Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 121]
November 20
135.
The night of the 18th, read in bed, Masefield's "Good Friday": rather disappointing – though the Madman a richly fine character. Pages 44, 45, & 46 high above the remainder. More of a dramatic essay than "A play in verse".
The night of the 19, the first play of Tagore's "Sacrifice" collection… A Noh play of Nature triumphant… its rapid ending was a shock, reading I turned the page for its continuing.. then I slept on it…
To night I'll read 'Sacrifice' again. .. Chastelard I'll put aside for reading when all I have is through.
Today I wrote to T.B.C. for Babfords Building Construction Elementry. The first chance I see I'll try for a drafting job on staff – the unit's rotten through and through – the officers more ridiculous than socialistic amateurs. Yesterday morning on parade the Colonel shifty and poor, all his statements for a permanent guard etc. being totally ignored by the W.O. – the only Military man in the whole show: not that Militarism is necessary, but a certain amount of unit spirit and discipline should somewhere obtain.
November 20
Yesterday's mail, the T.L.S's Nov. 8 and 15, announcement of column 'John YKats' – 18/-.
This afternoon a kit inspection, general borrowing front and rear lines… of sox, shirts, etc., a farce ridiculously gone through – a farce and an indignity.
136.
Billeted in high hilly and deep valley'd country of perfect colours under grey skies…wide landscape Hardy would write well of.
The Billet a long divided up barn – one of three forming the side of a great quadrangle, the cottage closing the fourth. In the square – all roughly cobbled and unevenly sunken a great mud, manure, straw and filth heap and rising from the centre of it all, a decayed dovecot…. our fatigue yesterday and today clearing up where the rotting heap too far trespassed. A smelly dirty job – especially for the Aristocrats.
Clarrie, Bill Tell and self, in for Boulogne leave for Thursday… Ambulance wagon from here: 3 from each section, two transports.
Mail today so far nothing heard of: box open now for ordinary envelopes.