The Henson Journals

[262]

Monday, January 20th, 1913. Oxford.

After breakfast I walked into the town, & being desirous to be shaved looked out for Bassett's, but it has vanished. I got shaved in a new shop beyond Queen's. Then I went to the Old Bank, & had a brief interview with the manager, who assented easily to the suggestion that I should transfer my account to the Durham branch. Next I visited the Old–Furniture shop in Broad Street, & inquired for an oak sideboard: but there was none large enough. I went in to Blackwell's Book Store, & turned over some volumes, but bought nothing save a monograph by Haverfield on 'The Romanization of Roman Britain'. From Blackwell's I passed to All Souls where I wrote to my wife, & wasted my time till lunch, which I had in the Buttery with the Fellows. Two juniors, elected last year, Williams & Cruttwell, seem pleasant & promising: the former designs to take Orders, & the latter is teaching History in Hertford. After lunch I walked to Christ Church, & called on Watson, whom I took for a walk in the rain. Then to college again, where I had tea, & read of all things the Arabian Nights! Finally I went to the Union & wrote to [263] Carissima, & then walked back to the Orchard, where I found some letters awaiting me, but nothing of importance.

Oman & his wife dined with here. He says that Bourchier the 'Times' correspondent in the Balkans, who was dining in college with his Editor last night, says that the débacle of the Turks was in large part owing to the ill–conduct in action of the Christians in the Turkish Regiments, who had been forced into the ranks by the folly of the 'Young Turks', & would not fight against their co–religionists. Many of these men were captured by the Bulgarians. This is, indeed, a striking example of the Nemesis which pursues the unimaginative obstinacy of intolerance.

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