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| Description | Dedicated ‘Journal written for Judith Masefield by Isabel Fry ... begun at Bath, Jan 3, 1911', Judith is referred to as 'a nice fat thing of 6', perhaps it was a child relation, or the daughter of a friend.
Jan 3. Bath. 'To-day's post brings very depressing news from Halidé Salih (Edib)', Fry goes on to explain that the husband of the woman in question was living with his French mistress, but that Salih could not obtain a divorce. She goes on to mention that Salih worked in the Dar-ul-mahl yumat school in Stambul, and her involvement in the women's movement in Turkey.
Jan 6th, a conversation with Judge Bacon on the Stepney Battle, mentions 'the Jews are wonderful people & splendid citizens'.
Jan 7th, another conversation with Judge Bacon who was shocked at Fry's 'appalling radicalism', discussion covered the Women's Suffrage movement.
Jan 10 discusses visiting Cole Bank to see the Pease family. Mentions members of the family Edward and Arthington as Socialists. She discussed Anrachists with Edward.
Jan 24. London. Discusses American 'Faith Healers'.
Jan 27 Fry held a dinner party. Roger, the Whiteheads, Josephine and Buckmaster attended. They discussed the Stepney murders, and the 'Tottenham affair' [Tottenham Outrage] where 12 people were shot by a Russian person.
Jan 30 Mr Newinson visited, they talked about Gladstone.
Feb 2 Evening of music with McCarthy, Mr Habib, 'the Moslem [Muslim] magistrate of Ujain'. Miss Waite, a 'Higher Thought Healer' had been invited but could not attend. So Mab[illegible] and Edith Peacock came, and Pike later. Fry describes the Indian music played, and how Mr Habib would like to teach her Urdu.
Feb 6 Mentions Josephine, Buckmaster, Halide. She talks about Buckmaster's commission on child labour and Churchill's potential position on this. The Shepherd of Dartmoor, a man who has been in prison for most of his life for stealing £37. Visiting the Buxton's who had just returned from the Balkans, Brahom [illegible] of the Times also there, discussion on education and access to schooling in the area.
Feb 14 Visits Mr Buxton, is afraid of being suspected of being 'the accused thing - a Suffragette' due to being a woman. They talk about 'Turkish matters', Buxton asks fry to speak at a meeting at the New Reform Club. Had Mrs Borenius to 'listen to the lessons', and discusses Bobrikof, and Russia.
Feb 20 Talks about 'Slav fanaticism. Recalls visiting a town planning exhibition at Crosby Hall regarding a site at Chelsea and discusses the proposed buildings, and talks of the 'deplorable rapid deterioration of new suburb[an] regions'. Someone called Vivian talked about his recent time in Canada and the slums of Montreal.
Feb 21 talks about visiting Dr Becker regarding her rheumatism, and his 'quackery'. Djevad Bey of the Turkish embassy talking about the innocence of the Turks.
Mar 3 Had dined with the Wallers, is described as a 'rasping conceited man'. The discuss who discovered the difference between the sensory and motor nerves. Sir Charles Bell is mentioned and 'a Frenchman'. A case of an Indian man named Bhose who wrote a paper and presented it to the Royal Society only for it to be embodied in someone else's work which was commented on more favourably. It turned out that Waller was this man. There is considerable discussion of what happened after this and how the situation was explained by various parties.
Mar 6 fry attended meeting of Balkan Committee with Noel and Chas. Speakers included Buxton on his recent trip, and Fry on education of women. Fry discusses the view point of Prof Gordon Browne (that nothing should be done till Turkey 'de-orientalise'), and Mr Andrew Herbert (that the British have no business to interfere with Turkey's international affairs). Fry accounts a discussion on Islamism and some peoples views on the need to 'de-Islamise'. Fry states that this is not her opinion and talks of a paper the Government requested from her, which was related to a letter she received from Mr Hagopian [illegible], regarding a massacre that took place in Turkey. Fry mentions that to the meeting she wore a Turkish garment that Halide had given her.
Mar 8 Fry mentions pain from rheumatism. A visit to the Burlington Office in Piccadilly where Fry found Melian Stowall giving instructions don the reading of the Phoestos disc. Later Fry met with Dr Majid who would like to form an association for promoting friendship between the English and 'Moslems [Muslims] and to make London a centre of Muslim modern education. Fry describes the views of this man, and talks to him about a mosque in Woking. Received a package of photographs from Halide of Turks murdered by Bulgarian Revolutionary tanks.
Mar 8 Talks about teaching till 4.30. Mentions seeing Lady Barlow speak on adult suffrage. Talked to Barlow about how she was married to a Quaker. Fry mentions her own difficulties of being a passionate person, and perhaps for that being 'a bad Quaker'.
Mar 9 'Mrs Waller calling. She is a wonderfully real woman'. Talked to Mr Aliangar about establishment of league on Indian men in UK to help forward education for women in India. Talks about Indian herbal medicines.
11 Mar mentions;
Mr Nevinson
Sir E Guy
Kanalyovuff
Noel Buxton
Lilian French
G Peacock
Maud Martin (an "artists model")
Mar 18 talks about pain, it seems Fry is possibly suffering from some emotional distress, as well as physical pain. She mentions her unhappiness at something her friend Halide wrote to her quoting the Bible possibly with regards to skin colour. she mentions Constance and Lewis.
Mar 19 Goldie Dickinson's play - "a brilliant condemnation of American business methods & a brilliant tribute to women's rectitude & sense of principle"
Mar 23 helping Miss MacCarthy out of her lodgings and moving her into Fry's place of living as she was being abused and surrounded by drunks. Fry criticises the way this woman has behaved however. The woman appears to be a musician.
Mar 30 mentions visiting the Arnolds
Mrs Rothstein
Lucie Saadi, a Jewish Turk
Apr 5 a story told to Fry by her nurse about a woman who joined the Salvation Army
Apr 23 talking about neighbours who emigrated to Australia
May 2nd dined at Mrs Philpots, met Percy White, was told a story about Shelley by someone whose father was at school with him
The volume contains many more entries and provides a vivid picture of Fry's social and political life, and her political views, as well as her physical and emotional condition. Subjects of conversations recorded include;
women's suffrage
Turkey
education
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