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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 10/09/1913

    20 Holford Square

    Percy Circus

    London, England

    October 9, 1913

    My Dear Son,

    Very pleased to hear you had such a good time with Dr. B. and feeling so much better for it. My only regret that you did not take a longer vacation. It was certainly very kind of Dr. B. You would not find many English that would have been so kind. Just to think of the English in America how scared they are to give you a meal. I never forget how they treated Mr. Gregory when he came to see them. Never asked him for a meal. That is the true English spirit here. Take all you can but give nothing. In fact if you ask them a question, they look for something for it. The man that rents this property was telling me this morning that the man that takes the refuse away expects a tip every time. Twice a week they fetch it away. He says he used to tip them but he has quit it.

    Well Walter Pa is thinking very seriously about you getting married. He thinks he has found you a girl and Irish at that, but before saying very much I would like to ask you a question. Have you any desire to get married? Pa has gone so far as to tell them he thinks she would suite you. Well I think she is a nice little girl. The more I was with her the more I liked her, just simple, no affectation, not self conscious like your mother. She is smart, very economical. The mother says she would hardly let the mother buy anything, only spent 31 shillings on her self for a little purse. She said maybe you would not like her. They stayed two weeks and came for tea nearly every evening. She kept us laughing telling Irish stories.

    We took them to the Suffragettes meeting. We had a novel experience there. One of the speakers was fine woman arrested on the stage just as she got up to speak. Annie Kenney was her name. She has been in jail six times. She goes on the hunger strike, then they have to let her out. She looked very bad and weak. She says I hear the detectives are around and I want to speak. Just then 3 or 4 big detectives and police men rushed on the stage, and grabbed her. The women on the stage jumped on the men tore their hats to pieces, got their stick and beat them over the head.

    There were 5 or 6 arrested, then they put the hats and stick up for sale. The old hat brought 5 pounds, $25 from an American, and the stick 2.10 pounds. Such a commotion as there was in the pavilion for some time. Could hardly get the people quieted down. I was afraid Pa would go and help the girl and get himself in trouble, as he is a great sympathizer with them. Mrs. Cranston and daughter enjoyed it very much. She said she would not have missed it for anything. She was nearly crying when she saw the poor girl handled so roughly.…

    Pa has bought me two rings, a plain one or wedding ring, something like you will have to be looking for if you take up Pa's proposition. My other is very thin and has broken couple of times. The two only cost $3 and they are lovely. Couldn't wish for anything nicer.…

    Your loving Mother

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