STRANGE LOVE LETTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1931, Page 7

STRANGE LOVE LETTERS

ELLEN TERRY AND G.B-S. LONDON, September 11. “Oh, my Ellenest! Love me hard and soft and deep and sweet, for evei and ever and ev r,” wrote Mr Bemard Shaw, in one of his astounding letters to the late Ellen Terry, the ■ actress which have just been pub.ished. Though they lived within a bus ride of each other, they never met, and kept up a most ardent paper courtship of 30 years. The courtship began when Ellen Terry wrote to Shaw, who had proposed to call: ‘‘l think I would rather not meet you in the flesh.” Shaw had warned her to beware, because, whenevei a female was alone in a room with him, she invariably embraced' and adored him. Ellen ends a characteristic letter as follows:—“Dear fellow! Good-bye on each of your fingers and your little nose.” Shaw assures Ellen that love is only a diversion and a. recreation to him, and concludes: “1 love you soulfully and bodyfully, properly and improperly, and in every way that a woman can be loved.”

When the comedy courtship tvas over, Ellen wrote: “You are a great man, a silly ass, a dear, and a worry. Poor Charlotte! (that’s envy, isn’t it?) Your ownest Ellen.” “Charlotte” was Shaw’s wife.