War nerves

 Saturday, January 30th., Comarques, Thorpe-le-Soken.

Meeting of T.E. Committee today at Colchester. Usual sort of bureaucratic talking shop. Lot of middle-aged men who want to be doing something for the war effort; or at least to be seen to be doing something. I doubt there is anything they would be able to agree on. Personally I favour a sort of benign autocracy as the only way to get things done in the absence of military discipline. And even military discipline doesn't seem to count for all that much out here. A gloomy prospect I fear.

Richmond, of G. and J. Weir (Glasgow), came this morning and is staying until tomorrow. We got on well when I was in Scotland, and he still seems a decent sort. This afternoon he gave me all particulars of slacking by members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in war contracts. His firm is making shells, mines, and submarine engines. He said there was not a great deal of money in it, but capitalists always say that as they make their way to the bank. He said that the Contracts Supervision Department of the War Office was saving enormous sums. I think he meant they are spending less than they expected, but the cost to the Exchequer must be enormous. Taxes are bound to go up after the war if not before. 

Richmond told me that a submarine had attacked Barrow. This must have been the same vessel that is reported to have sunk several steamers in the Irish Sea last weekend. Apparently the submarine appeared off the coast in broad daylight and was thought at first to be British. Only when it opened fire on the coast was the real situation recognised. Made me think how anxious people afloat must be because of such an unseen enemy. I would think twice before considering an Atlantic crossing. And what a target a big ship like the Lusitania would be. Richmond thinks this is the start of a new German strategy to 'starve' Britain by cutting off supplies from the Colonies and America. The problem they have is in identifying which ships are British, but perhaps they won't be too concerned about that.

Princely

Wednesday, December 16th., Central Station Hotel, Glasgow.

 

Marguerite has written to say that she has now read "These Twain" and finds it "good". It is the most I can expect as she must have recognised at least a little of my depiction of the quarrels between Edwin and Hilda. Would she feel flattered to see herself as Hilda? I don't know. In any case she is not Hilda, though there are aspects of the marital relationship which are drawn from life, as it were. There was a promise of a renewal of tender relations implicit in the letter. That is something to look forward to on my return. Must keep up my strength!

I am being treated very well on my travels. Neil Munro, Scotland's foremost novelist, was waiting for me at the station yesterday evening, with John Richmond. Richmond is an art collector as well as a successful industrialist, a partner in the firm of C. & J. Weir. We have become good friends since our first meeting in 1909, and had a long chat in the evening. We became quite intimate and Richmond confided that he had been made quite uncomfortable when he last came to Comarques by Marguerite's provocation of myself. Said he admired my ability to maintain command of myself, to remain calm and uniformly courteous. More than he could have done he said. I disclosed something of my feelings about the increasing difficulty of living with Marguerite.

Our conversation was at Richmond's house in Glasgow. His wife was not there, She is in the new country house 100 kilometres away. His sister-in-law was there - very Scottish and very intelligent; a fine woman. I thought it a little strange that she was there whilst his wife was not, and sensed some 'tension' in the atmosphere, but he made no revelation. Quite possibly there is nothing to reveal. He is keen to read "These Twain", and may find it interesting!

In general the Scots are much better educated than the English. But they have a terrible accent. I can hardly understand the hotel servants and they can hardly understand me. This hotel is good with big rooms, solid and provincial. The bathroom is perfectly equipped. I slept quite well, and have stood up to the travelling admirably well. Yesterday was an awesome day, visiting factories etc., followed by a party at the Arts Club. Richmond sent his car, with driver, for my use. The greatest advantage of being a novelist whose novels are liked by serious people is that one is treated better than a prince.