The Henson Journals

[46]

Monday, November 5th, 1923. Guy Fawkes Day.

The great thing to know is whether, after all, the imbecilities that time has consecrated do not form the best investment a man can make of his stupidity. Far from feeling glad when I seem some time–honoured fallacy exploded, I think of the new one that will come and take its place, & I ask myself the anxious question – will it not perhaps be more inconvenient and dangerous than the other? On full & sufficient consideration, the old prejudices are less baneful than the new; time, by long usage, has given them a polish & made them almost innocent.

Anatole France

I lost my umbrella yesterday. The butler vainly communicated with the Palace. I must have left it in the taxi. I caught the 10 a.m. express at King's Cross, & was met by William at Darlington. The responses to my appeal for the Diocesan Finance Board are sufficiently discouraging. Ld Gainford excuses himself that he is a Quaker, & that times are bad. Mr Hiram Craven contents himself with pleading poverty: & Miss Baker sends three guineas! It is difficult to dispute the argument that trade is prostrate: but the demands on the Fund increase steadily, and its income is evidently shrinking. Moreover there is no longer any social obligation to support the National Church.

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