Friday, 26 February 2016

26th February 1936 - Terrick to Mary

Earl's Court

26th February 1936


Sweetest Patootie!

Just home after a long day with supper out - at the Poly Institute.

Re the dances, I should like to go to the Old Girl's one again, if Grannie can put me up.  I can't go to Mrs Cook's as we, some of the staff, have just got up an Unlucky Party for Friday 13th March, to celebrate the beginning of the season.

Paul has asked us to dinner on Saturday 14th; will that be all right for you?

You never sent me your mother's address.  Will you phone me tomorrow a the office about Friday and let me know it then?  Not between 12.30 and 1.30.

Joan is very doubtful whether she can get a partner for 19th March.  Will you get onto Bodil?  She must be back now and might like to come.

She what has happened in Japan! Because the Liberals won the election and the Socialist party gained more seats than they had ever had before, the reactionaries take to violence.  A prompt illustration of all I was telling you.  The Socialists have no choice whether they will come into power as a result of violence or not; violence will be used upon them.

If Miss Cross talks about two wrongs not making a right as regards fighting, she is a pacifist; and must think that every man who fought for British Imperialist interests in the war was wrong to do so.  Granted it is the orthodox Christian attitude.

Whereas Miss Cross (supposing she is not a pacifist) drops her Christian principles when they conflict with patriotism, we drop them (if we can say that, since we don't hold them) when they conflict with the interests of the oppressed classes.  Patriotism is a narrow, selfish, barbarous sentiment, but solidarity with the underdogs, the so-called "lower classes", has its justification as long as the oppressive power continues to oppress.

This Government's scheme to spend £300,000,000 in developing industry for war purposes shows decisively that they intend to go to war.  Perhaps you don't see the reasoning.  Economic crises - such as the one we have just been going through - are caused by over-production.  That is to say, the productive forces of industry expand at a quicker rate than the necessary corresponding expansion of the market can keep up with; resulting in a glut increase in unemployment.  Now the war industries are to be developed in record time to the extent of three hundred million pounds.  Either the market for war materials does not expand at a corresponding rate, in which case we get a crisis - a tremendous one; or it does, i.e. we go to war.

What about Miss Fogerty at the Albert Hall?  That would be nearer still for you, wouldn't it?  Miss Cross is very decent.  It would be nice to keep up a bit with the Old Vic(arage), wouldn't it?

I think your idea for the 8th (Sunday) is jolly good; do  you think you can manage it?

Sometimes I try to visualise you in as great detail as possible, not doing anything particular, just standing talking to me; but I never succeed in making you half as charming as you are when you are really with me.  Directly I meet you, every time, the difference strikes me.

Your two cushions make my divan look most oriental in its luxuriousness.  The mid arranges the four cushions most artistically.

I haven't heard from Lord Wharton yet.  Perhaps he has been reading the advertisements in "the Times".

Next week my lunch hours will be spent in jewellers' shops.

I must stop now.  This room seems empty without you.  On Sunday week we'll sit on the cushions and you shall read The Bedside Book to me.  Even more Oriental, only unfortunately it can't go on for a thousand and one nights.

Goodnight, sweetheart

All my love

Terrick

A very jerky letter.  I must be more tired than I thought.

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