THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

10, Barton Street.
Westminster.

Dec 30th [1903]

Dear Randolph

It was nice to get your letter – I happened to be at L.H.P.¹  by myself – having bicycled down on Boxing day.  I have put off answering you till I knew you were back again – though I thought – we both thought – a lot about you yesterday. May we really come and see you when your swearing is over – it is what we want to do more than anything – the limit you put is February – which happens just to fit in with us – as I have to be in London for lectures etc up to Feb the l6th and after that am absolutely free – may we come then – unless indeed the bubble reputation has ejected you from the cannons mouth.  Secretary sounds sort of next to general manager – is it?  We have kept silent on the point.
It is most interesting about Muriel Foster – it is true that I sent her some songs but I have never written one called ‘day and night’. I wonder if the wrong song got to the wrong name – or whether she has altered the title of one of my songs.  Yes – you ought to be pleased at her singing my songs [-] in my opinion she is “quite one of the best we’ve got” (as the lady said about Browning Shakespeare in the New Republic²).
I hope it was my song you liked – I would rather be praised for my songs by you than by any one*
Adeline sends her love
Yrs very affectionately

R. Vaughan Williams

*This is a bald statement of facts.

1.  Leith Hill Place.
2.  This may refer to the American journal New Republic.