The Henson Journals
Mon 10 April 1922
Volume 32, Page 54
[54]
Monday, April 10th, 1922.
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I was lucky enough to get a sleeper at Darlington, & thus travelled as comfortably as possible. I did not leave the train at King's Cross until 8 a.m. when I motored to Paddington, and caught the 8.45 a.m. to Oxford, where I arrived about 10.30 a.m. Frank turned up from Sutherland, Cholmondeley came, & read the Psalm in chapel. Frank read the lesson. There was a fair congregation considering that the University has gone down. The service in S. Sepulchre's cemetery was very impressive, for the sun shone brightly, and the birds sang delightfully. I called on Mrs Dicey, and talked with her for a quarter of an hour. Lady Bryce was there, & talked about her husband's death. I dined in college with Dibblee & an American friend, whose conversation was most interesting.
Holland, who is Dicey's contemporary, evidently felt his death acutely, and, perhaps, it added a touch of apprehensive sadness to Johnson's illness. I went to see him, & found him established in bed in his study, frail and affectionate. His bird–sanctuary on the Cherwell has been handed over to Magdalen College, as it had been invaded by otters. I had no idea that these creatures attacked waterfowl. I supposed that they confined their attentions to fish, of which they are notable enemies.