1915 Letter 3
Feb. 27, [1915]
Dearest Mother,
I am sitting in the writing room beside a lovely coal fire thinking of our last evening by the fire – and wondering what you are doing to-night. Writing to some of us I suppose. There’s one blessing we all have heaps to write about these days.
I am so glad I’m here- though as yet we haven’t been very active. There seems to be a lull at present – they are closing up most of the hospitals as all the troops have gone. Of course the [Clinedon] is still open – that is the Astor place and beautifully equipped. We will likely go down some where near there for a time at least – and then the impression here is that we’ll go on to France.
George is still here and we have had such good times. He is the dearest boy.
Sunday morning.
George just rang up to say that he will be here for another week as the camp is quarantined and the Colonel telegraphed him not to come back. He is coming over here to stay as it is much cheaper. We are going to St. Paul’s this morning.
Some of the girls got tickets for the Royal Military Chapels where the Guards go. But when I found George wanted to go I said I’d go with him.
Yesterday Miss Smellie and I went to the Albert Hall to hear the "Dream of Gerontius" by Elgar. Madame Clara Butt sang and Sir Frederick Bridge conducted. It was the grandest thing. I think there is a copy at home that you could read – it is by Cardinal Newman and supposed to be the conversations of the soul of Gerontius with the angel as to his future life etc.. Madame Clara Butt took the part of the angel and has a most wonderful voice.
The Albert Hall is an immense place and seats about 8000 people I think. We went to the top – called the promenade to see if there was any room but every available seat was filled. From there the people below look like atoms but it was worth the trip up to see the place. We changed to seats on the ground floor – the arena - they call it at 6 s. about $1.50 as we decided it was worth it. The orchestra itself was grand and there must have been about 500 in the choir. One part was called the wail of the demons in purgatory and talk about realism. It was the weirdest thing you could imagine.
Well Mother this is a great experience. George was talking about the Christmasses at home when Aunt Teddy and they all were there and said who could have thought then that we’d all be meeting over here.
I am getting lots of chances to wear my suit and am so glad I got it, for my cape has to go back as it is too large in the neck band. Shoolbreds are not proving as satisfactory as might be – and the Matron-in-chief gave them a lot of orders as to what was to be worn that are not regulation and the result is a huge muddle.
We are all sort of peeved as we were given to understand we had to go to Shoolbreds and then Miss Boulter and some of the girls went to a tailor but it’s all very natural that there should be a certain amount of friction so we are not worrying.
This is a most lovely sunshiny day – we have had little or no rain and the air is warm and spring like. They say spring lasts for weeks here and the little leaves take a long time to come out instead of a few days as at home. I hope in some way we’ll be in England for a while – on your account most of all as I can write more and it stands a better chance of reaching you but wishing one way or the other won’t do any good.
Well George is here and I must hurry. Will write again soon. Love to Papa.
Yours lovingly,
Helen