Letters from Alexander Sutherland Mackay to his Family, 1918 - Part 2

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

 

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On the return journey, we took the

train & then the tubes (underground). The

latter to board is like the pit at the Opera,

you have to shove like old Nick, to get aboard in

turn they only stop a minute at each place.

I forgot to mention that the trains here are

run in couples like London & divided into 1st

& 2nd class. The former means a seat, the latter

standing.

28th Dec. The guide today took us to the

Church of Sacre color Coeur. In going up

we travelled a hill by a tram running

at an angle of about 45%, worked by

Hydraulic Pressure on cogs. Post cards sent

home will show this, the church & the steps

we walked down when returning. The Church

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

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still unfinished, they have been at for

25 years to date has cost something like

£200,000,000. They say it sinks about 2 inches

a year owing to its enormous weight, you

can see cracks in two of the domes. I've never

seen anything like the interior, priceless

coloured windows, carvings, statues etc, whilst

the altar is a perfect picture. When we

went in, they had hundreds of long

tapered candles alight, it simply looked

like Fairyland. In the afternoon we

went to Bike sports & saw a World's champion

in a 100 mile race paced by motor cycles.

There were only 4 entries, today they run

58 miles, the balance goes tomorrow. It

was simply unnatural the way this pot 

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

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stuck to his pacer, one began to

think they were joined, at times they

were travelling 60 miles an hour.

24th & 25th Dec. Just floated round the

gay city, mingled with a couple of Taxi

due drives round the Bois Boulogne & Eiffel

Tower. At the former place there is a

large lake, now frozen. In summertime you

can hire a boat & go for a row. This place

is the fashionable drive & promenade in

Paris. Christmas Eve is the great night

here but things were, this year, fairly quiet

on acc of the War. Had Xmas dinner

at a Restaurant, near our Hotel, postponing

our real dinner until night at an English

Restaurant, where we buried some nice

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

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soup, turkey, plum pudding & a bottle

of white wine, without an effort. All

the shops keep open today, one can

hardly realize its Xmas.

26th Dec Today after a tour round, dropped in

at the Gaumont Picture Palace, a huge place

& at night, to the Casino de Paris which

we enjoyed thoroughly. The scenery was

glorious, one item ^whisky brought forth any

amount of applause, was probably 150 girls,

walking down a ladder as wide as the stage

their dresses formed one of the Allies flags,

on turning round another Allies flag

would come to light. At halftime you

go out to a huge room where drinks are

some served. An American band or minstrel

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

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crowd played numerous ragtime

melodies, one could hardly keep still

Gaby Weslys the famous dancer, was

the chief attraction at this show & no doubt

she is a marvel.

27/12/17. Rather full of seeing buildings etc

so filled in the morning promenading

This afternoon we went to the Zoo but

came a cropper, it was closed. It was

frightfully cold coming home on the

front of a taxi. We were not sorry to

get back to the hotel & don our coats.

Went to the Olympia again tonight & saw

some marvellous dogs. A street scene, dogs

in all sorts of costumes - soldiers, sails, girls,

old women, policemen - promenading on

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Y.M.C.A.

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their hind legs. They opened doors

rang bells & eventually a marriage

ceremony took place. One could hardly

realize the actors were dogs.

28/29 Dec.  These two days were spent

in floating round the city, it has been

too cold for visits outside & in any case

we have had our share of sightseeing.

30/12/17. Leaving tonight worse luck, I

never thought worse of Fritz in my

life than I do now at the thought of

going back to the line & all its attending

discomforts. However we've had a glorious

trip I only wish it was just starting

The lovely free life appeals to us, I often

wondered what they would say in Australia.

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

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if they saw girls kissing their escorts

in caps & yet its the usual thing here

people take absolutely no notice of it

All through, it has been a real education

Paris will suit my card every time

for a holiday.

31/12/17. Arrived home tonight at 6pm

we left Paris at 7.20 pm last night

It was a cold trip back & made me

think of the past 14 days. I guess it

will take us a week or so to settle

down in the old groove.

I was expecting a dose of letters on

my arrival back but hear no Aussie

mail has arrived of late. One is

expected tomorrow I believe so I'll wait

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

 

a couple of days before posting this.

Love to all

Your affect son

Alex.

In the Field,

Y.M.C.A.

 

11/1/1917

1918

 

Dear Lily,

Since last letter home

I have received Elsies letters of 1st

& 28th Oct & Yours of 22nd Oct & 4th

Novr. also the nice parcel containing

sweets, tobacco & writing pad. I also

got a letter from Ernie Dillan telling

me that poor old Fred Shaw had

been killed. What awful luck for

his wife & youngster. I always did think

it a crying shame that married men

with youngsters were allowed to enlist.

I blocked three or four when I was doing

the recruiting biz in Richmond & don't

regret it a bit. I feel terribly sorry

for poor old Fred but really its the

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Y.M.C.A.

family who suffer most. We shifted 

out last Sunday so I could not go

down to see Ronnie again. However

his crowd will probably follow us

on so I may strike him again shortly.

We are at present billeted in

farm houses, I hope the spell is

a lengthy one. It snow every other

day & the winds blowing get right

through you. You get some awful 

spells on the road when the snow

begins to thaw, I've sobbed in my

bath several times - of course I don't swear.

Coming down they had to spike all

the horses' shoes. Even then we were

lucky to get through without a mishap.