DLA123-0017  Transcription

Savoy Hotel

Paseo del Prado, 26

Madrid

Monday 14. March 1927.

Pauly dearest,

I must reply at once to yr letter & Dads,^[1] which I recd on my return this Evg: to my hotel. As you know by my letter to Stef,^[2] the Devonports^[3] are here. I spent a v. pleasant time with them today driving out to the “Escorial” that huge monasty [sic] & cathedral, built by Phillip II – we had an excellent guide – A creepy

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austere place it all is, tho’ v. fine in some parts architecturally – Devy was full of talk & intelligence, & I agreed with him in condemning these offerings of splendour to save your Soul – He hates the Catholic religion – & indeed you see, looking at the man & woman in the street, how crushed their spirit is – & walking amongst them generally à deux, are seen their Priests – such faces as they have, quite horrors!

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but it was all v. interesting historically, & Devy & I were getting our Charleses & Philips into the right order! Charles I of Spain & V of Germany & Roman Empire! How it wd interest you, all these living monuments of the work you’ve been thro’.

Tomorrow dear Dads arrives. I shall meet him in the

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mg:, something after 8 his train arrives.

Dear, yr letter was so inter-esting & especially what you sd about the speech of The Secretary of the Old Etonian So –ty [society] – It must have been he, at whose house yr & Pats^[4] names were entered – & he wrote us, that in view of what had happened he had to cross out yr names!! I’ll tell you more about it when we meet – But he was one of those who followed the crowd –  – & I’m glad now he

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has seen you in the fine position you were in at Eton. Truth conquers – – give it time – I had a nice letter from Henry^[5] before I left home, in which he expresses a sincere wish for forgiveness – I am glad he is realising the hurt he has given us, in his foolish action – & the detrimental position he has placed himself in vis-à-vis her & her people.^[6]

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This latter position may not yet have occured [sic] to him – But bitterly as I have felt his action, & still do, I am thankful he has made this effort in the Direction to conciliation with me. Let us hope the future will adjust things happily all round  She has most to answer for, her influence has been shocking – Dear Pauly, Don’t exaggerate yr  work, & do get those pills made up, since they helped you, altho’ I hate drugs. Sleep is the best Dr I assure you, give dear Harry^[7] our love. I hope the Aunts enjoy their stay at no. 3.^[8] Take some evgs: off

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at the play when in town & change yr thoughts –

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Hope you have better weather now at Oxford. Here it is cold but bright sun.

Your own

Mum.

LR

21/11/2018