The Henson Journals

[221]

Monday, November 25th, 1918.

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A most beautiful morning, mild and bright. The sun shining on the turf, and gleaming on the river, made a jocund spectacle from my study windows. Opulent white–faced kine on the meadow beyond the river gave an aspect of fat security to the scene. I wasted the morning over the memoir. Norcock turned up for a few minutes looking well enough, after the luxury of influenza! After lunch Ella and I called on old Mr Bosanquet, whom we found sitting in his study, the very picture of an aged astrologer! He says that the people of Hereford are beyond all others slothful and apathetic, which he attributes to the soft enervating climate and to their consumption of cider in vast quantities. Herein, he but echoes an opinion which I hear frequently expressed. Some add that the people are also excessively sly & untruthful, qualities which arise from the admixture of Welsh blood, & the continuing infection of Welsh example. All this is rather discouraging. On our way home we stopped at the railway station, where I got my season ticket & paid for the same the inordinate sum of £44.1.5. Four years ago this ticket would have cost £26. This means an increase of £36 for a years travelling to London. Wynne–Willson came to do secretary's work. He tells me that about 2500 munition girls have already left the city, & that the more choice & costly fruits have already fallen in price! The streets are certainly far less noisy & crowded. The Archdeacon arrived about 6.30 p.m. in order to be on the spot for his meeting tomorrow. I wrote several letters.

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