BR TO ELIZABETH TREVELYAN, 9 JULY 1942
BRACERS 52843. ALS. Trinity College Library
Proofread by K. Blackwell

Little Datchet Farm
Malvern, R.D.I
Pennsylvania
9 Jul 1942

My dear Bessie

Like you, I find it difficult to write to distant friends — there is so much one doesn’t know, and so much one can’t say. But I value letters from friends in England more and more. How very absurd that Bob’s walks on Leith Hill should be so restricted! I agree that Karawazoes is a great book, but I hate it; I think Kostoevsky evil. I dislike the doctrine that one should see in order to experience humility. About John I have told in my letter to Bob. Kate is at Radcliffe (an annex of Harvard) where she is doing extraordinarily well. At present, for the summer holidays, we are employing her as a servant, because ordinary servants can’t be got. They are all engaged in war work. For Peter it is terrible slavery; she has hardly any time for reading or writing. Conrad who is 5, flourishes; he is a chatter-box, with an enormous vocabulary. He can read a bit, but we haven’t started him on writing. He is a great delight to us, but one can’t help wondering what sort of world he will have to live in. We had a visit from Julia Huxley, and several from Ted Loyd; it is a joy to see friends from England. We also saw Joe Widgerwood, who, to my delight, was quite untamed. My pupils are dull, and I am on bad terms with my employee, who is very difficult. But I am making a book out of my lectures, and I enjoy getting to know lot of interesting history. Peter is fairly well, but sad at being exiled from all the mental life by house-work. She sends warm love, as I do, to you both. In your last letter you don’t tell us how your eyes are. I hope you won’t be as long in answering as I have been.

Ever yours affectionately
Bertrand Russell