The Henson Journals

[78]

Saturday, May 11th, 1929.

There was rain during the night, but sunshine in the morning, and the day, thus brightly introduced was mild and summerlike.

I wrote a number of necessary letters, & then walked in the garden, & talked with the gardeners, Lionel, & the contractor.

Pestle of Tanfield & Lady Eden came to lunch. Pestle had come at his own request to lay before me a project for organizing a school for unemployed lads to be worked by Benedictine monks! It was altogether impracticable and even absurd: and I only listened with patience & rejected with sympathy because the good man was plainly over–wrought & enthusiastick. But I was concerned to note the crudity of his opinions, & the vehemence of his expressions.

I walked round the Park, and had a good deal of talk with two pitmen, of whom one had been out of work for 4½ years, the other had just got into work. He showed me his pay–sheet, which showed that for 5 days work he earned no more than 30/–.

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