The Henson Journals

[704]

Friday, March 31st, 1916.

606th day

A bright warm morning but with clouds. The rooks are enormously busy, & uncommonly quarrelsome. For the second time a ninth nest is being constructed on the tree: will it be suffered to remain?

I celebrated in the Cathedral at 8 a.m., & then breakfasted alone, as Ella had gone off by the early train to Harrogate to see an ear–doctor about her deafness. I wrote to the Secretary of the Licensed Victuallers Defence Association disclaiming any objection to drastic regulation of the Liquor trade: & I sent this letter with another to cover it to the 'Times'. This was done in deference to an appeal from Sir John Barran. The day matured nobly into a warm & brilliant spring–day, rather unfavourable to work but very enjoyable out of doors. I made a start at gardening in meâ propriâ persona [in person]. I rolled the lawn, and made a vigourous [sic] start at the removal of the circular ivy beds which have annoyed me for so long. I walked through Houghall Wood with Logic & Cruickshank, & attended Evensong.

I have read with something like consternation a horrible book "Degenerate Germany" by Henry de Halsalle. It accumulates a mass of statistics & quotations designed to show that Germany is rotten through & through. But it seems to 'prove too much': for, after all, these miserable degenerates are proving themselves doughty warriors. I dread the effect of such books on our own people.

Ella returned a little before 9 p.m. having received a favourable report from the doctor, which, I trust, may be well–founded, for truly of all physical handicaps in human intercourse scarcely any can be reckoned more displeasing than deafness.

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