[Samuel Kerkham Ratcliffe (1868-1958), journalist.] Two Typed Letters Signed and an Autograph Letter Signed (two 'S. K.' and one 'S. K. Ratcliffe') to Anglo-Irish poet Sylvia Lynd, on the London world and the death of her husband.

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Totalling 8pp., in 8vo and 12mo. ONE: TLS. Forge Wood, Pound Hill, Sussex; 22 May 1927. Written on his return from America. 'Save for old Nevvy [H. M. Nevinson], not a soul acknowledged any of the various amusing or informative scraps that I sent over during my arduous journeyings. […] I crossed the tracks of Philip G., Frank Swinnerton, Francis Brett-Young, Hugh Walpole, and various others. Tales mostly fit only for private hearing were heard in the wake of several of them. The best tales, however, seem to gather about the tactful sayings and doings of Lady Mary Murray.' TWO: TLS. Whiteleaf, Princes Risborough. Dated 'G. B. S.'s 75th Birthday!' [i.e. 26 July 1931] 'Old Feakins makes an appeal to me because Alfred Noyes has left him in the air by cancelling his lecture tour. This, says Feakins, is not the first time he has done it after allowing him to do a lot of booking. A total of $8,000 had been secured already: [...] Now here is the point: there is an opening for a good man of letters next winter, but of course he must be a good platform man. [...] A man is wanted: America is a man's country. Don't listen to anyone who says it isn't! Lecturers have to do with the women's clubs and colleges. I can't think of anyone. There is no poet who is any good, except of course Yeats who is out of it, and the Laureate who certainly won't think of it. Noyes is an ass not to do it - unless of course the victory over the widow means that they have plentymoney! [sic]' With note by Lynd's daughter Maire Gaister on Ratcliffe, Noyes and J. B. Priestley. THREE: ALS. On Whiteleaf letterhead; 15 October 1949. Of RL's death, he writes: 'Our daughter Monica said that we had never known, in personal tributes, a unanimity so entire, & with every word manifestly sincere.' | It was E. C. Bentley who first spoke to me of Robert - indeed, of you both - soon after I joined the Daily News, just 40 years ago. In Bouverie St, of course, I saw him continually, & then there was the long association at the New Statesman. [...] | We have never known a more accomplished craftsman, & all of us rejoiced when the Daily News allowed him to reveal an unsuspected gift for special reporting. | I see that Kingsley Martin refers to his revolutionary past. Soon after our return from India there was a conference in Westminster on the small nations. I believe that Robert edited the record & wrote an introduction'.