BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 5 MAR. 1921
BRACERS 19730. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

2 Sui an Po Hutung, Peking.
5.3.211

I wonder, my Dearest, what has been happening to you — your letters are so strange. I feel something has caused you a great deal of pain but I don’t know what. — Your description of the state of England, and of the officer playing a barrel-organ,2 was terrible — it made one feel the East a haven of rest, from which it is folly to return. Every post from home seems to bring insanity and hysteria in the newspapers — I grow oriental, thinking the present unimportant, and no period less than a century worth considering.

Life here goes on uneventfully. Last week-end some Chinese friends took us out to the Western Hills and we had long walks over stony mountains inhabited by only a few sheep and shepherds. It was a relief after being in a town for so long. The slopes of the hills are covered with temples, often very beautiful. The upper part of the hills is quite barren — the hills go on for 1000 miles, and the Great Wall3 runs through them. Next week-end we go to the Great Wall.

I see no hope of improvement in the world for many years to come. I have to lecture every Sunday on social questions but I am afraid the students don’t find much comfort in what I say — I would rather work at abstract things such as the analysis of matter, in the present state of the world — I have grown interested in mathematics again.

I keep thinking and thinking about you my Darling — wondering what is happening to you — All love, my dear one —

B.

• 1

  [document] Document200732.This is the last letter written by BR to Colette before he fell ill.

• 2

  the officer playing a barrel-organ In her letter of 17 January 1921 (BRACERS 116437) Colette wrote: “Last week in Oxford Street I saw an officer playing a barrel-organ. A slender man, he stood with set teeth and an expression of utter hell in his eyes.” People ignored him, but Colette offered to help him; she took him for tea.

• 3

  Great Wall Because BR fell ill he was not able to visit it. Photograph 17 in Clark’s Life of Bertrand Russell (London: J. Cape, 1975) erroneously claims it is of BR “on the Great Wall of China”. It is repeated in Papers 15, plate iii. The photograph is of BR on the Tartar Wall.