[Grace Toll Hall, Scripps College, Claremont]
I wanted to write another little letter tonight, first because my last letter was delayed, and second because I was so very tired and stupid when I wrote it, that I am sure it was a stupid letter. I was too sleepy even to refer to the contents of yours. ItHale, Emilyas director ('producer');v9Comus;a4 seemsMilton, JohnComus;a9 to me that ‘Comus’ is a big job to undertake, and it is a long way from Ludlow Castle to Claremont.1 I wonder how you manage for properties, especially for the Rout. Have you got papier maché animal heads? ThereMilton, JohnTSE on Comus;a3 is some lovely poetry in it, which needs acting by voice rather than by action. There are very few in England who can recite poetry properly; the usual and applauded style is an unctuous treacly style which takes the life out of everything.
IRock, Thein rehearsal;c7 have been out to Bounds Green to see the local parish do my mob scene (with an anti-Christian agitator). There is nothing more difficult for amateurs than to act when they have nothing to say. They can deliver their words fairly well, but when it comes just to being a mob, they might as well be wax figures.
I shall be glad now when the thing is over. I have been living too long just with this little pageant; and I need to be able to think of other things, or even of nothing.
PenelopeNoyeses, the;a6 and her father, to my surprise, are in London. I had not supposed that Pa Noyes would be strong enough to come over again. So I am to dine with them on Monday at the Stafford Hotel, St. James’s.
I am always flattered when you speak of reading anything that I have written: I never expect what I send to be read! especially in the life you have been living, and in the climate and environment, and the poor health you have had. And I am not sure that I am not positively pleased by what you say about my poetry. It is rather a relief. If you liked it very much, I might fear that you only or partly liked me merely as the author of it, and that would not please me at all. There are plenty of people who seem to like me very well, but not so many of whom I feel sure that they don’t mix me up with my poetry, and that they would like me just as much if I were a quite obscure person. One does crave some private life, and I have had little enough of that.
IHale, Emilyappearance and characteristics;v7EH encouraged to gain weight;a8 hope you will get very Fat this coming year. Partlyappearance (TSE's)figure;b8'obese';a4 because, as my photograph hinted, I have got so much fatter that I am afraid you may be horrified by my obesity.
ButScripps College, Claremont;d9 I am anxious to know what will happen to you between the farewell to Scripps and your sailing for England. Shall you be coming all by yourself?
1.JohnHale, Emilyas director ('producer');v9Comus;a4 Milton, Comus: a Mask presented at Ludlow Castle (1634). EH directed a tercentenary production of Comus, staged in the open courtyard of Grace Scripps Hall at Scripps, 12 and 13 June 1934. Lorraine Havens to Kay Koeninger, 3 Feb. 1982: ‘Indeed I do well remember Milton’s Comus! I was one of the nymphs, and could still sing you our song … It was … very beautiful, typical of Emily Hale’s work at Scripps’ (Scripps).