'Friends often came for weekends, or longer. The Whiteheads' friends were mostly, like themselves, non-religious liberals. On one weekend in March 1913Josiah Wedgwood, M.P. (later Baron Wedgwood), was a guest with his daughters, Helen and Frances. An amusing entertainment was provided for them on the Sunday. Helen Wedgwood, then nearly eighteen, was later the Honorable Mrs. H. B. Pease. On September 8, 1968, she wrote out for me her recollection of this entertainment:
Mrs. Whitehead said, "The servants are all out for the afternoon, so Alfred, Jessie and North are going to act a 'mystery play.' "
A. N. W., North and Jessie entered the room arm in arm carrying a football. t (A. N. W. made a most paternal and benevolent God the Father). ANW said, "I've had a wonderful new idea. Let's put some thing alive on this ball." Action of putting things on it, with com ments on the Creation. Then they stood watching it and tutt tutting
over the deplorable goings on on Earth. Son (North) and Pigeon (Jessie) appeared to be a bit doubtful whether the Creation was such a good idea after all!! A. N. W. said, "I am sorry, Son, but you must really go down there and see if you can do something about it." After
some argument North gathered up a portmanteau and rugs and reluctantly left the room. ANW and Jessie continued to observe the Ball and commented suitably (and wittily) on the Son's career on Earth. (I cannot unfortunately remember what they said-it was all
quite harmless.) Finally North returned in a somewhat dishevelled condition. "Oh I have had an aw.fit/ time. I won't ever go there again." They continued to watch the Ball. ANW shook his head sadly. "And it hasn't done a bit of good. They are worse than ever!
Oh, bother the thing!" A vigorous kick sent the ball into the corner of the room and the Trinity went out arm in arm. '
(Alfred North Whitehead: The Man and His Work (2 vols) — Victor Lowe (1985/1990) p. Vol.2)
