsey, May 1935, EH's June 1935 London sortie, TSE attends Dr Perkins's birthday, TSE's July 1935 Campden week, TSE offers to fund EH in London, where EH joins Jeanie McPherrin, TSE's Campden birthday weekend, prospect of EH spending month at Blomfield Terrace, Thorp theatre outing, TSE's 6–8 September Campden weekend, EH staying at 19 Rosary Gardens, EH to Campden for 15–17 November, EH sails for Boston, EH and TSE's final farewell, TSE and EH's final weeks in London, their excursion to Finchampstead, TSE reflects on, excursion to Greenwich, EH reflects on the final weeks of, TSE's 1934 Faber summer holiday, described, TSE's dream of Cairo, TSE's invitation to Finland, palmed off on Robert Nichols, TSE's 1935 tour of Scotland, proposed by Blake, attempts to coordinate with EH, TSE's itinerary, TSE's 1935 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, described, TSE's 1936 visit to Ireland, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's spring/summer 1936 trip to Paris, first contemplated, date fixed, Morleys invited, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1936 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, TSE's 1936 American trip, spring arrival dependent on New York Murder, if not spring, then autumn, possible excursions, autumn better for seeing EH, and possible Princeton offer, and possible Smith visit, efforts to coordinate with EH, passage on Alaunia booked, TSE's itinerary, Murder to pay for, coordinating with Eliot Randolph holiday, the moment of parting from EH, TSE's birthday during, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1937 tour of Scotland, itinerary, recounted, the Morley–Eliot 1937 trip to Salzburg, contemplated, itinerary, EH receives postcard from, described, as relayed to OM, EH's 1937 summer in England, and Mrs Seaverns, EH accompanies TSE to Edinburgh, itinerary coordinated with EH, dinner at L'Escargot, TSE's 10–11 July Campden visit, TSE's 17–22 July Campden visit, TSE's 21 August Campden visit, EH travels to Yorkshire, TSE reminisces about, TSE's 1937 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, leaves TSE sunburnt, TSE's 1938 trip to Lisbon, outlined to EH, TSE advised on, travel arrangements, the voyage out, described, EH's 1938 summer in England, and whether EH should spend it at Campden, EH's arrival confirmed, TSE's July Campden visit, EH's late-July London stay, TSE's 5–21 August Campden fortnight, TSE's 3–6 September Campden visit, EH's September London stay, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1938 Faber summer holiday, TSE's preparations for, TSE reports from, possible EH England Christmas 1938 visit, possible TSE 1939 visit to America, mooted for spring, complicated by Marion and Dodo's trip, shifted to autumn, threatened by war, made impossible, EH's 1939 England visit, TSE's efforts to coordinate with, threatened by war, complicated by Marion's arrival, EH's itinerary, EH's initial London stay, TSE's 7–20 July Campden visit, TSE's 22–30 August Campden visit, TSE's 2–4 September Campden visit, EH again London, EH and TSE's parting moments, in TSE's memory, memory vitiated by EH's subsequent letter, TSE's 1939 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, possible wartime transatlantic crossings, contingencies, in case of EH being ill, TSE's reasons for and against, and TSE's New York proposition, following invasion Denmark and Norway, impossible for TSE unless official, TSE's desire to remain in England, TSE's reasons for and against accepting lectureship, given Ada's impending death, TSE's abortive 1940 Italian mission, possible but confidential, lectures prepared for, and the prospect of seeing EP, might include Paris, itinerary, in jeopardy, final preparations for, cancelled, TSE's 1940 visit to Dublin, approved by Foreign Office, in national interest, itinerary, recounted, involves TSE's first plane-journey, TSE's 1940 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Faber summer holiday, Kipling and fishing-rod packed for, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Northern tour, proposed by the Christendom group, arranged with Demant, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1942 British Council mission to Sweden, TSE makes cryptic allusion to, as recounted to EH, as recounted to JDH, return leg in London, as war-work, TSE's 1942 New Forest holiday, described, TSE's 1942 week in Scotland, recounted, TSE's abortive 1942 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 trip to Edinburgh, recounted, TSE's abortive 1943 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 New Forest holiday, TSE's 1944 trip to Edinburgh, TSE's abortive 1944 North Africa mission, TSE's May 1945 trip to Paris, described, TSE's June 1945 trip to Paris, recounted, possible post-war American visit, and Henry's impending death, ideally ancillary to work, possibly as F&F's representative, waits on TSE's health and Carlyle Mansions, TSE's 1945 September fortnight in Lee, described, TSE's 1945 Christmas in Lee, described, TSE's 1946 summer in America, date for passage fixed, paperwork for, TSE's itinerary, its aftermath, recounted, TSE's 1947 summer in America, dependent on lecture engagements, TSE seeks to bring forward, Henry's condition brings further forward, set for April, itinerary, EH reflects on, TSE's scheduled December 1947 visit to Marseilles and Rome, itinerary, TSE's preparations for, dreaded, Roman leg described by Roger Hinks, EH's hypothetical March 1948 visit to England, TSE's postponed 1948 trip to Aix, itinerary, recounted, home via Paris, TSE's 1948 trip to America, itinerary, TSE's visit to EH in Andover, disrupted by Nobel Prize, TSE's 1948 Nobel Prize visit to Stockholm, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1949 family motor-tour of Scotland, described, TSE's October–November 1949 trip to Germany, possible itinerary, preparations for, final itinerary, TSE's account of, the return via Belgium, TSE's January 1950 voyage to South Africa, all but fixed, itinerary, described by TSE, recounted by Faber, EH's 1950 summer in England, TSE books EH's hotel room for, TSE's efforts to coordinate with EH's movements, EH in Campden, TSE reports to Aunt Edith on, TSE's 1950 visit to America, and TSE's possible Chicago post, the Chicago leg, November itinerary, TSE's spring 1951 trip to Spain, itinerary, recounted, TSE's September 1951 Geneva stay, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's second 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to Rennes and the Riviera, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to America, itinerary, efforts to coordinate with EH's summer, TSE on meeting with EH, TSE's 1952 rest cure in Switzerland, TSE's 1953 visit to St. Louis and America, set for June, to include fortnight in Cambridge, itinerary, EH's 1953 trip to England, EH's Alnwick plans, TSE books hotel for EH, and EH's ticket to Confidential Clerk, TSE's 1953 visit to Geneva, TSE's 1953–4 trip to South Africa, itinerary, described, arrival described to JDH, GCF on, TSE's 1954 Geneva rest cure, Geneva preferred to Paris, TSE's deferred 1955 visit to Hamburg, prospect inspires reluctance in TSE, proposed for spring 1955, dreaded, TSE now returned from, TSE's 1955 visit to America, and contingent speaking engagements, foreshortened, itinerary, Washington described, TSE's return from, TSE's 1955 Geneva rest cure, TSE's 1956 visit to America, passage fixed for April, itinerary, TSE in the midst of, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1956 Geneva rest cure, itinerary, recounted, illness during, EH's 1957 visit to England, TSE and EVE invited to Campden, TSE reciprocates with London invitation, but EH leaves England abruptly, which TSE consults Eleanor Hinkley over, who duly explains, TSE and EVE's 1958 trip to America, as rumoured to EH, EH's 1959 tour of Scandinavia, funded by bequest from cousin, TSE and EVE's 1959 trip to America, TSE and EVE's 1963 trip to America,
University of Hamburg, awards TSE Hanseatic Goethe Prize,