Reference
AU10/102/1/49
Title
Handwritten letter addressed from: Paris
Date free text
19 February 1952
Production date
From: 1952 To: 1952
Scope and Content
"Your kind birthday greetings and beautiful card have been sent on to me from Richmond to Paris, where I have been staying for the past month or so, at three different addresses with three friends - two married and one (where I am now) a bachelor. This is the visit I should have paid last February when I had to hurry back to England on account of Florence and Di being ill. Isn't it odd that I'm always on this side of the Channel when the King dies? I was at Mentone when Edward VII died, in my schoolboy days. I was at Mentone again in Jan. 1936 when George V died (I remember old Mr.Dent was doing duty for me at Ampthill at the time), and now again with George VI, I was in Paris! The French have shown great signs of sorrow and sympathy. They are, at least, a Royalist people. They have never really taken to a republic, but unfortunately, all their royal dynasties, whether Bourbon or Napoleonic, were no good. I went to the Requiem at S.George's, the church attented by Parisian English who find the starchy Protestantism of the Embassy Church too depressing. S.George's is very much like Ampthill in its churchmanship and ceremonial. I shall be leaving Paris in a day or two for the Riviera, where there is a lot of business awaiting me. The hotel company of which my French cousin and I are the leading shareholders, and which owns four hotels, were intending to open up their largest place, the Majestic, and Cap Martin, this year: but with the reduction to £25 (from £100!) of the English travel allowance, the situation has completely changed, and it looks as if we shall have to cancel the idea. My cousin has at last been able to sell my villa at Mentone (he was living in half of it, it is a very large place), and I am now thinking of buying a delightful small villa at Villefranche, lower down the coast. I want eventually to settle in France, but I must keep a foot in England so long as Miss Florence is alive. She is in excellent physical health for her age, but her mental powers decline steadily. The doctor says it is a clear case of senile decay. It is terribly sad, as intelligent conversation with her is no longer possible. She is quite aware of her surroundings, and talks sensibly enough about the material things of everyday life, but when her imagination comes into play, she is muddled and confused, and it is difficult sometimes to understand what on earth she is talking about! But she is active and lively, and well cared for. I think she is likely to continue like this for some time, gradually declining mentally. So long as she is happy (and generally she seems so) we must take things as they come. I am always ready to fly back at a moment's notice if anything happens to her.
I have not seen or heard of Kendrick Hart since I left Ampthill. I always liked him very much. I expect the Mission is over now.
With very kind remembrances,
Your sincerely"
Level of description
item