2110-3-9-14

CHECKENDON COURT, CHECKENDON, READING.

18 March 1921

Dear John,

We were much grieved to learn of your troubles. My knowledge of particulars being so slight, I cannot offer you more than our general sympathy; & that is hardly necessary, for you know already you have it. I do gather, however, that Mrs. Grosvenor's condition is very serious; but whether you have hopes of amendment I have not heard. What you & Susie hope for, we hope for for you.

It was very kind of you to have Mark to stay with you. He was much interested in his talks with you; but felt, I think, that he ought not to have

saddled himself upon you in the circumstances - not to talk of the contretemps of the train missing.

It was more than good of you (but very like you!) to write to me about him. He has many good qualities I know; but the war has given a cast of sadness to his outlook on life which sometimes worries me a little. I fancy there will be no better cure than responsibility in a hum-drum little sphere of his own, with a regular routine, & results traceable to his own efforts. I sympathise with him about the metaphysics of the city: sometimes the whole thing appears to me to be a preposterous illusion & the contradictious explanations of the economists mere empty logomachy; but then I see Bob Brand & others growing fat & comfortable, so I

suppose that even here there is some subtle difference between the real & the phenomenal. But thank God! I have nothing to do with the Foreign Exchanges, the Balance of Trade & Bills payable & receivable!

I saw your little Bookman, who belongs to a different & vastly superior sphere of human affairs. I was very favourably impressed & I think one at least of my colleagues (for this purpose the most important) will be so also. I have prepared the way; but in our present state of uncertainty & want of special knowledge everything will depend upon W. putting forward a set of suggestions for dealing with the business which will carry conviction to the Dry Goods Mind.

My house will be more or less full over Easter, but I shall try to run over to pay you a visit, i.e. take a meal off you.

Yours ever

F.S.O.

CHECKENDON COURT, CHECKENDON, READING. 18th March 1921. Dear John, We were much grieved to learn of your troubles. My knowledge of particulars being so slight, I cannot offer you more than our general sympathy; & that is hardly necessary, for you know already you have it. I do gather, however, that Mrs. Grosvenor's condition is very serious; but whether you have hopes of amendment I have not heard. What you & Susie hope for, we hope for for you. It was very kind of you to have Mark to stay with you. He was much interested in his talks with you; but felt, I think, that he ought not to have saddled himself upon you in the circumstances - not to talk of the contretemps of the train missing. It was more than good of you (but very like you) to write to me about him. He has many good qualities I know; but the war has given a cast of sadness to his outlook on life which sometimes worries me a little. I fancy there will be no better cure than responsibility in a hum-drum little sphere of his own, with a regular routine, & results traceable to his own efforts. I sympathise with him about the metaphysics of the city. Sometimes the whole thing appears to me to be a preposterous illusion & the contradictions explanations of the economists mere empty logomachy; but then I see Bob Brand & others growing fat & comfortable, so I suppose that

even here there is some subtle difference between the real & the phenomenal. But thank God! I have nothing to do with the Foreign Exchanges, the Balance of Trade & Bills payable & receivable! I saw your little Bookman, who belongs to a different & vastly superior sphere of human affairs. I was very favourable impressed, & I think one at least of my colleagues ( for this purpose the most important) will be so also. I have prepared the way but in our present state of uncertainty & want of special knowledge everything will depend upon W. putting forward a set of suggestions for dealing with the business which will carry conviction to the Dry Goods mind. My house will be more or less full over Easter but I shall try to run over to pay you a visit: i.e. take a meal off you. Yours ever, F.S.O.