1916 Letter 4
Semiramis-Hotel
Cairo
Feb. 15, [1916]
Dear Mother –
Your letter of Jan. 9th and the ones from Toots and Jessie J. came this morning – the first letters from Canada in months it seems. So glad to hear from you again – one feels so very far away when the mails are held up for 2 or 3 weeks.
I cabled three or four times from Lemnos – or at least handed in cables but hadn’t much hope of their being sent. However as I didn’t have to pay for them – I have nothing to complain about, except that I did wish the one for Christmas had reached you.
I saw Everet’s name in the List – in an old Canadian paper – but in another place it was spelled Bristol and was followed by an article about this Bristol so I though it a mistake.
If he is all right they are very lucky for no doubt he’ll get long leave or his discharge. They must have been nearly crazy.
Walter must be insane to boast as he does – when he must know that people think.
Your new doctors and wives don’t sound very interesting. I’m sorry you lost Dr. Wade – for he was a very clever man.
I thought of sending you Miss Plummer’s book but was sure you’d have it already. I sent Aunt Hattie one. We got forms to fill in if we wanted the books sent from London – the cost to be stopped from our pay.
I suppose young Goldie is down here somewhere – probably Suez – will drop him a line and send him some cigarettes or something – which is what Jessie wants I suppose.
Haven’t heard from Eric since Nov. 27 – when he was at Mrs. Fleming’s. He seemed very blue and discontented then. I wish I could see the boy and talk things over with him, but there seems to be no chance of our leaving the M.E.F. The "land Goshen" is likely where we’ll end up – or Suez.
We did hear Bombay and were all quite enthused. The heat would be intense but the experience wonderful – but that was only a rumour. I tell you then because we live on them from day to day and try and prepare accordingly. But in the end it's usually a place we never anticipated.
Yesterday it was wet – raining every little while – my teeth are only costing me £2 after all which is reasonable for 4 fillings in a place like this where dentists are few and there is so much work to be had that they can pick and choose and charge anything they like.
It was a god day for Museums yesterday and we did our duty by the Egyptian antiquities, which were "instructive", etc. but too much for one to take in at a visit.
It is a beautiful day to-day. The pyramids are very plain and the Nile like a sheet of glass.
Well I must close now as I must write Eric and Don and Tootsie.
Am enclosing some more snaps and will send a few with each letter in case some go astray.
Love to Papa –
Yours always –
Helen.
Please send me some Crane’s linen [lawn] paper. It is impossible to get good paper out here.