Cecil Sharp Diary 1915

I greeted the New Year in bed being unable to sleep for the pandemonium in the streets. All New York seemed to be blowing tin horns, letting off explosives, rattling etc. Took a rehearsal at 10 at Bryant Hall and got rather tied up with last stanza of Roses!1 They are a gawky lot! Lunched with [Harley Granville] Barker & his wife at my Hotel. Then to Gramercy Park to arrange about room whither I am to move (The Arts Club) on Monday. Had tea with Miss Mira Hall at Manhattan Hotel.

1: Sharp arranged the music and dances for Harley Granville Barker’s 1914 London production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and followed it to New York. Material in the Sharp Miscellaneous Collection identifies ‘Roses’ as a song beginning ‘Roses their sharp spines’. There is no such song in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and it appears to have brought it in from The Two Noble Kinsmen, Act I Scene 1.

Settled up at Algonquin Hotel & left my luggage to be sent to Arts Club. Rehearsal at 10 a.m. Chucked[?] Mrs & Miss Friedmann as hopeless. Trained in grand style from Grand Central Station to Boston where Mrs Gibbs & a secretary met me and we motored to Lincoln. Mr & Mrs Storrow gave me a warm welcome. Lovely house — Gorgeous suite of rooms — usual bath room, etc, with sitting room & bedroom en suite. Very comfortable. Nice dinner & talk and then to bed. A little asthma for first time since I landed in this country. Slept well however.

Breakfast at 9.30! After a smoke had a long talk with Mrs S[torrow]. I like her very much indeed. We do not see eye to eye about dances because she is primarily interested in physical education rather than in dancing for its own sake. She has promised to get me some lectures here beginning on Feb[ruary] 1st. Will reserve that week for Boston. We then went out in the snow — very cold but bright - & toboganned. I had one smash but no harm resulted. Met Miss Curtis in the afternoon & talked with her & Miss Gibbs over dancing. A jolly evening and am now in my room preparing for bed — 10.30. Weather very cold but exhilarating. Promises to be colder tomorrow.

Slept very badly. Motored through Cambridge — saw something of Harvard — into Boston and caught the 10 — 3.10 train back to N[ew] Y[ork]. Travelling in this country is not a journey so much as a ceremonial — at least on these very grand trains! Rehearsed 4.15-6.45. Then dined with Barkers & welcomed N[orman] Wilkinson just arrived from England. Went to bed at 1 a.m. but again slept very badly. Am getting a little anxious lest I may not be able to stand this exciting climate.

Scarcely slept at all last night but have done a very hard day’s work notwithstanding. Perhaps it was partly the strange room. Rehearsed from 10-1 then again 2.30-4.45. Beginning to go rather better but still rather rough. Got letters from home — three from Maudie and one from little Joan. Dined at Players Club with Barker & Wilkinson as the guests of Austin Strong and Christian Brinton — two extremely interesting men. We began at 6.30 & separated at 9.15 — a christian hour which will enable me to get to bed a bit earlier to-night. Cabled Lindo — What boat did Mattie [Kay] sail by?1 Not having heard I want to make sure that she has started.

1: Mattie Kay. By 1915 she had married and was Mrs Lindo, but Sharp went on referring to her as ‘M.K.’

Rehearsals 10 and 2. Had tea with Mrs Norman Hapgood where I met a crowd. Dined with the Grays. Got off my English mail.

Rehersals 10 & 2. Arranged dance & song for Dumb Wife1 in late afternoon. Dined with Burchenals.

1: Adaptation of Anatole France’s Comedy of a Man who Married a Dumb Wife by Ashley Dukes (1885-1959), an associate of Harley Granville Barker.

Rehearsals 10 & 2. Lunched at Cockatoo. Tea’d with Gray. Dined with Barkers at their new abode. A very small affair. Mrs Cewarth[?], Miss Frevent, Mrs Hapgood, N[orman] Wilkinson men etc. Played & sang Chanteys to a very nice Steinway p[iano] f[orte]. Home very late about 2 a.m. Slept not at all!

Rehearsal at Bryant Hall till 12.15. Then to Wallack’s to teach final dance of Dumb Wife.1 Went rather well. Lunched with Barker — spent afternoon with Wilkinson tea’d with him at Delmonicos. Then in search of doctor for growth on my eye. Made ap[pointment] for 11 tomorrow, Dr Fox. Walked to the Adams’s to leave photographs. Dined by myself at Player’s Club at 9 p.m. Wrote letters, had hot bath & went to bed at 11.30.

1: Wallack’s Theatre (now Studio 54) on West 42nd Street. Bryant’s was also on 42nd Street. Apparently, it subsequently became a cinema.

Slept very well. Breakfast 10.30. Doctor looked at my eye & said he would do the necessary small operation at 1. Wrote letters till then. Op[eration] quite easy & successful. Lunched at Players with W[ilkinson. Called at Burchenals & Squires and dined at Players with W. Talked with him in my room till 1 a.m.

Slept fairly well. Packed up & went to rehearsal till 1 lunched at Algonquin after calling on Gray & Wick. Rehearsed till 4 then went to Arts Club & Taxi’d back with my luggage to Algonquin where I unpacked my things & rested till 7. Dinner and rehearsal at Wallacks till 10.30. Had drinks with Mrs B[arker] and Heggie at Hotel hard by & walked back to hotel.

A miserable wet day — rained heavily without ceasing & is still doing so — 11.45 p.m. First bought another umbrella — this time for one dollar! Then rehearsed band at Bryant Hall afterwards lunching with [Alleyne] Ireland. From there I went to 56 Dock N. R. to meet Mattie [Kay]. After a long weary wait and dilatory customs I go back to Hotel at 5.30. A hasty tea & then into dress clothes to go to the Hectors to dinner & afterwards to the Kneisel Quartet. Back to Hotel to find several letters & 2 telephone calls which have answered as well as I can & so to bed!

Rehearsal at B[ryant] Hall in morning. Then to Public Library to consult F. S. Journal [Journal of the Folk Song Society] re Street Cries. Wrote out 2 for Dumb Wife and arranged Drinking Song to "The Beggar". Practised these at rehearsal at Wallacks in the afternoon. Dined at Players Club with Gray to meet [Richard] Aldrich mus[ic] critic of N[ew] Y[ork] Times, & attended rehearsal at Wallacks afterwards. To bed at 1 a.m.

Arranged about repairing of lantern slides & operator for Colony Club lecture. Went and saw rooms at Club & arranged details with Miss Taft the Sec[retary]. Rehearsed at B[ryant] H[all] at 3.30 and at Wallacks from 6.30 — 11 p.m. Lunched with Gray at Delmonicos to meet [Henry] Krehbeil, the [New York Herald] Tribune critic.

Mrs Stanton of Armscote called in the morning and had a long talk with me. She is en route for Valparaiso to see her son married. I chose Steinway p[iano] f[orte] for my Sunday lecture during the morning, had a rehearsal of dancers in the afternoon and one of the Dumb wife at Wallacks in the evening from 7-12, supping with the Barkers at Holland House afterwards and getting back to the hotel at 1.15 a.m.

Long interview with Jean Wick in the morning. Took C[ountry] D[ance] class at Miss Gillman’s studio 12.30-1.30 and taught Peascods & Hey Boys. Mr N[orman] Wilkinson & I went to the Victograph show in the evening — great sport!

Inspected room at Colony Club in the morning. Gray came to lunch & took me to Krehbeil’s lecture on Negro Folk Song (!!!) at the Negro Settlement afterwards. Dined at Hotel and lectured at Colony Club in the evening to rather a stodgy social crowd.

Dr C. Ward Crampton, Director of Physical Education of N[ew] Y[ork] lunched with me and came afterwards & saw my dancers do the Mound Dance1 at 3.30 rehearsal. Afterwards dined with Barkers and rehearsed at Wallacks till 11.45 p.m.

1: The ‘Mound Dance’ in Barker’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was around an actual mound erected on stage and was probably performed to the song beginning ‘You spotted snakes’ in Act II Scene 2.

Long letter from Mrs Storrow about Boston prospects which do not appear over rosy. Had a long interview with Miss Wick after which I answered the letter. Walked down Town with W[ilkinson] in the aft[ernoon]. Settled up at Players Club & Arts Club, called on Miss Frevent. Long rehearsal in evening at Wallacks.

Late breakfast after a bad night. Lunched at Astor at Ely’s invitation (friend of Scott Keltie’s) meeting all the English Lions over here, Cecil Chesterton etc.1 Rehearsal in the afternoon. After dinner to Dr. Crampton where I meet Miss O’Keefe, Mme Beiderhaze & Prof[essor] Denison Wood of Columbia.

1: ‘English Lions’ may be a disparaging reference to the journalists and literary men recruited to present the British case during the First World War.

First long rehearsal at Wallacks of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream]. Dancers acquitted themselves quite well all things considered. Cecil Forsyth lunched with me. I then went to Public Library to look up some French tunes. Then to rehearsal at 6 of Dumb wife. Afterwards to Movies[?] at Strand with Wilkinson & so to bed.

Another 4 hour rehearsal in the morning at Wallacks where I heard the good news of the arrival of our scenery. Lunched with Jean Wick and Miss Beegle at Restaurant Wolcot in 31st St[reet]. Then have to score a trumpet call for D[umb] Wife. Then to Wallacks for a rehearsal of trumpets for Androcles1 & D wife and to Knickerbocker Theatre for rehearsal of D wife. Wrote home letters in the evening.

1: Androcles and the Lion. Play (1912) by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950). Granville Barker produced the first London performance.

Rehearsed Tongs & Bones & Bergomask1 at Bryant Hall at 10. Took C[ountry] D[ance] class at Miss Gilman’s at 12.30, teaching Newcastle & going over two earlier dances, Peascods and Hey Boys. Gray lunched with me & the 2 Misses Burchenal joined us at tea. Finished 2 trumpet calls for Dumb Wife & went to Dress Rehearsal of the same at 7 p.m. at Wallacks. Left theatre about 11.30.

1: ‘Tongs and Bones’, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act IV, Scene I; Bergomask, Act V, Scene 1.

To theatre after lunch & a walk with Wilkinson to see Pennsylvania Station. Tea with Miss Caroline Duer who gave me 3 Irish Tunes. After dinner went to Barkers till 12.15 discussing music of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream].

Rehearsal of Bergomask & Tongs & Bones at Bryant Hall. Rehearsal at Wallacks from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Lunched with Whiting & Rogers at Century Club. Miss Jean Wick to tea at Algonquin. 1st night of Androcles & Dumb Wife to Stage Soc[iety] at Wallacks. Went quite well. Entertained Feakins & Noyes at Algonquin after theatre.

1st night of Dumb Wife and Androcles at Wallacks — went well but Common[?] & Klein between them botched last dance. Supped with Barker afterwards at his place Mr & Mrs Huntington being there. My first public lecture on Folk Song at Plaza at 4. Went very nicely. Good audience but not a paying one.

Rehearsal at Lyric Theatre till 2.30. Had a quiet evening after entertaining Miss Wick at tea. Got to bed at 11.30 the first night this week before 2.

Rehearsal at Lyric again. Lunched with Barker & Mrs [Barker] at Knickerbocker Hotel. Discussed situation re Klein whom we decided to dismiss. Interview Carrothers[?] the President of the Music Union & found it impossible to appoint C[ecil] Forsyth or anyone not a member of the Union. Dined with Prof[essor] Farnsworth at Columbia. Returned home in time to finish mail letters by 11. So early to bed a second night!

Rehearsed children at Wallacks in the Foyer. Awful sticks! Took my 3rd class at Miss Gilman’s studio. Taught Lady Cullen & Bo Peep after revising Newcastle, Hey Boys & Peascods. Lunched Gray at Algonquin. Went to Steinway’s re harpsichord and entertained Jean Wick to tea. Dined at Hotel with Norman W[ilkinson]. Very cold, about 14 degrees of frost.

Wrote rounds & Trumpet calls all morning & aft[ernoon] till 4, when Hamilton my new conductor arrived to go thro’ M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] score with me. Then to theatre to see Rains & Norman [Wilkinson]. Back to dress for dinner & then to lecture on American Indian Art & folk song by Miss Natalie Curtis. Very cold & much snow. Later a thaw.

Warmer. Streets in a very bad state from the thaw. Rehearsed at Wallacks from 10—3.30. Had tea with Mr Winthrop to arrange about the meeting on the 10th. Then to dinner with Burchenal & rehearsed 4 dances with her, Miss Jervis & Dr Rayboult & Mr Burchenal.

Rehearsed at Knickerbocker & Bryant Hall till 3.45. Then Lunched, saw Miss Wick. Entertained to tea at Hotel Miss Beiderhaze, Miss Wick, Mr & Mrs Squires & Mattie [Kay]. Wrote letters & Trumpet parts till 11 p.m. & so to bed.

Orchestral rehearsal of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] at Wallacks. New Trumpet calls sounded very well. Took rehearsal of children at Bryant Hall in the afternoon. Dined with Miss Beegle & friends at Columbia and taught 3 dances Hey Boys, Parsons & Mage.

Dress Rehearsal at Wallacks from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. when Barker decided very rightly to postpone production [of A Midsummer Night’s Dream] a week, i.e. till Sunday the 14th Inst. Went to Burchenals in evening to take a C[ountry] D[ance] Practice for my lecture on Saturday. Called on Miss Wick in the evening about engagements now that Boston week is upset. Gave Demonstration Class & lecture at Columbia in the afternoon at 5 p.m. A very full day.

Rehearsal at Wallacks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the last act of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream]. Dined with Norman Wilkinson & wrote mail letters home till bed time.

A very heavy day. Wake up with a nasty sore throat. Rehearsal at Bryant Hall of dancers. Miss Wadsworth[?] objected to being moved from first place & retired — Miss Sayers taking her place in the dance. Took a large class of Anderson Club at Savage Gymnasium at 1.30-2.45, teaching them Sellengers Round, Mage & Rufty. Lecture on folk dance at Plaza a great success. Lectured, played Morris Tunes, the pipe & tabor, showed lantern slides & danced four C[ountry] dances, Merry Conceit being encored! Went to Cosmopolitan Club in the evening to hear the Kneisel Quartet. Talked with Maitland the singer.

Wrote letters & went through my papers in morning. Lunched withMr & Mrs Fuller of Boston (he lectured last summer at S[tratford] on A[von]).1 Coached Miss Sayers at Algonquin & gave her and her aunt tea. Called on Squires & his wife, dined here with M[attie] K[ay] & N[orman] W[ilkinson] & went to bed early! Very tired, but throat a bit better.

1: A folk dance festival and summer school was held at Stratford- upon-Avon from 1909 to 1918. Sharp was its Director from 1911.

Last rehearsal at Wallacks of Mound scene of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream]. Went only fairly well. Had a long interview with Miss Wick in Mattie’s room and ended with a furious row. Dined with Gardner of the Columbia Gramophone Co[mpany] at the Wolcot. He came back here and we all 3 smoked in M[attie] K[ay’s] room.

Dress Rehearsal from 10 to 4. Very bad indeed. Called on Dr Crampton after dinner and got his promise of support to my lectures.

Wrote Miss Mira Hall re date of lecture. Also Dr C. Ward Crampton about classes. Rehearsal of music & dances at Wallacks (Cloak Room) 10.30-12.30. Lunched with Mrs Storrow and settled Boston dates Feb[ruary] 20-27. Dined with Dr. Gulick & met Camp Fire Girls (Wohelo)1. A curious & sentimental experience.

1: The name of the Camp Fire Girls’ annual camp.

Most disastrous final dress rehearsal at Wallacks. All dances went awry. Orchestra with 3 deputies hopelessly bad. Very depressed because now cannot possibly stave off disaster! Dined with Mr, Mrs & Miss Russell King (Birmingham) at Wellington Hotel.

Saw Barker at breakfast walked with him to the theatre. He seems fairly happy about M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream]!! Lunched with Gray & Kennedy. Miss Burchenal tea’d with me & we discussed course-classes. Went to see "Boris"1 at the Metro[politan] Opera sitting in Barker’s box. Afterwards to Wallacks and to supper at the Algonquin, going to bed at 2 a.m.

1: Boris Godunov, opera (first produced 1874) by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881).

Discussed course of f[olk] d[ance] lessons with Dr Crampton in the evening & with Miss Burchenal at tea in the afternoon.

Wrote letters in the morning. Lunched with the Huntingtons where I met a so-called f[olk] s[ong] expert in Mr Daynley. Rehearsed dances at 6 p.m. at Wallacks prior to first performance of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] to Stage Soc[iety]. It went surprisingly well considering all things.

Had interview with Miss Beiderhaze at Ed[ucation] Office re classes. Called on MacDonald about Victrola records & had long discussion with him. Wrote to Mrs Callery re Pittsburgh. Entertained Dr Farnsworth to dinner & discussed folk song book with him.

Attended private performance of Isadora Duncan & her pupils at her studio. Lunched with Mrs Aldrich. Rehearsed dance at Wallacks in order to practice Banks who had at the last moment to sub[stitute] for Arlington. First public performance of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] went off quite well. Supped solus at Algonquin.

Interviewed Gardner & Woolworth building re Columbia records, Lunched with Whiting & Forsyth at Century Club, had a talk with Miss Beegle about meeting on following day at Teachers College, had tea with Isadora Duncan, dined with Burchenals and went through our dances, interviewed Baroness Rosenthal at Hotel & supped with the Wribourgs[?] at 11 East 45th [Street] retiring to bed at 2 a.m.

Lunched with Mrs Otto Kahn. Spoke at Gen[eral] meeting at Mr Speyer’s of N[ew] Y[ork] Athletic League, took a demonstration class at Stuyvesant Gym at 8. Saw last part of M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] at theatre — it went very well — and then home to pack. A very busy & tiring day.

Finished packing, rising soon after 7 a.m. Interviewed Miss Burchenal & Miss Beiderhaze at 157 East 67th St[reet] and settled up my course of lessons. Called for mended glasses at Meyrowitz, arranged room for classes at Bryant Hall, settled up at Hotel & railed to Boston by the 1 p.m. train. Quiet evening with M[attie] K[ay] & Mrs Storrow and to bed at 11 p.m.

Perfect weather at Lincoln. Sat out on rugs in the morning and coached dancers in the afternoon for the evening lecture. Lecture went quite well in Lincoln Town Hall to a small but nice audience. We did Hey Boys, Merry Conceit, Rufty Tufty & Black Nag, I joining in the latter.

Another perfect day spent for the most part in the open air. In the morning we lay about on rugs on the lawn without overcoats. In the afternoon I walked 4 or 5 miles with Mrs Storrow. In the evening after dinner she showed my slides and several of her own of the western states in her lantern.

Weather still lovely — not a cloud — perpetual sunshine and quite warm although snow is still on the ground in shady places. Mrs Gibbs etc came in the morning and I taught several hours in the morning & afternoon amongst other dances If all the World were paper, Confess, Chelsea Reach, Newcastle, and the usual fours. Very tired but got through some good work. Answered Mrs Callery’s letter by telegram & letter. Heard from Constance & Maud, their letters dated Feb[ruary] 11th (came by the Lusitania).

Quiet morning in nice warm weather inclined to rain. At 2 p.m. motored to Milton where I lectured at the School — rather a feeble affair. Had a talk afterwards with Miss Windsor the head of a fashionable girls’ school in neighbourhood. Motored on to Boston me to Union Club, Park St[reet] & M[attie] K[ay]. & Mrs Storrow to City Club 40 Beacon St[reet]. I dined alone at club & spent a quiet evening.

Went round to Mrs S[torrow] in the morning. Saw something of Boston — much more like England, Georgian architecture, macadamized irregular streets etc. Lunched with Mrs S then motored to Folk Dance Hall Baylston St[reet] & took class of teachers. Then to a house in Beacon Street to lecture to Municipal league (women) on dances. Had a large audience 2 or 3 hundred although in a drawing room and did fairly well, M[attie] K[ay] singing a few songs. Dined & City club then back to my club rather early.

A very full day. Had interview with W[illiam] A. Fisher of Oliver Ditson Co[mpany] the music people who offered me £100 to do a vol[ume] of folk- songs.1 Am to consider matter, talk over things with Gray and see them on my return here on the 18th. Lunched with Prof[essor] Baker at Harvard Univ[ersity] Club (Mass[achusets] Ave[nue]) then to F[olk] Dance room to lecture on Folk Dance with dance illustrations Hey Boys, Rufty, Merry Conceit, Bl[ack] Nag & Old Mole dancing myself in last 3. Then a teachers class from 7-8.30 and a large general class from 8.30 till 10. Very tired when all over.

1: Published as One Hundred English Folk-Songs (Oliver Ditson, Boston), in 1916.

Bought new [….?[ Trunk at Worship[?] and some shirts. Interviewed Mr Marney[?] & Mr Hiler about lecture at Harvard Univ[ersity] Club on 19th — 50 or 75 dollars, folk song. Lunched with Mr Jack Gardner & Mrs Storrow at Chiltern Club, went to orthopaedic bootshop with Mrs Storrow & changed cheque at her husband’s office. Wrote letters, packed, dined at Club & then took classes as last night, from 7-10.30. Very tired. Weather very cold, freezing hard, cold wind.

Left Boston by 10 train and got back to New York at 3.10. Met N[orman] Wilkinson at Hotel & walked with him to the theatre. Had a talk with Rains etc and returned to tea at Hotel. Afterwards stayed at home writing letters & going to bed early feeling rather done up.

Wrote mail letters all the morning. Lunched with the Dyneley Princes. Tea’d with the Burchenals meeting Dr Tait McKenzie & Mr Shaw who will phone me about lunch later on. Barker Dinner at Sherry’s at 8 p.m. H[arley] G[ranville] B[arker] spoke splendidly. I sat between W. J. Henderson Critic of the Sun & W. Lamont , sec[retary] of P[ierpoint] Morgan & one of my hosts — a very nice fellow. Henderson not particularly interesting but a good critic.

Left N[ew] Y[ork] by 8.50 train for Pittsfield. Miss Mira Hall met me there on my arrival at 1.30 and took me to the Wendell Hotel wh[ere] I lunched, afterwards going up to her school with M[attie] K[ay]. I taught them Gath[ering] Peascods & Rufty Tufty in the aft[ernoon] after tea, Mr Buelom their music teacher accompanying. Lectured in the evening at 8 without slides. To bed at hotel — a very bad one! — rather late. Very cold . Country under snow.

Packed, arranged about luggage & then went up to school, where I had another 2-h[our] class teaching Mage and Black Nag. Very intelligent girls & some quite good dancers — taught 12 of them, the rest of the school looking on. Then caught 2.35 through train to Pittsburgh. Went through Albany & Buffalo. Still very cold. Miss Hall very attentive & very kind to us in every way. Miss Shedden is her gym mistress & is to go on teaching the dances.

Arrived Pittsburgh at 7.30, met by motor and taken to University Club where I washed, shaved, breakfasted & then motored to Mrs Callery where I taught Hey Boys & Rufty to 3 dancers for my lecture. Then to Miss Shearer’s school to teach children. Lunched with Mr Geoghan (an Ass[istant] Prof[essor]) at this Club & Mrs Callery, lectured at 3 p.m. on folk dance. Dined here and took classes in the evening at Mrs Callery’s.

Classes at Mrs Callery’s 12-1.45 and 3-5.30, lunching with Mr Rose[?] a pseudo Shakespearian Actor at Mrs Callery. Then back here for a short rest, to dress & dine and so to Carnegie Hall to lecture on folk song at 8.15. Went quite well. Showed lantern slides — a large audience.

Heard Miss Shearer’s children sing Mowing the Barley & Blow away [the Morning Dew] & then taught them Mage on a Cree & Sheepskins. All this at 11 a.m. Then to Mrs Callery’s at 12 teaching to 1-45, and from 2.30 to 5.15. Had tea, returned to Club to dress & attend big dinner function at Mrs Callery’s. Met some very interesting people particularly Miss Chalfont and Dr Arbuthnot. Motored home in deep snow at 11.30, packed for tomorrow’s journey & so to bed. Wrote 7 letters in the morning.

To Mrs Callery’s at 11. Taught till 1.30. Had lunch & a long talk about Kindergarten music with Miss Parker. Then taught till 5.30, had tea & went back to Club to finish packing & to have dinner. Then to Carnegie Institute to take Flamborough Sword Dance for Miss Stoner’s young men and to direct a general C[ountry] Dance. I motored back with Mr & Mrs Callery to have a drink & then motored to the station to catch the 11.20 back to New York.

Arrived at Pennsylvania Station at 9.30, rather tired although I slept fairly well. Glad to get a wash at Hotel & some breakfast & glad to settle in my old room 303. Lunched with Norman Wilkinson, slept on my bed for an hour & then called on the Burchenals to discuss business & afterwards the Squires where I met Mattie [Kay]. Returned with her to Hotel & spend quiet evening by myself going to bed at 10.30.

Taught at class. Sellenger’s Round, Peascods Rufty Tufty and If all the world. Arranged about rooms at Bryant Hall. Called on Gray & Co & saw Trench about ordering further copies of C[ountry] D[ance] books etc. Then to theatre to see Rains & Barker. Talking with latter I arranged to meet him tomorrow night after my class. Back to Hotel to lunch then to Columbia to take class for Miss Beegle. Had tea with Mrs Storrow at Belmont Hotel & discussed meeting on 23rd. To hotel to dinner & then to take class at Bryant Hall. Had 32 in class! Very good business! Home to do accounts & go to bed. Midnight.

Went by 11 train to Sing Sing Prison with Mrs Storrow whose brother Mr Osborne is the Governor. We lunched there and were afterwards shown round by a member of the Reception Com[mittee] — an ex-tram conductor! All profoundly interesting. Returned at 5-10, leaving Mrs S[torrow] behind. Dined withMiss Wood Hinman at Delmonico’s. Then at 8 p.m. took dance class before Athletic League, teaching Sellenger, Rufty, Lady in the Dark & Sheepskins. Then home to dress & to Barker’s to supper, meeting Lady Duff Gordon ("Lucille"), Dobson, Williams, Wibourg[?] etc. Home at 2 a.m. after long talk with H[arley] G[ranville] B[arker].

Wrestled with accounts of my classes and having finished them walked to the bank and deposited cheques etc to the value of $398!! a goodly haul. Then got my hair cut & wrote letters till lunch which I did with Norman W[ilkinson]. Slept till 4 when I tea’d with N. W. & M[attie] K[ay]. Went out to see about Bryant Hall and buy some collars. Came home & wrote to Constance & Dor[othea Sharp] till dinner at 6.30. Then to Class where I taught Mage, Hey Boys & Row Well, going through If all the World. Mrs Storrow came back to Algonquin & had a drink with me. Goes to Boston tomorrow.

Took my second class at Teachers College at 11 a.m. teaching The Old Mole & Newcastle. Lunched with N[orman] W[ilkinson] — went up to Burchenal’s to rehearse dances for Philadelphia, stayed to dinner taught Lady in the Dark & Hunsdon House afterwards & returned home with Rabold who had supper with me at Hotel.

Lectured at Ethical Culture School at 10.30. Ordered new suit of clothes at Whittakers in 5 Avenue. Took 3rd class at Columbia at 2 p.m. teaching Confess & part of Fl[oral?] dance. Had a meeting with Barker at 5 & arranged with Miss Hinman to go to Chicago after Easter for a week from A[pril] 3rd. Took 3rd Course class at Bryant Hall in evening teaching Newcastle, Old Mole and Butterfly.

Left by 10 train for Philadelphia where I met Tait McKenzie, saw the Hall & something of the City & lunched at Lincoln’s Head Club meeting Gummere of Haverford and several very interesting men. Lectured in the evening at Hareton[?] Hall to an overflowing audience on f[olk] dance our usual quartet performing Hey, Conceit, Rufty Lady in the Dark, Hunsdon and Parsons ]. Returned with Rabold by 10.30 train arriving at Hotel at 1 a.m. Read many mail letters from England & to bed at 2.30 a.m.

Wrote letters all morning having breakfast at 11 a.m!! Lunched with N[orman] W[ilkinson]. Slept till 4. Called on Mrs Huntington & had tea with her. More letters, dined & N. W. & went to bed fairly early.

Tried on my clothes at Whittakers at 9 a.m. Shopped in the morning & wrote letters, & tried slides at Kindergarten Ass[ociation]. Took class at Columbia at 3, and at Bryant Hall at 8, teaching at the latter Nonesuch & Merry Conceit. Settled up accounts with M[attie] K[ay] who is going home on Wednesday.

Had long interview with Mr Clark about gramophone business at 10 a.m., then another with Gardner of the Columbia gramophone Co[mpany]. G[ardner] promised to advise London house. I quoted 25 dollars as price per record. Lunched late, dressed and went to Kindergarten Ass[ociation] where I lectured. Returned here with Miss Burchenal to tea. Dr Farnsworth came to dinner and we settled songs of song book. To bed at 11.30.

Tried on new suit at 9 a.m. Said good bye to M[attie] K[ay] whom I shall not see I expect before beginning of next year. Then take class at Columbia at 11 teaching Merry Conceit & going over Newcastle & Confess. Then back home to make out list of Gramophone dances & to get music together for the Victor people. After that finished off letters & packed ready for tomorrow. Class at B[ryant] Hall in the evening at 8. Taught Confess & Chelsea Reach — a very successful class.

Gray called to discuss Ditson offer at 9 and I caught 10 train to Boston. Mrs S[torrow] met me & motored me to Union Club. I dined with her at City Club and held classes from 7-10.30. Then went to Harvard Club with Baker & had drinks, home at 12 to bed. Weather very cold but bright. In the afternoon I called on Jenkins only to find him out. Also Ditson’s to see Fisher. Discussed proposal in all its bearings & decided to have a meeting with Gray at the latter’s office on Wed[nesday] next.

Took Mrs Gibbs & Miss Bolles in Pr[incess] Royal at 11. Lunched at Miss Ware’s to meet various people, Baker etc to discuss E[nglish[ F[olk] D[ance] S[ociety] Branch & summer school. This till 4.15. Then to Miss Rogers to try songs but too late so made app[ointment] for tomorrow morning. Classes again 7-10.30 — walked home. Wake up with a slight cold and sore throat.

Throat very rough, voice very hoarse. Walked to Copley Square to Miss Rogers at 9.30 — she not turning up till 10.15! in regular American fashion. Then to F[olk] D[ance] rooms to do exam[inations] for certificates. Lunched at City Club & lectured after. Then taxi’d to [Charles] Peabody 197 Brattle St[reet] Cambridge to coach Baker & co in the Kirkby Malzeard S[word] dance. Peabody motored me back to Club at 6 — very cold drive indeed. Packed & dined at 7.30 & lectured before Harvard Mus[ical] Ass[ociation] at 8.30. Great success. Afterwards motored to Lincoln arriving at midnight.

Sunday 21 March 1915 Lincoln Got up at 9 a.m. Cold much the same. A grey day with coldish East Wind. Decided not to return to N[ew] Y[ork] till tomorrow morning 10 train with Mrs Storrow. Had a long conversation with the latter in the morning. Lunch at 2. Sword Dance with Harvard boys in afternoon (Kirkby [Malzeard]). Mr & Mrs Surrette of Concord called. Promised to send pamphlets etc. Sword dance again after dinner. Saw 1-step dancing — a terrible [….?] ordeal!

Left Lincoln by motor at 8. Called at club for trunk & travelled by 10 train with Mrs Storrow to N[ew] Y[ork]. Took Columbia Class at 4 and the last of my course at Bryant Hall at 8-10. Mrs Storrow & Miss Sandiford came back with me to the hotel for dinner — to bed fairly early. Cold rather better but throat rather sore. Several letters from home.

Had a nasty letter from Gram[ophone] C[ompany] practically refusing contract. Called on MacDonald only to find him out. Had a long interview with Gray about books. Attended afternoon meeting at Colony Club to settle scheme of evening meeting. Dined with Norman [Wilkinson] at Colony Club at Mrs Storrow’s invitation meeting the Callery’s. Meeting to form Branch [of the English Folk Dance Society] very successful — no nastiness at all. Saw Mrs Storrow & Miss Sandiford off by midnight mail. Shall I see her again? Great talk about Summer School this June. Will it come off?

Had long talk with MacDonald about Gramophone affair. Result hopeful. I have undertaken to see records done on my return from Chicago on the Th[ursday] & Fr[iday] & possibly Monday after. Might catch boat on the Wednesday following. Then to Ames about engrossing certificates only to find they have sent wrong forms from England. Dined with Callery’s at Beltmore Hotel, they & Mr & Mrs Blair came on to Bryant Hall to Dance class & had drinks with me after at Algonquin. Send Cable home You have sent Folk Dance certificates I want C[ountry] D[ance] forms forward 30 of the latter immediately.

Gave Mrs Fuller of Brooklyn a lesson at 11.30. Had an interview with Mr MacDonald & Mr Child at Victor office & arranged about records to be made on return from Chicago. Saw [Harley Granville] Barker & arranged to meet at Breakfast tomorrow. Took last class at Bryant Hall & gave 9 certificates. Miss Beegle & the 2 Burchenals had drinks with me at Algonquin.

Breakfasted with Barker at 10 a.m. & discussed Greek Play music & movements & his general plans.1 Called on Mrs Callery at The Beltmore about programme next week, had a hasty lunch & went to Columbia to teach sword dance. Home to tea etc wrote letters, mainly to Maud about Summer School etc, & went to first night of Doctor’s Dilemma.1

1: The Doctor’s Dilemma. Play (1906) by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) produced by Granville Barker.

Rabold came at 11.15 to discuss things & arrange about rehearsal for Monday. Called at Wallacks for Barker who introduces me to Smith of Yale who is writing music for Greek Play. We 3 attended University lunch at University Club. Then to M[idsummer] N[ight’s] D[ream] with Smith for second part — mound dance went splendidly — then back to tea with him with Barker for further consultation. Rehearsal at Miss Gilman’s at 5.30 & to Watch your Step Revue1 at Amsterdam Theatre with Norman [Wilkinson] in the evening.

1: Ragtime revue (1914) by Irving Berlin.

Got up rather late. Wrote many letters in the morning. Gray came to lunch with me to discuss business — Farnsworth’s book, dance-books etc. Rehearsed and tea’d at Burchenals. Went on to the Squires & had another tea. Dined at Hotel with N[orman] W[ilkinson]. Afterwards sent off Cable home stating when I return by Adriatic.1 Wrote to Peggy [Kettlewell], Colin Campbell etc & went to bed at 11.30.

1: RMS Adriatic, White Star liner on the transatlantic run.

Began packing after breakfast. Then to Gray’s to further discuss business. Read Ditson’s letter to him. Then to bank where I made arrangements to send £100 home to Constance. Back to Hotel to send off Trunk and to have lunch etc. Quiet afternoon making arrangements for departure. Dined with N[orman] W[ilkinson] & lectured at Columbia — went very well indeed. Danced 6 dances & showed slides. Mr Cherry(?) saw me off at P[ennsylvania] Station by the 11.30.

Arrived Pittsburgh at 9.30, motored to the Callery’s and began classes at 10.30-1.30, 2.30-5. In the evening inspected Miss Shearer’s f[olk] song class and spoke to them, home again & to bed fairly early.

A long day’s teaching, 10-1.30 2.30-5.30, then motored round Pittsburgh with Mr Callery. In the evening took special class in singing games for 1_ hours.

Another hard day’s teaching, much the same as yesterday except that there was no time to go out at all. In the evening a large number of people came to see a general dance when we did 2 or 3 show dances & several longways. The Tech-boys1 came up & joined in. I met Boris Hambourg the cellist who was on tour & had been playing that aft[ernoon] in Pittsburgh.

1: ‘Tech boys’: students of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, which included a drama department.

Had a small class at 10. Then taught 2 sword dances to Tech boys at 12- 1.30. Special class at 2.30 — passed for certificate 12 or 13 & gave them a long talk. Held a meeting at 5 at which Mr Stephens presided to form Pittsburgh centre of U.S.A. Branch of E[nglish] F[olk] D[ance] S[ociety]. Lost all my money viz 60 dollars.

Arrived at P[ennsylvania] Station New York at 9.30 taxi’d to Grand Central where N[orman] Wilkinson met me and we breakfasted together at the Station. I left for Montreal at 10.30 and arrived at Westmount at 10. Ronald [Sharp] met me looking rather gaunt & old but evidently highly delighted to see me. Made friends with a Canadian Barrister of the name of Duff in the train. Had some food & went to bed dog-tired, sleeping in the same room as Ronald.

Breakfasted at 10 after a good & long night’s sleep, only half rested however. Went a long walk with R[onald] in the morning up West Mount on to Mount Royal & the "look out". Had a fine view of the City in very glorious weather. Lunched at 1.30 & then went to sleep on my bed till 4.30. Tea at 5 & then trammed down to the Cathedral with R[onald] & Emmy to evening service. Nice to hear Easter hymns sung by a very good choir. Supper & to bed.

Breakfast at 8.30. Went into town with Ronald and arranged about journey to Chicago taking ticket & sleeping berth for night train per C[anadian] P[acific] R[ailroad]. Went into Montreal[?] Bank, a "Movy"[sic] theatre, and routed[?] about generally till 2 when we returned to lunch. Wrote letters home etc. Mr & Mrs Simpson (he Emmy’s brother) called & afterwards we went round to see[?] & have tea with Holmes. William Sharpe of Toronto had dinner with us. I played after & all of them saw me off at Westmount Station at 10.6.

A long weary journey through, for the most part, very uninteresting country, flat, brown but fertile. Arrived at 9.15 where I was met by Miss Wood Hinman who took me in her electric motor to University Club. I have a nice room. Found I had left my collar boxes at Montreal so wired to Emmy mid-day. Bought 2 collars on arrival to go on with. Blatchford called on me & showed me round the Club — a very magnificent one & we had dinner together. Slept well.

Miss Hinman electric-motored me to her studio at 9.15. I took 2 classes from 10-11.15, & 11.15 to 12.45 in the morning. Then again from 1.30-3 and 7-8.15. After then she took me to the Junior League dancing affair at which all the fashionables of Chicago disport themselves on the stage of a huge theatre. Got home at 10.30 wrote letters & so to bed after reading many letters from home.

Similar programme to yesterdays. Some of the earlier classes are very good but they tail off as the day advances. I find them very tiring but they interest me. I did a little shopping in the afternoon and wrote letters home after the last class at 9.30. Certificates arrived this morning and some are now being engrossed by a clerk in the University Club where I am staying.

A very long and tiring day. In addition to the regular classes I had an extra Sword Dance class at 3.15-4.15 and a rehearsal for my Tuesday lecture from 8.30-9.30. So I was overdone[?] by the time I got home at 10.30. Must try & make some other arrangement tomorrow with Miss Hinman or I shall be knocking myself up. Called at Ligon & Henley the music people to see about my books which of course are wanted by everyone but can’t be obtained! Gray & Novello between them are a nice pair!

Saw Miss Hinman and got her to consent to get me off the extra rehearsal people. She didn’t like it but had to do it. After all they were no good and I could get better people out of my regular classes with far less trouble. Had tea with Blatchford in the Swimming Bath in the basement and a long talk. He is a very decent little man. Got home at 9.15 very tired, hungry & sleepy. Had some food, wrote to Constance & went to bed between 10 & 11.

Late breakfast. Wrote letters in the morning and made out particulars of terms of tunes for Victor reproduction on Thursday. Went to see "Trojan Women"1 in the afternoon and afterwards Miss Hinman drove me in her motor along the celebrated Lake Shore drive to see the millionaires & their homes. Dined at Club & then lectured at the Little Theatre to a full audience. Had a long talk afterwards with Dr Webster — friend of Tait McKenzie’s.

1: The Trojan Women. Play (415BC) by Euripides (c.480-406BC). Obviously not Granville Barker’s intended production.

A long day’s teaching. Finished off the 12 dances with first class & taught several new dances Phoenix, Hunsdon House, Oranges & Lemons, Grimstock Fine Companion etc. Rehearsed dances for tomorrow’s lecture at 2.45 & 6.30. Another talk with Webster on my return in the evening.

One of the hardest days I have ever spent. Left Club at 8.45 and didn’t return till 5.30. Dressed, had something to eat and took rehearsal at 6.40, & Class afterwards till 8.10. Then a presentation made to me by Miss [Charlotte] Foss with a speech from me. Lectured at Quadrangle Club. Miss Foss motored me home at 11.30.

Got up at 7.15. Mrs Storrow phoned me at 7.20 praying me to postpone going home next week. Packed, had breakfast & sent off trunk by 9. Then out to see about collar boxes having long interviews with Western Express & Customs — all to no good. Meeting at Little Theatre 10-11.15 Miss H[inman] then motored me to bank, The American Express Co (Monson St[?]) and to Club to pick up my luggage, & then to station where I caught the 12.40 to Philadelphia.

Arrived at 7.50 and at Philadelphia at 8.15. Went to McKenzie’s, had some breakfast, shaved etc, & went off to Camden to supervise Gramophone records. Great fiasco — scores badly written. Resolve to postpone work & go to N[ew] Y[ork] early tomorrow morning Mr Clarke strongly advised this. Went with the McKenzie’s to Mr Marshall Scull’s to dinner. Met many interesting people including the Wagners Magom[?] etc. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. Went to bed about 12 p.m. after packing preparatory to an early rise.

Left Philadelphia by the 8 a.m. train arrived at N[ew] York at 10 and went straight to Hotel. Then to Victor people where I made a very satisfactory arrangement in the circumstances. Gray came to lunch. I went to Mrs Fuller and gave her a lesson at 6.30. Dined with Norman [Wilkinson] at Hotel, wrote last mail letters and went to bed at 12 midnight — pretty tired.

Had breakfast early and did a lot of telephoning before going out to Ames & Rollinson to get Certificates written in. I also bought some presents for Maud & the children at Benedicts 203 Broadway. Sent wire to Mrs Storrow proposing to go to Boston but received reply & phone message putting me off. Lunched with [Harley Granville] Barker & went to M[idsummer] Night’s D[ream]. Tea’d at Hotel & paid farewell visit to Hectors. Dined Barker at Hotel went with him to see Isadora Duncan play Oedipus at 20th Cent[ury] Theatre.1 Went back with him to discuss Greek Chorus etc walked with him to theatre to get music & returned home solus to bed.

1: Oedipus Rex, play (429BC) by Sophocles (497/6-406/5BC)., which had its first night at the Century Opera House on 17 April.

Wrote letters all the morning. Lunched with [Norman] Wilkinson. Lay down for an hour then went to Burchenals to practise dances with Rabold for Monday. Called upon & said goodbye to the Squires. Returned to Hotel & had dinner with Wilkinson. A quiet & restful day.

Went down Town to get ticket at White Star Office. Bought one or two things at Craftsmans Shop in East 29th St[reet] and rings etc at Benedicts corner of Fulton St[reet] & Broadway. Lunched at Hotel and went to Victor office to hear records made last Thursday. Then to Washington Avenue to make a speech at Gen[eral] meeting of Girls’ Athletic League at Brooklyn and to dance 5 dances with Stars[?] Quartet! Then gave Mrs Fuller a last lesson at Standish[?] Ave[nue?]. Dined at Hotel with Wilkinson. Barker called & I went round to him at East 45th St[reet] & discussed Greek Play. Then home to bed.

Did some shopping after beginning my packing. Then to Wallacks to say good bye to Rains & to settle up with Flynn about passage money. Lunched at hotel, had a snooze after more packing called upon & said good bye to Mrs Huntington, a quiet duo tea! Then called on Mrs Barker to say good bye but missed her. Dined at hotel & went up to last C[ountry] D[ance] dance at Teacher’s College. Formed centre of N[ew] Y[ork] with Miss Beegle President, Miss Alliston Vice P[resident], Miss Beiderhaze, Sec[retary], Mr Rabold, Treasurer & Dr Crampton Chairman of the Comm[ittee].

Up at 6.45 to finish packing & write 2 or 3 letters and meet Mrs Storrow at 8 to have breakfast with her. Discussed much business. Gave her photographs and had a very pleasant farewell talk. She taxi’d with me to "Adriatic" — sending on my luggage separately — and there said good bye. Very sorry to leave. Found farewell letter from Barkers on board and "Spoon River" book from Huntington’s. 1 Found Hapgood & his friend Hamilton on board. Very comfortable cabin. Sailed at noon punctually. Snoozed after lunch, dined with the two H’s and went to bed early. Very cold.

1: Spoon River Anthology (1915) by Edgar Lee Masters (1868- 1950).

Usual ship life. Had a long argument about the war with Hapgood & Hamilton. Both — more particularly the latter — take that superior & critical attitude towards the belligerents while avowing a bias towards the Allies which I find very irritating. Had a long talk with a Mr De Pargon[?] who is travelling with his wife & child. A native of Jersey and brother of the man who wrote a biography of Lloyd George. Sea quite calm, but air cold. Run 365 from 2.40 p.m. yesterday to noon to-day.

Sea still very calm and weather cloudy but warmer. Had a nice talk with a Dutchman and a French Canadian neither of whose names I yet know. Also a long confab with a Scotch American Blackston a man with a wonderful head of hair over a well chiselled face. He is a minister & writer of some note & ability. Further talks with Hapgood whom I like, but I keep clear of Hamilton who is too young & too superior for my taste. Run 412 from yesterday to to day noon.

Sea much rougher but not at all uncomfortably so. Voyage rather monotonous. Have a good many talks with Hugh Black a Presbyterian Minister & Prof[essor] of Columbia & writer of many books now on his way to help Dr Campbell of the City Temple. Run 401 miles.

Weather still bright with a good breeze and a bit of a swell. Much warmer. Am reading Wells’s Passionate Friends1 which I rather like. Run 375 miles.

1: The Passionate Friends, novel (1913) by H. G. Wells (1866- 1946).

Hugh Black and I have had many long & interesting talks — we exchanged books he giving me The Open Door and I giving him Sea Chanteys. In the evening after dinner had a long discussion with him & Hapgood about politics both American & English & particularly about present war. Run 392 miles.

Run 395 miles. Weather beautiful.

Run 396 miles so we shall easily reach Liverpool tomorrow morning. Passed Fastnet at 4.30 and there reached the danger zone.1 Everyone rather tense & excited but little talk on the subject. I slept very little at first with my clothes afterwards without them. Many of the men paced the deck all or partly through the night. Nothing whatever happened except that the old ship creaked & went as fast as she could.

1: On 18 February 1915 the German government declared the waters around the British Isles to be a war zone within which ships might be sunk without warning.

Reached the river soon after 10 & dropped anchor opposite the dock at about 11. We couldn’t tie up because space occupied by troopships. It took a long time to get off as the Alien Agent very particular about pass ports etc. Eventually landed in a tug about 1.30. Found Constance awaiting me. Getting luggage landed & through the Customs took such a long time that we missed the 4.5 train & caught the 5.20. Maud met us at Euston & came down with us to Uxbridge by the 11 train — just missed the 10 by a minute. Awfully tired — completely done up, but glad to be home.

Unpacked in the morning but went up to see Miss Green at the E.F.D.S. Office. Then to the Club to put Hapgood up and from thence to the Flat in Glo[ucester] Road to see Peggy [Kettlewell] & Helen [Kennedy]. Come back by the 7 [train].

Wrote letters all the morning and had a talk with Maud later on. A quiet but useful day.

Letters — crowds of them — all the morning. Went up to Morshead Mansions to meet Tet & May [Sharp] in the afternoon. Returned by the 4.55 with George Butterworth who stayed to supper & went back by 9.15.

Wrote letters all the morning. Went up to the flat by 1.50 [train] to see Miss [Lily] Roberts and arrange about America. Attended class at Reeve Hall, had dinner at the flat & returned by 10 train.

Wrote to Mrs Storrow, Mrs Morrison, Miss Lewis, N. Wilkinson & other American letters. Went up by 12.33 lunched in town. Met Lily Roberts, Peggy & Wyllie at Cunard Office. Arranged & paid for Miss Roberts’ passage. Then a long interview with Clayton & Littleton at Novello’s about American books gramophone etc, they making no objection to contract concerning latter. Afterward interview with [Archibald] Flower at Pad[dington] Hotel & home by 7 train.

Wrote letters etc & stayed at Uxbridge all day.

Interview with Miss Green at 5. E.F.D.S. Com[mittee] at 5.15. Dined at Oppe’s and went to Chelsea dance evening, returning by 11 train.

Wrote to Gray & Rabold & went up by 1.50. Went to Alice Harman’s At Home & there heard of sinking of Lusitania. Stayed to dinner.

Wired to Miss Roberts not to hesitate to cry off about sailing the morrow. She wired saying she had cancelled. Went up to London had dinner at S. George’s Court.

Went up in the afternoon and had supper with the Gilmours.

Met Muirhead[?] at Savile [Club] and had a long talk with him. Afterwards dined at Flat & returned in the evening.

Had tea with Oppe’s at the Club & dined with the Kettlewells.

Made enquiries about ships for America & wrote Miss Roberts advising her to go by American Line if Mrs Storrow wired she wanted some one.

Wire from Mrs Storrow saying Wellesley [College] affair postponed to June 20. Wired to Miss Roberts to sail on Sat[urday] by "New York" and had wire from her saying she had taken her berth. Went to Bristol by 11 train with Maud & judged folk dancing at Eisteddfod 3.30-5.15, 6.15-9.15. Stayed at Queen’s Hotel — very grubby & uncomfortable.

Returned from Bristol by 9.10 [train] taught Peascods to company at Kingsway theatre rehearsing New Galsworthy Play to be produced on 25th.1 Bought tea-service for Helen [Kennedy] by way of belated wedding present & returned home by 3.45.

1: A Bit o’Love. Play (1915) by John Galsworthy (1867-1933).

Quiet day at home. Von Holst [Gustav Holst] called in afternoon to discuss scoring of folk tunes for military marching. Settled terms etc with him. Had wire from Mrs Roberts saying that Lily had sailed by the "New York" for America.

Fox Strangways came over in the morning to have a walk & a talk. I returned with him in the afternoon to London & had tea at the flat to see [G. K.] Wilkinson & Douglas [Kennedy] getting home again to supper.

A long day in town, going to the bank, arranging about passport & taking a rehearsal at Kingsway [Theatre] and discussing Stratford [upon Avon] arrangements first at the office & then at the flat with Helen & Peggy. Came home with Maud by the 9.7.

Went down to Over Stowey to stay the night with the Sorby’s, motoring thither from Bridgwater. I met two parsons there Stamer[?] brother of the Lilleshall Agent & Russell from Scarborough.

Motored into Taunton at 11 a.m. and judged dance competitions there. Lunched with Mr Loveday & discussed possibilities of a Branch there in the Autumn. Had an interview with Barnicott & Pearce and had tea with old Loveday.1 Returned home to find scarlet fever scare!!

1: The printers Barnicott & Pearce (Taunton) had published Sharp’s Folk Songs from Somerset (1904-1909).

Had a long interview with Charpentier and doctor from fever hospital who greatly to my relief refused to notify us as infected. Had a bad headache all day but managed to go up to London to the General Meeting of the E.F.D.S. in the evening. Met [Perceval?; E.V.?] Lucas, Goldring & Wilkinson there.

Spent the day at home, writing letters etc & did not go up to London.

Wrote letters etc in the morning & went up to London in the evening to dine with the Hannays chiefly to see Arnold and hear what he had done in France. Returned by the 11 train.

Quiet day at home. Asked Dr Charpentier to allow Dr Davidson to come in his place. C[harpentier] very angry. D[avidson] called later & said he would think about his position and see Dr C.

Quiet day at home. Davidson called & saw Susannah [Sharp] after a lengthy interview with Constance & self. Afterwards wrote to decline to take us on. Called on Dr Lewis Lock who gladly accepted us as patients but put us in quarantine.

Went to Stratford-on-Avon by the 11.5, met Miss Green there & had a long consultation with Flower & Miss Rainbow. Had tea at The Hill, called on Mrs Cameron Stuart & did many odd jobs returning to Pad[dington] at 7.40. Dined at Pad & got home by the 9.7.

Went up to town by 12.33. Lunched with Tet at Paddington, had my hair cut at the station, long interview with Novello’s, 3-4.45 about American dance & song books, tea with Anthony Guest at Piccadilly re E.F.D.S., met [E.V.?] Lucas at Club and returned to Dragonfield by 7 train. Sent off list of dances etc to Novello’s.

Lunched with Peggie & her husband at St James’s A.B.C., arranged matters at the bank, paid passages etc at Dan’s[?], did a good deal of shopping & returned home by 4.50 train. Did some packing etc and wrote a long letter to Charlie [Sharp] in the evening.

Went up to Hickson’s in the morning & signed lease of 93 FitzJohn’s Avenue and executed power of Attorney. Returned to lunch. Packed after tea dined and went up to Pad[dington] Hotel by 7.45. There I had a long interview with Miss Green Peggy & Kettlewell and then to bed.

Left Euston by 10.25, May seeing me off. Did not get on board until 5.45. Wrote a short note to Constance. We left dock about 9 p.m. and got into the river at 10.45 and crossed bar at about 2 a.m. Cabin on the St Louis1 very uncomfortable. My two companions both very nervous about submarines, but I slept soundly despite the very bad air & lack of efficient ventilation. Weather fine on the whole but very cold.

1: American Line steamer.

Still fine and calm but cold. Made friends with Baker a Wiltshire Squire my saloon companion. My other mate is Mrs O’Brien — not very interesting. See a lot too of Mr Argall of Denver whom I met in the Adriatic. A very long and uneventful day. Run up to noon 199 miles. Off Queenstown at that hour although well out of sight. Calculated that we emerged from the war zone about 8 or 9 p.m. Slept very badly being nearly stifled for want of air. Came on deck at 3 a.m. for a breath of oxygen!

Run 420 making 619 [miles]. Weather calm but cold.

Run 444 making 1063. Weather getting rapidly worse with a strong head wind i.e. S.W. ship pitches badly and took a big sea on board about 10 p.m. washing chairs etc about in all directions. Most of the passengers are ill.

Run 374 making 1437. Weather very bad and up to noon showed no signs of moderating. In the night the wind began to go down. The improvement began to show about 10 p.m.

Run 390 making 1827. Weather better but very cold with a keen north wind.

Run 414 making 2241 i.e. 926 miles to Ambrose Channel.

Run 375 only, leaving 525 to Ambrose Channel. A very unpleasant day, very hot, a heavy confused sea and following wind producing a very heavy roll. One of the boilers broke down in the night hence the short run which will probably mean we shall not get off the boat until Monday morning.

The fog-horn at 2.30 a.m. ended all hope of getting into N[ew] York to day. Fog not very dense but very cold & wet. We slowed down about 10 a.m. having passed Nantucket P[oint] at 7.30. Sea still bad but considerably moderated. Still rolling rather heavily. Arrived at Coney Island, Sandy Hook in the evening and anchored off the Quarantine Station about 10 p.m.

Up very early, breakfast about 6.30. We arrived off the pier at N[ew] York soon after 8. Rabold met me & went with me to Pennsylvania Station where I deposited luggage & then had coffee with me at Algonquin. Called on Miss Gilman & arranged about a lecture on the 16th. Also on Gramophone Co[mpany] who provisionally settled on 17 & 18 for records. Had a long jaw & lunch with Gray. Went to Bank & made arrangements there & met Mrs Storrow at Grand Central at 4.10. Tea’d & dined with her at Belmont & left N[ew] York by 11.30 for Pittsburgh. A very busy day.

Arrived Pittsburgh at 10. Went to University Club to dress & get a bath — what a comfort! — and then to the Callery’s where I met Miss Hinman etc. Drove to Park to see dancing arena for the morrow. Took a practice at Mrs Callery’s in the afternoon & saw Miss J[ervis?] take a rehearsal in the evening at a large Schoolroom. Very tired & went to bed about 11. Saw a base ball match in the afternoon with Mrs C[allery] & Miss Hinman.

Wrote letters till 10.30 when Mrs C[allery] & Miss H[inman] called & we went & completed arrangements about seating etc in the Park. The dancing came off at 4.30 and was a very great success. Band played delightfully. I danced several dances. Dinner party at the C[allery’s] in the evening when Mrs C’s little girl presented me with a magnificent bouquet called a bouttoniere!

Mrs C[allery] called for me at 11 and took me a long motor drive to [....?] a beautiful country residential village very well worth seeing. Had a good deal of hay fever. Lunched at Mrs C’s to meet Mrs Denny who has a house at York Harbour near Elliot. Com[mittee] meeting to decide about scholarships to Summer School at 4.30 and a dance practice in "Nonesuch" (Mrs C’s new garden) at 6. Dinner & then to station where I left by the 9.40 train for New York.

Arrived New York at 8.8. Had considerable bother about my luggage but eventually got it together and carted it over to Grand Central where I bought a ticket to Boston, got shaved & had some breakfast. Then to Shipping office to leave note for Maud & to take berths in S[t] Paul July 17th. A long but not very satisfactory talk with Gray. Caught 1 train to Boston where Jack Storrow met me & motored me to Baylston St. & then on to Lincoln. Went to bed early very tired.

Work with a bad headache but had a quiet morning. Lunched early & was motored by myself to Wellesley [College] where I took a long rehearsal for Monday’s show from 2.30-6.30 then motored back to Lincoln with Lily Roberts & Jack Storrow. Head got all right in the evening and I went to bed feeling fairly well at 11. Bothered with a good deal of rheumatism especially when lying in bed. Thus ended a very full & exciting week.

Wrote letters in the morning. Had a quiet afternoon and then motored into Boston to meet Maud by the 8.38 train & brought her back here.1 Felt twinges of lumbago — had felt them a little the day before but took little notice.

1: Maud Karpeles had arrived that day on SS St Louis.

Had an uncomfortable night as I found it hard to lie comfortably with my rheumatism or whatever it was. But the pain got better after I was up. Got in flannels and went to Wellesley show which went well considering all things. I danced in the dances. Rheumatism still rather bad.

Felt very bad in bed and found it hard to get any comfortable sleep. Went into Boston in the morning Mrs S[torrow] motoring me Maud & Lily. We did some shopping. I interviewed Fisher at Ditson’s and then we all met at Women’s Club. Mrs S insisted on taking me to Dr Goldthwait who strapped my back up with adhesive plaster in strips. Felt my pains very much indeed & had great difficulty in getting into bed.

A very bad night and pain in my back quite acute. Did not do anything to speak of all day. Maud & Lily went off to a party in the afternoon & Mrs S[torrow] & I dined alone. Went to bed fairly early and found that it took me half an hour to get my clothes off and the utmost pain to get into bed. Slept but little and felt very bad.

Woke in great pain and as soon as some one came near me sent for Mrs Storrow who insisted I should stay in bed — as indeed I could not help but do — while she telephoned for doctor & nurse. Dr Goldthwait sent his assistant one Dr Brown and a Nurse. Dr B. pummelled me mercilessly and wanted me to return & take up my quarters at his private hospital. This I refused to do because of the journey if for nothing else. We were to have gone to N[ew] Y[ork] to Hotel Algonquin but had to postpone everything indefinitely.

No better. Dr B[rown] came again & treated me very boorishly, hurt me very much particularly after I had refused once again to go back with him to his hospital. Finally upon his attempting very roughly to bind me up in tight bandages, I bade him desist & dismissed him! The Nurse followed. Mrs S[torrow] then telephoned for another nurse & Dr Ellis an osteopath. A much nicer man who knew his business and handled me like Gernander does. Said my spine was very arthritic and my pelvic joint sacroilliae was out of place.

Slept very badly & felt very ill but after another visit from Dr Ellis felt a little better and found myself able to move a bit. My nurse Mrs Lermond very attentive. I got up for an hour or two in the afternoon and Richard Aldrich (N[ew] Y[ork] Times) who was staying here came & saw me. Also Mrs John Campbell of Asheville, North Carolina, who showed me her collection of ballads which I found most interesting.

Began to feel a bit better, partly from the harder bed which Ellis had prescribed & which made it easier in some ways to lie comfortably. Maud, Lily & Aldrich & of course Mrs S[torrow] most attentive. Gave up all idea of going to Philadelphia to do gramophone records.

Ellis came again and I felt distinctly better though still very weak and in a good deal of pain. Quite helpless without constant attention from my nurse. With the aid of a stick I hobbled downstairs but had to get back in the lift. Went down again after dinner & talked with the Aldrich’s when Maud & Lily danced.

Felt distinctly on the mend though still not up to much. Got downstairs again twice — in the afternoon and again in the evening after dinner which was a great joy to me. Find the Aldrichs quite nice & tapped him about Carnegie scheme for collecting North Car[olina] ballads.

Ellis pummelled me in bed at 8 a.m. and left me only half a cripple & fairly able to look after myself. Dismissed & paid off Nurse Lermond and resumed command of myself. Taught Lily & Maud Morris dances on the lawn a little but found I could stand about for more than 20 or 30 minutes without having to lie down to get rid of aching pain in my back.

Slept quite well and was in garden by 9.30 having got up all by myself. Prepared during morning for grand lunch for 45 people here. This I attended, spoke about dancing & then showed Maud & Lily off at[?] morris jigs, Mrs S[torrow] & Miss Chapin joining in in C[ountry] D[ance] fours. Wrote formal letter to Aldrich about ballad affair & began packing. Dressed & dined with the Storrows & a friend from Chicago — all the guests having departed the "class" festivities culminating & ending to day. Made preparations for moving tomorrow.

Trained to Boston with Maud by the 11.37 and caught the 12.50 to Kittery Junction where we were met & driven up to the Camp at Eliot, Maine. A very beautiful spot overlooking the river which divides this State from New Hampshire. Spent the day inspecting the Barn & 2 pavilions which have been specially built for the dancing. Made out lists of classes for about 60 students for the morrow. Feeling much stronger. No hay fever thank goodness.

Slept well in our farm house where I, Maud, Lily & Miss [Norah] Jervis are keeping. 7.30 breakfast and classes as at Stratford 9-1 and 4.45-6.15. Everything went smoothly except the singing class which is clearly going to be rather a trial. This place seems to agree with me and I think I am going to get strong quite quickly. A Thunderstorm in the early afternoon but otherwise lovely weather.

Breakfast at 8. Had a long talk with a poet’s brother[?] from a neighbouring camp by name Trehearne[?], in the morning & wrote letters. Rested in the afternoon and after tea went a walk with Maud Professor Ward & Fifine Peabody. A camp fire after dinner & many songs. Took the men in the Haxby [Sword] Dance in the afternoon.

Still lovely weather. Many new arrivals since Saturday including Miss Hinman Dr & Mrs Steinberg — she a Yankee, he a Swede — Miss Fasse[Foss]. Mrs Storrow is here of course & Miss Sandiford & Miss Dittman manage the office very well. Took another practice in the afternoon of the Haxby. Tried a re-arrangement of the hours in the afternoon for bating facilities but not very successful.

Weather very hot indeed but bright & a pleasant breeze. Everything going very smoothly but the dancing is not very good though with the aid of the men & 2 or 3 good women dancers we gave a good morning’s demonstration. Beaux of L[ondon] C[ity], Cuckoo’s nest, P[rincess] Royal, Newcastle, Merry Conceit & Old Mole.

Weather changed at noon most disastrously. Very heavy rain with an East wind which looks like lasting. Had a special rehearsal in the afternoon for tomorrow’s demonstration. Consultation in the evening between Miss Hinman, Mrs Storrow, Miss Sandiford & self regarding U.S.A. Branch. I suggested that U.S.A. Br[anch] demanded of its centres (1) an annual report (2) copies of every circular issued (3) copies of all programmes of entertainments given in name of Society (4) engagement of Branch teacher for a given period each year.

Weather worse than ever. Everyone drowned out & pavilion nearly useless for dancing. Quite a serious situation. Demonstration had to be held in barn and was most successful. Dance in the evening went splendidly many dances being repeated 4 ,5 & even 6 times.

Rain still continuing but not quite so heavily. We have had probably as heavy a fall as at Boston viz 5.33 inches i.e. Some rain! Mrs Storrow went off by the 1.57 train from Portsmouth. Held exam at 2 p.m. & granted 5 C[ountry] D[ance] certificates to Miss Chapin, Peabody, Chorpening, Murray, & Mr Peters. Went with Lily, Maud & the Steinbergs to Portsmouth in the evening where we did much shopping and dined at Ham’s[?] restaurant. Returned by 9 p.m. train & did a little dancing before turning in.

Weather at last improving after a very stormy night when it thundered a great deal. Sun showed for a moment between 10 & 11 a.m. and it didn’t rain after that. A long sword dance practice in the afternoon. Have now taught 4 sword dances to the men Flamborough, Haxby, Earsdon & Kirkby [Malzeard]. Had a quiet dance in the evening and then went to an alfresco supper at a bungalow where Miss Foss, Miss Elder etc camp out.

Wrote letters with Maud till 12, then to York Harbour with Maud, Lily & the Steinbergs where I lunched with the W. D. Howells (meeting Mrs Bell & the Booth Tarkingtons) they lunching on their own account. We met at 4 p.m. at Miss Perkins and discussed demonstration there on the 13th. Got back in time for dinner at 6.45 & went to bed early. A great many explosive crackers going all day — beginning at midnight. Very fine & hot.

Rain again after a long sea fog. Cleared a bit in the afternoon as the wind changed from the East to the S.W. The Staff and I gave a dance in the evening in honour of the 4th [July] with refreshments etc. A very great success. The dancing in the barn looked just lovely. To bed at 11.15, very tired. At Demon[stration] we did Lady in the Dark Pr[incess] Royal & the Haxby Sword Dance etc.

Fine but very windy & stormy — not cold. Did at morning demonstration Ladies Pleasure, Laudnum Bunches, Oranges & Lemons, Argiers & The Old Mole. Went walk with Steinbergs in the evening. Beautiful sunset.

Weather very hot in the morning but clouded over in the afternoon with wind backing to the east. Evidently going to change again.

Began raining at 2 a.m. poured all day with very heavy rain and a gale of wind. Gave demonstration in the afternoon under great difficulties in the barn. Mrs Storrow returned & we had a largish number of visitors. Tents all blown down & clear we cannot continue at Camp. Hurriedly make arrangements to decamp & take up our quarters at Greenacre Hotel. Dance in the evening a success notwithstanding the weather.

Fine but a gale of wind. Both pavilions bare of canvas. Lanier came over and took many photographs. After morning session packed & the school left the camp. M[aud] R[abold] & I went into Portsmouth and dined & shopped & returned at 8.30. Too tired to go to see "You never can tell" acted by the Pittsburgh Contingent in the barn.

You Never Can Tell, play (1897) by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950).

Rather an unpleasant day getting used to our new surroundings. Students glad to get dry beds but in other matters are less satisfied. Got through classes somehow or other. Feeding very indifferent so Maud and I went into Portsmouth & bought cheese & marmalade. Called upon Dr Moon[?] & the Adlington’s in the evening.

Wrote letters all the morning with Maud, slept from 2.30 to 4 (having had a very bad night with asthma & hay fever which have alas overtaken me again!) then went to Lanier camp with M[aud] R[abold] & Miss Foss. Had tea there & then went on to supper at a very pretty tea garden. Motored home about 9 p.m. and soon went to bed praying for a better night than the last one.

Had a better night. Food so bad at the Hotel (Greenacre) that M[aud] & I went into Portsmouth at 2 p.m. to purchase marmalade & cheese. Weather very hot & we were glad to get back in time for afternoon classes. Had a formal dance in the evening with Irish Trot on the programme.

Rehearsed a good deal in the [....?] of the A...?] in preparation for the demonstration at York Harbour in the evening. We went there by trolley returning in motor bus, 18 strong, 9 men & 9 women. Good show but listless unappreciative audience. T. D. Hawks[?] introduced me very nicely. On the way home Munnis one of the men dancers — was taken ill & fainted.

Usual classes in the morning till exams at 2 lasting till dinner time. About 15 or 16 entered & most of them passed all right — but it was very tiring. Mrs Storrow came back in the morning and went in the exam. Rather a pleasant evening at the Hotel dancing & singing — the latter very surprising and gratifying.

Bad fog in the morning but cleared about 10. Rained heavily from 12-3.30 but cleared in time for demonstration which was most successful & given before a really large audience. Farewell dance in the evening with an American pie & much jollification. Went to bed at 12.30 after writing letters, packing etc.

Got up early. Examined Munnis from 9-10. Had singing class at 10 & criticized some country dancing from Class 2. Left with Lily & Mrs Storrow & Maud at 12.30, lunched at Portsmouth, arrived Boston at 3.30, had tea at City Club and left by 5 train for New York saying Good bye to Mrs Storrow & Lily at B-hay station. Arrived at N[ew] Y[ork] at 10.15 and after _ h[our] wait for luggage went off to Algonquin. Had a short walk to show Maud Broadway & to bed. Weather stiflingly hot.

426 377 849 Weather tropical. Breakfast at 8. Dr Farnsworth called & went through MS of book. Then Rabold with whom I had arranged rehearsals of Pittsburgh boys for Vaudeville. Then Mrs Callery & Marcella. But I could not see much of any of them as I was so busy finishing off small matters. However we got off to the dock soon after 11. All our luggage was examined & no friends allowed on board. Left at noon in hot sultry weather. My cabin quite nice, Maud’s very small.

No bath as there is only one on my deck the other public baths having been sold as private ones. I sit at Purser’s table because of the note written by Franklin the President of the Line at Callery’s request. Make friends with Isaac F. Marcosson the biographer of Frohmann and Miss Devenny an Irish woman. Weather a little cooler but very hot. Sea smooth and no one ill. Run 349.

Run 377 making 726. Looks as though we shall not get to Liverpool till Sunday night. Sea still very smooth and weather warm. Quite comfortable except for the lack of a bath. Passengers a very nice lot. Very lazy, quite unable to write or do anything. No one ill as yet.

Run 393 making 1119 from Ambrose Channel and 1831 to Daunt’s Light. Still very warm & pleasant. Found in Mr Harry Perrey, one of the crew, a first rate Chantey [sea shanty] singer. Made him sing to me in my cabin & took down several chanteys.

Run 386 making 1505 from Ambrose Channel and 1445 to Daunts Rock. Weather remains very hot, but getting misty with fog. Got some more chanteys from Perrey.

Run about 390 (cannot remember). Much colder with rain. Rather a miserable day. Got some more chanteys. 1915: 221 Friday 23 July 1915 [SS St Paul] Run 402. Still cold but fairly bright. Concert — very bad — in the evening. Got some more chanteys & took Maud & Madame Grovitch[?] to hear Perrey sing.

Run 387, leaving 256 miles to Daunts Rock. Reached danger zone somewhere about midnight. Boats swung out & lights attached to both sides of ship to illuminate its name. Much warmer but still a bit chilly.

A bright sunny day. Saw land — Welsh coast — soon after we got up in the morning. Arrived at bar about 6.45 and tied up alongside Quay at 7.45. Alien business till nearly 10 p.m. Got luggage thro customs & caught special train to Euston at 10.30, sharing compartment with Marcosson, Miss Deveney, Maud & Monsieur Margay[?]. Arrived Euston 2.35, stayed night with Maud at Euston Hotel getting to bed at 4, very sad after hearing news about Constance.1

1: Constance Sharp suffered a heart attack, probably as a consequence of scarlet fever, and was a semi-invalid for the rest of her life.

Breakfast at 9.30 then to Paddington & reached Uxbridge at 12.45! Found Constance looking very well but in bed of course. Saw Dr Lock at 3 p.m. Wrote chanteys into books, unpacked etc. Mary called in the afternoon, Alice staying here. Children very well. Maud at flat.

Finished writing chanteys in book. Maud came down at 9.45. Alice & Dor[othea] up to Hampstead to house hunt. Maud & I went up to London to see new E.F.D.S. Sec[retary] etc, returning in the evening. I saw Hickson about breaking the lease of the Fitzjohn’s Ave[nue] house.1

1: Hickson, Moir, and Jeakes were Sharp’s solicitors. J. Godfrey Hickson was a friend and member of the E.F.D.S.

Packing, writing letters etc preparatory to Stratford.

Maud Joan & I left by 10 train & caught 11.5 to S[tratford] on A[von]. Took rehearsal of staff etc at Parish Parlour at 4-6.30. Introduced new methods of C[ountry] D[ance] etc. Rosemary, Shottery Road, our house very nice with fine garden.

Rehearsal again at 10.30 and in the afternoon, I taking the lesser staff for 2 h[ours] while the "swells" practised the morris at the Firs. Made out class lists in the evening.

Rehearsal in the morning till 12.30 then to the school to complete arrangements which Nellie Kendall had been making. School opened at 5. I lectured on Singing Games at Parish Parlour at 6 p.m.

Writing letters all the morning and completing lists for the week. Joan & I lunched at the Carters. Reception at Lecture room at 4.30 very successful.

School as usual. Geoghan from Pittsburgh & I danced a four — hey boys. Conducted singing class from the piano. Peggy who came down on Friday last dined with Mrs Sidgwick at Rosemary.

Caught 8.45 train to London meeting Dorothea at Paddington. Spent a long day house hunting in Hampstead. Only possible house in Lamballe Road. Got home about 6 and found Tet there. Constance fairly well but had had a slight relapse in my absence attributed to a powder which she took for rheumatism. Received a very critical letter from Walter Buck which greatly upset me. 1915: 233 Wednesday 4 August 1915 Uxbridge — Stratford-upon-Avon Dor[othea] & I went up to London by 11.15 and met Tet at Swiss Cottage. We three thoroughly inspected the Lamballe House & also the "Ingleby". Dor went back by 3.45. I had an interview with Novello’s at 4 concerning Country Dances in separate sheets — satisfactory on the whole. Returned to Stratford by the 6 train where Maud & Joan met me.

Found School had gone exceedingly well in my absence. Had only 6 examinations to get through in the afternoon — Maud, Miss Kennedy and I managed them quite easily. Lectured on folk song at Parish Parlour at 10 a.m.

Lecture and demonstration at the Theatre at 3 p.m. — went very well. 8 girls in brown tunics (Bristol garments) danced the Haxby [Sword Dance]. Showed lantern slides. Very good audience. About 85 students this week. In the evening arranged lists for the morrow with Maud.

Had quite a good crowd at the afternoon session — numbers quite up to 100. Lectured in the evening on the Sword Dance.

A very quiet day. Wrote long letters to Mrs Campbell of Asheville and Aldrich and also Mrs Storrow in the morning. Lunched at Rosemary, and slept all the afternoon. After reception Maud & I had a little cycle ride along the Evesham road meeting Joseph King & his daughter in a motor on our return.

Lectured at 6 p.m. on Morris & Country Dance. School going very well with increased numbers.

Went up to London by the 8.45. Dor[othea] could not meet me, so I went off to Bushey and saw two possible houses there, St Andrews & Burnt House. Returned by the 5.50. Alice still here. Constance only fairly well.

Had tea at the Savile and caught 6 p.m. train back to Stratford.

23 examinations, all of which we managed to get through by dinner i.e. Maud, Miss Kennedy & myself. Peggy talked of coming but didn’t. Miss Elsie Fogherty came to dinner & amused us till late!

Second Demonstration at Theatre went very well. A good audience but not so large as previous week. The brown tunics did the Flamborough . Showed slides again. Arranged lists for following day in the evening.

Very good school in the morning. The Misses Sorby and Miss Hook arrived. Douglas & Helen [Kennedy] came down at 6.15 getting a bed room next door to us.

Wrote letters in the morning including two long ones to Aldrich & Mrs John Campbell of Asheville in re the ballads. Was to have lunched with the Carters but had a head ache (Maud also was unwell) so cried off.

Danced two fours with Douglas including Hit & Miss at morning’s Demonstration. Lectured on "Modes" at 6 p.m. at Parish Parlour Douglas [Kennedy] singing illustrations.

Went up to London by the 8.45, had coffee with Dor[othea] at Paddington and went to see house at Watford — a large rambling place that would not suit us at all. Returned by 4.50. Found Constance fairly well.

Stayed at home till 1.50 when I went up to London with Dor[othea] to see the Fitzjohn’s Avenue house. Had tea with her at Hills and returned to Stratford by the 6.5 train.

Danced with Douglas at morning Demonstration. Examination of 19 candidates in the afternoon, Douglas, Helen, Maud and myself.

Theatre lecture & Demonstration went very well. I danced in Rufty, Hey Boys & Confess — the latter encored! Girls did the Flamborough again and I showed lantern slides. Quite a large audience. Lecture largely educational.

A long day finishing up and saying good bye. Visited Mr Maney’s[?] shop, negotiated about side board at Goulicks[?], and dined with the Flowers in the evening.

[G. K.] Wilkinson who arrived with a few hours leave from camp last night, breakfasted with us. Finished accounts & met Miss Rainbow at Box Office at 11.30. Maud Joan & I lunched with the Carters. I called on Mr and Mrs Dick, Brewery House, at 5-6. Staff came in after supper to say Good bye. Wilkinson left about 6 p.m.

Maud Joan & I came home by the 8.45, arriving at Dragonfield at 12.30. Dr A. E. Russell came with Dr Locke in the afternoon to see Constance. A rather muddled verdict which might have been better and might have been worse. Played cards in the evening.

Re wrote letters to Mr Aldrich, Mrs Campbell & Mrs Storrow, all of which went down with the Arabic off the coast of Ireland.1 Went up to London with Maud to see 93 FitzJohn’s Avenue. We also inspected 83 & 85 and also 27 Church Row. The latter looked very hopeful. Dined with Helen & Douglas [Kennedy] at the flat and returned by the 9.6.

1: SS Arabic was sunk by a German submarine on 19 August 1915. The letters mentioned were those written on 8 August.

Went to London by the 12.33 with Maud. Lunched Gilmour at the Savile & then met Dor[othea], Joan & Susannah at 27 Church Row where we viewed the house and had tea.1 Then saw Hickson and returned by the 7 train — they going back by the Metro. Told Constance about the house & we agreed to make an offer for it.

1: The Sharp family lived at 27 Church Row, Hampstead, from 1915 until 1918.

I lunched Douglas Kennedy at the Savile, walked down Piccadilly after & bought Constance a stick. Then we went to the flat & had tea with Helen, Maud & Peggy. M & I returned home by the 7 train. Lovely day, nice & warm.

Profit Forward 1648.00 M[arch] 22 Girls Ath League 35 23 Boston City Club 25 25 Mrs Fuller 10 26 Teachers Coll 105 NY Kindergarten 50 Ap[ril] 5 Pittsburgh 200 Columbia Lecture 35 14 Chicago 388.50

Loss Forward 481.97 M.K. (last a/c) Bryant Hall 40.00 Soper (accompanying) 24

Profit Feb. 17 Miss Gilmans Classes 60. — 24 Mrs Storrow Lincoln 200 Mch. 2 Miss Mira Hall 50 3 Athletic League (girls) 75 4 Pittsburgh Art Club 50 9 Pittsburgh Classes etc 375 10 N. York Classes 398 11 [ditto] 30 12 [ditto] 15 Lecture Ethical Cult Sch 20 14 Philadelphia 50 19 Boston 275 20 Harvard Mus. Ass. 50 1648

Loss Jan. Steinway 6 - - Col. Club Lantern 10 - - Feb 10 Miss Wick 100 Jan 19 M.K. Hotel 41.02 30 [ditto] 42.40 Feb 4 [ditto] 38.81 11 [ditto] 48. 18 [ditto] 44 Mar 1st [ditto] 20.49 3rd [ditto] 92.50 12 Class a/c (Miss Bei) 37.75 481.97

Dec[ember] 23 1914. Arrived at New York at 4 p.m. Was met on quay by Mr Raines, Barker’s stage manager who helped me get my baggage through the customs & then escorted me in a taxi to the Hotel Algonquin in 44th S[treet] West. Here I had tea in my bed room, phoning Miss [Jean] Wick & [Harley Granville] Barker. the latter with her husband Mr Adams called up me at the Hotel after dinner and then walked with me to the Barkers where I stayed till 1 a.m. & discussed business & other matters.1 Mrs B[arker] in bed with lumbago.

1: This is how the diary entry reads but Sharp’s letter to Maud Karpeles, 25 December 1914, makes it clear that he telephoned Barker and then went over with Jean Wicks and her husband to meet him.

Dec[ember] 24th. Called on Gray of Novellos and of course Miss Wick and saw a good deal of Barker. Dec 25. Spent morning at home writing & settling my things then went to Barkers for lunch, walked with him afterwards in Central Park, and called on the Huntingtons, dined with him & returned to Hotel at midnight. Weather bitterly cold with a good deal of snow. Dec 26. Bought a fur coat in the morning; then to Empire Theatre to see Barker, Heggie & Raines.

Called on the Hectors in the afternoon. Sunday Dec. 27. Still very cold. Spent the morning and afternoon till 4 in my room, writing and thinking out dance for Dumb Wife and learning Mound Dance etc. Then called on the Grant Squires where I had tea, meeting Mrs Brett, wife of Macmillan’s manager, Miss Mira Hall & others. Miss Hall is head mistress of a fashionable girls school at Pittsfield and half asked me to lecture to her girls. Then to supper with the Adam’s at Washington Place.

Dec.28. Began rehearsing at Empire theatre — a very small space at back of stage. Interviewed many dancers and began choosing them & singers. Lunched with Miss Hall. Dec. 29. Rehearsed at Bryant Hall. Got my 12 dancers and found them very intelligent, but awkward in their movements, women better than the men. Called on Gray again, also Leipzieger & Whiting.

Dec. 30. Rehearsed again at Bryant Hall. Called at Bank and opened my account at Madison Branch. Bought a pair of pince nez & a cigarette case! Entertained Miss Valentine to tea at my hotel. Dined with the Huntingtons and went to Cohen’s Theatre. Dec. 31. Rehearsal in the morning at 10-1, after breakfasting with Prof[essor] Baker at Player’s Club. Rehearsed again at 2.30, then called with Miss Wick on [Josephine] Brower of Playground Ass[ociation] head tea with her at a tango restaurant & dined with the Squires. Paid Hotel Bill to 30th one week.

Filter by collection

Filter by field

Cecil Sharp Diary 1915:

Cecil Sharp Diary 1915

	Yes	No	Both