of rice, and innumerable dishes which we ate with chopsticks. When we
had ?nished eating they remarked that one of their number was fond of old
Chinese music, and would like to play to us. So he produced an instrument
with seven strings, made by himself on the ancient model, out of black wood
two thousand years old, which he had taken from a temple. The instrument is
played with the ?nger, like a guitar, but is laid ?at on a table, not held in the
hand. They assured us that the music he played was four thousand years old,
but that I imagine must be an overstatement. In any case, it was exquisitely
beautiful, very delicate, easier for a European ear than more recent music
(of which I have heard a good deal). When the music was over they became
again a sta? of bustling journalists.
From Shanghai our Chinese friends took us for three nights to Hangchow
the autobiography of bertrand russell 352on the Western Lake, said to be the most beautiful scenery in China. This was
merely holiday. The Western Lake is not large – about the size of Grasmere –
it is surrounded by wooded hills, on which there are innumerable pagodas
and temples. It has been beauti?ed by poets and emperors for thousands
of years. (Apparently poets in ancient China were as rich as ?nanciers in
modern Europe.) We spent one day in the hills – a twelve hour expedition
in Sedan chairs – and the next in seeing country houses, monasteries, etc. on
islands in the lake.
Chinese religion is curiously cheerful. When one arrives at a temple, they
give one a cigarette and a cup of delicately fragrant tea. Then they show one
round. Buddhism, which one thinks of as ascetic, is here quite gay. The saints
have fat stomachs, and are depicted as people who thoroughly enjoy life.
No one seems to believe the religion, not even the priests. Nevertheless, one
sees many rich new temples.
The country houses are equally hospitable – one is shewn round and given
tea. They are just like Chinese pictures, with many arbours where one can
sit, with everything made for beauty and nothing for comfort – except in
the grandest rooms, where there will be a little hideous European furniture.
The most delicious place we saw on the Western Lake was a retreat for
scholars, built about eight hundred years ago on the lake. Scholars certainly
had a pleasant life in the old China.
Apart from the in?uence of Europeans, China makes the impression of
what Europe would have become if the eighteenth century had gone on
till now without industralism or the French Revolution. People seem to be
rational hedonists, knowing very well how to obtain happiness, exquisite
through intense cultivation of their artistic sensibilities, di?ering from
Europeans through the fact that they prefer enjoyment to power. People
laugh a great deal in all classes, even the lowest.
The Chinese cannot pronounce my name, or write it in their characters.
They call me ‘Luo-Su’ which is the nearest they can manage. This, they can
both pronounce and print.
From Hangchow we went back to Shanghai, thence by rail to Nanking, an
almost deserted city. The wall is twenty-three miles in circumference, but
most of what it encloses is country. The city was destroyed at the end of
the Taiping rebellion, and again injured in the Revolution of 1911, but it is
an active educational centre, eager for news of Einstein and Bolshevism.
From Nanking we went up the Yiangtse to Hangkow, about three days’
journey, through very lovely scenery – thence by train to Cheng-Sha, the
capital of Hu-Nan, where a great educational conference was taking place.
There are about three hundred Europeans in Cheng-Sha, but Europeanisation
has not gone at all far. The town is just like a mediaeval town – narrow streets,
every house a shop with a gay sign hung out, no tra?c possible except Sedan
china 353chairs and a few rickshaws. The Europeans have a few factories, a few banks, a
few missions and a hospital – the whole gamut of damaging and repairing
body and soul by western methods. The Governor of Hu-Nan is the most
virtuous of all the Governors of Chinese provinces, and entertained us last
night at a magni?cent banquet. Professor and Mrs Dewey were present; it
was the ?rst time I had met them. The Governor cannot talk any European
language, so, though I sat next to him, I could only exchange compliments
through an interpreter. But I got a good impression of him; he is certainly
very anxious to promote education, which seems the most crying need of
China. Without it, it is hard to see how better government can be introduced.
It must be said that bad government seems somewhat less disastrous in China
than it would be in a European nation, but this is perhaps a super?cial
impression which time may correct.
We are now on our way to Pekin, which we hope to reach on October 31st.
Bertrand Russell
From S. Yamamoto
Tokyo, Japan
December 25, 1920
Dear Sir
We heartily thank you for your esteemed favour of the latest date and
also for the manuscript on ‘The Prospects of Bolshevik Russia’, which has
just arrived.
When a translation of your article on ‘Patriotism’ appeared in our New
Year issue of the Kaizo now already on sale, the blood of the young Japanese
was boiled with enthusiasm to read it. All the conversations everywhere
among gentlemen classes, students and laborers centered upon your article,
so great was the attraction of your thoughts to them.
The only regret was that the government has requested us to omit refer-
ences you made to Japan in your article as much as possible, and we were
obliged to cut out some of your valuable sentences. We trust that you will
generously sympathise with us in the position in which we are placed and
that you will excuse us for complying with the government’s request.
Hereafter, however, we shall publish your articles in the original as well
as in a translation according the dictate of our principle.
The admiration for you of the millions of our young men here is some-
thing extraordinary.
Your principle is identical with that of ourselves, so that as long as we
live we wish to be with you. But that our country is still caught in the
obstinate conventional mesh of 3,000 years standing, so that reforms cannot
be carried out, is a cause of great regret. We have to advance step by step. Your
the autobiography of bertrand russell 354publications have served as one of the most important factors to move our
promising young men of Japan in their steadfast advancement.
In the past thirty odd years, physical and medical sciences have especially
advanced in Japan. But it is a question how much progress we have made in
the way of original inventions. Yet we are con?dent that in pure science we
are by no means behind America in advancement. Only the majority of our
country men are still enslaved by the ideas of class distinctions and other
backward thoughts, of which we are greatly ashamed. The Japanese military
clique and the gentlemen clique have been anxious to lead Japan in the path
of aggression, thereby only inviting the antipathy of the nation. The present
Japanese world of thought has been subject to an undercurrent of struggle.
We will be very much grieved if our country were regarded as an aggressive
nation because of that.
One half of our government o?cials and almost eighty per cent of the
army men have been caught in dreams of aggression, it is true. But recently
there has been much awakening from that.
We have con?dence in our young men who have begun to awaken, so that
they may advance in the path of civilisation not to disappoint the world. We
trust that you will write your articles with the object in view to encourage
our young men in their e?orts for advancement.
Please give our regards to Miss Black.
Yours respectfully
S. Yamamoto
[Humbug is international]
To Ottoline Morrell
[1921]
The other day Dora and I went to a Chinese feast given by the Chinese
Students here. They made speeches full of delicate wit, in the style of 18th
century France, with a mastery of English that quite amazed me. The Chinese
Chargé d’A?aires said he had been asked to speak on Chinese Politics – he
said the urgent questions were the General Election, economy and limitation
of armaments – he spoke quite a long time, saying only things that might
have been said in a political speech about England, and which yet were quite
all right for China – when he sat down he had not committed himself to
anything at all, but had suggested (without ever saying) that China’s prob-
lems were worse than ours. The Chinese constantly remind me of Oscar
Wilde in his ?rst trial when he thought wit would pull one through anything,
and found himself in the grip of a great machine that cared nothing for
human values. I read of a Chinese General the other day, whose troops had
ventured to resist a Japanese attack, so the Japanese insisted that he should
apologise to their Consul. He replied that he had no uniform grand enough
china 355for such an august occasion, and therefore to his profound sorrow he must
forego the pleasure of visiting a man for whom he had so high an esteem.
When they nevertheless insisted, he called the same day on all the other
Consuls, so that it appeared as if he were paying a mere visit of ceremony.
Then all Japan raised a howl that he had insulted the Japanese nation.
I would do anything in the world to help the Chinese, but it is di?cult.
They are like a nation of artists, with all their good and bad points. Imagine
Gertler and [Augustus] John and Lytton set to govern the British Empire,
and you will have some idea how China has been governed for 2,000 years.
Lytton is very like an old fashioned Chinaman, not at all like the modern
westernised type.
I must stop. All my love.
Your B.
From my brother Frank
Telegraph House
Chichester
27 January 1921
Dear Bertie
The Bank to which I have rashly given a Guarantee is threatening to sell
me up, so that by the time you return I shall probably be a pauper walking
the streets. It is not an alluring prospect for my old age but I dare say it will
a?ord great joy to Elizabeth.
I have not seen the elusive little Wrinch again although she seems to
spend as much time in London as at Girton. I did not know a don had so
much freedom of movement in term time.
Did you know that our disagreeable Aunt Gertrude was running the Punch
Bowl Inn at Hindhead? I feel tempted to go and stay there for a week end
but perhaps she would not take me in. The Aunt Agatha was very bitter about
it when I last saw her and said the horrible woman was running all over
Hindhead poisoning people’s minds against her by saying the most shocking
things – we can guess what about. I think when one re?ects on the P.L.
[Pembroke Lodge] atmosphere it is amusing to think of the Aunt Agatha
becoming an object of scandal in her old age.
4
Naturally she feels that some-
thing must be seriously wrong with the world for such a thing to be possible.
She was quite amusingly and refreshingly bitter about Gertrude and next
time I see her I will draw her out a bit.
I am afraid I have no more news to tell you: my mind is entirely occupied
with thoughts of what it is like to be a bankrupt – and how – and where – to
live on nothing a year. The problem is a novel one and I dislike all its solutions.
Yours a?ectionately
Russell
the autobiography of bertrand russell 356From Robert Young The Japan Chronicle
P.O. Box No. 91 Sannomiya
Kobe, Japan
January 18, 1921
Dear Mr Russell
Your books have always been so helpful to me that when I heard you were
coming out here I ventured to send you a copy of the Chronicle in the hope
that you might ?nd something of interest in it from time to time. Please do
not trouble about the subscription; I am very glad if the paper has been of
service.
When I was in England a year ago I hoped to have the opportunity of a
talk with you, and Francis Hirst tried to arrange it but found you were away
from London at the time. Do you intend to visit Japan before you return
to England? If so I shall hope to have a chance of meeting you, and if I can
do anything here in connection with such a visit please let me know.
I shall be glad to read your new book on Bolshevism. Since you wrote
you will perhaps have noticed a review of Bolshevism in Theory and Practice. It
may perhaps be interesting to you to know that I can remember your father’s
will being upset in the Courts, and that as a result I have followed your career
with interest.
Sincerely Yours
Robert Young
The Japan Chronicle
P.O. Box No. 91 Sannomiya
Kobe, Japan
Kobe, January 2, 1922
Dear Mr Russell
It is a long time since August, when you wrote to me from the Empress
of Asia, and I ought to have acknowledged your letter earlier, but with my
small sta? I am always kept very busy, and my correspondence tends to
accumulate.
I have just heard from Mrs Russell of the birth of an heir, and I congratulate
you in no formal sense, for it has given us great pleasure and much relief
to learn that Mrs Russell did not su?er from her experiences in Japan. I
published the letter you sent me, and I think some good has been done by
the protest. So few people have courage to protest against an evil of this
character, lest worse things may befall them in the way of criticism.
What a farce the Washington Conference is. From the ?rst I doubted the
sincerity of this enthusiasm for peace on the part of those who made the war.
Perhaps it is the head rather than the heart that is at fault. The statesmen do
not seem to realise that so long as the old policies are pursued, we shall have
china 357the same results, and that a limitation of armaments to the point they have
reached during the war puts us in a worse position regarding the burden
carried and the danger of explosion than in 1914. Japan has sulkily accepted
the ratio proposed by America, but is supporting the French demand for
more submarines. France is showing herself a greater danger to Europe than
Germany ever was. China has been betrayed at the Washington Conference, as
we expected. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance has been scrapped, to be replaced
by a Four-Power agreement which is still more dangerous to China. Her
salvation, unhappily, lies in the jealousies of the Powers. United, the pressure
on her will be increased. But I doubt whether the Senate will endorse the
treaty, once its full implications are understood.
You are very busy, I note, and I hope that you will be able to make people
think. But it is a wicked and perverse generation, I am afraid. Sometimes I
despair. It looks as if all the ideals with which I started life had been over-
thrown. But I suppose when one is well into the sixties, the resilience of
youth has disappeared.
By the way, I have suggested to the Conway Memorial Committee that you
be asked to deliver the annual lecture. If you are asked, I hope you will see
your way to consent. Moncure Conway was a ?ne character, always prepared
to champion the oppressed and defend free speech. He stood by Bradlaugh
and Mrs Besant when they were prosecuted for the publication of the Fruits of
Philosophy, as he stood by Foote when prosecuted on account of the Freethinker,
though personally objecting to that style of propaganda.
I have given Mrs Russell some Japan news in a letter I have just written to
her, so I will not repeat here. I hope you are receiving the Japan Weekly Chronicle
regularly, so that you can keep in touch with news in this part of the world. It
has been sent to you care of George Allen & Unwin. Now I have your Chelsea
address I will have it sent there. For some years our Weekly has been steadily
increasing in circulation, going all over the world. But from the 1st of this
year the Japanese Post O?ce has doubled the foreign postage rates, which
makes 6 yen for postage alone per annum on a copy of the Weekly, and I
am afraid our circulation will su?er accordingly.
It is very good to hear that you are completely restored to health. Mrs Russell
says you would scarcely be recognised by those who only saw you in Japan.
Your visit was a great pleasure to me. For years I had admired your writings
and been encouraged by the stand you had taken in public a?airs when even
the stoutest seemed to waver. It therefore meant much to me to make your
acquaintance and I hope your friendship.
With our united good wishes,
Sincerely yours
Robert Young
the autobiography of bertrand russell 358From C. P. Sanger 5 New Square
Lincolns Inn, W.C.2
2 June 1921
My dear Bertie
How kind of you to write; and to say such kind things. Until there was
a false rumour of your death I never really knew how very fond I am of you. I
didn’t believe the rumour, but the mere idea that I might never see you again
had never come into my mind; and it was an intense relief when the Chinese
Embassy ascertained that the rumour was false. You will take care of your
health now, won’t you?
The Political situation is, as always, damnable – millions of unemployed –
soldiers camping in the parks – but an excellent day yesterday for the Derby
which is all that anyone apparently cares about.
Einstein lectures at King’s College in 10 days time, but I can’t get a ticket.
I’ve been reading some of Einstein’s actual papers and they give me a most
tremendous impression of the clearness of his thoughts.
We spent a delightful Whitsuntide at the Shi?olds: Tovey5
was there and
talked endlessly and played Beethoven Sonatas and Bach, so I was very happy.
I enclose a letter for Miss Black – I’m afraid it’s a little inadequate but it’s
so di?cult to write to a person one has never seen. I hope this experience
with her and her devoted nursing of you will form an eternal basis for
you both.
Dora sends her love.
Yours fraternally and
a?ectionately
C. P. Sanger
From Joseph Conrad Oswalds
Bishopsbourne, Kent
2. Nov. 1921
My Dear Russell
We were glad to hear that your wife feels none the worse for the exertions
and agitations of the move.
6
Please give her our love and assure her that she
is frequently in our thoughts.
As to yourself I have been dwelling with you mentally for several days
between the covers of your book7
– an habitation of great charm and most
fascinatingly furnished; not to speak of the wonderful quality of light that
reigns in there. Also all the windows (I am trying to write in images) are,
one feels, standing wide open. Nothing less stu?y – of the Mansions of the
mind – could be conceived! I am sorry for the philosophers (p. 212 – end)
who (like the rest of us) cannot have their cake and eat it. There’s no exacti-
tude in the vision or in the words. I have a notion that we are condemned
china 359in all things to the à-peu-près, which no scienti?c passion for weighing and
measuring will ever do away with.
It is very possible that I haven’t understood your pages – but the good
try I have had was a delightful experience. I suppose you are enough of a
philosopher not to have expected more from a common mortal.
I don’t believe that Charles I was executed (pp. 245–246 et seq.) but there is
not enough paper left here to explain why. Next time perhaps. For I certainly
intend to meet you amongst your Chinoiseries at the very earliest ?tting time.
Always a?ectly yours
J. Conrad
Oswalds
Bishopsbourne, Kent
18th Nov. 1921
My Dear Russell
Jessie must have sent yesterday our congratulations and words of welcome
to the ‘comparative stranger’ who has come to stay with you (and take
charge of the household as you will soon discover). Yes! Paternity is a great
experience of which the least that can be said is that it is eminently worth
having – if only for the deepened sense of fellowship with all men it gives
one. It is the only experience perhaps whose universality does not make it
common but invests it with a sort of grandeur on that very account. My
a?ection goes out to you both, to him who is without speech and thought as
yet and to you who have spoken to men profoundly with e?ect and author-
ity about the nature of the mind. For your relation to each other will have its
poignant moments arising out of the very love and loyalty binding you to
each other.
Of all the incredible things that come to pass this – that there should be
one day a Russell bearing mine for one of his names is surely the most
marvellous. Not even my horoscope could have disclosed that for I verily
believe that all the sensible stars would have refused to combine in that
extravagant manner over my cradle. However it has come to pass (to the
surprise of the Universe) and all I can say is that I am profoundly touched –
more than I can express – that I should have been present to your mind in
that way and at such a time.
Please kiss your wife’s hand for me and tell her that in the obscure bewil-
dered masculine way (which is not quite unintelligent however) I take part in
her gladness. Since your delightful visit here she was much in our thoughts –
and I will confess we felt very optimistic. She has justi?ed it fully and it is a
great joy to think of her with two men in the house. She will have her hands
full presently. I can only hope that John Conrad has been born with a dis-
position towards indulgence which he will consistently exercise towards his
the autobiography of bertrand russell 360parents. I don’t think that I can wish you anything better and so with my
dear love to all three of you, I am
always yours
Joseph Conrad
P.S. I am dreadfully o?ended at your associating me with some undesirable
acquaintance of yours
8
who obviously should not have been allowed inside
the B. Museum reading-room. I wish you to understand that my attitude
towards [the] King Charles question is not phantastic but philosophical and
I shall try to make it clear to you later when you will be more in a state to
follow my reasoning closely. Knowing from my own experience I imagine
that it’s no use talking to you seriously just now.
From Eileen Power
184 Ebury Street
S.W.1
Saturday, [December, 1921]
Dear Bertie
The book is The Invention of a New Religion by Professor Chamberlain. If you
want to consult it, here it is and perhaps you would let me have it back anon.
I am so glad that you and Dora can come to luncheon to meet Dr Wise on
Wednesday and tell Dora that 1.30 will do beautifully. I am also asking B. K.
Martin, a very intelligent young man who is now teaching history at
Magdalene, having got his ?? last year. He wrote to me three days ago and
said ‘if you would introduce me to Bertrand Russell I should be forever in
your debt. I’d rather meet him than any other living (or dead) creature.’ I felt
that in view of this preeminence over the shades of Plato, Julius Caesar,
Cleopatra, Descartes, Ninon de l’Enclos and Napoleon the Great, you would
consent to shine upon him! Also he is extremely clever and a nice boy.
Yours ever
Eileen Power
I was asked to dine with the Webbs the other day, but I don’t think I ever
shall be again for we nearly came to blows over the relative merits of China
and Japan!
From Claud Russell
Sept. 22. 1923
British Legation
Adis Ababa
Dear Bertie
I have just read with great pleasure your Problem of China, where I spent some
china 361years. It is a fact that the Treaty of Versailles (article 131) provided for the
restoration of the astronomical instruments to China, but I am under the
impression that the obligation has not been carried out. If so, I fear you
cannot count it among the ‘important bene?ts’ secured to the world by that
treaty. Perhaps you might suggest to your friends in China the occupation of
Swabia or Oldenburg to secure its enforcement. I must say, however, in
fairness to the Treaty of Versailles, that you do it less than justice. You have
overlooked article 246, under which ‘Germany will hand over to H.B.M.’s
Government the skull of the Sultan Mkwawa...’
I think, if I may say so, that on page 24 (top) ‘animal’ should be ‘annual’.
I feel sure the Temple of Heaven was never the scene of the sort of sacri?ce
that pleased the God of Abel.
Your a?ec cousin
Claud Russell
