[41 Brimmer St., Boston]
As if expressly to prove me wrong, when I wrote that your letters never arrive on a Wednesday, your long and interesting letter of the 2nd arrived the next day, Wednesday. Passing strange, and therefore as a stranger gave it welcome. Where shall I begin?1
FirstKing's Chapel, BostonEH sends TSE article about;a1 to thank you for the interesting article about the King’s Chapel; what an interesting and unique history! IKing's Chapel, BostonTSE formerly congregant of;a2 think MrBrown, Howard Nicholson;a1. Brown2 was in charge when I occasionally attended it – I was only a rare church-goer in those days, but I remember the beauty of the Church. AndKing's Chapel, BostonEH asks TSE to address;a3 of course I shall be delighted and honoured to give an address there – though of course I should do anything that you asked me, still this will be a particular pleasure.3 AndHale, Emilyas actor;v8in The Old Lady Shows Her Medals;b5 how is the 85 year old aristocrat? I am sure you will do that perfectly, itReade, CharlesPeg Woffington;a1 reminds me of Charles Reade’s Peg Woffington (did you ever read that story? you really ought to, please).4 After what you say about the part will you please help me to get a copy of the Play?))
Thank'Modern Dilemma, The'TSE against turning into book;a5 you very much for your clear criticism of my Broadcasts. I think you are entirely right, and I shall leave them aside until I can do as you suggest: by that time my ideas may be clearer and better, and I may want to write something entirely different. I imagine that it all sounded when spoken a good [deal] better than it reads, and that my friends who want the talks reprinted would themselves be disappointed. And I do not think I have the right to rush into print so long as there is the least hesitation or uncertainty in my mind; the result could only be a large proportion of verbiage. Don’t exaggerate the amount of my activity. It seems to me very meagre; and for several months now I have felt so tired that often it has been nearly eleven before I even get out of bed; and I can do no concentrated work at night. TheSelected Essaysits contents;a4 new volume is to be only a reprint: some of the earlier books are to be included, and a number of introductions and review articles previously uncollected. Even that I could hardly have accomplished but that Morley did most of the work of collecting and revising the proof. (ByMorley, SusannaTSE delighted to godfather;a1 the way, the Morleys now have a daughter, after two sons, and I am to be god-father. I never expected that I should end as a professional godfather!)5 (DoHale, Philiphis programme notes;a1 you refer to Mr. Philip Hale, and does he still write those amazingly erudite programme notes for the Symphony Concerts?)6
Now about the lecturing. Onetravels, trips and plansTSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps;a8and TSE's need to lecture;a2 problem is this, whether I could get any college or university engagements on the West Coast during the time when I shall be free, that is between Christmas and February 1st. If the colleges are on holiday then they won’t want lectures. What do you think? I don’t suppose that I should have the time to go to both Southern California and Seattle, and from my point of view there would be no need; for if you were in one place you would not be in the other. The main thing is of course to see you: from the money point of view I shall probably do best in the long run by taking the pick of Eastern offers. If the worst came to the worst, I should be willing to have recourse to that dreaded conveyance the plane! even at the season of blizzards, if they run.
And now may I speak frankly about what is the most exciting part of your letter? The tentative suggestion about a holiday was such a new idea to me that it nearly laid me flat for the rest of the day. There are two aspects to consider. One is the question (which perhaps is only due to my ignorance of conditions) of the practical and social possibility. You say ‘as many couples do in all morality these days’; it is perfectly possible in all morality, but is it possible without any possibility of scandal? Is it possible for two people in our position? Please don’t think, in parenthesis, that I exaggerate my own humble glory, but I fear that I may be, if only by my strangeness to my surroundings, slightly conspicuous. YouHale, EdwardTSE's sense of propriety on behalf of;a1 see, I feel a very serious responsibility indeed; and I should never forgive myself if I took any step, or induced you to take any step, innocent as it would be, which could raise the slightest suspicion in any mind however vulgar. I feel almost as if I were in direct contact with your Father in such matters, and certainly I feel as much consideration for what he would think and feel, as if he were actually present.
But if it could be arranged that no one on earth could think it other or more than it was, it would be a wonderful experience for me. Itravels, trips and plansTSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps;a8possible stopover in Seattle;a5 canAmericaSeattle, Washington State;h1;a5 only conceive of such a possibility as that you mentioned, of your staying with friends in Seattle, and my putting up somewhere near for a few days holiday. Please, let me know more definitely what sort of arrangement you had in mind; or if you hadn’t any definite plan at the back of your head, then please have one. I have perfect confidence in our principles and conduct – it is really an impertinence to say such a thing to you – but nobody should be quite sure either of his own or of another’s discretion.
AsHale, EmilyTSE's love for;x2its passion tempered by religion;b5 for the other part of the question – whether seeing you in that way would give me more pleasure or pain – I cannot say, certainly, until the first part is settled. I think that the arrangement ought to be such that if I felt the strain of seeing you too great, I could leave suddenly without causing any surprise or confusion. It is possible that I may be able to conquer the strain, and see you in that way, as I write to you, with resignation towards the unfulfilled. AtChristianityasceticism, discipline, rigour;a9mastering emotions and passions;a4 the same time I am aware that age has not abated my passions – and concentrating them entirely on one person intensifies them if anything – age has merely given me firmer values, a religious outlet, and the recognition of the necessity of reconciling oneself with sacrifice, and the infinitely greater importance of other things than one’s personal desires or even one’s personal enrichment of life.
So there – that’s a long enough letter for this time – I intend to go to bed over the Whitsun holidays; and hope to write in a more refreshed mood on Tuesday. Good night, my dear.
1.‘She swore, in faith, ’twas strange, ’twas passing strange’ (Othello I. iii. 162). Horatio: ‘O day and night, but this is wondrous strange’. Ham.: ‘And therefore as a stranger give it welcome’ (Hamlet I. v. 165).
2.HowardBrown, Howard Nicholson Nicholson Brown (1849–1932), minister of King’s Chapel, Boston, 1895–1921.
3.TSE’s address in King’s Chapel, 1 Dec. 1932, was ‘The Bible as Scripture and as Literature’: CProse 4, 695–708.
4.Charles Reade’s novel Peg Woffington (1853) was based on the life of an Irish actor.
5.TSE and Vivien would attend the christening of Susanna Morley at Pike’s Farm, Aug. 1932.
6.PhilipHale, Philip Hale (1854–1934), journalist, celebrated as the prolific and influential music critic of the Boston Herald, 1903–33, who also wrote a multitude of programme notes for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1901–34: see Jon Ceander Mitchell, Trans-Atlantic Passages: Philip Hale on the Boston Symphony Orchestra 1889–1933 (New York, 2014).
2.HowardBrown, Howard Nicholson Nicholson Brown (1849–1932), minister of King’s Chapel, Boston, 1895–1921.
1.EdwardHale, Edward Hale (1858–1918), Unitarian minister, father of Emily Hale: see Biographical Register.
6.PhilipHale, Philip Hale (1854–1934), journalist, celebrated as the prolific and influential music critic of the Boston Herald, 1903–33, who also wrote a multitude of programme notes for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1901–34: see Jon Ceander Mitchell, Trans-Atlantic Passages: Philip Hale on the Boston Symphony Orchestra 1889–1933 (New York, 2014).