Blown away

Tuesday, February 23rd., Cadogan Square, London.

I stepped outside for a breath of air this morning and was nearly blown away. As I write now I can hear the wind swirling round the building as if seeking a way in. Not surprising that ancient, and not so ancient, peoples believed that lost souls might be incorporated in wind. One does not expect to be so greatly assailed in the town; certainly not in the middle of a great city. The wind should be more properly a rural phenomenon, or especially a maritime one. I wasn't out long. But I had a breath or two of air!

I have been reading a book about Japan. It is a novel but intends I think to give an accurate account of that country to which I have never been. I like to read about strange places and often feel inclined to visit as a consequence. But I don't want to visit Japan. It sounds to be a terrible country. Terrible by reason of the cast-iron conventions which hold its society together. It is more Western than the Europe which it has too sedulously copied, and yet remains fantastically Oriental. In polite Japanese circles, and all Japanese circles are polite, everything it seems is 'honourable', both persons and things. 'Honourable' seems to be a key word of all social relations. Socially every Japanese is walking on a tight-rope over the Niagara of solecism all the time. There can be no relief for him, night and day.

I am to go up to Manchester by special train at the weekend for Cochran's "1928 Review". The book and lyrics are by Noel Coward, and there are alleged to be 28 tableaux and 500 costumes. I am promised that there will be a surfeit of pretty young women on the train. Otherwise, I would have preferred to go by car but Dorothy has robbed me of it for three weeks. She is somewhere in France with Audrey Anderson driving to the Riviera and back. Life is much calmer here in spite of the wind!

An outing

Saturday, December 4th., George Street, London.

Today I began work on the film and other things, though short of sleep. Pressure of financial responsibilities means that I have to work well or not. But I have felt worse than this!

I took Marguerite this afternoon to see Japanese prints at the British Museum, and was more impressed than the first time even. Of course the mummies held Marguerite on her way through their rooms. She is obsessed when she sees them by the fact that they once lived, loved etc. Sentimental twaddle. To be just she showed just as much interest in the Greek sculpture. We were struck anew by the size and grandioseness of the B.M. It is a very efficient affair. Crowds of people, especially girls, most of them uncomprehending. Experts giving popular lectures.

i was thinking later about the mummies. Is it morally defensible to dig up and put on display human remains, however old they are? As I understand it these people believed that they had to preserve their bodies so as to have an after-life. They would be horrified to find themselves being gawked at by crowds of sensation seekers. The more I think the less satisfactory it seems to me. Perhaps I shall compose an article on the subject.