1936 January
Family letter from LJT
14/1 Rowland Road
Calcutta
January 1st 1936
My Dears,
A happy new year to you all! We have had rather an exciting beginning to 1936, as Herbert has been given a C.I.E. in the New Year Honours. One of our Indian Ministers, Sir Nazimmudin, having sworn me to secrecy, told me about it at the Period Ball at the Viceroy’s House the night before last. The first Herbert knew of it was a letter from the Viceroy last night, closely followed by one from the Governor. He is pleased, I think. Our reactions to the news seem to have been much the same. My first thought was “Thank goodness it really is for work done, and not because the recipient happens to have filled the post of Private Secretary (successfully or unsuccessfully) for a certain number of years.” My next thought was. “Lor! What a lot of letters there will be to answer.” We went early to bed last night, and just as I had settled down, the telephone bell rang. It was the first congratulations from Sir Bijoy Singh Roy, who was Herbert’s Minister when Herbert was Local Self Government Secretary.
It is only a week since I got back from Gangtok, but it seems much more. There have been so many things to do, and so much to remember. Besides the ordinary social doings:- and Calcutta is almost frantically gay at Christmas, - I had the dinner to Kingdon-Ward to manage, and a whole lot of things to do for Peggy Williamson, as well as last touches to put to our fancy dresses. We spent a pleasant Christmas day. I got to Calcutta at 7.20. and after a bath and breakfast, I had to give a little attention to household matters, for I had people coming to lunch before the polo, and more coming back to tea afterwards. As I was opening letters and cards, before setting to take our presents and good wishes to Harry and Winsome and various friends, a young man who is the son of friends of Bous’, arrived with a lovely spray or orchids. Discovering that he had nothing to do till dinner, we kept him with us for our round of morning calls and for the rest of the day. We found young John completely absorbed in a toy railway system, and sat in the garden talking to Harry and Winsome for a bit. Our other calls took us till about 12.15, when we went to the United Service Club to pick up Kingdon Ward, who had arrived the previous day, and take him back to lunch. Idris Mathews and G.B.Gourlay were two more of our guests, and a dear couple whom we have known for yers and who are staying with Idris at the moment. We saw the most magnificent polo in the afternoon. Jaipur were playing one of the Lancer regiments, and beat them easily. It is true they had the most wonderful ponies, but the do play magnificently too. Any number of people seemed to drift in and out of this house for tea afterwards, and the tea-party spread itself out till seven o’clock, so there was not much leisure between the end of it and the start of dressing for dinner. We spent a very nice evening with Harry and Winsome. They had a large and pleasant party, and we played the good old game of hunting for visibly hidden objects, and finished up with most of the men lying on the floor playing with John’s trains, which were set out on the floor of what was once the billiard room.
I started the next day by a ride with G.B., but unfortunately about half way through it, my horse stumbled slightly and went dead lame. We came to the conclusion that it was something in his near shoulder. G.B. rode on to send his car and the syce to meet me, and I walked in till I met them. The odd thing was that after about a mile, the horse seemed much better, and by the evening he seemed quite alright. However I was not sorry for an excuse not to ride him for a couple of mornings as the days were so full. It was the Governor’s Ball on the 26th and we had rather a nice dinner-party before it, and enjoyed both our own party and the Ball.
On the 27th I had a very busy day, for it was the dinner to Kingdon-Ward and I had to arrange the table, see that everything was ready for the lecture, test the lantern, and attend to all the little details that have to be seen to before a show like that. In spite of the very short notice we had 26 people for dinner about another 20 for the lecture afterwards. My morning was complicated by having several things to do for Peggy Williamson at the shops, but Herbert nobly came to the rescue and did several of those for me, so we were able to get along in time to watch most of a polo match before lunch, and also had time to watch the polo in the afternoon. I resisted the inclination to ask any one back to tea and Herbert and I were glad to be quiet, and after tea I went and lay down for a bit before dressing in time to go and fetch Kingdon-Ward from the U.s. club where he is staying and take him to a big cocktail party at the house of some very wealthy but very nice Jews. We went straight on to the US club to be ready for KingdonWards’ dinner, which went off very well. He lectured far better than he did last time he was here, and had some beautiful slides.
I took Kingdon Ward out to lunch with a man on Saturday, who is keen on mountain plants, and was out collecting this autumn himself. He had another friend with the same taste there, so we had a happy and most interesting time. Herbert and K-W and I all went out to DumDum in the afternoon and while Idris took K-W for a flight over Calcutta, Herbert and I went for a rather nice walk round the outskirts of the Areodrome, which is rather jolly jungly country. There was a most marvellous Turneresque sunset, flaming scarlets and ambers, which we watched glowing to its zenith as we sat having tea on the lawn outside the flying Club. It was still glowing in duller pinks and reds when we went to Idris’ house later to have a look at his garden in the dusk, and showed beautifully across the dull grey tones of the river. Idris dined with us that night and took us all, K-W included, to see the Balinese dancers. Herbert enjoyed them, and by dint of staying asleep till he woke of himself the next morning was not unduly tired. He was still having his breakfast when I came back at 9.30 after a long ride. I was glad to have a quietish morning, before polo in the afternoon - - - the final of the Indian Championship between Jaipur and Kashmir, - - - and tea with Hugh and Phyllis, and then early to bed, for a change.
On the morning of the 30th I had a great treat. I went out to Dum Dum and went in Idris Mathews plane for the rehersal for the 1st of Jan Review. He was leading the flight on this occasion, and it was not quite so exciting as being in one of the back planes, but still thrilling enough and very very interesting. We circled quite low over Calcutta while the troops were marching past and then swooped down past the saluting base just as the last of the armoured cars were going past. Idris said we were about 50 ft from the ground, though some of the spectators said we were not more than thirty. I had to dash straight back from the areodrome as Peggy Williamson and her brother were arriving from Gangtok, and practically the whole of that day and the next were spent in helping her will all that she had to do. We had to go to the Period Ball at the Viceroy’s house on the evening of the 30th, and dined with Hugh and Phyllis first, having arranged for an old friend of Peggy’s to come and have dinner with her. The old Sir Peter and Lady Teasel dresses looked very well. Now that the court suit had been dyed a deeper blue, and all retrimmed with silver and blue and that lovely set of old paste buttons, it looks quite fine again, and Herbert looks very well in it. Really the Ball was a lovely sight! There were only about two thirds the usual number of people there, as so many had gone out of Calcutta, or said they were going our of Calcutta in order to avoid going to it. It made dancing much more comfortable. The Indians turned up trumps and had raked out old family dresses of the period, which were most interesting, and the jewels fair made ones head spin.
The Christmas Holidays finished yesterday, with the Proclaimation Parade in the early morning, and a fairly quiet day after it, except that the telephone rang constantly with congratulations for Herbert, and chits arrived almost as frequently. We had a few friends to tea at Tolly and attended a cocktail party given by the two young men who have taken the flat below us for three months. We took Kingdon Ward and Raja Dorji (the Prime Minister of Bhutan) to it, and brought them up here to dinner afterwards. They had some extremely interesting talk about Eastern Bhutan and the part of Tibet bordering on it which K-W has visited several times. Today everyone is settling down to the ordinary routine of life again. The holidays have been good fun, but I am quite glad they are over, and that I can get down to all the things I want to do.
This letter is probably very disjointed. I have been interrupted constantly, as always happens if I dont get most of it done before breakfast. Contrary to my habit on Thursdays, I went for a ride before breakfast this morning, as I had missed so many mornings during the week.
I hope you all had a good Christmas, and our best wishes to you all for 1936.
Love from
LJT
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Rd
Calcutta
Jan 2nd 1936
My darling Annette
Its curious that you and Richard should both have been prevented from going in for fairly important exams this year – Poor old Richard! It must have been annoying for him – but perhaps it will turn out well. Dad was not keen on his going to St. John’s and now he will have to try for some other college.
Did I tell you that Herbert Richter’s mother has found a family in Dresden who would have you to stay in the Easter holidays – The lady is a Frau von Pflugk – whose husband was killed in the War – She has a daughter about your age and Herbert Richter’s mother says the thinks you “would suit well to-gether” I am sending Herbert Richter’s letter to Auntie and will let her know the address as soon as I can – I will also write to Frau Pflugk and ask her to fix every thing up direct with Auntie. I should think you had better go for three weeks if you can spare the time.
Tell me – do you know at what age you go up for the Varsity Scholarship exam? Also if you are going for modern languages would it be best for you to stay at school right up to the exam, or would it be better to go and work in Paris for a term or two, do you think? I don’t know whether you can find out any of these things – but it would be useful to consider them.
I am so glad the chapel is dedicated – It will be a great boon not having to trail all that way to church on wet or nasty days
Hope Christmas went well and that you enjoyed the dance or dances to which you were going.
Best love
Mum
P.S. I send this to you, just in case you have gone back to school. Please send it on to Auntie Doris. I sent your little packet to Miss Pearce – LJT
From HPV to Annette
Calcutta
Jan 2nd 1936
My dear Annette.
The weather has been muggy these last few days: 80 in my bedroom in the middle of the day and no breeze. Also I have undoubtedly had too much to eat or too often. A certain heaviness has come over me. In fact I suggest liver rather than tiredness, in spite of my having been up a lot at night: actually I have lain down for an hour several afternoons. Further evidence: I have put on weight during the holidays: and yesterday was 12 stone 2 lbs. As 10 stone 4 lbs was always my weight till three or four years ago, and just over eleven afterwards, I am rather disquieted. The two laborious functions that I attended were the balls at Government House and the Viceroy’s. The former did not go too well as far as I was concerned. There was a great crush, it was difficult to find one’s partners before each dance, and most of mine, when found, said they’d sit. At such shows one takes precautions and asks where each partner will be: but there are always misunderstandings and then there has to be a hurried search, made worse if the partner (like your Aunt Winsome) searches too instead of staying put. The fancy dress show at the Viceroys was better in that respect: there was a shortage of men and so the floor was less crowded. Many men objected to having to buy expensive costumes and went off shooting for the holidays in order to be able to refuse with a good conscience and other merely refused. Our costumes stood comparison with others very well, although some people spend very large sums on theirs.
The holidays lately have been a bit of a rush owing to Mrs Williamson being with us: your mother gave up all her time to her almost. Mail day has taken me by surprise again.
Much love
Dad
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Road
Calcutta
Jan 6th 1935
My darling Annette
Congratulations on doing so well in your exam! Its a great credit to you after having missed so much work and Dad and I are awfully pleased about it.
I think I have asked you whether you think it would be better for you to stay right on at school till you go up for the Varsity Scholarship exam or whether it would be a good thing for you to spend 6 months in Paris. Baron Ow Wachendorf was asking about your future plans, and says that there are wonderful language coaches in Paris, who very often train people for the Diplomatic Service – He is going to get the address of the place for me, in case it might be useful to you –For your higher certificate do you not have to do any maths? I am looking forward to hearing more details about your exam and what were the subjects you did best on.
I was sorry to hear from Auntie about the various troubles just before Christmas – such as the water freezing in the car – air lock in the pump and Gwen laid up with a cold – Its wonderful how calm Auntie remains when these sort of things happen.
We had a nice Christmas – The whole week of festivities is a bit exhausting – but very good fun – As this will reach you before last week’s mail, I hope, I must tell you that Dad has been given a C.I.E. in the New Year Honours – Is’nt that nice? No time for more now. Best love to all – and specially thanks to Auntie for Air Mail letter – Mum
From HPV to Annette
Calcutta
Jan 8th 1936
My dear Annette.
It was a true word that on a typewriter one goes on and on. I started a letter on the typewriter to my brother Roy and there seems no way of finishing – except just to stop: of course the recipient never knows if one has really come to an end or has just stopped: but it is a grief to the writer to be thus led astray. Six pages already and so sign of the conclusion. I shall be less exuberant with the pen. What do you think of Richard’s suddenly matured handwriting? Portentous, in my opinion. Although there is a precedent: two youths who were up at St John’s with me learnt swimming from a book and both swam for the University within comparatively a few months.
The intention was to start with congratulations. True I associated myself with the air mail letter. Also it is true that I find myself taking your scholastic achievements and Richard’s (and Gavins and his sisters’) far more as a matter of course than does your mother. It is vivid in my memory that there used to be a certain impatience attaching to the receipt of congratulations: the family insisted on behaving as if it were a marvel that one didn’t fail. I do not offend like that maybe: but there is a danger that “I fall into the other stool” (Babuism) and accord you both insufficient appreciation for work well done. Let me add, bless you: also the remark that I was very pleased.
A busyish week. I had an hour with the Governor on Thursday night and spoke frankly about this and that – difficulties and prospects. You know it has become obvious that the inauguration of the new age and the better Bengal under my scheming must be postponed longer than I hoped. I have lost not a day like – whom? Titus? – but a year: owing to the machinations of the finance department: but I seek now to twist this to the good. I explained to the Governor that if we cannot (and we cannot) fulfil our public pledge to get ahead with the preparations for several new schemes we must redeem the position by getting ahead with one of the actual schemes. We promised to spend 2 ¼ lakhs in three years, mostly in this year: we may still spend them but very little this year: so, I say, let us commit ourselves to taking up a scheme costing over a crore. It may come off: not very likely: but it may. – I have done little work this week: replied to letters of congratulation by the bushel and wrote the speeches which I delivered in December on the Indebtedness Bill. The versions put up by the stenographers are so incoherent, so unlike anything but the mutterings of delirium, that to recreate from them something like the speeches which I delivered beats crosswords to a frazzle. What is a frazzle? All that the dictionary says is “U.S.? for fray” – which is not helpful. Twice this evening I have of a sudden gone off to consult the dictionary: the other occasion was re “talisman”. But any word is quaint if you look at it. There is good reading in a dictionary. – The Baron Ow says that the extraordinary thing about the English is their ability to write well: almost any English man or woman seems able to sit down and write a readable book of memoirs or travel whereas in Germany such things are tolerable only if done by literary men. Far more flexible a language, I should say.
To resume the take of my doings. A picnic with your mother à deux to the Botanical gardens, movies (twice!) tea at Tollygunge once, people to dinner twice, people to cocktails once: and I have written some letters at great length. On the debit side: bellyache: that bloated feeling.
No more.
My best respects.
Much love
Dad
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Rd
Calcutta
Jan 9th 1936
My darling Annette
This is only going to be a very wee little letter, for I have already written you one this week by Air Mail –
School again! How does it feel being back with the School Certificate Exam over? I suppose its a good thing that you have something else to start working for. When are you likely to take the Higher Certificate Exam?
I envy you seeing the much-talked of production of Romeo and Juliet – Every one speaks very well of it. Uncle Bous was saying how good it was in his last letter. Its an enchanting play when its well acted.
Richter says his people are so pleased that you are probably going to Dresden – They say they hope to take you out now and again – Climate, he says, is very much like England – Journey not difficult – Through carriages to Leipsig and then only an hour’s journey on to Dresden –
Best love, my dear – from Mum
Family letter from LJT
14/1 Rowland Road
Calcutta
Jan 9th 1936
My Dears,
Its rather nice to have settled back into the ordinary routine of life after the Christmas holidays. We did not even finish with the holiday spirit on the 1st, for on the third the Public Farewell to the Willingdons took place, and the day was declared a public holiday. The men all had to dress up in Levee dress, and we had to be down at Howrah Station by 9.15. am. Their Excellencies drove in state from Government House to the station. The route was lined with troops, and the offices and shops were stiff with plain clothes C.I.D. men. Howrah Station had been transformed into a sort of large reception Hall, with red carpet, palms, flags and draperies. Contrary to my expectations, we had chairs to sit on, and the time of waiting was not wearisome at all, but rather amusing. It was a fine sight as the Willingdons drove in through the big arch of the station. It looked like the old pictures of great occasions. The bodyguard with their splendid uniforms and then lances and pennents, riding in front of the state carriage, and more bodyguard behind, were probably much as they would have been in Warren Hasting’s day. The full dress political and military uniforms dont look so very different. Our Governor, his uniform decked with much gold lace, a cherry-coloured ribbon of some Order across his chest, and looking extraordinarily Georgian, was standing at the alighting place to meet their Excellencies. Behind him rank on rank according to precedence, were ranged the Maharajas, Rajas, high officials and important people with their ladies. It reminded me of the 13th and 14th Centuary bas-reliefs over cathedral doors, representing Heaven, with saints and cherubim and seraphim arranged in ever widening circles, no doubt also strictly according to precedence. The Willingdons must have spent at least half an hour going round shaking hands and saying good-bye to people.
As the moment of departure drew near, a man standing just behind me said “I bet the old lady will kiss H.E. before she gets into the train.” I thought it rather an amusing idea, but never thought she would do it, but I’m hanged if she did’nt. She kissed Sir John warmly on one cheek, to his obvious embarrassment, and not content with that, she then kissed him on the other! She hates going, I believe, but I should think poor old Willingdon is glad. She has probably done more work than any other Vicereign, and in many ways she has been wonderful, but in others an awful nuisence. If she gets an idea, nothing will turn her from it. The Railway Officials were furious about this public farewell taking place at Howrah Station, for it disorganised the railway services completely. No traffic was allowed across Howrah Bridge for hours before, and no trains arrived or departed from the station. I dread to think what it must have meant in the way of staff work reorganising the train services right across India. Always before the “Farewell” has taken place at the Viceroys House, and only the Staff have gone up to the station to see them into the train.
Friday was rather an interesting day, for in the afternoon I had Col. Bailey, now Resident (I beg his pardon” Minister) in Nepal, recently Resident in Kashmir, and earlier still Political Officer in Sikkim, to tea to meet Kingdon Ward and Raja Dorji of Bhutan. The object was to discuss where the true border of Tibet East of Bhutan, lies. The discussion had started hotly when K-W and I were lunching at the Great Eastern Hotel one day and saw Col Bailey by chance. Tea over, we had the table cleared, and spread out the map, and they really got down to it. To me it was the most fascinating conversation. Between them Col Bailey and K-W have covered such a lot of country, which no one else has touched. K-W is supposed to be in bad odour with the Government of India for wandering about Tibet without permission, but Col Bailey in his younger days has done so much of that himself that he is in full sympathy. The new Political Officer in Sikkim, Mr Gould, says he remembers years ago when he was in the Foreign and Political Dept, a request came from Col Bailey (then a Capt) asking if he might return to his duties in India starting from Pekin and crossing China and Tibet. Government said “Certainly not. Conditions were far too dangerous, and both countries too unsettled.” The next thing they heard from Col Bailey was a telegram from Sadiya, the last end of the Railway in Northern Assam, saying that he had arrived from Pekin!” The Government had to pretend to be very angry, and wrote demanding a full explaination. Actually they were extremely glad of the information he was able to give them, and pleased with him for accomplishing such a journey. Later they sent him his expenses. I mentioned this to Col Bailey the other day, and he laughed and said “Yes. I felt very proud. I was censured by the Governor General in Council, and as a rule he never hears a captain’s name. Mixed in with the Geographical talk there was a lot about plants. Col Bailey is a keen collector, and has sent and taken lots of plants from the Himalayas home to England at different times. One of the most popular blue poppies is generally called after him by the horticulturists, Meconopsis Baileii, though it is properly classified by the botanists as Meconopsis betonicifolia. Col Bailey had said he had to be at a party at 6.30, and I also was due at a party specially arranged for me at the same hour. At 6.40 Col Bailey had made no move to go, so I said I was afraid I must, but that they need not break up their gathering, so very unwilling to leave, I said good-bye and went off. it was another mountain party, this time given by some young men whom I helped to arrange trips this autumn, and who wanted to show me their photos. I must say they had taken some beauties, and I enjoyed looking at them, and between us we hatched the plan of holding a photographic exhibition for the Himalayan Club. It was Kingdon-Ward’s last evening and he dined with us, and we induced Herbert to come to see Fred Astaire in the film “Top-Hat”, which we all enjoyed most throughly (I dont know what has happened to this typewriter. If I go at all fast, it seems to jump a letter every now and again, especially capitals.) K-W does not seem to want to go home a bit. He was longing for some excuse to stay out here. He hopes to be through here again in the Autumn. I dont quite know where he intends to go, and I am not at all sure that he does himself.
On top of all this mountain talk came a letter from Ron [Ron Kaulback], written from Rima in Tibet on June 8th, and left with the local governor to send down to Fort Herz or Sadiya as he could when the rains were over and the tracks passable again. it has taken seven months to reach me. Ron is also in Tibet without without the permission of the Government of India (as far as I know or as far as was known in Gangtok when I was there) but apparantly with every blessing and encouragement from his old friend, the Governor of Zayul;, who has given him the most comprehensive passes for all Tibet except Lhasa. Ron gives an itinerary of what he hopes to do, and cheerfully says “if all goes well I may be back in Autumn 1937”. (Apologies to all of you to whom this is already stale news) The amazing thing is that in August, Sept and October no news had been carried to Lhasa that Ron was in Tibet, though rather garbled accounts of Kingdon Ward’s travels were afloat there. I am sure this was so, because Peggy Williamson, and Capt Battye, the British Trade Agent in Tibet were in Lhasa till the middle of November and asked if I had any news of Ron. Of course, as I had had none, I was able to stick to his official programme, which did not include Tibet. Later Mr Gould, the new Political Officer, who had come straight from Delhi, asked about Ron, so they had had no news of him at head quarters. The further east he goes, the less likely news is to go through to Lhasa, I should imagine. I am jolly glad I had not had Ron’s letter before I left Gangtok as I did not have to tell any lies on Ron’s behalf. I did have to pretend a good deal more ignorance of K-W’s movements than I really had. Mr Gould was fairly happy under the impression that he had only wandered a little way over the border. Of course he will find out eventually, but the later the better.
This seems to have turned into a very “mountainous” letter. I must drag myself back to Calcutta, and tell how I have had the novel experience of going to the cinema on three successive nights. “Top-Hat” on Friday, a very poor film called “Vintage Wine” with Seymour Hicks in it, on Saturday, and an American Film at the new Metro-Goldyn Cinema which only opened on Dec 15th or so, and is supposed to be the latest word in Cinema construction, and needless to say, air-cooled. It is a fine house, in a some-what garish style, and has some attractive wall paintings by a young Indian artist on the stairs and in the bar and foyer. It looks as if the old cinema houses which rely on fans to keep the audience cool, are doomed to an early death, for now we have two air-cooled houses, and the Directors of the New Empire are going to build two more. I confess when Harry asked us to go with him on Sunday night, I accepted out of curiosity to see the house and the paintings, and thought I should probably hate the film, entitled “I live my life”, but actually it was excellent, and we all enjoyed it tremendously.
I really must stop, thought I have done quite a lot of other things I have not told you about:- - picnic in the Botanical Gardens, - - a big tea-party of several nationalities at Tolly, - - a cocktail and Picture party here, the usual rides etc, and the purchase of a new hat, which is a most rare event for me.
My attempt to give the whole of yesterday morning to answering Christmas letters and thanking for the nice presents I got, was almost entirely foiled by the Telephone, by a visit from the Municipal Inspector, to whom I had sent a complaint, by affairs in the garden, which I am now looking after, and by a dhirzie who brought a dress to try on, so will those of you to whom I dont write this week forgive the delay?
Best love to you all
LJT
From HPV to Annette
Calcutta
Jan 15th 1936
My dear Annette.
There is a noise all round me like distant surf – the hum of bees – or the type of noise my innards make. A cocktail party in the flat below – with so many cars in the compound that unless the last comers leave first no one will leave at all.
As for me I am like a bottle in the smoke: my insides are twisted upon me: I have in fact the bellyache. This has been so for some days: and I am none the more cheerful. All due to folly: for first I overworked and then during the Christmas holidays undoubtedly I over-ate: for all things are comparative. Stomach ache dulls the memory. I cannot conceive what we have done this week - -- Ah! I remember. On Saturday Mr Matthews came from Cossipore, we went to the Horticultural gardens and then came back to tea (for I recall lamenting pains and inability to eat anything) and thereafter to the pictures. A poor show. Sunday: Mr King to lunch and another man. They stayed a long time: and I was much distressed with internal pains. Then out to tea at Tollygunge – we had five or six guests and they too stayed a long time. On Monday I saw the doctor.
But on Thursday I had an idea, on Friday I discussed it a bit, and on Saturday I wrote a new Bill of 20 clauses. On Monday it was typed, yesterday I wrote explanations of the clauses and a general note about it, and today I sent it all to be printed. Now that, let me tell you, was quick work. It is ten months since someone suggested to me that the matter ought to be taken up. – The difficulty always is to find simple schemes, costing little to Government. Anyone can conceive ideas about doing things at great cost. If one gets a workable idea it is not much labour knocking it into shape. I can’t say that Government will accept the proposal: there have been lots of Bills lately. Of other work I have done a good deal: but there seems to be an endless amount to do. The error is to want to “do” anything.
The worst of eating little on account of stomach ache is that one grows hungry. There is a Himalayan Club meeting in the dining room! and though it is 8 o’clock there are no signs of its ending
Much love
Dad.
(Did you get through all the Linguaphone records?)
Family letter from LJT
14/1 Rowland Road
Calcutta
Jan 16th 1936
My dears,
Calcutta has quieted down a little bit, though there is heaps of smaller entertaining going on. Still I seem to have accomplished a few bits of solid work, so to speak this week. One whole morning I gave to clearing up and arranging Girl Guide papers, writing my last district report, and making out a lot of notes about the District for the new District Commissioner, who actually takes over from me to-morrow. She is coming at 11 o’clock to take over the papers and do the business part, and then I have all the twelve “Guiders” or Guide officers, who work in the district, coming to a coffee-party to meet her. I feel quite a feeling of lightness at having shed the responsibility of the District. I think it is far worse out here than it is in England, for people here are always changing, going home on leave or away to the Hills, and one is constantly hunting for fresh Guiders, and at best only finding people who have not done Guide work for years, and then one has to spend time training them again. It will be lovely only doing company work and only being responsible for my own company.
I have got quite a lot of stuff done for the Himalayan Club too. Various notes and bits of information for the Himalayan Journal have gone off by this mail to England. We had an Eastern Section Committee meeting last night, and all the time after dinner last night and again before Breakfast this morning, I was busy writing up the minutes, and drafting some letters that needed a good bit of thinking out. The annual General Meeting takes place early in February, and we have a lot of resolutions to send up for it. There is a voluminous correspondence going on with the French Expedition who are coming out this year, and who want some Darjeeling porters. A letter has come from Col Strutt, who is the President of the Alpine Club, saying that amongst the party there will be one Swiss Guide who will be a steady and good climber, and one young French Doctor, who will be the same. He rather fancies that the rest will be regular Tartarins and will go off like a rocket and fizzel out just as quickly at the first rebuff. He strongly advises us not to send them porters unless they have a British Transport Officer with them. As a matter of fact the Indian Government are only letting them go on that condition.
A young Austrian climber turned up here on Tuesday and came to lunch with me. He is writing for some German newspaper, and is now on his way through to Burma and the Shan States, but he comes back in a couple of months and wants to do some climbing in Garhwal or Kumaon, and wants a couple of good climbing porters and the loan of some of the Club Equipment. He seems an awfully nice young fellow and very keen. I put him in touch with people who can help and advise him here, and he is coming to lunch again to-day to tell all he has arranged.
I am sorry to report that Herbert is not very well. He has a slight return of his old trouble, colitis. I made him go to the doctor on Monday, and the doctor said “If it were not for your age and the dignity of your position, I should say you were suffering from too much Christmas”. Herbert says, age or not, that is certainly what it is. He went out much more than usual during the Christmas Holidays, and probably ate more and richer food than he generally does. He is dieting and taking medicine, and I do hope he will soon get rid of the trouble. If he is not better by to-morrow night I shall make him stay away from office on Saturday, and take a couple of days in bed. That often helps. It is disappointing as he has really been so well for so long now.
Oh Dear! Interruptions seem to be coming every few minutes, so this will be a short letter. I dont know that there is a great deal to write about. I have been playing a little golf again with Walter Jenkins and with Herbert Richter. Dr Jenkins has helped me such a lot. He is a very good player and also a good teacher. I have had some nice rides. They are ploughing some of the fields now, so one can get a good gallop over them. G.B. and I went for miles on Sunday, lost ourselves in some new country, but managed to strike the railway and get our bearings again. I went back to breakfast at the chummery, to have a look at the garden, which is coming on very well now. The English annuals are coming out, and the cannas and bourgainvillias are looking wonderful. We had rather a full day on Sunday for we had people to lunch, a tea-party at Tollygunge, and people to dinner before the Symphony Orchestra Concert, which was the best concert of the season so far. I also had the advantage that I had been early in bed the previous night. Idris Mathews took us to the 6 o’clock pictures on Saturday, so that Herbert would come, and came back to dinner here, but went off about 10 o’clock. I heard more music this week. Barbara Griffin had a very nice little musical party at her house on Friday evening. It was just very informal, a few people singing and playing the piano just the spirit moved them.
I took Idris and a woman who is staying a short time in Calcutta on a visit to her brother, out to tea with old Miss Macleod at the Ramkrishna mission on Monday. We met some very queer American Artists there, and Idris asked the whole lot to sail across the river and come to lunch with him yesterday, and I had to go out and help entertain them. It was rather amusing. The female artist is exactly what the children might represent in a charade, and we none of us dared to look at the other when first she appeared on Monday
Sorry, but is is getting so late that I must stop. Apologies for the disjointed way in which this letter is written, and my love to you all.
LJT
Note added in pencil – Ron’s travels – north and west – not to China
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Rd
Calcutta
Jan 16th 1936
My darling Annette
I’ve exactly 10 minutes before my guests are due for lunch – and have all you three children and Auntie to write to – so letters wont be long –
We are so pleased with your excellent report – Its nice that the “character” part of it has come on so. You always got good work reports – Rotten luck arriving late for the German dicteé exam – Miss Capstick has just written very nicely about you – She thinks Germany in the Easter hols a good idea – and says you might travel with one of the Frauleins – It seems a good idea – so I’ll suggest it to Auntie and see what you can fix between you
Best love, darling
Mum
From HPV to Annette
Calcutta
Jan 22nd
My dear Annette.
The details of the Matric exam were pleasant to read. Also it was a satisfaction to me to hear that you were quoting the number 1100 to my brother Harry. Charles Holmes, father of Jane, who came in on Sunday or Saturday maybe, told us of treatment for headaches by a cheiropractitioner (!) who has been working marvels in Calcutta:- mostly by faith, some say. He took Xrays of Charles’ neck and showed him how the vertebrae sat down on one another instead of being separated by gristle-pads. So far, good. That is the doctrine of neck stretching in another form. But the cheiropractitioner indulged in more spectacular devices, spreading his patient on a table of which different parts humped themselves at different times, thus pushing up the middle or ends of the spine at given moments. Moreover the cheiropractitioner (which is in a form a Greek twist for manufacturer) leapt on his back and pushed his thumbs into tender bits. All this sounds like the sort of thing I’d like myself: but it costs a lot.
I have decided that if tooth pulling cured (at long last) one go of colitis, ditto might ditto another. So I rang up my dentist and got an appointment: the hour for which I have now forgotten. it is a curious thing that on the morning when these belly aches started I found myself for the first time in months feeling positively alive: not apathetic so to speak. – However I am better now than last week, thanks to the potency of the drugs newly prescribed on Sunday. But it is a sad thing to know that if I stopped taking dope after each meal tummy aches would multiply.
Your mother has flu, and is in bed: not too well but unless she deceives me (as is quite likely) not too bad
Much love
Dad.
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Rd
Calcutta
Jan 22nd 1936
My darling Annette
A most unusual thing has happened! I am laid up with quite a sharp attack of ‘flu’ – I am better to-day and as soon as Dad was safely away to office, I left my bed and came into the drawing-room, where I am lying on a very big sofa we have, which is just as good as a bed, but more comfortable if one wants to sit half up and write and from which I can also use the telephone. Seeing that my life is so full of all manner of “arrangements” – its difficult if I am suddenly laid up and not able to use the ‘phone. My temperature has dropped to normal now – so I don’t think I am really running any risk by moving on to the couch –
Its curious what a personal sort of regret the King’s death brings to us all – Somehow – although one only saw them occasionally in the distance, he and the Queen seemed so familiar and so kindly, somehow.
Its taking me a long time to get on to the chief thing I want to write to you about and that is to say how pleased we are that you did so well in your matric. I do think it is a great credit to you, when you had missed so much work in the previous months – I also think it rather a feather in your cap that you got “distinction” in German when you started it comparatively late and considering that you arrived late for the dictation. Its also interesting that you did so well in History, when you found the paper so nasty – The courage of desperation, perhaps. Dad always says that he got through his modern history in the I.C.S. exam entirely on his voracious reading of Henty’s books.
Going back to your letter of the previous week I am filled with regret that I used to hurry you on and not let you go on pressing buttons indefinitely in the Science Museum in the old Chelsea days. When one is grown up its very hard to remember that small children like doing or hearing the same thing over and over again an incredible number of times. I do distinctly remember have great difficulty in getting you and Richard away from an exhibit in the Victoria and Albert – no – Natural History Museum Its a small case with eye holes to look through and a handle to turn, and as the handle is rotated, various fleas, immensely magnified, come into view.
Peg gives a very good account of your new evening frock and says it makes you look so slim. She writes very racy and entertaining letters – So poor Denis has been forsaken – has he? Is he very heart-broken do you think – or was the cooling off mutual?
Have you any vision beyond the varsity? People often ask me what you are going to do eventually and I have no idea. I sometimes wonder whether some sort of newspaper work would not suit you. George Pilcher says there are definitely openings for people who are really proficient in two languages as well as their own and who have any sort of a knack of writing. Certain sorts of secretarial jobs must be quite interesting, if you can get sufficiently good ones with sufficiently important people.
Best love, my darling
from
Mum
From HPV to Annette
Calcutta
Jan 29th 1936
My dear Annette:-
We went to the memorial service at the cathedral: I in my gold lace with a crepe band on my arm – and without that abominable Jubilee medal which I am always forgetting. It was a skim milk and water sort of service: it flopped everywhere: nothing impressive about it except the Last Post. More bishops than one could expect: there was a synod being held when the King died. But it takes more than an abundance of Bishops to make a service impressive.
Your mother went out riding this morning and deceived the horse by keeping to jungle paths where it knew attempts to gallop or bolt were hopeless. Being rather flabby she did not want the horse to prance or frolic. The effort gave her pleasure and seems to have done her no harm. But I wish that her cough would disappear (1) for her sake and (2) because I don’t like coughs anyhow
Never has there been such a cold weather for mosquitoes: in this house at least. All of love me much: and drive me to desperation. It is probably that some blitherer in the neighbourhood has prepared manure water for her or his garden – cowdung and water: mosquitoes love it and breed by the thousand in it. They are not the malaria carrying sort: merely a nuisance.
In a manual on land revenue published by the Bombay Government, I came across a reference to a tax levied up to about 1810 in villages in the Deccan to provide a fund for bribing ministers: presumably it went to some local body. It is a tax which it might be well to revive now in view of the reforms. it would help to popularise democracy.
My schemes are like those of mice these days. Depression sits upon me. it is a question of getting things out against time. If I but had energy!
You all seem to have been singularly busy during the holidays. So much the better – as French heroes always say when there is no particular reason for such a remark
Much love
Dad
From LJT to Annette
14/1 Rowland Rd
Calcutta
Jan 29th 1936
My darling Annette
So we have another of our progeny to feel proud of! I am awfully glad that Richard got his scholarship alright. it would have been disappointing for him if he had not carried on the family tradition – You and he will just over-lap I suppose if you go up to Oxford. I wonder what Gav will do – I always think of Gav as being much younger than you for some reason – It cant be that he is backward, for he is anything but that.
I suppose as it was term time none of you went up to London to see the King’s Funeral – I remember King Edward’s funeral so well – I had recently left school and Auntie Grace and Uncle Len and I went to stay with Uncle Bous, who was then unmarried and lived near Enfield with two other men – Uncle Len was still in an Indian cavelry regiment, and wore the most attractive uniform, so we felt very proud to be going about with him –
I have done more reading during the past week, while I was laid up with flu, than I had done for a long time. Amongst other I read one odd book about China called “The Maker of Heavenly Trousers” – There are some good things in the book, though I am not sure that the title is not the best part of it – I liked the tale of how, in a Chinese ladies outfitters a large notice adorned the foot of the staircase, saying “Ladies have fits upstairs”. I also read “Glory Jam” – procured by Dad from the Saturday Club Library for your sweet sake – and I enjoyed it – Its silly, of course, but its very friendly and kindly and human.
I’m getting sleepy – I went for my first ride since I fell ill, this morning and much enjoyed being out again – but evidently it makes a difference getting up an hour earlier. These mornings I have been staying in bed till 7.30 and hav’nt been a bit sleepy after dinner.
Best love, my darling
from
Mum
Family letter from LJT
14/1 Rowland Road
Calcutta
Jan 30th 1936
My Dears,
I am sorry I was not able to write last week, but I was laid up with quite a sharp attack of flu, the first I have had for years. I did not feel much like writing letters, nor could I manage the typewriter with carbon paper in it in bed. I had to retire to bed on Sunday the 19th, and after taking lots of asperin, my temperature was down on the Monday afternoon, and I got up and went to the Himalayan Club dinner which we had arranged for Mr Cooke on the 20th. I was really feeling practically well and throughly enjoyed the dinner and the lecture, so was surprised when I had a restless sort of night, and found I had a temperature of over 102 the next morning. I went out to tea at Tollygunge on Saturday, and yesterday I started riding again, so I am no longer an invalid. What with being in the house for almost a week, and with everything being cancelled on account of the King’s death, there is not a great deal of news to give you. I was able to go to the memorial service in the Cathedral on Tuesday but I am sorry to say it was entirely unimpressive. Our poor old Bishop seems to have become quite dithering since he took up with the Groupists. There were all the ingredients for an impressive ceremonial. The High Court Judges were all there in their wigs and robes, the Military and Civil Officers were all in levee dress. Most of the eminent Indians were there, and it so happens that the annual synod of Bishops is sitting in Calcutta this week, so there were twelve or fifteen Bishops present. More important than anything there was a real sorrow in the hearts of the people and they were ready to be touched, but the whole thing fell just as flat as a pancake, except for the last post played by the buglers of the Devons. I believe there were big meetings of Hindoos and of Mohammadens holding their own memorial Services on the Maidan.
I have had a sad blow in the fact that Barbara Griffin has had to go off at a moment’s notice to her mother in England. Mrs Griffin has to have an operation, and as her other daughter has just got a job, she wanted Barbara home to look after her and the house. I miss Barbara dreadfully. I saw far more of her than most mothers do of their daughters out in Calcutta, and both in Girl Guide work and in the Himalayan Club she has been my right hand, and there is no one to take her place. Marian Atkins is working whole time at her own job as an architect now, and has to give up her Guide Company, so I am feeling very lost. Barbara had undertaken to run an Exhibition of photographs for the Himalayan Club and now I have got to do it, and am already busy collecting pictures.
While I was laid up I did quite a lot of light reading. I must have read about half a dozen novels, which is a thing I have not done for simply ages. Amongst others I read Hugh Walpole’s book “The Inquisator” and was disappointed in it. Everyone in it seems to be suffering severely from liver, and its a miserable sort of story. I enjoyed the Rogue Herries series so much. The Cornish atmosphere does not seem to suit him so well.
There is really nothing else to write about. People have been awfully kind about coming to see me, but I have not been doing anything that is worth writing home about, so I will just send my best love to you all and finish.
LJT