BR TO KATHARINE TAIT, 24 MAY 1949
BRACERS 52539. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Penralltgoch
Llan Ffestiniog
Merioneth
24.5.49

Dear Kate

I have a long letter of April 26 and a short birthday letter from you to answer — and thanks for prospective soap, which will be very welcome.

<remainder of 1st page and its verso excised from photocopy>

Now I come to your affairs. What you tell me <text excised> is very worrying; as you expected, I find it difficult to understand <short word excised> being unable to endure the disagreeable for a while. But when I remember my 3 months in the Embassy in Paris 55 years ago, I can see how it may be utterly beastly. I am sorry to say I know no influential Americans, and I am still not respectable in America. (Here I am most respectable; this is secret, but I am about to become an O.M.) I sympathise with your reluctance to become an American citizen; I would sooner die.

I suppose you are not serious in your “cook and butler” suggestion. I need a cook and a typist-secretary, as I am doing an autobiography, and there are masses of old letters to be typed. But this need is temporary, and so is my present large income. So it would hardly be wise to become dependent on me, except for a year or so, and what would you both do afterwards?

I am sorry you are trapped by the modern woman’s domestic slavery. It is a dreadful curse. Also the Ph.D. business, with its pedantry and hatred of originality, is very depressing.

John and Susan came to visit me. They are very happy, much more so than they were, but they have no financial sense. I don’t know what they will do when their capital is gone. However, I very much enjoyed their visit. John is nicer than he was, and I like Susan.

I wish I could solve your problems, but I can’t. Write again very soon. Much love, dear Kate.

Yrs aff
Diddy