The Henson Journals

[177]

Thursday, September 26th, 1918.

1513th day

The railway strike has ended. In front of the combination of firmness on the part of the government, and open anger on the part of the public, the strikers found themselves compelled to give in. Of course there is to be no "victimisation" of the leaders, which means that treason in the ranks of "Labour" is to enjoy absolute impunity. We are treating "Labour" as we have long treated "Ireland", and we shall have the same consequences. Probably the dislocation of the railways for the last few days has inflicted on the Nation losses equivalent to a considerable German victory.

Kitty and Crawfurd went off by the midday train. There came to lunch a "melancholy humbug", the Rev. G. H. E. Howell, the Vicar of Ewyas Harold. He came to ask to be transferred to another living, because, after five years experience of his present parishioners, he has reached the conclusion that he can do nothing with them. He is a well–grown man with a fairly good–looking countenance, rather "given away" by a nagging hopeless voice, like that of "a contentious woman". I felt that the parishioners may have had something to say on their side of the question.

Then Ella motored with me to Ross, where we are to be the guests of the Rector & his wife for the week–end. The weather was unfriendly again. We arrived in a rain storm. However, it cleared sufficiently for me to take a short walk with mine host before Evensong. At dinner our conversation turned on to ecclesiastical matters, & I observed with some surprise that the conventional clap–trap against the Established system had made more way here than could have been expected.

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