BR AND EDITH RUSSELL TO AMETHE VON ZEPPELIN, 14 JULY 1965
BRACERS 135545. TLS/ALS. McMaster
Transcribed by Nicholas Marlowe. Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Plas Penrhyn.
Penrhyndeudraeth.
Merioneth.
14 July, 1965.

Dear Amethe,

I am shamed by your letter of May 14 having gone so long unanswered, especially as I was very happy to have it. To have you remember my birthday, and so kindly, is very heart-warming. But both Edith and I were — and are —a exceedingly distressed by the news you give of your health. Nor do the impressive names, vernacular and Latin, of the ailments cheer us. It would be a very trying discipline, indeed, to have to give up smoking, — but we hope that you have done so, if that is what is needed. We are glad that Michelangelo is better.

Here all goes well with us in spite of the harassing doings of our Government, especially in regard to Vietnam. All my energies have been devoted to finding ways, and encouraging other people’s ways, of mobilising public opinion here and in the U.S., and governmental opinions elsewhere, to oppose the horrible and very dangerous policies of the U.S. in Vietnam. It is an uphill task and, though so many of us are undertaking it, seems little likely to be effective in time.

Edith joins me in sending you our love. With all best wishes to both you and Michelangelo,

<handwritten:> Yours sincerely
B.R.

P.S. (from E.R.) I note that Bertie has given you no reason for delay. Here is part of it: Just before his birthday a stout, large, young American came to “interview” Bertie. Bertie took him a walk on the lawn. The young man slipped and, in trying to save himself from falling, knocked Bertie down and fell on top of him. As a result Bertie was pretty well immobilized for some weeks with a very stiff and painful back and general shock. (The young man never even apologized — a tribute to B’s power of carrying things off). He is now all but entirely recovered.

Much love, dear Amethe,

from 
Edith

Textual Notes

• a

  — corrected from “)”