BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [29 OCT. 1911]
BRACERS 17322. ALS. Morrell papers #236, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

Trin. Coll.1^, 2
Sunday evg.

My Darling Love

Your dear little letter was a great joy to me when I got back to my hotel last night. The occasion reminded me oddly of the delirium of my visit to Paris at Easter, when I last saw Bergson. Your John Doray you said had heard me that time — I fear I must have been very poor, it was so frightfully hard to remember what I was doing. [Pardon these awful blots.] I must say in Parisa they did me honour in a more graceful way than Wildon Carr’s guests last night with Bergson — they had all anticipated him, and all advised him to read this or that previous writer who had anticipated him, and none had got beyond the most superficial knowledge of his views, tho’ I think they had read him. I was ashamed of my compatriots. — I sat between Bergson and Younghusband (the Thibet man) — I had never met him before tho’ I had heard of him from McTaggart as a man much interested in philosophy. I liked him very much indeed. Bergson was interesting, explaining the difference between French spoken and written style. He says it would be absolutely impossible in France to print a lecture, unless one altered it completely. I asked him one or two questions about his philosophy — not much, because he is obviously having a very tiring time — I didn’t find out anything except, even more strongly, what one gathers from his books, that he is a very vivid visualizer, but has little auditory or tactile imagination — his whole philosophy is dominated by the sense of sight. The other people there, so far as I knew them, were Shaw, Wallas [those two alone dressed — Carr told us all not to dress], Zangwill, Belfort Bax, T. Percy Nunn, Dawes Hicks. Shaw explained Bergson’s philosophy lucidly, Bergson protesting that that was not what he meant, and Shaw patronizingly silencing him. Shaw said we wanted to get rid of the oriental element in religion, at which Zangwill fired up. They struck me as part street-boys, laughing at the policeman because they know it is not worth his while to notice them. They all professed such marvellous power over matter that they seemed to be Gods. But Younghusband, who has just emerged from four months’ agony owing to being run over by a motor, held his tongue.

This morning I went to breakfast with the Whiteheads and stayed till after lunch. Apparently Alys was laying a trap — she says now she isn’t coming to Chelsea. But Mrs W. was seeing Logan this afternoon, and hoped to persuade him it would be better for Alys to come to London. I am sure Alys wants Mrs W. wholly on her side, and therefore is doing all she can to cause a quarrel. That no doubt was why she said Dora knew, so that Mrs W. might let it out — Dora doesn’t know a word, as was obvious to me yesterday. — I had already signed and sent off the agreement, so I can’t get out of it now. — Mrs W. can’t see you the day you suggested because Alys is coming!

Tonight I have proofs, and I shall go to hear my Lamb read a paper on “The Principles of Plastic Art”, not that I am interested, but that I want to be seen. Tomorrow 2.30! I grudge every moment away from you Darling. I can stay all Tuesday and Wed. morning. I must stay Tuesday as I have a Comee. at 5.30. That will be over about 7. Goodnight my Loved one. I send you a long long kiss and all my heart.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 000236. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

• 2

  [envelope] A circled “236”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | 44 Bedford Square | London W.C. Pmk: CAMBRIDGE | 10 PM | OC 29 | 11 | 4

Textual Notes

• a

  in Paris inserted