March 31.

Mrs. K. Macpherson

Villa Kenwin

Burier -

La Tour

Vaud

Suisse.

Dear Viola,

Thank you for your letter just received. I will try to get
the books you write of, but it may be difficult. A friend
wrote me from Paris and asked me for some special Goethe whin
I couldn't trace for him. But I will do my best. I have
been asked myself to do a translation of Goethe selections that I
like best, regardless of weight or lit. yaube, but I can not think
of undertaking it now. I would have liked to do it ten years
ago. I am still reading Hermann Hesse, thank you for the
details you sent me about translations. He lives near Lugano
where I hope to go in about two weeks. I am very happy about this as it
is Italian and I have been very home-sick for Italy. There is a
wonderful exhibition of Venetian paintings, over 200 from the
galleries, private owners and even churches showing here now.
This is a great joy to me. I give you Bryher's address as
I am planning to take trips around the lake and up into the
mountains; to Castagnola where there are villas down to the
water, the pictures make me think of Venice, Campione where there is
a famous Madonna grotto on the lake-edge, Bisson with Paduan
arcades, Morcote with cypress-walks, orange trees, and the hysteria
will soon be in flower there. There are such a lot of

wonderful trips to take. I do hope I get off soon. Belated best
wishes for your birthday. Today is Perdita's 28th. It is always
a relief when it is over; though we do have happy times together,
these anniversaries, as you say, are a reminder of ones own age. I was
32 when she was born. We are just about the same age. But I must say
I have had an exceptionally lovely year, my 66 here in Switz. -
People in England, as you know, are literally under a cloud. I try
my best to keep in touch but they are most of them ill and suffering
from mal-nutrition. I am so thankful to be here I can not tell
you! I can not enclose an Easter card in this, just this sleezy card
sheet, but all my best to you and I will send you some cards slow-post
from the Tessin. Please remember me to old friends. I think

much of them at this time. Margaret has had a bad time,
snowed up on her farm in Norfolk. I try to send her news. She is
a girl I went to school with- I forget that you did not know her.
They used to give dances and have parties at their house.
We have lovely flower-markets here, baskets are laid out on the
pavements and they have our hepaticas which I never saw anywhere
else, also primroses with violets, pansies and violas!
I found the Ernest excellent but tired of the artificiality, they
also gave The Perfect Husband in London. Now I hear there is a
really amazing production of Webster's White Devil. They gave
Oedipus Rex, the Yeats translation. It did not appeal to me
as much as the first Greek play I saw (in Greek) given by the
students in Philadelphia. The Edipus scenery was too
fussy for my taste, the Ephegenia we had when I was 16, had just
the temple background and I often think students give the best
performances. We had some other Geilgud during the war,
Midsummer Night and Hamlet. How interesting to hear of your
Opera adventure. I have not been to opera since I was in Vienna,
1934. I saw Rosenknecht, a thing I have always loved so much.
I always look forward to your letters and will never forget the
bounty you produced for us, and the cheer, during those
devestating years in London.
Hilda

Hotel Minerva
LUGANO

September 5

H. ALDINGTON
HÔTEL DE LA PAIX
LAUSANNE
(SUISSE)

Dear Viola,

Thank you so much for the lily-mat that arrived yesterday. It is a great
bons noirs, et j'en ai reçu un très grand nombre d'îles et un très grand
delight to me and went at once onto the cold marble-top of my
environnement. C'est très grand. C'est très grand.
period dressing-table and is already cluttered with small mirror,
a béninois et un tissu.
file etc., the things that always get lost. It is too pretty to
be lost like that in my debris but it will find a more worthy
auxiliaire. C'est très grand.
and part of October, but letters follow from either address. I am
already planning how to finish off some of my pieces; I started a
bienesses.
number of large ones in London while we sat around waiting for the last
bienesses. C'est très grand.
trump. I treasure them as they are mostly things that went off the
bienesses.
market, three huge original Cluny designs meant for mantle-piece; they
are copied from original, at Cluny Museum in Paris. Bryher always
said "but what will you DO with them?" I have just loved them and
the designs of huge grape leaves, pomegranates and small animals, just
kept me alive. But now I will try to finish off the odd bits and just
set them myself in a wool frame, or bind with some sort of suitable
period chord or ribbon, if I can find it. Then the mats can be used
if I ever have the heart to give them away, as anything. I think just this
mat or rug (in my case) is perfect. It has given me the greatest joy.

I sent a really beautiful book of details of the Botticelli Spring to
Mr. Laughlin of the New Directions, as they sent me a book of E.; I
told Mr. L. that if he thought the book unsuitable or if unable to send to
E., would he post it to you. I though poor E. would like it, as he
speaks of flowers in his last, in a new way. I found the CANTOS
heart-breaking. I presume you have the new book ? When I get back to
Lausanne, I will try to find some more Italian cards or photographs; E. speak
so much of those places. We are just on the border here, this town
is not unlike Verona, with arcaded market-place and iron-grill balconies.