The Henson Journals

[666]

Monday in Holy Week, April 17th, 1916.

623rd day

A cloudy morning, but higher temperature, and an end of the East wind. I received the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. Knowling celebrated, and all the Canons now in college communicated, together with 3 of the minor canons. The morning post brought me a letter from Ernest. He writes from hospital where apparently he is down with influenza. Also a very characteristic letter from Dicey in continuation of his last letter about "Robertson".

"The worst violence of the Revolution was the work of cultivated bourgeoisie – professors, lawyers, &c, possessors of that classical education which is supposed to soften the manners".

This is a depressing sentence enough: but its truth cannot be doubtful to any student, & finds daily confirmation among ourselves. Gustave Le Bon is miserably suggestive.

I wrote to Ernest, and to the Senior Chaplain of his camp, promising to preach to the troops on April 30th at Seaford. It is inconvenient enough, but I want to see him again, & this gives me the chance. Of course, he may have been moved to France before then. In any case, the vacant Sunday will have been decently utilized. Linetta & Clarence Stock walked with me to the golf course, & through Houghall Wood. I attended Evensong, & then wrote letters to Bob Bineham, Harold Knowling, Dr Forrest, & Kathleen. After dinner I read poetry to my family, until bed–time.

"In war more than any other time there is no better inspiring force than hatred: it was hatred that made Blücher victorious over Napoleon".

"Fear plays almost as large a part in revolutions as hatred. During the French Revn there were many examples of great individual courage & many exhibitions of collective cowardice". (G. Le Bon)

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