The Henson Journals

[101]

Wednesday, December 28th, 1921.

I finished the sermon, and wrote a short "Message" for the New Year as requested by the Newcastle Chronicle. The post brought a very cheerful letter from Marion, who really seems to be making progress to recovery. William reported that the car was fit for use, and, after lunch, motored us to Lumley, where we had accepted an invitation to stay for a couple of days. Lord & Lady Scarbrough were alone, as "the young people" had gone out to dinner at a comparatively remote house.

Lord S. told me that he meditated selling the 4 Tudor busts if he could secure a purchaser. They had been valued at £10,000 apiece. They were thought to be probably the work of Terrigiano. I expressed my consternation at the prospect of these precious historical memorials leaving the county. But "needs much when the devil drives". Lord S. shewed me the statement of receipts and payments for his Yorkshire property. The net value of a gross rental of about £11,000 was no more than £1600. How can one decently ask for subscriptions from men whose incomes have been almost annihilated by public charges? And how can we get on without the subscriptions?

---