The Henson Journals

[64]

Thursday, December 9th, 1920.

I felt rather decadent & played out after the exertions of yesterday. In the morning I dictated letters &c. After lunch Ella and I motored into Durham, where she distributed prizes at the Girls' High School, and I presided at a meeting of the Board for Religious Education. Here we appointed two inspectors of schools in the diocese for one year at a stipend of £100. Batten of Greatham, & Surtees of Brancpeth, were selected. I saw Wilson in the Chapter clerk's office, and left with him the "letters dimissory" which I had received from the Bishop of Rangoon. Then I joined Ella at tea with the Cruickshanks: & then, picking up George Nimmins, returned to the Castle.

George seems to have grown since I last saw him: he has a more virile aspect, & carries himself in a manly way. I had a great talk with him, & was pleased by his frankness, his good sense, & his good feeling. He certainly is one of "Nature's gentlemen", & the experiences of his life are strengthening without hardening a character, naturally refined & gentle. He has now been "round the world", & seen many lands. His account of the Eastern ports gives a painful impression of vice, organised & aggressive, which ravages the sailors. Especially the ports of Japan seem to be abominable. It must imply no slight measure of virtuous resolution in a lad of 16 to hold loyally to the habits of "temperance, soberness, & chastity, which he has formed in childhood. George is now 20, and, so far as I can judge, as simple & true as ever.

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