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[Aetat. 50-53 ]J O Y C Epermanently, but her husband did not try to dissuade them. They sailedon May 19, 1934, and did not come back for over a year. Joyce kept upa steady correspondence, writing to them, as he spoke to Lucia, with adeliberate lightness. So on June 1 he told them:I work every day alone at my big long wide high deep dense prosework.We went to hear Gigli (who sang in a gymnasium, Palais des Sports, buthas a beautiful voice. He imitates MacCormack but has an ampler organ—notso true.) S. [Sullivan] in La Favorite (this time he surprised usall by his acting). La Machine Infemale, very well given. Mrs E. J. andMrs. Nora J. went to the Folies Bergeres while E. J. [Jolas] and I went tosee a Palestine company playing Jacob and Rachel in . . . Hebrew, notYiddish. It was very remarkable and barbaric. . . .They called in a German specialist at Nyon and he advised them totreat Lucia as if she had something or other, though there is no trace ofit. And this apparently is doing her good. . . .Our best wishes to you both and regards to your host and trilingualgreetings to your lively charge. I shake all your amalgamated hands severaltimes over in rapid succession with that charming grace for which I havealways been noted and blow to you in valediction my parento-legal blessingsfrom this little old log cabin down the Seine.Babbo 104And a month later, on July 1, after retailing his flat-hunting troubles, hewent on:We dine in Fouquet's very frequently, in fact almost always. It hasbecome a chic prize-ring. The other night an advanced lady slapped aperfect gentleman's face on account of another perfect lady's being withhim. The well bred diners jumped up on benches and. chairs. And therow went on. I refused to have my attention distracted from the businessin hand, to wit, a carafe of champagne nature but I could hear a greatdeal. Again a few nights ago there was a sudden scuffle, blows, fall ofplates, shrieks of women etc. Leon was with us. My wife became a littlealarmed but I did as before and she is getting used to it. Some people areso playful. . . .I am sorry to note that as a result of the sea voyage Giorgio is over ahalf-foot shorter than when he left since the reporter found him to be ofmedium height. But shure plaise the Lord he'll be shootin' up again onthe way back and be his owld six foot wan be the time yiz are landed inthe Frinch metrollops. 105Nora also, when she could bring herself to write, gave an amusing pictureof the old folks at home. She had bought a new evening dress for aparty:Jim thought the back was a bit too decollete so he decided he would haveto stitch up the back of the dress can you imagine the result? Of course hestiched it all crooked. So had to undo the stiches again. I decided it was