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This blog makes liberal use of AB's journals, letters, travel notes, and other sources.


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Wednesday 2 April 2014

Theatre talk

Saturday, April 2nd., Cadogan Square, London.

I had the idea of going up to Poland Street, and buying a ring for Dorothy. I bought three rings, two for her and one for myself, for which I paid cash. I had a chat with old Calipe. This shop does not seem to change. The two are still there with the old man, cheerful and spry and good natured.

Calipe, Dettmer & Co. were a jewellers supply store at 21 Poland Street London.

I went out to join Dorothy at Jeanne de Casalis's home. There was a man named Sir Something H. there and Malcolm Keen. He was wrong and precise about everything. Practically the whole evening was spent in discussing how to start a decent theatrical enterprise. When I looked at my watch it was 11.30. We reached home at 12.5. Jeanne has some sense. K. Has some sense. Perhaps Dorothy had more than either of them. I was sardonic and realistic.


Jeanne De Casalis (1897-1966) was born in Basutoland, South Africa as De Casalis de Pury. She was an actress and writer, known for Jamaica Inn (1939), Cottage to Let(1941) and The Five Feathers (1941). She was married to Cowan Douglas Stephenson and Colin Clive. A thin, eccentric character actress with music hall experience, she was famous for creating the character of gossipy Mrs. Feather on radio, possibly originating the comic telephone sketch in which the audience is privy to only one side of the conversation.



Additionally for April 2nd., see 'Into Italy'

We found the Rhone Valley less tedious than we had expected, and the Simplon shorter, and the Customs quite harmless. It was very hot as soon as we got fairly into Italy, really hot. The views of the Italian lakes came up to our hopes. The Hotel Bellini is a good Hotel de Passage, dominated by Germans, not agreeable fellow-travellers and it's no use pretending they are. There was also a school of jeune filles in the hotel, chiefly Germans seeing cities during the Easter holidays. Their laughter heard occasionally from the interior of bedrooms was very agreeable. The hotel was full, and remained full.

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