Thursday May 21st Ascension Day

To Posada where planted ×××× [indecipherable] two hydrangeas, mint, a begonia, a carnation, ×××× [indecipherable] candytuft, no-me-verras-sin-sol1. and a geranium.
* Lunch at Costa D'Or with[RG]: Gelat as Mayor, the six councillors, the Medora, Juan, Castaner, Mancebo, Laura, Karl & myself. Arroz sucio2, langosta3, carne4, mantecado5, fruta6, cigars. Coffee outside & informal speeches, seated, by Castaner, Gelat, Mancebo, Secretario7, Laura. Gelat's brother-in-law Jaime, insisted that, though councillors, they weren't politicos8, & there was a general desire expressed to espongar 9 animosities & work together. Gelat soft-pedalled water and maestra 10 as topics. Open reference made to Laura's intention to become a Spaniard. Secretario almost tearfully protested neutrality. Afterwards drinks all together in the Sala. Went for a walk in the rain to the sea, to walk off lunch. No supper. Read A History of Education11.

Editorial Notes

1 nunca-me-veras-sin-sols: "you-won't-see-me-without-the-sun." K.G.
2dirty rice K.G.
3lobster K.G.
4meat K.G.
5ice-cream K.G.
6fruit K.G.
7Mayor's Secretary K.G.
8politicians K.G.
9wipe out K.G.
10schoolmistress K.G. See note, May 20th. eds.
11 A Short History of Education(1919) by John Williams Adamson eds.

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: ink correction
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black

Places Mentioned

  • Posada, La

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    House on the Puig next to Deyá church. Originally part of the Es Molí property. It had been rented by the church for Sunday school. RG and LR bought it in February, 1935, to use as a guest house for their visitors. WG, eds.

  • Hotel Costa d'Or

    Llucalcari, Majorca, Sp
    In Llucalcari. Went there for drinks and occasionally meals. It was the best hotel, the Fonda being rather basic. The Turismo was closed. WG

  • Concordia

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    Salón Concordia. Gelat's café. Variously refered to as the Sala or the Salón. The village youths had shares in it. It was later called the Salón Deportivo. WG

People Mentioned

  • Gelat

    Más, Juan Marroig
    Juan Marroig Mas, called Gelat: Landowner on Deyá and friend of Robert Graves and Laura Riding (L.R. & R.G.'s factotum. W.G.)

  • Madora

    Marroig Más, Madora
    Gelat's wife. W.G. R.G. often spells her first name "Medora," and precedes it with "the." eds.

  • Juan

    Mas, Juan Marroig
    Usually refers to Gelat's son, sometimes to Gelat himself. WG

  • Laura

    Riding, Laura
    (1901-91) American poet. Laura Riding (née Reichenthal; then Laura Gottschalk).

  • Karl/Carl

    Goldschmidt, Karl
    Karl Goldschmidt, later Kenneth Gay: Graphic artist, friend and secretary of Robert Graves and Laura Riding since 1934. R. G. spells both as Carl and Karl.

  • Castañer

    Castañer
    ? Owner of a large house in the Clot. Worked in Palma? WG

  • Mancebo

    Mancebo
    One of the villagers good at grafting. WG

  • Jaime

    Jaime
    Butcher, married to Margarita of the Café. WG