DLA016-0047  Transcription

25th September, 1925.

I was very glad to receive news from you – and from Orsevar, where you had such interesting hostesses. I do hope some day that we shall be able to avail ourselves of their kind invitation.

I was very much touched by the kind attention of Governor Horthy, Count Bethlen and the Archduke Joseph in greeting me, and when you see them will you please kindly reciprocate.^[1]

We both very much hope that we shall be able to renew our visit next year, and under happier circumstances, I trust. I will certainly be very glad to accept your very kind hospitality. We were very interested to hear about your son Charlie^[2] – he must be very intelligent – being already able to speak fully in four languages.

Our house is beginning to be emptied. All have left us with the exception of Henry,^[3] who as you know, has just finished his studies in Zurich, where he received a Doctor of Science degree. It will interest you to know that he is just 24 and he has been asked to work and demonstrate and do research work at the London University, which is certainly a great privilege for a young man of that age. We enjoy having him here very much as he has been away so long, and he will now live with us. I am afraid he will feel our three months absence very much.We are sailing on the 10th October on the “Aquatania” [sic] to the United States to fulfil some interesting orders there, I hope to return by the end of January, and Lucy will coming home for Christmas to be with our boys for the holidays.^[4] 

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I have accepted some invitations to stay with friends and take a little rest before I come home.

Lately I have had some very interesting sitters, that charming little woman, the Duchess of York [4460] and when the Queen of the Belgians was over here and staying with the Duke of Portland – I was invited to go down and paint her there [7870].^[5] I sent you a copy of the “Graphic” with the reproduction in it and I hope it reached you safely. I am also sending you another illustrated paper.

As you can imagine, we are both very occupied, myself having various canvases to finish before leaving, and Lucy has all the arrangements for our journey, which is a [illegible] matter. We are looking forward to the rest on the sea, which will do us good, as we have to pass through many excitements in America.

We both regret that you cannot come to London this year, but in case you reach here earlier than we do, we much hope that you will give us the pleasure of accepting our hospitality and stay with us – but you must not come alone – you must bring your dear wife^[6] too.

I have just received a nice letter from Marczell^[7] who has returned from his holidays – and everything seems going well with him – if only he could settle his family affairs satisfactorily –his loneliness I feel very much.

Now I have to finish, dear friend. We both send you and your dear wife our best wishes and we hope next year, either here or in Budabest, [sic] to meet.

Please accept our best thanks for the photograph you kindly sent us. It is an interesting souvenir, but mingled with much sadness, which can be seen in all our faces, with the exception of Lucy, who was then innocent of all the facts.

Editorial Note:

István Bárczy de Bárcziháza (1882-1952), Private Secretary to successive Hungarian Prime Ministers, later Permanent Undersecretary of State in the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office and close friend of de László; for biographical notes, see [111342].

SMDL

11/12/2017