BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 21 APR. 1919
BRACERS 19469. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
21.4.19.1

My Darling

Thank you for your letter. I am very glad you have written a lot. The first draft,2 go right ahead without stopping to think if it is good or bad — get something done that begins at the beginning and ends at the end; then you can make it better at your leisure. But don’t start improving till you have reached the end.

I have a frightful cold — too bad to go out — my eyes water but I have nothing to do but read — I wish I had patience cards —

Titi laid no traps and the occasion was peaceful. She and her husband3 come after dinner tomorrow — Arthur R. and his wife4 didn’t come because she has flu. I finished Barbellion.5

Yesterday I did a terrific day’s work.

(1) I read over and corrected my first lecture6 (one hour)
(2) I wrote an article for the Tribunal7
(3) I read and reviewed a book by Sir Arthur Jones8
(4) I read 270 pages of a book by Perry, Berenson’s brother in law9 —

Now I am finishing this book, which is very long, and hoping to review it tonight. Then I can start on Lecture II10 as soon as my cold gets better and I cease to be utterly stupid.

Dear Heart, when will you go away with me for a few days? Since I saw the apple-blossom not yet out, I long to go to Ashford11 for 3 nights — if we went in a week we should see the apple-blossom. Dear, my love for you is still alive, in spite of what I said in the Park. I do want it to keep alive. But whether it does depends entirely upon how much we are together — If it doesn’t, my real life will be ended — I do want you really to understand — so I send the enclosed,12 though it is not my present mood, which is less tragic — but it is a mood which recurs.

Goodbye Beloved — I long to be with you again.

B —

• 1

  [document] Document 200457.

• 2

  have written a lot … first draft Of her novel which is mentioned in BR’s letter of 19 April 1919 (BRACERS 19468). Nothing survives of this effort.

• 3

  Titi ... her husband Hortense Emilia Sophie (“Titi”) d’Aranyi was one of three musical Hungarian sisters. Their mother, Adrienne, was the niece of the violinist, Joseph Joachim. BR’s uncle Rollo’s second wife was a sister of Harold Joachim, the philosopher, who had married his cousin, Elizabeth, the daughter of Joseph. Titi was a pianist, unlike her more famous sisters (Adila and Jelly), who were both violinists. Titi married BR’s friend the economist Ralph Hawtrey (1879–1975) in 1915; she died in 1953.

• 4

  Arthur R. and his wife BR’s cousin Arthur (1886–1943), the son of Russell’s uncle Rollo with his first wife, Sophia. Until his father remarried, Arthur was raised at Pembroke Lodge.

• 5

  finished Barbellion W.N.P. Barbellion, The Journal of a Disappointed Man, was published in March 1919 by Chatto & Windus and concerned Barbellion’s struggle with multiple sclerosis. Barbellion was a pseudonym for Bruce Frederick Cummings (1889–1919).

• 6

  I read over and corrected my first lecture Titled “Recent Criticisms of Consciousness”, it was for “The Analysis of Mind” lecture series (B&R A31); the first lecture was given on 6 May 1919 at Dr. Williams’ Library in Gordon Square, London. The lecture series of eight concluded on 24 June.

• 7

  I wrote an article for the Tribunal “What the Conscientious Objector Has Achieved” (B&R C19.11; 105 in Papers 15).

• 8

  I read and reviewed a book by Sir Arthur Jones BR reviewed two books in the spring and summer of 1919 by men with the surname of Jones: one by Sir Henry Jones, a philosopher, and the other by Henry Arthur Jones, the dramatist. It is more likely that he is referring to Sir Henry’s book, The Principles of Citizenship. BR’s review was published in The Athenaeum on 2 May 1919 (B&R C19.14; 34 in Papers 9). His review of Henry Arthur Jones’s (whom had not been knighted) book, Patriotism and Popular Education, did not appear until 11 July, also in The Athenaeum (B&R C19.22; 13 in Papers 15).

• 9

  I read 270 pages of a book by Perry, Berenson’s brother-in-law. BR’s review of the book by R.B. Perry, The Present Conflict of Ideals, appeared in The Nation, 25 (10 May 1919): 176 (B&R C19.15; 8 in Papers 15). Bernard Berenson (1865–1959), an art historian, was married to the sister of BR’s first wife, Alys, from whom he was separated. Ralph Barton Perry (1876–1957), head of the Philosophy Department at Harvard had invited BR to teach there in the spring of 1914.

• 10

  Lecture II Titled “Sensations and Images”, it was for “The Analysis of Mind” lecture series (B&R A31).

• 11

  Ashford Colette and BR had vacationed there in a house, The Avenue. For further information, see BRACERS 19217, n.4.

• 12

  the enclosed Presumably his letter of 12 April (BRACERS 19470, document 200458).