Differences

Tuesday, January 26th., Waterloo Road, Burslem.

I woke before dawn this morning and could immediately tell that there was something afoot by the quality of the light from outside. Peering through the curtains I saw at once that it had snowed heavily. I wasn't surprised. Several people told me yesterday that "we were due for some snow". Some people seem to have a sort of sixth sense for that sort of thing. Dawson is one of them. Anyway, Waterloo Road was transformed and I was itching to get out to see familiar places made unfamiliar.

By the time I had breakfasted and found my father's old snow shoes most of the road was tramped down by people going to work so I cut across towards Middleport, heading for the canal, the way I used to go to school in Newcastle. The canal was hard frozen. A few daring boys were sliding on it. I felt quite nostalgic, not that I was ever daring, but still. The valley was almost tranquil and the skyline towards Porthill was nearly picturesque. Definitely worth getting out for! Of course it has thawed during the day and is now mostly dirty slush. I haven't been down to Burslem which will be a right mess I should think.

Yesterday I was up at Sneyd Green visiting Callear. He wanted to show me a telescope he is making. It is impressive! Says it has taken him three weeks so far, and probably as long again before it is finished. Beautiful 3 inch mirror, which he has ground himself, not secured into the body of the instrument yet. And he is presently working on the angled mirror which diverts the light into the viewing lens. Apparently Newton invented the reflecting telescope. I didn't know that. I am envious of people who can do things with their hands, apart from writing that is. It also helps that his family is comfortably off, and he has use of a workshop. He reckons that he will be able to see craters on the moon and possibly the rings of Saturn, and I think he said the moons of Jupiter. I kept nodding knowingly, but my knowledge of outer space is abysmal. I suppose he knows that but we collude not to draw attention to it. He has no interest in books. As my mother frequently says: "We are all different".

 

Stones in the landscape

Wednesday, January 8th., Waterloo Road, Burslem.

These doldrum days after Christmas were enlivened yesterday by a trip into the Derbyshire Peak District. Callear had told me that he was developing an interest in archaeology and was in contact with a certain H. St George Gray who is engaged in excavating a prehistoric monument near Buxton. The weather being dry and quite mild at the moment he suggested that we make a visit. And we did.

Gray is acquiring a name in archaeology it seems and has learned his craft from the well-known investigator of burial mounds Augustus Pitt-Rivers. Fortuitously Gray was at the site, known as Arbor Low, when we arrived and gave us a tour. More impressive, and much more interesting than I had expected. It is high on the moorlands with commanding views all round. Stiffish cold wind from the north-west. The monument consists of a circular bank of earth, perhaps 100 yards in diameter and with two 'entrances'. Inside the bank is a ditch, and inside the ditch is a circle of stones, now recumbent. Some are very large. All very weathered. Hay says they would originally have been upright but were probably toppled in the Middle Ages for superstitious reasons. There are a few large stones also in the centre. Hay speculates that some sort of ceremony took place here, perhaps several times a year, with people gathering from the surrounding area. Perhaps they entered one way and left by the other, or perhaps two different groups (men and women, tribes?) entered separately and met in the middle. Gray has found some skeletal remains, flint scrapers, bone and antler tools. He thinks that circles like this were at one time commonplace but that most have been flattened by farming, so they only survive in isolated areas.

Nearby is a burial mound called Gib Hill which was excavated fifty years ago. The excavation was not up to Gray's standards and he regrets its having been attempted. There was evidence of a cremation and some pottery. Callear and I walked about and speculated freely about the lives of the people who built these monuments. Were they farmers or hunters? What did the stones represent for them? What sort of ceremonials were involved? All fascinating. I can see why this can become a consuming passion for some people.

Last night here tonight and I shall not be sorry to get back to the metropolis. It is good to be part of a family but it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Philosophers

Sunday, March 14th., Waterloo Road, Burslem.

Lunch of the North Staffs. Liberal Federation at the North Stafford Hotel in Stoke yesterday. There was nothing especially to notice, except the inferior quality of the speeches, including Lord Crewe's. But Mills, of the Manchester Guardian there to report the proceedings, said that he was much better in the House of Lords. Well, better is a relative term of course; I can't imagine that he suddenly blossoms forth into a notable orator when in Parliament.

Hawtrey, after accepting "What the Public Wants" on his own - that is, so far as he was concerned - found himself obliged to refuse it because his syndicate funked it. Very disappointing. He said he thought he could ultimately have persuaded them, but we would not give him time. This is yet another instance of the ways plays are chosen. This was on Thursday. On Friday, Trench wrote me definitely commissioning a play, subject to seeing a scenario. 

The Leopard, Burslem

The Potteries is of course brim full of practical philosophers, but there are not so many of the theoretical sort; and even those few who are that way inclined would never admit to theoretical speculation, not relishing ridicule. But, last Friday evening whilst strolling about in Burslem, I bumped into Callear, who I had not met since we were at school together, and we went into the Leopard for a talk. Within half a hour we were deep in discussion of the concept of personal autonomy. Seems he is philosophically inclined and was disinhibited by my being a 'foreigner'. He gave me a quick run-down on the ideas of Rousseau, Kierkegaard, Kant and Nietzche. For himself he thought it his business as a rational person to be as clear as he could be about how his intentions and actions were truly his, as opposed to being a product of socialisation. I think he referred to this as 'personal autonomy'. Whether he borrowed that from one of the philosophers I know not. After an hour I made my excuses and we parted with mutual protestations of good feeling. I hope to make this a regular occasion and to see him again in about 30 years or so.