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4 Montagu Place, W.1.
GORHAMBURY, ST. ALBANS.
My dear Buchan
I have been reading with enormous interest (as indeed I read all your books) the "Three Hostages" & note that when the villain spits in the hero's face you call it a "Kaffir trick" - surely to spit on your enemy is common to all the lower races (or shall we say "more backward" as it is now wrong to assume that we are any higher than any other race?)
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At the last great unionist meeting held in Dublin, in the end of 1913 or beginning of 1914 I think, the more ardent Nationalists wanted to break up the proceedings. Redmond, who was then out to show how reasonable the Home Rulers were, with great difficulty stopped this scheme, the meeting was held & the speeches made. But, as the attendance filed out of the Theatre Royal, they had to pass through 2 files of Redmond's supporters, who spat on every one - men & women alike - as they passed. The unionists, hopelessly outnumbered, & also wishing to be reasonable, put up no fight. But the sight of their dress clothes covered with filth at the club afterwards, & the knowledge that the
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women's hair & opera clothes were the same, gave me a horror of Home Rule & "high ideals" which no amount of talk from Horace Plunkett & A.E. could lessen for some time (or indeed ever!). This story will come in my reminiscences, which no doubt you will publish for me - but not till my pension is secure!
Many thanks for several hours enjoyment, & please write another.
Yours
Maurice Headlam.
