Letter from Edward Renouf to Anny Schey von Koromla

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11 September

Dear Baroness Schey!

I’m so glad to hear about your success with the singing teacher, for there’s nothing more beautiful than our duets. And since I’ve been trying my voice and ears here in the mountains I’ve become absolutely convinced of how vital it is (I say this with the agreement of all true artists) that this art shouldn’t be drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the city.

I’m told the Berlitz School is outrageously expensive – I wasn’t aware that that advert came from them. But I’ve never actually looked into exactly how much an hour of tuition costs. In any case, I’d be interested to know how good this renowned school is for spoken language.

As soon as I come to Munich I’d also like to find a painting tutor with you. I wonder if you might like to fill a sketchbook with the favourite parts of your boudoir, the flowers in the window, the rooftops of the distant buildings or some artfully composed still lifes?

This brings me to ‘interior decoration’ – the domestic artform in which America surely leads the rest of the world, however far behind it might be in the other arts. At some point I’d like to scour all the bookshops for some beautiful books on the subject.

If you enjoyed Spencer and want to know about the later development of his thought, you must read Bertrand Russell, the peerless ultramodern educationalist. His book is called ‘Education and the Good Life’ – and might be available in German as ‘Erziehung und das Gute Leben’. It’s well written and quite readable, but not the sort of book you should force yourself to read, otherwise you won’t get anything out of it. The Essays by William James may be available in German.

My diary bears the burden of my impatience. Let no loose stone weaken the masonry of this new life! The master builder gladly waits through night and rain to build a strong and lasting edifice.

Edl – – – – –

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