The Henson Journals

[229]

Saturday, May 29th, 1915.

299th day

A wet day, & very cold. Hindered by head–ache I spent the morning on the sermon very fruitlessly. After lunch I stood about in a deluge of rain watching a practice of the fire–men. They could throw the water on to the great rose–window in the 'Nine Altars'. I attended Evensong, & afterwards ascended the Tower with the Choir in order to sing the customary anthems. Quirk & Lillingston also came. The rain fell all the time. After tea we motored to Hexham. The rain had ceased, & the country looked beautiful in the evening lights. In Lanchester, on the bridge we ran over a dog, & killed it instantly. The creature caused its own death by a suicidal invasion of the car at short range. A fine rain–bow cheered us shortly after we had left the scene of slaughter. We arrived at the Rector's house in Hexham about 7.30 p.m.

Both the "Nation" and the "Spectator" have articles conceived in a tone of severe & scornful censure dealing with the attacks on Lord Kitchener in the Northcliffe press. It is noteworthy that they both assume that the Proprietor has sole responsibility for the conduct of the papers. Nothing seems credited to the Editor of the 'Times'. This must be very galling to that gentleman, & marks a grave change in the fashions of journalism, & sinister as grave.

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