CHAPTER XVIII - 1904—1905: Letters.—Order of Merit.—Defeat of Government

Summary

In 1904 Jebb came back from the Riviera in time to be present at a meeting of the Trinity College Mission at Camberwell on the 14th of January. “Expedition to Camberwell a success” he wrote to his wife. “Stewart called for me and we drove to Trinity Mission—in the heart of dreary London. At supper sat between the Warden and a very intelligent young milkman, whom I found agreeable and interesting. Talking of women's wages, he said a sister of his was once employed in a shop where she had to attend every day from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (half hour for dinner and another for tea); no holidays except paid for; wages thirteen shillings a week!!! My little speech was all right. Weather fairly bright: white frost this morning; cold, but not too cold. Barometer ‘Set Fair’: but bar.'s notion of ‘Fair’ is sometimes peculiar.” (His wife had remained abroad for a fortnight longer and had asked for reports of the weather in order to fix the time of her return.)

The International Association of Academies met in London in May, and happily the new British Academy had now received its charter and was ready to take its share in the many functions which followed. The first meeting was held in the rooms of the Royal Society, and Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., was elected President. Jebb brought forward a proposition of the British Academy—“that the International Association approves of a project for constructing a new Thesaurus of Ancient Greek.’ This evoked an interesting discussion and was carried unanimously. He was one of a Committee appointed to inquire as to means, methods, and general initial considerations.