The Henson Journals

[90]

Monday, January 25th, 1926.

Cardinal Mercier's death is given great prominence in the newspapers. He was a man who owed much to the War, for then he disclosed the qualities of character & courage which have secured for him a place among the greatest figures of that immense disaster. Had his death befallen in July 1914, he would only have been remembered in England as the typical Roman hierarch, hard, bigoted, unimaginative, whom Father Tyrrell's invective had made notorious. Now his place is among the immortals, the patriot–prelate par excellence.

I spent the morning in writing an Article for the Evening Standard on "A Tax on Betting", and despatched [sic] it by the afternoon post.

In the afternoon I motored to Durham, and presided at a meeting of the Board for Church Building. I walked into the town, & visited Rushworth's furniture shop. There were many things that I coveted badly, but the prices were prohibitive. I had tea with Archdeacon Derry & returned to Auckland.

Mr & Mrs Page–Gourlay came to pay us a final visit before leaving this district, and going south. I paid taxes for male servants & dogs.

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