Letter from Sir George Henschel - 17 September 1917

Letter from Sir George Henschel, dated 17 September 1917, reporting the enthusiastic reaction of a friend to de László's portrait
(045-0014)

Sep 17th 1917
Allt-na-criche,
Aviemore,
Scotland.

My dear László
I wonder if you have returned home and hope you have had a most enjoyable holiday and are all the better for the rest and change, you and all your dear ones. We expect to return about the end of October to our little flat and trust we shall have the great pleasure of seeing you and your dear wife there often.
My friend, Dr Jane Rothenburgh of Glasgow has just been in London and seen my daughter Mrs. Claughton with whom I

 

left my portrait during my absence from town, as at the present state of railway-traffic, I did not dare entrusting it to any R[ailwa]y Co[mpany].
My friend writes
"your portrait is simply marvellous. Never never have I seen a more wonderful, striking likeness or a more artistic treatment ...."
Well - it is only what every one says and I can hardly wait to have it at our flat again.
I should have loved to have it here, but on enquiry found I could not have taken it as passenger luggage

and, as said, it seemed to me too risky to send it by freight and then again by freight back to town. My daughter (whom by the way you must meet this winter, she is a wonderful musician & singer) loves to have it for the few months and her little son, when the portrait was hung on the wall, stretched out his little hands and exclaimed "Dahly Gannerba" - if you can translate this.
So Au revoir, dear Friend. Do let me have a line to say all's well with you.
Ever yours
George Henschel

Disclaimer