Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0061 (436)

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Alexandria 9 March 1885
My dear Constantine, Many thanks for your letter 3rd instant and poems. I always shew your communications to Aristides and Peter, and the former agrees with me in pronouncing your verses to be very artistic and in good style. I had no time to write to you last week at any length, but I shall now try to make amends. First let me say that I found Monsieur Verhaeghe, aunt Sévastie, and Helen, all you have described them to be. I shall never forget them: their presence here during two short days has indelibly impressed my mind ― Monsieur Verhaeghe de Neyer is, as you say, a perfect gentleman, of quiet and self-possessed demeanour. Aunt Sévastie is good, affectionate, handsome, elegant,
lady-like; I think she is very much like our mother; my telling her so seemed to delight her to the extreme. Helen is a charming little person, both as regards looks and manners, and one with whom it is impossi- ble not to strike up an immediate friendship: she is captivating to a degree, and I felt as if I had known her for months after I had been with her for a few minutes. ― Aristides intends writing you in full all their “faits et gestes”, so that I shall only tell you what I myself saw of this charming “trio”. ― The steamer Medea did not arrive until nearly 11 am, and Tuesday bring a very busy day with me. I could not go on board to meet them.
    Had the ship arrived at daybreak, as expected, I     would have gone with Aristides and Peter. ― I did     not leave the Office that day to go to lunch until     about 2 o’clock; in the meantime Mr. Moss had been,     as is his wont, to the Hotel Abbat to get his midday     meal, and had there caught a glimpse of Helen
    with Peter ― He came back to tell me that my cousin     was a lovely little creature, and asked me to try     and induce my uncle, when I saw him, to stay     a few days in Alexandria, in order that he (Mr. Moss)     might have the pleasure of receiving them at “Colline     Moss” where Mrs. Moss would be well pleased to     see them etc etc. I had told Mr. Moss I was expecting my     aunt etc. ― I did not see them until 6 o’clock     that evening; Monsieur Verhaeghe kept us all three
    to dinner, and we passed one of the most pleasant     evenings imaginable. Aunt Sévastie shewed us     mother’s photograph and I was very glad to find     mother looking so well and young; I think the like-     ness is a great success and I am indeed sorry     that mother cannot afford to send us one.     Next day I did not see them until after noon.     I had promised to go with Aristides and take them     out at 10 in the morning, but as you know I am     anything but fortunate. The first thing that met     my eyes at the office in the morning was a note     from Kneen saying he was unwell. ― So I could     not get off until the afternoon. At their earnest
    request, we conducted Aunt Sévastie and Helen to     our rooms ― All mother’s family have such an affe-     ctionate, enticing manner, that an acquaintance     of a few hours appears as strong as that of years,     and both aunt Sévastie and Helen were so kind
    and effusive that it would take a very difficult     man not to like them. Helen has given me her     photograph and aunt Sévastie took a copy of my     last verses, on which I was much complimented by     M. Verhaeghe ― We accompanied them to the station     and saw them start at 6 pm; aunt Sévastie wanted     if possible to carry us all off to Cairo: they     felt the parting very much, and there was kissing,     and waving of handkerchiefs and flowers, and reite-     rated thanks from M. Verhaeghe, and promises from
    Helen to write to me and asking me to write, and     caresses from aunt Sévastie, and dear oh! dear     we felt very lonely when they had gone. We talked     of them far on into the night ― I need hardly tell     you that we did all we possibly could for them during     their short stay: that is to say, Aristides and Peter     did (I had no share). They were received right     royally and Aristides was of invaluable help to     them; M. Verhaeghe was exceedingly thankful and     acknowledged twenty times ― if once ― that he     should have lost his head but for Aristides’ kind     succour in passing thro’ the Custom House all their     luggage (some 20 packages) and paraphernalia ―
   Aunt Sévastie has since written to Peter; they started    from Cairo for Suez yesterday, and they leave on    the 12th instant in the P.+O. steamer for Shanghai ―      God speed them on their long voyage! ―       I think I have already written that Mrs. Moss    is now here. As usual I spend my Sundays    at Ramleh and the Mrs. appears this time to make    much of me and be fond of my company ― Tell    mother ότι πάχαινε και έγινε μια χονδρομορούνα.    These Sundays, I assure you, are great πούργαις    for me.
      The indemnities, it is averred, will be paid    very shortly, and I think we shall escape paying    more interest. You will have noticed that the    Soudan Campaign is now put off until next    Autumn, ― and that fresh troubles are arising    for England, in the form of a Russian advance    into Afghanistan.       Remember me affectionately to dear mother,    Alexander and Paul and believe me ever           Your loving brother                John.
   P.S. I say, dear Constantine,    I hope there is no fear of my    letters falling into strange hands?    I wish you would burn them.           Yours                id.

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0061 (436)

TITLE:

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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9/3/1885

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Item

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27 x 22 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F54_Φ1-25

CONTEXT AREA

NAME OF CREATOR(S):

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Cavafy, John

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on the recto of four sheets. Pages 2 to 4 are numbered. Detailed description of the visit to Alexandria of their mother’s sister, Sévastie, with her family, on their way to Shanghai. Reference to John’s everyday routine and to family friends. Interpolated phrases in Greek. (Alexandria)

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT NOTES:

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Mainly English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Physical item wear: oxidations.

NOTES AREA

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The transcription and editing of the letters of John Constantine Cavafy addressed to C. P. Cavafy was first carried out by Katerina Ghika; said transcriptions were subsequently uploaded to the official website of the Cavafy Archive.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Literary annotation, providing additional information on the digital object.

In the beginning of the letter, it is noted that C. P. Cavafy sent poems of his to John Cavafy. No titles are mentioned.