1940 March
From LJT to Romey
Bengal Hagpur Hotel, Ranchi
March 4th, 1940
My Darling Romey,
It was very nice to get a budget of home letters, just as we were stepping into the car last Wednesday morning to come up here. Your letter told of the first hockey match, played on extremely difficult ground. It is funny out here now, you know we don’t get news of the weather conditions in England, till sometime after the days described have passed, because, I understand, knowledge of the weather is or might be a help to the enemy planes. In spite of all the descriptions, I find it very hard to picture England under such wintery conditions. Aunt must have been very skillful in managing the water pipes and having no freezing up for nearly everyone seems to have been in trouble with their water.
Some friends of ours are staying here---the poor husband has been terribly ill with typhoid and he has come up here to recoup. Both he and his wife are mad about Ballet, and they have with them quite a library of books on the Russian and other Ballets. I spent such a happy Sunday afternoon, stretched on a long chair in the garden looking at some of these books and remembering the ballets I had seen. I wish I had managed to take you in better seats at Covent Garden. We were really too far away to get the full flavour of the performance. One really wants to be near enough to be able to see the expressions of the faces.
I was on the point of putting some writing work for the Himalayan Club into my box to bring up here, and then I changed my mind and decided that I would take a holiday. I have been enjoying it so much. I’ve been reading books at any hour --morning or afternoon, without allowing myself to feel that I ought to be doing something else. It’s really a great pleasure, for I never allow myself to do that at home. I am reading a pretty solid, but very interesting book. It is the autobiography of Pandit Jawahalal Nehru, the great Indian Nationalist Leader, He is a fine, able man, but he is and always has been a complete nationalist. That is, he wants Independence for India with no links to the British Empire. His points of view and criticisms of British methods are enlightening and sometimes rather unpleasantly startling, but he does not seem to put forward any definite scheme about how India is going to uphold her complete Independence, or how he proposes to deal with the very large numbers of Indians who do not believe in it, but prefer Dominion States, which is already promised.
I am being driven almost demented by crowds of tiny flies that float in the air just in front on ones eyes. They appear in dry climates like this when the mangoes are in blossom and are the most frightful curse. I keep on spraying all round with flit, but it only keeps the wretches off for two or three minutes.
It’s almost time to wake Dad up for tea, so--best of love,
Mother
From LJT to Annette
B.H.Rly Hotel
Ranchi
Bihar
March 5th 1940
My darling Annette
It was lovely to get two letters from you yesterday. They were waiting for us when we got in from our morning drive and walk, and I read them aloud to Dad, as we sat under the trees and he drank his glass of milk, re-inforced with Glucose D! Its extraordinarily hard to picture this winter weather in England, for I have never seen anything of the sort. I am awfully glad that you got, at any rate, the pleasure of skating for it must have been awfully trying in many ways. I wish snow storms or something would arrive to help the poor Finns. It seems too ghastly that they should be driven back now after the magnificent fight they have put up.
We were, of course, extremely interested to hear that there are to be no exams this year for the Civil Service. You would not anyway have been able to sit till next year. Surely they will be making some arrangements to recruit for the Civil Services? What I do think is that you should not take on a temporary war job, if it can be avoided. You have had a long and expensive training and (so long as you are doing some useful work) I feel that you should go in for something which will give you a permanent career. There are – (or so I imagine) plenty of women without special training and not specially wanting to be “permanent”, who are available for special war jobs. Does this sound dis-loyal? I don’t mean it in that way and should desperate need arise, everything should be swept aside in order to help the National effort – but with things roughly as they seem to be at present, I think capable young women like yourself are doing just as valuable service by carrying on with the ordinary work of the country.
Aunt seems to have enjoyed herself very much with you. Its so good for her to get away from her household cares for a bit, and one loves to hear of her doing so, for she appreciates the holiday and anything that she does, so enormously. Dad is studying two books I have just got for him from England on the subject of “Soils” and he has been pouring out information to me about loams, sands, clays and different types of humus. I feel slightly bewildered by it all, but I think it will sort itself out a bit. A large amount of grubbing in the earth both in garden, field and stream, as a child, has left me with a certain feeling for earths. – Its Dad’s work on the irrigation schemes that have interested him in this topic. He wants to know whether some of the arguments he put forward about the silt brought down by the divers and the properties of the soils which it is supposed to fertilize, are true. It hurts us dreadfully here to see the rather jolly Santhal peasants doing everything they can to destroy the fertility of the soil. They sweep up every leaf and gather up every scrap of dung and take it home to burn. They are destroying what little is left of the Sal Forests, so that erosion is going on to a frightful extent – and even where grass is making an effort to hold the soil to-gether, the women go out and dig it up by the roots and take it home to feed their cattle on - Its a viscious round of poverty and stupidity of course – but how to teach them any better?
We are greatly distressed at the loss of the Flying Boat – “Hannible” – With the selfishness that one is always coming up against in oneself – my second or third thought was “Have any of my letters been lost.
The end of the paper and the lunch bell have corresponded - ! I must go and eat though really I think I am eating too much up here
Best love
Mother
From LJT to Annette
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 13th 1940
My darling Annette,
Its awfully pleasant getting a budget of letters from home these days. and I am grateful to all three of you, as well as to Aunt, for writing such interesting letters. There was some amusing stuff in Dicky’s last letter, and a pleasant impression that he was finding life interesting and amusing and physically, not too uncomfortable. (In spite of Aunt Mona’s terrible fears for him!) Where in the world does she get her ideas from?)
I hope you will be able to get hold of some snap shots of yourself for us. Its a long time since we saw any pictures of any of you. I would like to see you on the ice, Romey on a horse, and Dicky in his bluejackets clothes. Its awfully nice to know that H.D. and Winsome are back in Calcutta. I have missed them very much while they have been away. Dad has missed them too. He likes talking to H.D. better than anyone I think. I am going to lunch with them to-morrow, and longing to hear all the news which I know they will have. Is’nt it lucky that they have been able to get a nice house, just where they want and into which they can move at once. Its rather a big house I believe, and they say they have a good spare room, where we shall be able to stay, and that is very nice too.
* * * * A long gap here. Its now after dinner. I was last writing just before tea. A School Master from Tamluk subdivision of Midnapore turned up to ask if I would go down there to open a Health Exhibition which is being largely run by the local raja, - - no, not quite a raja, but a big landowner of long descent. I refused, saying (which is true to a point) that Herbert was still not strong and that I did not way to leave him, but if that excuse had not offered, I should have found another for I have no intention of spending the time and money necessary for going to Mahishidal, beyond Tamluk to perform any ceremony. After tea, I was having a look round the garden with Dad when Mrs Palmer and her dogs came in to see us. Then we were joined by Maxie’s little daughter, in charge of her sweeper. She is a most engaging pup! Next Miss Westwater, the Scotch Missionary arrived on the scene, and stayed till dusk. With a sigh of relief I saw her go, - ran upstairs to change, and (as I hoped!) finish my mail, but before I had finished dressing, the matron of the Hospital came in for a chat and a glass of sherry, and did not go till dinner-time, and so here we are!
I am looking forward to your next letter, which will perhaps tell something of what the Principal thinks about possible careers.
Do you know, I think I will stop this. I know I am not writing anything in the least interesting, nor do I feel that I am likely to do so.
Best love, and I hope next week’s letter will be more of a success!
Mother
From LJT to Romey
Chinsurah, Bengal
March 13th, 1940
My darling Romey,
A letter from you, with good wishes for Dad’s birthday, arrived most opportunely on the very day! You were the only good child who remembered it. For one reason and another, I had not managed to get him a present. I shall try to do so when I am in Calcutta tomorrow, but I have no idea what he wants. He did not have much of a birthday, because we had the long drive back from Asansol, over a familiar and not very interesting road, and then he was faced with piles of work that Mr Haldar had not managed to get done. He fell into the glooms, poor dear! I shall be so glad when he can leave India and not feel all the time the sort of menace of files hanging over him. I long for him to be able to work at his own time, and with his hands instead of his head.
I quite understood that you did not have much time to write during the exeat weekend, and really did not expect a letter. It was good of Joyce and Frank to have you, and even if there were no thrilling doings, I know it is always pleasant to have a few days away from routine. I was amused to hear that the Elliot Smiths thought you like Dad full face, and like me side face. Barring the fact that you are fair, I can’t see any resemblance to Dad, but I do see a likeness to me.
Some time ago I asked for news of Mr Averil, whether his book is published yet, and what he is doing. Did you hear anything about him from John? Dad’s old friend Mr Cape, has written a letter in which he gives you great praise for doing so well in School Cert! It’s odd that he says it is rare to pass it at fifteen. It must be the class of boys he was teaching, for Dicky did it at fourteen and so did Gavin, and Annette would have, but for the trouble with her eye, so that she was delayed until she was fifteen. I am sure it is not as exceptional as Mr Cape makes out, --not that I want to detract from your merits in doing so well, for both Dad and I were pleased and proud that you were so successful.
Aunt tells me that you are acting as Head of the House. I wonder how you like it. Being head of anything has its pains as well as its pleasures. The great thing is that it is so much easier to take responsibility in later years if you have already been through the mill at school.
You would adore Max’s daughter, Sally! She is the sweetest pup! She is fat and jolly, not at all nervous, intelligent (I think) and full of energy. I really rather wish I had risked getting too fond of her, and taken her myself! However, she is being an enormous joy to the lonely little five-year old girl to whom I have given her, and I have no doubt I shall see a good bit of her. In the middle of last night, Max woke us up by making a loud howling. I switched on the light. He was lying on his bed, apparently asleep, and with nothing wrong. I spoke to him and he banged his tail hard on the bed, and looked up at me. Dad and I came to the conclusion that he must have had a nightmare! He was sick this morning, so perhaps he had indigestion. It makes me very sad to think of parting with him tomorrow when Harry and Winsome return.
I hope the riding will continue during the Easter holidays. If you can do get someone to take a photo of you on a horse. It is a long time since I saw you on one, or indeed had a photo of you at all! I still think the snap shot I took of you in your riding things is the best one I have of you, and I still have it hanging over my writing table.
I am longing to hear the results of Gavin’s exam. I do hope he does well. I have every expectation that he will.
Your letter has come first today. I must move on to the others now.
Best love, darling
Mother
Family letter from LJT
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 13th 1940
My Dears,
Though its only a fortnight since I used a typewriter, my fingers feel a little awkward!
Its rather nice to be home again, though I am sorry to say that coming back into fairly hot weather, and being faced with a great heap of work, has made Herbert feel that he is not as strong as he thought, so that I am really wishing I had persuaded him to take another week’s leave. I suppose the first couple of days of tackling work again after one has been ill, are the worst. Unfortunately Mr Haldar, who has been acting for Herbert, has not cleared off as much of the work as he might have done, offering as an excuse the idea that he did not want to interfere with files on which Herbert had already made any comments, for fear he should give orders with which Herbert did not agree. As Herbert had told him that with the exception of one or two things, he did not care a hang what he did, the excuse is not a very good one!
One of the excitements of our home-coming was getting in touch with Harry and Winsome. We had a long talk over the telephone on Monday evening. It is lovely to feel that they are back in Calcutta again. By a great stroke of luck they have been able to get a furnished house in Alipore, with permission to occupy it immediately, and they are moving in to-day. I am expecting a lorry to arrive here at any moment, to fetch Charlotte’s nursery furniture, and a few other of their things which they want to supplement what is in the house. It seems we are going to be lucky enough to go on housing some of the things which they will not want in this furnished house, at any rate for the time being, and though they are not essentials, they add greatly to the amenities of this place. There has been a great sorting of mattresses, and Winsome’s are now safely wrapped up ready for transit. The bearer left to himself is quite incapable of telling one mattress from another. I am going in to lunch to=morrow, and, sad to say, I have to return Max to his rightful owners! I shall miss him very much, and I am afraid he will miss me too. He has become one of those shadow dogs, who cannot bear to be out of sight of the object of their affection.
Our visit to Ranchi was really a great success, and the place was well suited for the purpose for which we went there, i.e. a climate cool enough to be pleasant, and to make walking a pleasure and not a weariness, and yet warm enough to sit about in the open, without feeling cold. During the last few days there, we had some amusing talks with the Rani Sahibha of Nayaghur, one of the Orissa Feudatory States. She was staying in the hotel with her small sone aged six, her Secretary, and a number of satellites. She is a pretty merry young woman, a granddaughter of the late famous Maharaja Sir Jamshir Singh Bahadur of Nepal. She has the verve and light-heartedness of the Nepali combined with the heritage of good looks from Rajput grandmothers, who had married into the Nepal Royal family. The women do not observe purdah in Nepal, I believe, but the great ladies only move about in a formal sort of way, and the court is rules by strict etiquette. This little lady, having married a modern minded young ruler, has cast off the schakles of old custom with a cheer. Her ordinary wear in Ranchi was slacks shirt and coat, all very nicely made. She owns several cars, and drives herself. Plays tennis:- I dont know how well or how badly - - and holds some most original ideas on how the law in India should be reformed. When she and her husband payed a visit to Nepal last year, they took the wherewithal for an evening cocktail in various medicine bottles marked “The Mixture” “to relieve indigestion” and so on, for spiritoeus liquers are entirely taboo in court circles in that remote kingdom. There was a good deal of talk about the forthcoming meeting of the Indian Congress, for the site of the meeting is at a place called Rahgarh, not far from Ranchi. Herbert asked the Rani what she thought of Ghandi, to which, throwing up her hands, and making a grimace she replied with her favourite expression for anything she does not like, “Oh! Horrible! Horrible!”. Another person who turned up the day before we left Ranchi, was the son-in-law of my old friend Agnes Majundar. The young man has an odd history. He belonged to the Aborinigees of Chota Nagpur. He was adopted and educated by a bishop of Chota Nagpur, and eventually sent to Oxford, where he got his Blue for Hockey and a degree. He played for the Indian Olympic hockey team, and failed to get into the I.C.S for which he was really destined. By influence he got a job in Burmah Shell in Calcutta. He met and married Tara Majundar, much to the distress of most of her relatives. He has proved entirely unreliable. He lost his job in Burmah Shell, hung about for a bit, and got a job, teaching in West Africa. He kept that for a bit, and then lost it, and since then he has toppled out of one job, and somehow in some extraordinary way, always sees to fall into another. The last I heard of him was last year in Darjeeling when his father-in-law had told him that he would look after his daughter and grand-children, but was not prepared to support him indefinitely. Now in some amazing way he has constituted himself as Leader of the Aboriginees of Chota Nagpur – (They call themselves “the original aristocrats of India”) The job is not a paid one, but rumour has it that a good deal of money comes to him from firms like Tatas, who employ huge numbers of these people, in the form of baksheesh to keep the labour force quiet. His plan now is to lead twenty thousand of his aborigines, armed with their bows and arrows, down to Ramghur, and have a day or twos sport shooting up the Congress! I wonder whether they will really attempt it! The old “Forward Block” of the Congress, led by Subash Bose, which has been cut off by the Congress All India Committee, are proposing to run an opposition camp a couple of miles from the Congress Camp, and if they do it, there is every chance of a row between those two factions too.
We came back from Ranchi via Hazaribagh, where we stayed a night. It is a longer route, but much prettier, and it avoids about an hour’s drive through the most horrible partly abandoned coal field areas. After driving for some twenty miles across the Ranchi plateau at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, one begins winding amongst hills and the road drops steeply down the ghats that edge the plateau. Its extremely pretty, with fine views of the plains below. From the foot of the ghats, the road crosses the flat valley floor corssing the Damodar River. It is close to this crossing of the Damodar that the little town of Ramghar, which is the site for the “Congress Town” of this year, lies and we saw the huge area of streets of little matting huts coming into being. An electric light plant is installed and a pumping and filtering station for water supply. Thousands of people from all over India collect there, and it takes an enormous organisation to house and feed them, and make arrangements for sanitation. I was interested to see the preparations going on.
There are two things that make it difficult for me to concentrate on this letter this morning. One is that the lorry has arrived and the furniture is being loaded up on it, and I have to keep on popping down to see that no mistakes are made. The other thing is that my mind keeps on drifting off to the Finnish Peace talks. I heard over the air at 6.24 a.m. to-day that news had just come in from Moscow that a Peace Treaty had been signed with Finland, but had not been confirmed by any announcement from Helsinki. I dont know whether to feel thankful that the awful ordeal of the Finns has perhaps ceased, or horrified that after the stupendous fight they have put up, that they should have to give anything to Russia.
Now to go back to my letter. - -
I did not check the milage, but I should think it is about twenty miles across the valley floor, and then one begins the climb on to the Hazaribagh plateau which is about the same altitude as the Ranchi one, and of much the same type, with groups of hills sticking up out of it. The only difference is that there is much more forest remaining in the Hazaribagh district, which makes the country perhaps a little prettier, but also makes the hills much less climable. The total distance between the two places is about 60 miles, and we arrived in time for lunch. We stayed at a sort of guest house run by a Mr and Mrs Foster, who used to be on the Bengal coal fields. They bought up an old German Mission House about a couple of miles out of the town, and have made a successful venture of it. There is a fair sized main house, and about half a dozen cottages. They could only give us accomodation in a tent, but as the weather is so good at this time of year as a rule, we thought it would be quite alright. As fate would have it, one of the occasional stormy periods which do occur in March, chose that night to come. There was a good deal of rain during the night, - - not that that inconvenienced us, for the tent was a big double-fly one, but another storm started about 5 a.m. and went on with scarcely a slackening till about 8.30. This made it difficult for the servants to bring us tea or bath water, or indeed for us to get into our bathroom tent which was a seperate one pitched next door.
It was tiresome, but no harm was done. It was still spitting with rain when we left at 10 a.m. and it was another hour before the clouds rolled away and the sun came out. The country we went through was attractive, with a lot of forest and small hills. Just before lunch we passed the foot of Parasnath, the sacred mountain of the Jains. By this time we were down on the level of the plains, probably a few hundred feet above sea-level, so that Parasanath, which is just under 2,000 ft, looked quite impressive standing up above us. It is thickly covered with forest, and we could not spot the rough stone steps which rise the whole way to the temple on the summit, and which the truly devout Jains, climb on their knees. We lunched a few miles further on by the side of a charming lake, which is really the water supply for the Bihar coal-fields. A valley between hills has been dammed up, and fenced in. One has to pay Rs1 for a pass to go inside. Consequently the area round the Lake has become a sanctuary both for birds and plants. The ubiquitus goat cleans up all the plants and leaves it can lay its tongue to over most of India, but its marvellous to see what grows and flourishes where the goat is excluded. We joined our outward route not long after this (We had been on the Grand Trunk Road for some time) and reached Asansol soon after 4 o’clock, where we stayed with the Peelings of the Indian Iron and Steel Co. The next day we came along home, over the familiar road. The red silk cotton trees which were so glorious when we made the outward journey on the 28th Feb, have dropped all their blossoms now, but many of the trees have their fresh spring green, and look pretty. We reached home at three o’clock, and found that everything had been nicely looked after by the Haldars and by our servants in our absence. The garden, at least the winter annuals, are going over, and the garden is looking a little raggy, partly oweing to the storms, but the rain has made the grass beautifully green again. The Haldars left after tea, and we have quickly settled into our usual home routine again.
Harry reports that they had a good voyage, and no alarms or discomforts. I had been so regretful that we could not keep our promise to have Winsome and Charlotte here on their arrival, but it has turned out for the best, because it must have been much more convenient for Winsome to be on the spot to see the new house, and superintend the moving in. It is only a few hundred yards from the house in which they are staying.
Max’s daughter has arrived here, and taken up her residence with little Christine Wright-Nevill. She is a darling pup. She came to call on “Father” last evening, and they had a tremendous game. Max is so good and gently with pups, and so careful not to hurt them. The servants are all very sad that we are not having the little creature, and the idea that I do not want to get devoted to a dog and it to me, when we shall be leaving India during the next year or two, is quite beyond their comprehension.
Its always a pleasure to come back to this house. I could wish we were not in the early stages of the hot weather, but still! fans and ice and motor cars do much to make it bearable.
Forgive me if this letter is disjointed, but it has been written under some difficulty.
My apologies to those who did not see the letter I had to write by hand last week, as I did not take my type-writer to Ranchi with me. I fear that letters to Peg and to Joyce went down with the “Hannible”
Best love to you all
LJT
Family letter from LJT
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 20th 1940
My Dears,
Added to the somewhat complicated news from Europe, the Indian papers naturally have columns and columns each day about the proceedings of the Indian National Congress. Its hard to see how Europe is going to unravel the tangles into which she has tied herself. Its just as hard to see what India is going to do. I try to understand and to think clearly about what is going on, but it is hard to keep the issues free from prejudice. There seem to me to be three fairly distinct lines of thought. One is what is best for India. Another is what India wants, whether it is best for her or not. And a third (and the one from which it is difficult for us to get away) is what is best for the British Empire. The weather is not being kind to the Congress. You have probably heard the news that a cloud-burst turned the arena into a lake on the opening day, and soaked the crowd. Though storms are not unusual at this time of year, it is rare to have as many or ones bringing so much at this time of year. It must make the town of bamboo matting which has been built for the Congress, extremely uncomfortable. For us it is keeping the weather astonishingly cool, and the lawns and maidans (pronounced my/daan) are as green as they are in the rainey season. We have scarcely used the punkahs except a little in the middle of the day, as yet.
It was a great joy to see Harry and Winsome last Thursday. I went into lunch with them in their new house, 7 Alipore Road, and Harry came back from office to see me. We talked and Talked, but still felt we had only just begun to give and receive all that we want to hear. The getting of this house has been a piece of great good fortune. Houses are hard to find in Calcutta, now, for senior people are not going home. The friends that Harry and Winsome had asked to try to find them somewhere to live, had, until a few days before they arrived, not been able to hear of anything at all near the requirements given, then suddenly Mackinnon Mackenzie (the shipping firm) who have four houses belonging to the firm, decided that they would let one of them, and, knowing that H.D. was just arriving, decided to give him the first refusal of it. Barring the fact that the rent is alarmingly high, the house is ideal for them. It is in the nicest part of Alipore, close to the Agri-Horticultural Gardens, and it stands in a pleasant garden. Downstairs there is a big dining room, a smallish sitting room for Winsome, a very big spare room, a huge pantry, with a monster Frigidair in it, and a box room. Upstairs there is a big drawing-room, a day nursery and a night nursery. H.D. and Winsome’s big bedroom and another large room for Harry’s combined dressing-room and study. A lot of furniture, including a beautiful grand piano, is being left, and most convenient of all, they were able to go into it at once.
When I left here on Thursday morning, the entire domestic staff lined up to say good-bye to Maxie. Arrive in Alipore, he first of all just greeted Winsome with a polite wag of his tail, as he does all nice ladies, and then suddenly as she stooped down to fondle him, he evidently recognised the smell of her, and he jumped all over her and licked her. I was so glad! I dont think he remembered Charlotte, and I did not see his meeting with Harry. When I left he made a detirmined effort to come with me, but I have no doubt he settled down quite happily with his own people. Herbert and I are going in to stay with Harry and Winsome on Friday morning (It will be Good Friday) and return here on Saturday evening. We are looking forward to it very much.
I managed to see some more of my friends on Thursday. I had tea with Anina Brandt, and then met the Rankens and went with them to see the film, “The Rains came” and back to dine with them afterwards. We enjoyed the film very much indeed, and thought it extremely well produced. There were a few minor things one could find fault with, but they were small and not important. The houses and the scenery were all in character, The Palace was much like the palace at Burdwan, and the guest house, the Mission and the other bungalows were all true to life. I thought the acting on the whole, was excellent too. The weakest thing was the Bengali gentleman, who neither looked, talked or behaved like a Bengali. For almost the first time, I think that I have seen a film which is better than the book on which it is founded.
Herbert and I have been enjoying the evenings we have been able to spend in the garden, for there is so much to do, - - lots of “deads” to cut off, trimming of shrubs, and pulling out of annuals that have finished flowering. On several evenings we have been interrupted by visitors, but often that has been pleasant too, for the early evenings have been delightfully cool, and we have sat drinking and chatting in the garden. We had to attend a Scout Rally on Saturday afternoon, which, except that Indian-like, nothing was to time, was not a bad show. Herbert had said he would only stay for half an hour but he stayed about an hour, I think, and then went off as he was feeling tired. I remained to present the trophies, and attended the Camp Fire. The District Judge was being enrolled, and then receiving his “commission” as District Commissioner. He has been keen on getting the Scouts, who had practically died out here, revived, and yet in that strange slack Indian way, which the European finds so difficult to understand, he had not bothered to get himself a Khaki shirt and stockings or a Scout Hat, but wore a sort of beige sports shirt, and stockings of the same sort of colour. In fact his shorts, were the only part of his dress that looked in the least like Scout uniform!
21st I went down to Calcutta again on Tuesday for shopping, dressmaker, Himalayan Club work, and to see a performance by dancers from Manipur. They had been advertised to perform for three days, and it was only on the morning of Tuesday that there was a notice in the paper that the show was finished. Walter Jenkins who was taking me to see them, and I decided to go to see the film of “Livingstone and Stanley” instead, and, though one could find quite a bit to criticise in it, we enjoyed it, and thought it well done on the whole.
There was a great show here yesterday. Part of the regiment from Calcutta, the Cameronians, have been doing a four day march and camp in this district, and they came through here at 10.30 yesterday morning. We had notice that the officers would call on Herbert at 10.30. I enquired from our Military Intelligence Office, what the troops would be doing mean time, and how many of them there would be. Learning that they would just be waiting about, and that they numbered about 110, I said I should like them to come into the compound, and that (assisted by some of the other ladies) I would give them lemon squash and biscuits. I brought the fresh limes up from Calcutta and got four other households to undertake to make 12 quarts of squash each, and to lend servants and glasses and in that way we got it done quite easily. The M.I.O.’s wife sent cigarettes for the men. The three Officers and four N.C.O. had drinks and sandwiches in the house. Luckily for the men, it was an exceptionally cool day, with clouds covering the sky and a fresh breeze from the north. They went from here to Chandanagore, where they saluted the French Flag. Then they went in lorries to the old town of Serampore, marched through it, and then home to Barracks in Calcutta in their lorries. It was a great thrill for the neighbourhood, who seldom see troops. From my Indian friends I gather that British troops are regarded with fear and dislike by the people as a whole, but all the same they turn out to see any sort of show, and in Districts where there is a good deal of political unrest, and labour trouble, its just as well that they should realize that there are plenty of troops to keep order, within easy call, should necessity arise.
Herbert was asked the other day, if he would take on a special job. There has been a Commission sitting on the question of Permanent Settlement of Bengal. Their report is to be signed to-day, and the Government want someone to consider the report and advise how best its recommendations could be put into practice. It would be a piece of work lasting probably some six or seven months. It will be a difficult and somewhat intricate thing involving careful consideration of the Revenue laws, and the terribly intricate systems of land tenure out here, and many many other factors. Herbert said he did not really strong enough to tackle a new piece of work like that at the moment. Another thing which I think weighs heavily against undertaking it is the sad fact that whatever is recommended is not in the least likely to be undertaken unless it is politically expedient in a party and vote-catching sense. Other considerations are that we do not at all want to leave this house and garden. Accomodation in Darjeeling is almost impossible to get now, and it would be difficult to find anything in Calcutta for the few months of the Rains, so I was glad when Herbert decided to turn down the request, though I believe it was a compliment to ask him to do it, for it is considered a difficult and an important piece of work. Were he absolutely fit, and if there was a chance of the work bearing real fruit in the shape of benefit to the people, it would be the sort of work he would enjoy doing.
Incidentally he is definitely stronger and better in health than he was last week. There is no doubt that now-a-days, a life of quiet routine is what suits him best.
We heard a few days ago that the Administrateur of Chandanagore, M. Menard and his wife, are leaving. He has been expecting to be called up for Military Service for some time, as he is the youngest of the Administrateurs out here. He and his wife came to say good-bye to us last night, and sat talking for a long while. We are sorry to say good-bye to them, for we have enjoyed their company, and like them both. On the other hand they are being replaced by the people who were here before, M. and Madame Baron, who are both charming.
The news came over the wireless yesterday morning of the R.A.F. raid on the Island of Sylt, and we are anxious to hear more details.
This about exhausts our weeks news, I think, so I will end as usual with my love to you all
LJT
From LJT to Annette
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 21st 1940.
My darling Annette,
Your letter about jobs for the future made me put on my thinking cap, to consider what could be done in the way of helping to collect some information for you. I wanted Dad to write to Sir John Anderson, but he would not, and did not want me to do so, though I was perfectly willing to do it. I have written to George Pilcher, who knows a fair number of people in high or highish places, and asked him to see what he can find out for you, and to communicate with you direct. The last I heard of him was that he was at Abingdon hoping to get some sort of National work. Dad had written to Mr Cape, who also, in his way, knows a good many people, and has had years of experience of helping people to get jobs, or advising them about what to do. I am also thinking of writing to Sir Harry Lindsay, who used to be out here in the I.C.S. and with whom, as with his wife, we were quite friendly in a mild way. We have seen them from time to time, and came across them two or three times when we were home in 1937. He then was, and I think still is head of the Imperial Institute. He might be in a position to get some sort of information about how they intend to recruit for the Civil Service next year. Another person I might write to, though I have not seen her for years, is Miss Florence Horsburgh, who stayed with us for some weeks in Barisal, and knew you as a small girl. She has been a M.P. for some years, and is Under Secretary for something or another now I believe.
Its odd that the Principal of Somerville was not more helpful. Evidently a lot of women are keen on Social work of some sort. In some ways I revert to my original idea of the higher grades of Secretarial work – Which reminds me of Idris Matthews’s sister, who did so well in that line. Idris is coming here for the week end, and I will ask him if you might get in touch with his sister, whom I have met, but whose married name I forget. She lives in London, and might be able to give you opinions about Secretarial careers and tips about them too. Meantime it will be interesting to hear whether the Employment Bureau have any ideas, or can give you any information. Its a boon that you have the enterprise to be looking about on your own, and trying to find out what is going. I can understand so well your willingness to be interested in almost anything, without having a terrific urge in any direction. Its curious that the Principal cannot do so.
Your idea of a N.U.S. Walking tour in the Why Valley is a good one. Do you remember motoring down there from Malvern when you were still a small girl, and seeing Tintern Abbey?
And now to thank you for the lovely prictures of Chartres! They have given us both so much pleasure, and we have looked at them a number of times, recognising old friends. The Ménards were here yesterday, and he, seeing the book lying on the table, pounced upon it, for he comes from a village near Chartres, and adores the place. Looking at these lovely things brings up in my mind that fascinating and unanswerable puzzle as to why some statues and some buildings and some pictures, seem to mean so much, and to have such life and personality, while others, exteriorally (I wonder why I have written that! It should be externally, of course.) - - just as beautiful, seem to mean nothing at all.
I have had a letter from Dr Fritz Kolb, in which he says that it has not yet been decided whether it will be possible to allow him to go to England, but it is probable that if the permission is given, the Government will lend him sufficient money, above his budget, to pay for his journey. He writes a nice letter, and I shall write to him again in a day or two, and ask him whether he will write an account of the climbing he did in Lahoul last year with four English and one other Austrian member of the N.U.S., for the Himalayan journal.
There is an interesting article in the December number of Harper’s magasine, which Louise Ranken gave to me. It is by Professor Laski, and is entitled “The duty of the Intellectual now” Until near the end his own politi-opinions do not appear. He thinks that we should do our best to understand what is going on round us, and not to think at large in this way or that, saying that we are not going to take up any one direction, because anyone who tries to shut himself up in his own “Ivory Tower”, and refuses to come to decisions about things, deliberately puts power into the hands of people who are seeking it, and who later may drag him forth from his refuge, and insist that he remain neutral no longer, but loudly proclaim that he things as they do. This is crudly put by me, but well worked out by him over several pages, and with great truth. There was something of that thought in remarks made to me by Baroness Giskra some time ago, to the effect that the Germans who disapprove of the Nazi regime, are not altogether blameless, for at the time when they might have helped to turn the tide of his rise to power, they “lay low” like that famous Brer Rabbit “and said nothing”. I don’t think I have ever read anything written by Laski before. He has a lucid and pleasing style and puts an argument well. Of course he does not insinuate, nor do I mean to do so, that this only happened in Germany. I have been thinking much lately while I have been reading several books on the happenings in Europe during the last twenty years, that “the People” are to blame in many ways for making so little attempt to understand the happenings in Europe and in the World. I have been extremely conscious of the lack in myself, and perhaps that is why I was much interested in this article. I admire the people who have the courage to act in obedience to their own ideas and opinions, even if it puts them to loss and inconvenience. I am thinking at the moment of Baron Ow Wachendorf, who sacrificed his position, his estates and probably the citizenship of his country, rather than bow to an ideaology with which he did not agree. Anina Brandt too, in a quieter way, for she could have lived in comfort on the rent of her house in Berlin, but she has preferred to live on what she could earn outside Germany, rather than live under a regime with which she cannot agree. I wonder whether I should have such courage if put the test. I’m afraid I doubt it!
Other letters are waiting to be written! Goodbye for the moment, and my love to you, and best wishes for a good holiday
Mother
From LJT to Romey
Chinsurah, March 21st, 1940
My darling Romey,
Congratulations on being made full Head of your House. It is always a certain tribute to character to be put in charge of anything. I hope you will find the responsibilities interesting and not too heavy. What is Margaret Evans aiming at if she passes “Higher”? It is lucky that you get on pretty well together, as I gather you do from your letter, or it might be really awkward for you both.
The other day I was given a present of a catapult, and I bought another in Calcutta the day before yesterday. We want to drive away the ravens who have become such a nuisance, and ant any moment we may need to drive off monkeys, though, Praise be! We have seen none here for months. Last year they were a dreadful nuisance in the garden and did a lot of harm. At present I am no use with a catapult at all, but I intend to put up a target and practice. It might be rather fun to do it during the weekend when Idris Matthews and Anina Brandt will be here. I fancy that Mogul and the other servants are pretty expert!
It seems so odd without the faithful Max! I often find myself looking round for him. I wonder what he will say when he sees us tomorrow.
The mali and I are making great plans for the garden next year! He has become quite enthusiastic about planting things where they will look nice, instead of just planting things where there happens to be an empty space. We have not been so bothered with blights and pests of different sorts this year, partly because I am always going round looking at things, and so often catch things in the early caterpillar or some other embryo stage before they have done much damage.
One of the squirrels pleased us much yesterday, by sitting up, washing its face, and arranging its whiskers! It then had a quick brush up of its stomach, before it hurried off. I wonder if it had seen some fair lady it wanted to impress.
Best love,
Mother
From LJT to Romey
Chinsurah, March 25th, 1940
My darling Romey,
Aunt sent me the sad news that you were suffering from German measles, but I gather, not suffering very severely. This is the first time for ages that illness of any sort has caused you to be absent from school, isn’t it? I hope you are not finding the time hang heavy on your hands, and won’t you indeed, be going back to schoolwork, or will the holidays be here by the time you are safe company for other people?
Uncle Harry showed us lots of photos the other day, in several of which you appeared. There was one which specially interested Dad, and that was of you doing a dive. He takes a very great interest in your progress in diving, and pored over this photo for quite a while. Little John has improved a lot in general physique, if the pictures speak true. He was rather a weedy little fellow when he first went home from India. I was sorry that the only one of you on a horse, did not show you very well, for John was in front of you. I would like to have some snapshots of you on horseback, it you could get anyone to take some.
There is such a lot that has come out so much more clearly in talk with Uncle Harry and Winsome about the first doings at Highways after war broke out, than managed to get itself conveyed in letters. I loved their descriptions of the digging operations that went on, and the planting and better utilizing of the land in the garden. They also seemed to have found themselves somewhat appalled at the raging arguments that went on amongst the younger members of the joint families, saying that you were the only one, who, like themselves remained silent. Winsome does not like argument at any time, I think, whereas I confess that I enjoy it, provided that it remains friendly, and does not develop into quarreling. Of course, I am well inured to it, for Dad is a born arguer. One has only got to announce any view, and he can’t resist quickly putting the other side of the case. He is in an awkward predicament now, for my views on Chamberlain have been greatly modified lately by books that I have read, and by his own speeches, and from feeling a very warm admiration for him as I did at the time of the Munich Conference, I have cooled off considerably. Dad, who never admired him, has now either got to alter his own position, or else agree with me. Most awkward for him!
I like Charlotte’s new Nurse, and get the impression that the change has been good for Charlotte, for the old Nan was inclined to treat both John and Charlotte as babies, and also she was a fusser.
From what Winsome tells me of the impression she got from Mrs. Gurner, Linette and Auriel were amazed by the lack of manners and sense of honour and duty they found in the school to which they went for a time in Wales. I scarcely thought that such attitudes could exist in schools at the present day. The fact that they do, perhaps explains some of the many unsatisfactory people whom one meets. The extraordinarily wide spread lack of stability and reliability which constantly dumfound me, may be explained by this bad school factor. The casual way people will break promises and fail to fulfill undertakings may spring from the same cause. It is a sad business. I wonder whether the staff of the school are conscious of its shortcomings.
Dr Brandt has been saying how sad she is to see the way three out of the four girls in their ‘Teens’, who came out to Calcutta when war broke out, have got spoiled by these few months in Calcutta. I think it is mad of people to bring children of school age out here. There is no proper sort of niche for them in Calcutta’s highly artificial social life. I am glad I felt no urge to transport you to India.
Dr Brandt is staying the weekend here, and we are being most virtuous this afternoon and having the two Missionary ladies to tea and taking them for a drive in the car afterwards. They are so dull, poor dears! I don’t really know why, because all Missionaries are not.
Dad has just gone down to the garden to cut “deads”, so I think I’ll join him.
Best love my darling,
Mother
From LJT to Annette
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 26th 1940
Handwritten at top of letter ‘Idris Matthews’ sister’s address. Mrs. S. G. Ash. 166 Old Brompton Rd S.W.5. He’s telling her you may write to her.
My darling Annette,
It was odd that three Reader’s Digests should have reached you at the same time. I too, have rather a liking for reading a certain number of American papers, because there seems more probability of finding unbiased news in them, - - no, I should rather say opinions, for the American papers I see are the ones who comment on the news, and not the ones that give it. I think I’ll post you the Harper’s with the article by Harold Laski in it presently. Anina Brandt is reading it at the moment. I was wondering this morning whether the orgy of untruth and the holding of the art of lying up to admiration in which the Nazi party have indulged, has or is having the effect of making England and other countries more careful to speak the truth, through sheer disgust with the other attitude. To deal in lies is terribly dangerous. The practice of telling lies to deceive unfriendly people or powers, becomes a habit that cannot be limited to one field, I believe, and soon you get a nation whose words and deeds both individually and collectively, cannot be trusted. That is the state that India is in, and to my mind it is one of the fundamental reasons why Indians do not do well in trade on a large scale, and why they are not fit to govern themselves. Have you read the penguin Book by Wickham Steed on “The Press”? I have only read the first couple of chapters so far, but I rather fancy he is going to put up a plea to newspapers to try to give the truth as clearly as they can see it, and to the public to support the newspapers who have the courage to do so.
I was glad to hear from you that Gavin liked his papers in the Mods exam. I do hope he does well, and I do wish he could get over his calf love for Absolute Pacifism. I can never see how one can expect to enjoy the protection of a State which, when it comes to the last crisis, one is not willing to help to defend. I can understand refusing to take part in a war of pure aggression, but I cannot understand the refusal to support a war against pure aggression. If one is convinced that nothing can excuse war then the only logical thing to do is to renounce all worldly possessions, and take up some work for the good of humanity, or, as many do in India, taking your staff and begging bowl in hand, live the life of a wandering mendicant.
Anina and I have been looking at the pictures of Chartres with such pleasure. I find in her a mind and taste entirely in sympathy with my own, and I shall miss her when she goes to Darjeeling on Thursday. There are a few men but no other woman in Calcutta with whom I can discuss and enjoy things in the way I can with her. My Indian friend Milly Chaudhuri, comes nearest to it, but she is rather bitter, and a bit of a pessimist, which Anina is not, in spite of all she has been through, and in spite of the fact that her country (which she loves) has trampled under-foot all the ideas and ideals which she holds sacred.
Idris Matthews is going to write to his sister, and tell her you may write to her if you want advice. I meant to write down her name and address, but forgot to do so before he left. I’ll ring him up, and add the information to this letter. I can only remember the sister as “Nessa”, which is not much help towards finding her in London.
Walter Jenkins urges Dad to write to Sir John Anderson about you, so does Uncle Harry, but thinking it over again, I am inclined to think that we will try to get information first, and perhaps write to Sir John, after you have taken your degree. Dad has not committed himself to saying he would write, but he might if it seems that it might be really useful.
Somehow I don’t think with your sensible temperament it is necessary to tell you not to over-work or over-worry about your exam – I’ve probably said to you before this that no examination results are worth strained health or badly frayed nerves. One of the comfortable, optimistic Victorian poets (I think it was) wrote the simple words “Do your best. Leave the rest”. Its an admirable motto, and one which I commend to you
Best love
Mother
Family letter from LJT
Chinsurah
Bengal
March 28th 1940.
My Dears,
For the past hour I have been trying to settle down to write this letter, but one servant after another has come with problems to be settled. I hope they have finished with me now, and will leave me in peace. Anina Brandt has left us this morning, after a few days visit. She has let her tiny flat in Calcutta for six months, and is going to Darjeeling. Several of her pupils have gone or are just going up there, and she has a fairly big job of translating a German Geological book into English, so she thought that she would take the risk, and spend six months in the Hills. I think she will get plenty of work, and she will be living a little cheaper in the small hotel to which she is going than she does in Calcutta. We had Idris Matthews here for Saturday and Sunday nights too, and the new Collector of this district, Mr Chakravarty, of Hooghly, has been with us since early on Tuesday morning, while his own furniture was being moved up from Calcutta, and put in order. He has left us this morning. He is a nice fellow, and has been no trouble as a guest, for he has been working hard all day, and has been interesting to talk to in the evenings. Talking of Nazi-ism, Communism and so on last night, he said that after visiting practically all the countries of Europe as he has done during the last few years, he thinks that England is the only one that enjoys Freedom, France, Fraternity, and nowhere is there Equality, least of all under Communism.
Herbert and I very much enjoyed our visit to Harry and Winsome. We reached their house about 11.30 on Good Friday, and after showing Herbert round, we sat and talked till lunch time, looking at lots of snap shots that Harry had taken at home. After lunch we had a rest, and then went out to tea at Tollygunge, where not only we, but also Maxie met a lot of old friends. First of all Maxie came across the dachshund pup with whom he played so much in Darjeeling, and later he met his little wife Wendy, and they had a great race round to-gether. Max, by the way, was simply over-joyed to see me again, though he has settled down quite happily with his own people. We had specially asked for a quiet evening, and barring a visit from our (also Harry and Winsome’s) American friends, Everard and Louise Ranken, we carried through that programme, just sitting talking and exchanging news of doings in India and in England. It was very delightful. On the Saturday Harry went to office and Herbert and I had some shopping to do, and the job of changing books at the Club, where we also fell in with friends, and had a drink (It was Herbert’s first visit to Calcutta since he fell ill, so he was quite a novelty, so to speak) We went back to lunch at No 7 Alipore Rd, and though we said that H and W had better go and rest after lunch, before their tennis party, actually we all went on talking till it was time for us to move off to “The Pictures” at 2.45. The film was “First Love” starring Deanna Durbin, and not very good, we thought. We had a cup of tea after it, and then drove home, to find that Idris and Anina had beaten us by about five minutes. Idris is working so hard that there is nothing he likes better than to be allowed to moon about in the garden and do nothing. Anina was in the same mood, for she has had a tremendously busy time dealing with all her pupils up to the last moment, and then having to prepare her flat for her tenants, and pack her own belongings for Darjeeling, and others that she does not want there to be left with a friend. We have had the most astonishing weather! Day after day there have been rain storms, and strong cool winds. We sat out in the garden on Sunday morning, and found it delicious. Those of you who know India will realize how odd that is, for normally at this time of year the hot weather has shut down on us, and we should be shutting up the windows at 9.30 a.m. to keep out the hot dry wind, and we should be sitting under the punkahs, trying to keep a little cool. This strange weather has gone on ever since. On Monday night there was a tremendous storm about 9 p.m., which roared round this house like a gale coming in from the East coast at home. The streets in Calcutta were flooded, and lots of trees blown down. Yesterday and to-day the high winds and storms have gone, but its till remarkably cool, and we have all the windows open and are not useing punkahs, nor have we had to water the garden for nearly a week. The pessimists are prophesying disaster, and saying that with all this rain coming now, there will probably be a failure of the Monsoon and consequently a bad or non-existant rice crop. There is, as far as I know no scientific reason why rain in March should mean a failure of rain later in the year, so my feeling is to be thankful for the coolth and the moisture now and wait to mourne, till reason for doing so actually takes place. The rain is heavenly for my garden. The grass looks lovely. Some of the English annual like phlox drummondi, have taken on a new lease of life, and burst into fresh bloom, and other Hot weather annuals we have been able to plant out so comfortably, without their feeling any inconvenience.
We spent the latter part of Sunday morning at a beer party given by the doctor, and a very merry party it was too, with lots of laughter and good stories going round. I have not seen Idris laugh so much for a long time!
There are a lot of changes going on in the official appointments in the Burdwan Division, and the man who has just taken over charge of Howrah District and his wife, came up to tea and dinner with us that day. They are a nice couple, Steward by name, good friends of Winsome and Harry’s and also old friends of Idris’. Mr Stewart is the first English or rather Scotch Collector that Herbert has had in any of the five Districts that go to make up the Burdwan Division, for over a year. They are keen gardeners, and we spent a lot of time going round this garden, and seeing what treasures I could hand on to them.
I enjoyed Sunday as a real holiday, and did not attempt to do anything but knit and talk with my guests, and also enjoyed a long siesta after lunch when I finished that book “Escape” by ? Vance. Herbert also did not attempt to work except for signing a few letters in the morning, and opening the post. I am always glad when he does not work on Sunday.
Its interesting to hear of the number of people who are putting air-conditioning into houses and Offices in Calcutta and other places. We stayed a night at Asansol on our way down here from Ranchi, and our hosts are putting it into their bedroom. At least half a dozen of the people I met in Calcutta either have had, or are going to have it, installed. And so are lots of Offices. Some of the advantages are that not only can you regulate the exact temperature at which you want your room, but you can make the air more moist or dryer, and it is also cleaned, so that no dust comes in. Perhaps the next decade will see a great transformation in house design and in habits of people in the tropics. The old hugely high rooms and wide verandahs went out of fashion to a great extent with the advent of electric fans and light. Now rooms will get much smaller, for the cost of Air-Conditioning is in exact proportion to the number of cubic feet of air in the room. People who have already had air-conditioned bedrooms say that it makes an enormous difference for however hot it may be in the day, the night’s sleep brings real rest and refreshment, and one wakes in the morning feeling renewed and ready for life again, instead of feeling like a bit of chewed string. The difficulty I foresee with only having one room air-conditioned is that one would tend to become unsociable, and like to retire into ones bedroom as much as possible. Few people can afford to do a whole house or even two or three rooms, for the machines are pretty costly to put in. I dont know what they cost to run.
Indian politics seem to me to be becoming more and more confusing. Mr Jinnah’s notion of a seperate Muslim state seems to all of us completely impossible. All over India, except perhaps in the south (about which I do not know) Hindu and Mohammaden are so intermingled, and often carrying on trades that are necessary to the community, but which the followers of the other religion do not practice, that it seems a sheer impossibility to seperate them and transport them to different surroundings.
Mr Chakravarty was saying the other evening that the trouble with so many of the people and the politicians is that they do not trouble to inform themselves of facts before they talk loudly and confidently about many things. He gave the example of a Member of the Legislative Council who was holding forth about the drain on the Indian Finances caused by the pay of British members of the Civil Service. When Mr Chakravarty told him that there were exactly six hundred Englishmen in the I.C.S. he would not believe it, and insisted that the figure must run into thousands. More-over, as Mr C said, as the number of English in the different services goes down, graft and dishonesty go up. Of course Indian politicians are not alone in talking with out investigating, for many English do the same, but scarcely for purposes of public propaganda.
Best love
LJT
From HPV to Romey
Chinsurah, March 31st, 1940
My dear Rosemary,
On this, the last day of the month, the occasion is suitable for the renewal of habits of correspondence. It is nearly dinner time. Your mother has gone to Calcutta and I am not so deadbeat as to have to lie down, a thing of late customary to me. Maybe this is due in part to my having been interrupted in my attempts to garden every evening lately, bending over to cut deads is tiring. It is really hot tonight and the mosquitoes appear in some degree to be discouraged. They have been thick this past few weeks.
Having mentioned to Mr Cape your Certificate achievements with the comment that I had no means of judging the degree of merit involved, I received from him a letter saying ‘Very Great Merit’ on an age basis. He claimed that having seen results for years as a schoolmaster, he was in a position to know. So that, my dear, is that.
You know, the Highways standard of educational achievement and the general assumptions about it are high. In any other family, there would have been a conferring of estates and releasing of birds on such an occasion.
On Good Friday we went into Calcutta and I saw my dear Brother Harry again. We stayed the night with them. Winsome seems very well and happy. They live in a palace. Each bedroom is the size of the ground floor at Highways, so to speak. Harry was in good form. He told me about the families and showed me photos. We had a great visit.
Have I expressed sorrow about the German measles? What do you do by way of gym?--horse, parallel bars, rings, horizontal bar and such?
We found the movie “Gulliver’s Travels” bad, but there was a lovely swimming film attached. That was last Friday. But on the previous Saturday, I took pleasure in the new Deana Durbin.
Much love,
Dad