The Henson Journals

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Tuesday, May 27th, 1913.

The day was shadowed by the prospect of making a speech at the Literary Fund Dinner. I prepared my notes, & then walked round to the Athenaeum where I found Sir Courtney Ilbert. In the afternoon we picked up Gilbert & Lois and attended the Military Tournament. I stayed to the end of the Restoration Pageant, & then came home to Dean's Yard. The dinner was held in the large room of the Savoy Hotel, & was a brilliant affair. There were many Socii there – the Warden, Mowbray, Ker, Robinson, Knox, Prothero, & Curzon himself. Curzon made a very interesting speech; & then I proposed a Toast of Literature, coupling it with the name of Lord Morley, whose speech in response was charming, but I fear to many present quite inaudible.

My speech took about 15 minutes to deliver, & had been very carefully prepared. It was listened to with attention, & well received. Several of my friends assured me that it was a success: & I can but hope that they were not mistaken.

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