BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 25 DEC. 1920
BRACERS 19720. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

Peking.1
Xmas Day 1920.

My Darling Love

At last I have made up my mind as to what I feel about this place — it is not cheerful — I send it you as the first “Chinese letter”.2 These days I don’t have to lecture — it gives me time to think.

We stay in Peking3 probably till May 1st, then Shanghai for May, then Nanking for a few days in June, then up the Yiangtze for pleasure (we went as far as Hankow, but they say the best parts are higher up), then to Japan for July, and then home viâ Canada, probably arriving late in September. In Japan Socialists are very vigorously persecuted — meetings not allowed, and when they take place all the speakers are marched off to prison. I get the impression that the Socialists are better people than here, where they are all flabby, like their opponents.

I should like news of C.A.4 and of Elizabeth5 — I have heard not a word from either. — I have bought a Chinese lady’s robe for you, which you could wear as a dressing-gown — red silk, with charming pictures on it consisting of queer beasts — birds, tigers and monkeys — I hope you will like it — I don’t know whether it will be possible to send it — perhaps I shall have to keep it and give it to you when I get home.

All my love my dearest Darling — It will be a happy day when I can be in your arms once more and see your dear eyes —

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200721.

• 2

  first “Chinese letter” The first letter from China for their literary letters book. BR does not mean this letter but another one (BRACERS 19721) written on Christmas eve which must have been enclosed with this one. Russell first proposed this on 22 November 1919. This book of letters was never published. For information, see BRACERS 19585, n.6.

• 3

  We stay in Peking These plans went awry when BR became seriously ill in Peking in the spring. However, they did go home via Japan and Canada.

• 4

  C.A. (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

• 5

  Elizabeth Elizabeth Russell (1866–1941). For information on her, see BRACERS 19080, n.7.