10 a, Talbot Road,
W.2

Sept. 24 1954

Ezra darling, I'm a clot, to use the popular word of abuse, not
to have written for so long. Often think of you and reproach my
self for what you kindly call 'taciturnity' Have got some kind
of paralysis of the will about writing letters.

Did Edwards tell you about Bridson's broadcast about
you? Very good _indeed_ Edwards certainly has made every pilgrim-
age to your dwelling-places. I liked him and then thought just
the little itsy-bitsy professorial. Hope his book will be worthy
of you.

Well, as to the shining glory; twice I decided to
look my age as well as act it, but each time everybody said, in-
cluding my grand-daughter: 'Do go and have it coloured again. You
look ghastly!' So I obeyed. When you saw me in '38 I was under
the cloud of recovering from R. (He is very destructive to his
women), but now I'm old and don't love anyone it's most reju-
vanating!

Who was Louisa Crook at Brunswick Gdns? Is that where
Olivia lived? Nasty crack about Leicester Square!

Coloured pictures rather expensive but will see-
perhaps!

Yes, darling, you're certainly a 'monstre sacré' now
Praise and adulation everywhere. You even need not trouble about
data. Did Edwards talk to you about some scheme he - and others
have about unlocking doors? I couldn't follow it.

Waddle am ignorant of, needless to say, and Derek is
on a roaring toot in Spain. Back in ten days or a fortnight.
What is Traxiniai? Never see or hear of H., which is of course
my own fault, and R. has been so badly slapped down because of
his book on Norman Douglas that I suppose he feels morose, es-
pecially as a life he's done on XxX T.E.Lawrence in which he

abuses him right and left and calls him a fraud has raised such
a stink that the publication had to be put off.

You should know by now that I know nothing about any-
thing. This winter, second in one year, has obfuscated all
that was left of my dreamy intelligence, but I have been slowly
grining out memories. You see, as most of my friends when young
have developed into 'monstres sacrés', some people think I ought
to put down all the lovely and frightful things I remember-
Heaven help everybody! Have just now been struggling with
the time Derek and I were in Paris and you were such a darling
and took us around. Do you remember taking us to tea with Hem-
ingway, who looked wonderful. Last time I saw him was about two
years ago in Claridaes: he was fat, grizzle-bearded & not that
that matters) but he was surrounded by such a crowd of young
hoodlums it just didn't look funny. I am extremely fond of his
third wife, Martha Gellhorn. Don't think you ever met her. Also
I admire her: the only woman I know who is really courageous
and fair. Writes well, too. I wonder why people can't keep
something incorruptible in them selves. Am not accusing Hem of
being corrupted - only in his appearance! I remember John dos
Passos was at the paris teaparty and another man who has gone
dim.

Many of my friends have either gone to the Bahamas or the
Channel Islands. They say 'Do come' quite forgetting that I can'
leave the sinking ship, I don't believe it's going down really,
just in a fog)! because of money, money, money. However am all
right. London gets more and more like Harlem. The little black
babies being wheeled around by blond mothers increases yearly.
G.B.S. said it would happen. (Whose using initials now)!

Darling, good-night now, many blessings and love

Birgit

Tell me more about the 'data' you want