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COCOA TREE CLUB 64, ST JAMES'S STREET, S.W.
3 Temple Gardens EC.
Mar: 24: 1901
Dear Lady Mary
I haven't heard from you or about you for a long time. I heard that you were in London for 'Andromache,' but I didn't get to the performance & so couldn't see you. I hope you are all well. I saw Geoffrey last week; he tried to get me to argue about the County Council, and was
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disappointed when he found I was a Progressive and wouldn't quarrel with him. I hear you are going to leave Surrey for a little to go to the seaside. I hope the children are all well. Please present my respects to Miss Rosalinda.
I have been very busy this term, for I am working with the Attorney-General, and what with that and the Spectator & other things my time is pretty full. I shall be called in June & then begin the weariful waiting for a practice. However
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I hope to keep on with the A-G, as I certainly find his work most interesting. I was asked to write the Duke of Argyll's life by the Duchess, but I wanted a free hand & we couldn't agree. I believe George Peel is going to do it.
I am going off next week to Scotland to fish for ten days - Galloway and the West Highlands.
Politics are very dreary just now, aren't they? I have been hearing some of the War-office details & they are perfectly fatuous. The most interesting thing is the Chamberlain libel action, in which I am equally
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divided between distrust of Arthur Chamberlain & wild dislike of the Star & its friends. I think from the evidence that the damages should be small, but A.C., being the most perfect witness who ever entered a witness-box, would always make the worse appear the better cause.
There are no good plays going on that I can find. I went to "Miss Ebbsmith" the other day, - an outstanding performance with Mrs Pat performing among a crowd of 2d" rate people. I thought the play a fine one. The revival of 'Twelfth Night' by Tree is a wonderful piece of stage-managing.
I haven't read many good books lately. 'The Englishwoman's love-letters' made me sick,
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and 'The Visits of Elizabeth' is improper and foolish. I believe Lady Arthur likes it. Sir Edward Malet's Reminiscences are pretty fair rubbish. I have to read so much law that I have little time for anything else, but I liked a book of Cromwell's Speeches very much, and the last volume of Gardiner's History is excellent. So are T.E. Brown's letters, and if you want to be [horribly?] amused read a ridiculous play by
