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8. GOWER STREET.
BLOOMSBURY.

loving every moment of London. Willy Peel had just
returned from South America and he too was amusing as
ever. You will be surprised to hear that he was clean,
tidily dressed and didn't eat his food with his fingers!
He is always such excellent company: I do wish he hadn't
married money so heavily and so unfortunately. But he
seems to find great interest in being Chairman of the
family linoleum company.

I saw the Grand National, one of the most
tragic and sensational of our time. It was like a slice of
life with its failures, tragedies and successes - the
famous horse who refused at the first fence, the favourite
who broke his neck, the horse who had the race won defeated
by a broken rein at the last fence, and the winner a good
honest horse owned by honest people. But it was a tragic
day, and I came away feeling it's the most wonderful race
in the world but that man hasn't the right to ask of an
animal that trusts him to take such risks and make
exertions almost beyond its power. I never saw such a
crowd.

I have not read anything very remarkable recently
I have not had much time for reading. But "England have
my Bones" by T.H. White would, I am sure, please you both.
It's a delightful picture of country life.

I must tell you of a nice thing that has
happened to me - Sheffield University is about to give me
an Hon. Doctor of Letters Degree. I have never felt more
pride and pleasure about any event in my life than I do
about this most unexpected honour.

I have not heard from Rex for some time.
Please give him my love when you next see him. Vincent
Massey thought he might possibly come to England this year
and I very much hope so.

I conclude with a story recently brought home by
Jim; it mayn't read funny, but it's very funny when told in
vernacular.