2110-4-10-4

STUDLEY VICARAGE, OXFORD.

Aug. 9. 1926.

Dear Man most Marvellous

It's Bacon no longer; it's Buchan.

"Oh what a noble mind is here enthroned -

The courtier's, scholar's, soldier's, eye, tongue, sword."

How do you do it? It seems impossible. Do you keep a posse of 'Devils'? Johnson, Dougal, MacNab, & Koré, in less than as many years, besides giving hostages to fortune - as well as the host who go before, conquering & to conquer. From China to Peru - Westward Ho - all seems yours.

Where do you get your pre-Homeric classics from? I'm sure not Oxford. Certainly I didn't from Cambridge. Been reading up Ancient Religions, & including Calvinism & Catholicism? Thou art not far from the Anglo- variety of the latter, after all. That still remains for you to conquer in your next. Try it!

It is 11.30 on a Sunday night. I have just put down "The Dancing Floor." Not only the floor is dancing, but my whole world. I started it after tea - had to leave it for 6.30 service - could hardly keep it out of my sermon - cut a needed supper short & been reading ever since, enthralled, spell-bound. What a Monday I shall have!

There's one regret. You can't read such a yarn without a regret - namely, that you have read it. (Don't say you have seen something like this before!) It may be taken

in two ways: You make [may?] take it in one only.

For all, thanks indeed - & not least, for the inspired & inspiring insight of pages 106 & 124. From the floor you uplift ad astra. Or, descending, find the Truth at the bottom of the well.

If it is anything, you will bring forgetfulness of pain relief and delight to daughter Mary in the Acland Home.

For all then - thanks indeed.

A week ago I had a delightful lunch at B.N.C. due especially to my neighbour, a Glasgow Professor whose name I didn't catch, but who was dining or staying with you last week at Elsfield. What did we eat? I don't know. I only know that I drank Beer - & we lacked Buchan. (The B's seem to have it tonight!) Don't feel hurt by the combination: they assimilated into a rare remembrance.

Yours gratefully

J. Kinchin Smith