Letters to Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott from various family members, September 1913 - September 1930 - Part 12

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I was so glad to hear that Violet
had done so well in Music
and that Neil is working hard.
I hope V. was equally successful
in her Intermediate Exam: I shall
look forward to seeing Violet some
day when she comes to England.
I expect (if I am alive) to be in
the same spot, though I sometimes
talk of building a tiny bungalow
in the paddock to return to
when I get too infirm to look
after the garden. Mursa is not
as young as she was either
and I persuaded her to give up
mowing the lawn 2 or 3 years ago.
still she is v. well and cheery
as ever - She was very much
pleased with yr message and
asked me to thank you and
say xxx we should find you
very useful if you were here
now to deal with the moles on
the lawn. They are very bad just
now certainly- the [[Aucirul?]] whom

I employ catches one now and
then, but they never seem to be
any fewer. To return to my
possible bungalow - I expect there
will be a room for Violet in it
if I am installed the when
she visits England, and I hope
she will come and pay me a
visit and not mind it's being
a rather dull one. I was
V. interested to hear that you
had joined the "Big Brothers Assocⁿ."
I had read about it in American
books some years ago, so
suppose that was where the idea
started. I expect you make a
splendid "Big Brother" and hope
yr. "Little B^r" will turn out
a credit to you- It must be
the greatest help ^ & comfort in the world
to boys beginning life in a
strange land. How Jolly you
"Back to Charlaton" visit must
have been - that is a sort of thing

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I don't believe would ever occur
to people in England! I wonder
if have heard from Emily
Edwards since you last wrote.
I think that very probably she
has not been able to write, tho'
she seems to have been doing a
great deal more in that way than
was wise. I think I told you of
her bad attack of 'iritis' in one
eyp. It is v. much better not
reading & writing are still trying.
She had a young girl, a friend
a Dora's (J.C.'s wife) for a time,
but she had to go and nurse
her mother & I don't think e.
has tried for another Secretary
since. Poor Patty Whitworth had
a horrid time just before Christmas.
There was such a bad epidemic
of inf^ia that the mine had to 2/2
closed down - Martin got it and
then she had it very badly and
to make matters worse it finished 

up with inflammation of the eardrum 
it caused the most
frightful pain for ever so long.
Fortunately an old school fellow
who was staying with them and
whose return have had been
delayed by an attack of jaundice,
was still there, so was able to
nurse her. I heard from Polly
2 or 3 days ago, and she seems
fairly all right again.
My sister Anna is not quite so
strong as she was before the operation, 
but manages to do a
great deal all the same-
I had a photograph from her
a day or two ago of herself
in a gorgeous fancy dress (Queen
Philippa) us w^h she had worn to
a Fancy Dress Ball the other
day. Beatrice Barber went in
an equally gorgeous one, but I have
not seen hers yet. Alicia Garton
was here a week or two before
Xmas - She was pretty well, but 

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has been missing her grandchildren
and Martha H. very much
However she has been going in
for all sorts of gairtirs to keep
herself from moping parties,
whist drives, Bridge parties &c
and I ever heard of her going to
a dance the other day.
I have not heard anything about
Lily and Coster lately but think
they are pretty well. Patty is
very anxious that her mother
should go out to Cypres again in
March - she has decided that
her father shall go and stay
with J.C. & Dora and the
Halls be spring-cleaned in their
absence; but it remains to be
seen if Lloyd will fall in with
her plans! I expect I told
you what a nice girl Dora seems
to be. She is very nice looking
too, with golden hair, w^h she
wears in rather a mop, not 

the "Eton crop". Of course you are
surrounded my [[?]] or
cropped heads in Australia?
It is quite a mania here - Quite
aged people have short hair, and
sone of my friends try to induce
me to crop mine! So far I have
resisted, tho' I might be able
to get down to breakfast punctually
if I did. We were supremely
thankful when the Coal strikes
came to an end- Coals are
a fearful price still, though- I
had to pay £3- for a ton a short
time ago. It will take some
time for the country to recover
from the effects of it, in the
most favourable circumstances
and these wretched Communists
boast openly that the intend
to go on fomenting war in Industry.
It is a pity that evil people always
seem more active and [[sur?atic]]
than good ones. The Chinese 

Amiandos
Aug 2nd 27
Cypres
By dear Conrin Harold
It was good of you to send
us the very interesting papers. Thank
you so much for them, also for your
nice long letter which I enjoyed very
much. The stamps I am delighted to
have will take great care of.
They will be of great value some day.
The Duke of [[?]]visit seems to have have
been a great success. He must be
a most attractive little King. Everyone
always loves him.
This is only going to be a shoer letter, as
Mail is first off, also I have very
little news. Martin is very busy now
as its the height of the Asbestos season
I am really writing to ask you to be
kind to two friends. One is in
Australia now the other goes out
next Spring
The first is Commander Christopher
Ringrose who has been lent to the 

Navy for 2 years. He is the brother of
my greatest Friend Effie. He is a
very nice man & I am sure you
would like him. I didn't know what
his destroyer is called, but If 
you do come across him, will you
be kind to him?! The other friend
is another school fellow of mine
called Margie Wilson. Scotch &
a great dear. She lost her fella
before the war, her only brother during
the war (he was in the Black Watch).
& last November her Mother died
go she has no near relations left
She is a very keen Girl Guide & the
other day was offered a guiding 

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job to go to Western Australia &
Tasmania for a year starting early
next year. It is rather a long time
ahead, but when she does come to
Melbourne, may I tell her that you
will look out for her? I know
you will like her ever so much. She
is full of fun, very young (that
she is as old as me!)
I wonder if Violet is a Guide
I am afraid I am not as ^when I was at
school they were not thought of. I never
had the courage to take them up
afterwards. But I have the greatest
admiration for them. I think they
have done no end of good.
Margie is excellent at & very
keen.
He said she could not resist a trip
to Australia at some one else's 
expense being Scotch, & canny!!
I am quite certain you would all
like her immensely.
I wish your Violet could pay me a
visit, but hear it would be very 

dull for her. I shall look forward
to seeing her in England before very
long. She would come & stay with us here 
if we have a house. We hope to go 
home next year. We shall then have
been out here 3 years.
I am very happy here (should be happy anywhere!!)
Its been very hot lately.
I hear Aunt Martha is at Treva man.
They are having a hopeless Summer.
So cold & wet.
Must end. Forgive a Dull letter
& again ever so many thanks
for the papers
Yrs very sincerely
Patty Whitworth