The Henson Journals

[117]

Saturday, January 9th, 1915.

159th day

The post brought me a letter from Violet Markham, announcing her engagement to be married to Major James Carruthers, now at the front. In no previous war, I think, has marriage played so considerable a part. The marriage bells play duets with the cannon! Also I received a considerable fragment of a German shell from Hartlepool for the Chapter Library. I presided at the Prize–distribution of the Choir School. There was a little company of parents, friends, and quondams. Dennett had evidently taken great pains in preparing a short concert, & a representation by some of the boys of the Trial Scene in the 'Merchant of Venice', Geoffrey Heseltine as the Duke, Abbey as Portia, & Thompson as the merchant were all good, while a terrible cold assisted to a blood curdling hoarseness the voice with which Alan Davis delivered the barbarous sentiments of Shylock. Altogether, it was a very creditable performance. In the short speech which I made before distributing the prizes, I emphasized the connexion which the statutes establish between the Choir–school & the Grammar school scholarships. I said that, while I desired to restore & develop this connexion, I was resolved to allow no lowering of the scholarship standard. Hence the special importance which belonged to Latin in the scheme of the school–teaching. I urged the boys to 'put their backs into' Latin in order that they might stand a reasonable chance in the scholarship examinations. Divinity had not been reported as good, & therefore I made some observations on this point also. The evening post brought me a very ardently–expressed letter of thanks from Linetta, who had just received the book which I ordered Hugh Rees to send her on my behalf.

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