BR TO HELEN FLEXNER, 8 JAN. 1911
BRACERS 55890. ALS. American Philosophical Society
Edited by M. Forte. Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Bagley Wood,
Oxford.1
Jan. 8. 1911

My dear Helen

It was good of you to write to me at such a time of stress and sorrow, and very good of you to send me your photograph. You say it is not much like you, but it is very much like what I remember you as being, and I am very glad to have it.

I gather Simon is going on well; it must have been a great anxiety, and I do hope everything is satisfactory now. Christian Herter’s death is very sad, and must have been a great grief to you. It is a most painful thing when people die before their work is done. I have been reading lately the unpublished poems of a boy who died of measles at the age of 18. They are to my mind better than any other recenta poetry I have read, and much better than Shelley or Keats could do at his age — and now he is dead, when a little more care would have saved him.

The first volume of Whitehead’s and my big book is out, the second is half printed, and the third ought to be printed by the end of the year. Then I shall be a comparatively free man. I am quite indifferent as to its reception: the writing of it has cost too much labour to leave any leisure for thoughts as to what other people will think of it. But I should much like to hear your criticisms on my essays.

You wish me a pleasant holiday. My “holiday” has been pleasant enough, but except 4 days duty-visit to my brother, and 2 days recovering from electioneering, it has all been spent on my big book, for which I don’t get much time during term now that I have to lecture.

I have been reading a delightful book about the Dow. Empress of China. China is so exactly like England: it is the only other country where government appointments are given for power of writing verses in a dead language, and where a man’s later career depends entirely on good form, and to no extent upon knowledge of his job. It makes the whole thing quite home-like. And the Boxers are almost indistinguishable from our Protectionists.

It is late now and I must stop. Let me hear again soon — your letters are always a great pleasure to me, and I want to know what is happening to you and what you are thinking and feeling. Please remember me to Simon and give him my best wishes.

Yours affectionately
Bertrand Russell.

• 1

  [document] Proofread against a photocopy of the original letter.

Textual Notes

• a

  recent inserted before deleted modern