Collected Letters Volume Three: Narnia, Cambridge and Joy 1950–1963

But there Mrs Moore was to remain for the rest of her life, visited almost every day by Lewis.

TO ARTHUR GREEVES (BOD): 92

Magdalen College

Oxford

2/5/50

My dear Arthur

Once again the axe has fallen. Minto was removed to a Nursing Home last Saturday and her Doctor thinks this arrangement will probably have to be permanent. In one way it will be an enormous liberation for me.

The other side of the picture is the crushing expense—ten guineas a week wh. is well over £500 a year. (What on earth I shall do if poor Minto is still alive nine years hence when I have to retire, I can’t imagine.) The order of the day thus becomes for me stringent economy and such things as a holiday in Ireland are fantastically out of the question. So cancel all. I hardly know how I feel—relief, pity, hope, terror, & bewilderment have me in a whirl. I have the jitters! God bless you. Pray for me.

Yours

Jack

TO ARTHUR GREEVES (BOD):

[Magdalen College]

May 6/50

My dear Arthur

Thanks for your wise and kind letter. Of course you’re perfectly right and I do try to ‘consider the lilies of the field’.93 Nor do I doubt (with my reason: my nerves do not always obey it!) that all is sent in love and will be for all our goods if we have grace to use it aright. And thanks too for your immensely generous offer. I can’t accept it. She is miserable enough without being deprived of my daily visits. When you and I are meant to meet we shall.

God bless you.

Yours

Jack

TO CECIL HARWOOD (BOD): 94

[The Kins]

22/5/50

My dear Cecil

I had taken it for granted that you wd. hardly be able to come with Owen: and also that you wd. come if, after all, it shd. be possible. In utrumque paratus.95

It is the apparent strength of my craft and the apparent lightness of yours that make me so vividly aware of the stout captain in the one96 and the mere Bellman (see Hunting of Snark) in the other.97 One of the bye-products of your news98 was to fill me with shame at the rattled condition in which I then was about troubles quite nugatory compared with yours.

My hand (such as it is and for so far as it can be) is always in yours and Daphne’s. It is terrible to think (and yet how did we ever forget it) that unless in rare cases of simultaneous accident, every marriage ends in something like this.

God bless you all.

Yours

Jack

TO HAROLD GILES DIXEY (BOD):

Magdalen College

Oxford

23/5/50

Dear Mr. Dixey

Thanks for the trouble you took to tell me you liked the Alcaics.99 In a like case I am afraid I shd. have said: ‘I’ll write to that fellow’ and wouldn’t have done it!

Yours sincerely

C. S. Lewis (= N.W.)

Sheppard’s pictures of paperchases etc. were not at all like my memories of joy in youth!100

TO CECIL HARWOOD (BOD):

Magdalen College

Oxford

June 5/50

My dear Cecil

You know about that Trust of mine wh. Owen calls the Agapargyro-meter?101 If not, v. [ide] the Ramsden chapter in This Ever Diverse Pair.102 You must be incurring a good many unusual expenses at present: and there may be other—alleviations—wh. you wd. like to incur for Daphne. Will you please write to Owen (he signs the cheques, not I) for any sums you want? The fund is in a most flourishing condition and there is no reason to stint yourself. You understand that nothing you draw impoverishes me, for all the money in that fund is already given away from me, tho’ the question ‘To whom?’ is answered at my direction from time to time.

We have so ruined the language that it wd. mean nothing if I said it ‘would be a pleasure’. But reverse the positions and yr. imagination will show you how very truly you wd. say, in my place, ‘it wd. be a relief. God bless you both: you are not often out of my mind.

Yours

Jack

TO CECIL HARWOOD (BOD):

Magdalen College

Oxford

9/6/50

My dear Cecil

Good. Dip and spare not.103 I can indeed imagine the heart-rending pathos of this increasing hope: and have often wondered whether our preference (in art) for the tragic over the pathetic is not partly due to cowardice—that the pathetic is unbearable. Still, one’s past agonies of pity and tenderness don’t fester and corrode in memory as their opposites would.

Still love to both: I wish it were of better quality—I am a hard, cold, black man inside and in my life have not wept enough.

Yours

Jack

TO EDWARD A. ALLEN (W): TS

REF.50/19.

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

10th June 1950.

My dear Mr. Allen,

The precious parcel which your mother mentioned in her last letter has come in safely, and has turned us into capitalists of the richest type. I don’t suppose there is another home in Oxford which contains this fabulous quantity of sugar. Why there should be a shortage of sugar in England is to me a complete mystery: we grow it within the Empire, and at the moment are actually refusing sugar from the West Indies (or so at least the papers say). But who can understand the methods of a government?

I don’t remember ever noticing before, the words Brightwood Sta. on your mailing stamp, and have been idly wondering what they mean. With us Sta. is the usual abbreviation for Railway Station, and I thought it might stand for that: but my travelled brother assures me that Depot is the American for railway station.

Your blue suit, looking uncommonly smart, is sauntering round Oxford on the person of the aforesaid brother, and meets with much admiration in its walks. It also visited Ireland last year, where it tramped several scores of miles and very nearly went bathing one rough day: so you may also consider yourself as having had a good look round these islands by proxy.

We are just emerging from a heat wave, and very unpleasant it was: sent us by you I think, and the first American gift for which I have not been grateful. I am not and never will be a hot weather man—having been reared in the north of Ireland, by the sea, where fifty degrees is a cold day, and seventy a very hot one. Part of the trouble is that we have no apparatus over here for dealing with hot weather—fans, plentiful ice etc. Lecturing and tutoring with the thermometer high in the eighties is ‘not my cup of tea’.

With all best wishes to you both for a happy summer,

Yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO STELLA ALDWINCKLE (W): 104

Magdalen College

Oxford

12/6/50

Dear Miss Aldwinckle

If I had carte blanche I should put up the following programme for next term105–

1. The Concept of Mind by Ryle106 or a disciple: answered by H. H. Price.107

2. The Concept of Man by a Sartrian:108 answered by Sheed109 or Christopher Dawson.110

3. The Mystical Approach by someone of the Heard111 or Huxley type:112 ans. by Fr. Gleason?113

4. Why I believe in God by Miss Anscombe (is that how you spell it?):114 ans. by?

5. Pagan Christs by an Anthropologist: ans. by C. Hardie.115

6. The Historical value of the N.T.116 by Dr. Farrer:117 ans. by?

7. Faith & Experience by Mr. Mitchell:118 ans. by?

8. Religious Language by Prof. Ayer:119 ans. by Owen Barfield.

I shd. press hard for No. 4. The lady is quite right to refute what she thinks bad theistic arguments, but does this not almost oblige her as a Christian to find good ones in their place: having obliterated me as an Apologist ought she not to succeed me?120

I am v. sorry I can’t attend the meeting. The point I shd. make if I were there is that we must not be pre-occupied with novelty. Each generation of undergraduates needs to hear a fair number of the arguments we’ve had already.

Yours sincerely

C. S. Lewis

P.S. Does Dorothy Emmet ever read papers? 121

TO VERA MATHEWS (W): TS

REF.50/81

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

12th June 1950.

My dear Miss Mathews,

Parcels from Beverly Hills seem to arrive with the same regularity as the demands of the Income Tax Commissioner, but differ considerably from them in the reception with which they meet. Here is yet another admirable assortment, posted on the 10th. of May, which I found waiting for me this morning, in excellent condition. I have so often had the pleasant task of thanking you for your kindness that I am ‘gravelled for matter’ in which to express my gratitude for its continuance. Many thanks.

We are just emerging from a heat wave, always a very trying thing in this island, where we never make any preparations for hot weather, and never learn from past experience; when the thermometer gets above 85, this is one of the most uncomfortable countries in the world. No doubt a Californian will smile at the idea of calling this hot weather, but with us, such temperatures are ‘news’ in the front page sense of the word. This is when one appreciates living on a river; I was bathing yesterday afternoon and the water was at seventy. But how greatly I would prefer the sea!

With many thanks and all best wishes,

yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO JILL FLEWETT (T): TS

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

15th June 1950

My dear June,

We both enjoyed your visit immensely, and such was its tonic effect on Warnie that he was able to leave Restholme the following day: with however many regrets that he had not been discharged twenty four hours earlier.

Lucky you, in spite of the railway journey which must have been an unpleasant ordeal; but, as you say, you have your reward, and I envy you, though it is not a southern sea for which I pine. I want to see and hear Ulster waves breaking on an Ulster beach. I, alas, can’t get away, but Warnie has managed to squeeze out ten days in August at Vera’s bungalow in Co. Louth, by the sea: an ideal place for an economical holiday. For, as he points out, the nearest pub. is three miles away, and there is no form of transport other than his own feet!

We can’t imagine you getting engaged to anyone who is not very nice indeed, and look forward eagerly to meeting Clay;122 the only catch about the whole thing is I suppose the ‘somewhere to live’? It will have to be in or near London I take it. We wish you good hunting.

We hope you are having a really good holiday, and that you come back to fresh triumphs and increased happiness.

yours ever,

Jack

I love my diptych more every day.123 It is in my bedroom, facing me as I wake. Funny they shd. make St. John Baptist grown up when Our Lord is a baby, when they were really almost the same age. But oh the blue & the gold!

TO ARTHUR GREEVES (BOD):

Magdalen College

Oxford

15/6/50

My dear Arthur

Warnie is now quite restored again. My daily visits to Minto are v. grievous to me, but I don’t think things are too bad for her. On her (medically) ‘best’ days she grouches a good deal and talks about going home, but more often she is childish and incoherent. I don’t think she is any more discontented than she was at home. Remember that if you can get over to England the Kilns is now a house less horrible to stay in than I know it was before and except for an hour in the afternoon when I go to the Nursing Home we cd. have all our time to ourselves. I’d love to have you of course.

I’m fine, as I now get much more exercise. I have spent a good deal of this last fortnight in the river. I’m glad you still see dear old Lee. Remember me to him. Did I tell you that a children’s story by me is coming out this year?

We have (thank goodness) no dog now, so there’d be no objection to your bringing Peter124 if you come. Do consider it. God bless you.

Yours

Jack

TO MRS D. JESSUP (W):125 TS

REF.50/243

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

16th June 1950.

Dear Mrs. Jessup,

Thank you very much for your most moving and interesting letter. Don’t attribute too much to me: any one may be privileged to be of use in this way at any time.

With all good wishes,

Yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO MARY VAN DEUSEN (W): TS

REF.50/250.

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

19th June 1950.

Dear Mrs. Van Deusen,

I rarely get such a happy letter as yours of June 10th, and the photos help us to share the joy. God bless you all.

Yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO GEORGE SAYER(W):

Magdalen College

Oxford

21/6/50

My dear George

I shall be completely alone at the Kilns (but for an ancilla)126 from Aug 11 to Aug 19th and am like to fall into a whoreson melancholy. Can you come and spend all or any of this time with me?

We shall have our days to ourselves except for my calling at the Nursing Home each afternoon: and we can cut that one or two days for all day walks. We cd. read the whole Aeneid127 together. Do if you can. Love to Moira.

Yours

Jack

When Roger Lancelyn Green met Lewis and the other Inklings in the ‘Bird and Baby’ pub for drinks on 22 June, he found proofs of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe being passed around and discussed.128

TO DOM BEDE GRIFFITHS OSB (W): TS

REF.50/258.

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

24th June 1950.

My dear Dom Bede,

Hurrah!129 Come and lunch here on Monday, July 3rd, and let’s talk at length afterwards.

Yours,

C. S. Lewis

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when the army of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) opened fire on that of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) south of the 38th Parallel, the line serving as the border between the two countries. This act of aggression was caused by North Korea’s concern for security. The Chinese leader, Mao Zedong, was afraid that if he did not take the initiative US forces would put pressure on China along the Yalu River, causing China’s north-eastern defence force to be pinned down. At the same time Southern Manchuria’s power supply (generated from hydroelectric plants in North Korea) would he controlled by hostile forces. This same day–25 June—the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to north of the 38th Parallel. On 26 June the city of Uijongbu fell to North Korean forces, and the South Korean government left Seoul for Taejon.

TO VERA MATHEWS (W): TS

REF.50/81

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

29th June 1950.

Dear Miss Mathews,

Many thanks for your note of the 24th., and the cheering news which it contains; it is kind of you to send parcels, and a refinement of kindness to keep an eye on our erratic supply markets. We look forward eagerly to the meat, but that is not to say that we shan’t welcome the fruit: for fresh fruit is an absurd price this year.

For once, the all absorbing topic of food has been swept into the background by the dreadful news from the Far East. The only gleam of satisfaction is that all of us feel that your prompt action may still save us from a third war; it has at least saved us from a second Munich, and there are hints in our papers today that Russia will very likely back down—but start probing for a ‘soft spot’ elsewhere: Burma, Cochin-China, or even Europe. One can but pray.

The first two syllables of Taliessin130 are pronounced like the Tally in Tally-Ho: and the last two rhyme with guessin or blessin. Broceliande is four syllables with the main accent on the third—Bross-elly-and.

My children’s story will be out this Christmas.

With best thanks and all good wishes,

yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO EDWARD A. ALLEN (W): TS

REF.50/19.

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

1st July 1950.

My dear Mr. Allen,

Many thanks for your amusing letter of the 19th:–

And for the parcel. Westfield seems to specialize in the export of dress suits, and good quality articles too. My brother asks me to say that yours has been much admired, after he had had it altered to conform to English custom by having the turned up cuffs removed. Will you be good enough to thank Mr. Percival for his kindness?

No cocoa thanks; it is about the only thing we have been able to get in any amount we needed, ever since the beginning of the war. Why this should be so, with tea so short, has always been a great mystery to us, for we raise both these commodities within our own ring fence so to speak.

Pilgrim’s Regress and Silent Planet cost 8/6 over here, which, on the devalued £, should make them very cheap books in America.

Glad to hear you defeated Wormwood about even so trivial a matter as buying a car.

You must all be even more worried than we are by the news from the Far East—which does not bear thinking about. My brother—always an optimist—guesses that the Korean war is a large scale diversion to draw all available American and British forces to that theatre as a preliminary for a southward drive through Persia to the Middle East oilfields in 1951: which in its turn is a preliminary to a Russian ‘liberation’ of Western Europe in 1952.

But to return to Tea. We are actually in the proud position at the moment of having enough to see us through for I reckon the next three months: a position we have never been in before. But when our stock is exhausted, I shall most unblushingly remind you of your kind offer.

With all best wishes to your Mother and yourself,

yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO GEORGE SAYER(W):

Magdalen College

Oxford

10/7/50

My dear George

Warnie is back in the Nursing Home again, alas. I’ve ventured to open yr. letter: he cd. read it but wd. forget it, and he certainly won’t be fit to go to you on Fri. I’ll get him to write to you when he’s cured.

A thousand thanks to you & Moira for yr. perpetual kindnesss. Ora pro nobis.131

Yours

Jack

TO EDWARD A. ALLEN (W): TS

REF.50/19.

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

21st July 1950.

My dear Mr. Allen,

Attaboy! (Though I believe that expression is now completely old fashioned, or ‘classical’ American). Twenty one pounds four ounces of solid satisfaction, posted by you on the 19th of June, arrived here in the usual perfect condition this morning. How do you do it? I don’t refer so much to your kindness, remarkable though that is, as to the skill and labour which you put into the actual packing. Most of us I fear in your position would have been the seed on stony ground132–would have packed enthusiastically for three months or so, and then said ‘Oh bother it’ or some less parliamentary expression! Whereas you keep on keeping on.

Does your government give you any information about the world situation? Ours steadily refuses to part with any, and consequently we live in a world of rumours and astonishing stories from the man who has a friend in the Navy or the Foreign Office or what have you. All that has become obvious is that your country is committed to what may be called a major-minor war, and you have our heartiest sympathy; what we are to do to help is not at the moment very obvious. If we move troops or ships from Singapore or Hong Kong, China would no doubt be ordered to stage a large scale attack on our depleted garrisons. I see the latest Russian move is to lay claim to Alaska, but I can hardly believe this is a serious threat: designed don’t you think to panic the American staff into refusing to reinforce the Far East? But what a state the world has got into! One can but hope and pray.

With best thanks and all good wishes to yourself and your mother,

Yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO VERA MATHEWS (W): TS

REF.50/81

Magdalen College,

Oxford.

21st July 1950.

My dear Miss Mathews,

Once more I have the pleasant job of thanking you for your kindness; your welcome gift, posted on the 20th. of last month, arrived here in good order this morning—and will perform its accustomed, or rather I should say the accustomed function of spreading satisfaction throughout the household. Such satisfaction looks like being about the only material one to which we have to look forward.

I see in one of the papers this morning that our government’s reaction to the Korean tragedy is to look forward to ‘an early return to a full austerity’. They may not be able to find money, or troops, or ships, but trust them not to neglect that side of the international effort!

Seriously though, we all sympathize with you in the position into which you have been forced; it’s all very well to call it a UNO war, but so far as I can gather, it is a USA war. Have you noticed the French contribution? One gunboat!

With all best wishes,

yours sincerely,

C. S. Lewis

TO WARHELD M. FIROR(BOD):

Magdalen

26th July 1950

My dear Firor

Well, the sky darkens again. We feel rather ashamed here that you should this time be in it before us; and still more ashamed by anticipation of what our government may do and not do. You will perhaps have read already in the papers that their only move so far has been a lot of gas about ‘civil defence’ (all v. well as far as it goes, but they ought to be arming) and a resolution to seize this golden opportunity of stealing a few more of our liberties from us. Try not to judge us by our rulers. There is another side to the picture.

The other day I was listening to some working men talking in a pub. They were all of such ages as to have seen two wars and fought in one. One would have expected (and indeed excused) the attitude ‘Oh, not a third time! Three times in my life is too much.’ But there was not a trace of it. Merely a unanimous, and quite unemotional, view that ‘I’ reckon these—Russians are going the same—way as ‘Itler did’ and ‘We don’t want no bloody Appeasement this time’ and ‘The sooner they’re taught a lesson the better.’ Of course it is partly ignorance: they don’t know anything about the resources of the Russians. But then it was equally ignorance last time; they had no conception of Germany’s strength. But anyway, they’re obviously perfectly game.

Do you think ‘wishful thinking’ is as dangerous as people make out now-a-days? All our people (I don’t know about yours?) got through the miseries of the last war by a series of wishful delusions. They always thought it was going to be over next month or next spring or next year. Did this do harm? I am inclined to think it helped them to get through bit by bit what they couldn’t have faced at all if they had formed any true estimate of its extent. And I think I remember something like that as a boy—successfully completing a walk far too long for one and feeling ‘If I’d known it was that length I could never have done it at all.’ I suspect that modern psychology—at least, modern semi-popular psychology—plays about with the reserves of the soul very dangerously.