NORMAN DOUGLAS
SIR,-1 feel that Sir Compton Mackenzie is to he congratulated for his vigorous defence of the memory of Norman Douglas, Reggie Turner, and Pino Orioli.
During the six years that I spent in Florence (1920-26), I saw all three of them very fre- quently, and had occasion to listen to their comments about Aaron's Rod. They did realise at once that they had been portrayed in this book for they had entertained D. H. Lawrence only a few months before it was published, and the characters that they were intended to represent did, in a rather clumsy way, use the tricks of speech peculiar to each of these three men, and in the dialogue they were made to criticise each other rather unmercifully and in a manner that they never did in real life. much importance to Aaron's Rod, though doubtless it did not increase their respect for Lawrence.
In any case they never referred to the matter again in my presence and since they were far from being resentful men they probably forgot about it.
As for Reggie Turner, he was the kindest and most unassuming of men and at no time did I ever hear him criticise anyone to whom he was deeply attached, and he certainly was not given to jealousy.—Yours faithfully,
The Savage Club.
Carlton House Terrace, S.W.1
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