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[1915]

London train

My own dear Mother -

We are safe on the train, baggage on board and just waiting to pull out.

Last night, about 5 o'clock, we picked up our pilot and started up the river - Mersey - I think it is. It was drizzling the famous English drizzle but we all crowded out on deck to see all there was to be seen.

Just behind us came the Adriatic which I believe was our escort the last two and a half days - but I'm not certain, we heard also it was just a passenger boat like ourselves.

It was pretty rough and we passed little coaster steamers that appeared over a wave and then, were almost lost to view. We decided our old Zeeland was pretty steady after all.

We anchored about 9 or 10 and lay in the stream all night when we started up again. The harbour was not nearly so crowded as I expected - in fact it looked deserted except for ferries and cargo boats. The view before day light was grand - if London is dark Liverpool is not - the waterfront was a blaze of light - and we picked out buildings and tried to decide what they were.

We were called at 6:00 and had breakfast at 7:00. Then packed our bags and stood around on deck. We docked about 9:30 but all the baggage went off first. They can afford to sell trunks cheaply over here for I imagine it takes a trunk a trip to travel - judging from the way ours bounced merrily off. Then we were all paraded in the saloon and checked over. We were asked our birthplace etc. One nurse - a Miss Didion is a Belgian - born in Antwerp and she was put through a regular catechism.

Miss Boulter sent me down to see that Hayes was ready to be moved - and the crew were beginning a search when I appeared. They had counted heads and found one short and in their superior English way - never thought to ask Miss Boulter. The Ship's Surgeon gave me some cheek about keeping the rest back - but I was ready for him and snubbed him well. He is one of the most disagreeable men I ever met -

I longed for a few trunk checks and the Canadian baggage transfer system. I looked at a thousand trunks more or less before I found mine and then found my bag in one corner and my rug etc. in another. We had to declare our baggage at the Customs, and I never had to open my trunk at all -

Then we hunted expert baggage smashers and paid six pence to see our trunks shamefully banged around. Mine looks middle aged already -

Miss Elliott, Miss Godard and I have a compartment to ourselves and are very comfortable - and have settled down to write. Miss Boulter thought I'd better wait till we reached London before telegraphing Eric - for at the present our future is very indefinite - that is where we'll be staying etc. We are moving now and for the last ten minutes have been under ground - Isn't Liverpool the place where you go across the city under ground? I think so.

The docks looked very dirty- and dismal - troops were everywhere in evidence - the Army Service looked after the baggage.

The soldiers were put in a different train that will take them to some place near Salisbury. They cheered and cheered as they pulled out and looked happy. They all had buns - huge affairs - and ginger ale etc. They all looked well and the A.M.C. men I was talking to said the trip had set them right up. They weren't very crowded - they said - and were very comfortable.

London - 6 pm.

Inside of a Menu Card Aboard the SS Zeeland

Saw "London in the smoke" about 4:15 after a most fascinating trip from Liverpool. We left there about 11:30. Their toy trains may be small but they certainly can travel - ours fairly tore along. We seemed to have a special but I don't know for sure. We stopped only once at Crewe.

The English country is perfectly delightful - and has such a neat, finished appearance - no rough untidy corners - every inch is cared for and looks it - It poured till we were out of Liverpool when it cleared and was lovely - It isn't cold at all - more like our April.

I wished every minute since I left home that you could have been with me. There is so much to tell about that I feel simply lost when I attempt to. The country with its picturesque villages - just one street of houses "all in a row" and as uniform as possible - a little church and a few larger houses surrounding. Everywhere the fields are covered with water - inches in some places, feet in others - and Mrs. Spalding says Salisbury is ever so much worse.

The grass is quite green and the laurels and holly - the gorse is in bloom in places - just a few yellow blossoms here and there. The larger towns are not so charming being dirty and smoky and composed of rows and rows of little houses. No wonder the lower class English people lack personality - their existence is so ordered - and so "much of a muchness". Every thing you've ever read of England seems to come to your memory at once - The larger homes are just as you've read about often - so old and substantial looking and so well situated. We did not see any very large place - but what we did see were lovely - The ivy is as green as in the summer - and it certainly looks like spring rather than winter.

As we went on the towns grew larger and nearer together - finally we entered the outskirts of London - There wasn't anything especially noticeable - we passed through numerous stations and finally landed at Euston, where were checked over again and turned loose to hunt our trunks again. "Our section" is all together at the Thackeray - a temperance hotel - a very imposing front entrance and none too cheerful looking bed rooms. We three have a room together - not caring to leave any one of us alone. We almost wept when we thought of our hotels at home with heaps of hot water - and radiators. We have a grate but it doesn't look very promising.

However we mustn't complain for we are just as happy as we can be -

We had a great time getting our luggage loaded, but finally we got piled into busses and were here in no time. I believe we are not very central but we have all the time there is - so we needn't worry.

I can't realize that I am in England - and yet it seem so natural too -

Must hurry now and find out about the Canadians so I can wire Eric - I believe they've gone to France though-

Love to Papa and heaps for yourself - I'll write a more complete letter to-morrow but I want this to catch the Saturday steamer for New York.

Did you have to pay excess postage on my other letter?

I am feeling fine and am counting on filling up every minute here with travels to all parts of the city - to see every thing worth seeing and I'll try and write every day -

Good-bye and God bless and keep you both.

Yours always,

Helen

Same address -

36 Victoria St.

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