The Henson Journals

[651]

Friday, February 11th, 1916.

557th day

The morning began with rain, and passed into snow, which, however, melted as soon as it touched earth. But a slight fall of temperature might alter this, & bar our way back to Durham with snow–drifts. I wrote some letters to Marion, Kathleen, and Beeching. This, and reading the "Times", engaged me during the morning. After lunch we played with the children for awhile [sic], & then Godfry & I walked for an hour and a half. Then tea, and pleasant talk with Mrs Thorpe. Taking down the Life of Charles Kingsley, I happened to light upon a notable pronouncement on the subject of Teetotalism (vol. I p. 270–276) which contains the following rather notable prophesy:

"There will be from time to time reactions, as there were in the case of monkery, all the world knows. The substitute with the teetotallers of A.D. 1900 will be, I apprehend, laudanum. I expect, and hereby warn all friends, that the sale of laudanum will increase henceforth rapidly."

Thus wrote Kingsley in 1851. The "Times" states today that no less than 40 Canadian soldiers in a single regiment are victims of the drug habit. Maurice Peel, grandson of the great Sir Robert, came to dine. He is now Vicar of Tamworth, and seems to be starting his work well. He is already a widower with two small children. I had some interesting talk with him about his experiences at the front, where he served as a chaplain for some months, was wounded, & decorated for gallant conduct. He speaks with much affection of Gerald Marshall, under whom he was curate in the parish of S. Simon Zelotes, Bethnal Green.

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