Yours always sincerely,
G. K. Chesterton.
Mr. Titterton wrote in a letter a few years ago:
“Edward Macdonald assists G. K. C. in editing the ‘Rag.’ In fact he does all the technical editing, though G. K. C. controls the strategy. He is a splendid fellow, very simple and humble, very loyal, very wise. His editing of “G. K.’s Weekly” is a labor of love. What I know of G. K. you know already. You must be with him day by day to see the infinite simplicity—innocence—and friendliness of the man. We are fortunate to be led by a little child. When we were starting the Distributist League, I suggested that it should be called ‘The League of the Little Man.’ And G. K. C. said that, though he liked the title, he thought that, with him as President, it would be regarded as a great joke. Probably it would have been. Yet, in fact, he IS the little Man.”
Mr. Hugo C. Riviere has pleasant recollections of having painted Chesterton’s portrait:
“What excellent talk I heard when he was sitting to me. It was, as I so often saw him, in his big Inverness cape with that massive head at that time covered with a big mane of brown hair, his hat on the grass and a favorite sword stick brandished against the sky. It was just after his ‘Napoleon of Notting Hill’ was written. A little later I was to be made a very proud man by receiving a copy of ‘The Flying Inn’ and finding it was dedicated to me. You know, of course, what a fine large style G. K. C. had himself as a draughtsman with a great and free grasp of form and character. How often when dining with us I have seen him take out an old envelope and rapidly cover it with extraordinary sketches. I have one carefully treasured in my ‘Napoleon of Notting Hill’ an old envelope covered with every sort and type of hand and figure, some in medieval dress, and some modern, two or three clever heads of G. B. Shaw and other clerical and political and imaginary. How delightful were the illustrations he made for ‘The Biography of Beginners’ that he and E. C. Bentley did together. I also remember G. K. C., after writing an article, over his last glass of wine when all of us, and he too, were talking after dinner, and the boy sent by whatever magazine it was destined for, waiting in the hall. His favorite, and I think, characteristic, taste in wine was red Burgundy, but he did not notice his food much, as he was far too busy thinking and talking.”
Mr. Hermon Ould, the Secretary-General of the P. E. N. Club, met Chesterton many times. When H. G. Wells found the presidency too onerous and was threatening to resign, Mr. Ould offered the office to Chesterton who replied in a characteristic letter, dated August 2, 1935:
Dear Mr. Ould:
You might imagine how miserable I feel in having again delayed a reply to your kind letters; and being again, after a struggle, forced back on the same dismal reply. The truth is that I did very much wish to accept this great distinction you have offered me; and have been trying to think of various ways in which it might be managed; but have come back to the conclusion that it really cannot be managed. The delay was partly due to your own persuasive powers; for I must admit that I was a good deal shaken by what you said about the possibilities of using the position for many things in which I believe. If I may say so, you must be a very good secretary; and a good secretary is much more important than a good president. But I am practically certain that I should not be a good president. I am honestly thinking in the interests of the Club; and I feel it would be better for me to decline the candidature than for me to resign rather abruptly soon afterwards, because I found the responsibilities you describe too incompatible with the responsibilities I have already. As you truly say, it would be unworthy to accept what is merely a sinecure; and I really cannot manage this additional cure of souls....
Yours faithfully,
G. K. Chesterton.
Father Vincent C. Donovan spent a good part of an afternoon with Chesterton and his wife at Boston’s Chatham Hotel. Many things were discussed, but Father Donovan recalls that the visitors were particularly interested in their impressions of America. They found Boston very English in appearance and atmosphere. Among other things Chesterton said,