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X X X I VJ A M E S [1929-19321929-1932The house of Atreox is fallen indeedust (Ilyam, Ilyum! Maeromor Mournomates!)averging on blight like the mundibanks of Fennyana, but deedsbounds going arise again.—Finnegans Wake (55)The depiction of the Earwickers' family life had left Joyce, during thepast years, only a little time to think of his own role as son and father.In 1929, however, his pace began to slow a little, and he pondered hisresponsibilities. John Stanislaus Joyce had reached the age of eighty, andcontinued to plead with his son to pay him one visit before he died. ButJames contented himself with sending his father a little money, writingto him, and asking friends like McAlmon, Tuohy, and others to pay himvisits. John Joyce, largely neglected by the other children who could stillremember the mistreatment they had suffered from him, loved Jamesmore and more with the years, and made out a will leaving everything(if there was anything) to him as the only child who was faithful.* Hecontinued to delight James with his caustic remarks, as relayed throughfriends. So, when asked about the new Irish government, he commented,'That blackguard Lloyd George knew what he was doing when he gavethem the Free State; he knew they'd make a mess of it.' 1His god was* A characteristically patriarchal letter from him, of July 5, 1926, reads:My dear Jim,Very many thanks for your kind and welcome letter with enclosures. It is verygratifying to find at the finish of my life that I have at least one son, and he the oneI so love, who does remember me on what, perhaps, is my last birthday. May Godbless you and spare you to your children. Give them my fondest love. I am glad tolearn your eyes are improving and I am anxiously looking forward to seeing you oncebefore I die. With fondest loveI am still, your lovingFather610