Letters to Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott from various family members, September 1913 - September 1930 - Part 19

city of Segontium where part of the old Roman wall is still preserved.

An old Welsh farmer, with whom I got on to talk, presented

me with two fragments of pottery he had dug up in

a field in Segontium. The British Museum authorities have since

declared that they are both pieces of genuine Samian ware,

made in Gaul about 50 AD. Huddersfield itself, however, is

almost barren of historical interest, although an old boy of

my school has written an account of the feud that

once waged in these parts.

I was particularly interested to know that you were

playing a part in political life. Interest in politics is quite

acute at the moment because of the impending general elections.

Both Ramsey Macdonald and Philip Snowdon have been speaking

here and the Labour Party is very active. Huddersfield is an

old Liberal Town, but owing to dissentions in the Liberal party,

the Labour candidate has twice been successul. Ramsey

Macdonald is a very able speaker who lapses into broad

Scotch when excited. At the present time there is much

industrial unrest, and many thousands out of work. Huddersfield

however, still ranks among the most prosperous towns in the

country.

Both Helen and I often wonder what Violet and Neal

are like. We wish Australia was not such a long way off

so that we might see them. Is there any possibility that

they may pay a visit to England? I suppose Neal will be

going to College soon. There are plenty of universities within

easy reach of Huddersfield and I hope to go to one when

school is over.

Well, I must end now as it is getting late. Hoping you will

have a very jolly New Year,

Alec.
[*2DRL/0513*]

of such. I was v. interested where the

Queenslanders turned down theirs.

I have been too busy to read the papers

much lately, so have not noticed how

your Industrial situation is now - I

hope the Peace & Industrial Conference

has been useful. There was a very

striking article in Blackwood's (May, I

think) on 'Job Control in Australia',

wh described an amazing state of

things - Of course that is just what

the Socialists want to bring about

over here, & probably will - These people

have a strange idea of what Liberty

means. I hope yr namesake &

Dr Lawson got their election confirmed.

How delightful to have

electricity for so many services in

your house! We have been hoping

to get electricity brought to this town

in the near future but I suppose

Devonshire's climate affects the

natives & it takes years to get

anything of that sort done however

much they may talk about it.

I shall be contented with the Light

June 16^th 29

Dear Cousin Harold,

I have been trying to find

a time to sit down & write to

you ^for ages, but have found it extra -

difficult to write any but the

inevitable letters this year - what

with the garden & advancing

years, & eyesight not too good,

fatigue, and (no doubt) a certain

amount of sheer laziness wh runs

in our family, (Tottenhams, not

Jauveruis). Now I have a most 

interesting ^letter dated 11^th March and

several v. interesting papers to thank

you for, all much appreciated,

and also the snapshot of yourself &

Cousin Katie in front of the flowering 

tree - I don't believe I have ever seen

[* the wildernesses. Nurse is v. well at present. She had

rather hard work for some weeks in the Spring because

Kitty was not of health

& was ordered to rest.

However after the usual

Spring Cleaning she took

a holiday & Kitty & I

struggled on together.

I was glad when

she returned for

I loathe any sort

of house-work & it

doesn't agree with

me. I am expecting

my youngest brother,

Alec, for a few

days, on Tuesday &

am hoping for fine

weather. It has

been rather

disagreeable lately.

I hope you are all

well & your mother

in good health too. King greetings

to yourself & all - Yr affecate cousin

Martha T.*]

a Tree of that sort - it must be magnificent.

It has been a v. good year

here for such things. My red & white

double Thorns were wonderful, simply

masses of bloom, wh however went over

quicker than usual. Now I have

a medium sized philadelphus covered

with flowers & the bigger sort will

soon be the same, tho' the latter have

been badly knocked about by gales

we have had lately - The garden itself

is brighter than usual at this time

of year, mostly because I happened

to sow lots of Canterbury Bells at

the proper time. I dare say after your

luxuriant trees & flowers it would

not strike you as anything much;

but it amuses me to find that it

is the fashion to talk about my

lovely paradise! I am uncertain whether

to ascribe it to politeness or ignorance,

but anyway take it as kindly meant.

We seem to have settled down either

to apathy or the calmness of despair

since the Elections. I think, personally,

the result was due more to the usual

in-action than to the extra quantity

of women voting - but the papers squarely

put it down to the latter ^and/or to

the Conservative principle of Safety

First wh it is rather ^the fashion to

deride now.a.days. I believe Ll.

George really thought the Liberals

would get in - incredible as it may

seems to most people - but in any

case he would not care what

happened to the country as long

as the Conservatives were kept out;

and the danger now is that he

may join in and help the Socialists

to carry out some damaging policy.

Ramsey MacD. himself is so weak

& conceited that he is more dangerous

than if he were really & openly an

extremist - I expect we shall have

more Strikes now - the strikers will

rely on the Govt giving in to any

demands. It seems rather odd,

that England should have a 'Labour'

Govt, where several other parts of

the Empire are chorusing their disapproval

about!), but I should like to see her

as mistress of a house - I am sure

she is an excellent housewife.

I spent an afternoon last week

with Anne & B. Barker in their

cottage at Holur - They neither of

them looked particularly well. Their

cottage is over a row of workmen's

dwellings, & is extremely nice &

roomy & up-to-date - the drawback is

that there are numerous children

among their neighbours who, naturally,

are extremely noisy. Holur is a 

nice little village. Charles Kingsley

was born at the Rectory - there is

a portrait of him in one of the top

panes of a stained glass window

to his memory in the church. His

modern dress & whiskers look

rather amusing in company with

mediaeval saints & angels.

I was reading yesterday of the

flying medical service wh has

been started in Australia by the

Presbyterian Mission - it is wonderful

to think of & must be a most

enormous boon to people living in

(2

and a Radiator or two if we ever

do get it. But, as it took me quite

ten years of agitation & expostulation 

before we got a decent water

supply, I shudder to think how

many years it may take before it

occurs to the authorities that we

should be supplied with a proper

lighting system. I believe the

Edwards family is v. pleased with

their installation. It must be a

great comfort & save a lot of trouble.

I hope to go to Trevor Hall early in

August after paying a visit to

Henry & Flora at Canterbury, and

a day or two with an old friend

who has bought a house in Sussex.

It is rather against my principles

to stay with anyone except my

relatives - but this old lady has

had one or two strokes and I am

afraid may not be long for this world.

She used to live a few miles from

here and had one or two farms

wh kept her amused. She has been

trying to sell her house & adjacent

farm for the last 6 months or near.

I have been told that her bailiff,

who is in charge of the place, is

putting people off - and it has

been suggested to me that I should

give her a hint; but as the

man & his family have been with

her for a great many years & I

know she has implicit confidence

in him I don't quite see my way

to doing so, for I have no direct

evidence that the man is not

straight.

How the children are growing up!

I expect Neil will be a big man.

I am glad that Violet has a 

mind for serious things. I know

v. few young people myself, but

the impression one gets from others

is that most of them think solely

of fun and amusement. Law

must require a special sort of brain

and I can't imagine many girls

with an inclination for it.

Alicia Carter's grand children are

growing up in an alarming way

too - I think her eldest is 17 now.

She has her son, Alec, at home

now and, I fear his future is

an anxiety to her - He had some

disagreement with the Heads of

the Firm in Calcutta & is now

out of a job. I was to have

spent a week or two with Alicia

while Martha H. & her family

were away for the holidays, but

Alec, wife & 2 boys are now going 

to be there for that time, so there

won't be room. Patty Whitworth

& her husband have taken a

small farmhouse in Harts: for 

a time & P. has been enjoying

herself putting the house &

garden in order. She wants me

to pay her a visit this month (wh

I cannot) or in October (wh I feel lazy

[*2DRL/0513*]

Trevor Hall

Trevor

No Wrexham

Wales

Sep. 4^th 1930.

Dear Cousin Harold,

I was v. glad to get one of yr

always welcome letters soon after I

came here. Many thanks for it and

the interesting papers you have sent

from time to time & wh I fear I have

not always acknowledged. I have

been a v. bad correspondent this

year, partly because my eyes are a

continual nuisance, especially if I

write much - Besides that, for some

time in the Spring & early Summer,

after the usual busy time in house

and garden ^was over my thoughts were much

occupied in other ways. In May

my sister Anne was suddenly attacked

by appendicitis and was operated on only

just in time. Instead of getting over it

[*are all fininshing also yr Mother

& other members of

yr family, including

yourself

I expect Neil

is good at all 

kinds of athletics

besides rowing.

With Kind

messages from

myself and

all here.

Yr affecate Cousin

Martha T.*]

in a few days she was unable to 

leave the Nursing Home for 6 weeks and

was then in a v. weak state. I used to

go to Torquay at least once a week

to see how she was getting on, and

(before I was allowed to see her) to cheer

up Beatrice Barber. A few days after

Anne was taken ill, an old friend

of Miss Ottaway's (our old governess who

lived with me) arrived just after breakfast

to tell me that Miss O. had

had an attack of angina pectoris

early that morning and had died

in a few minutes. She had gone to

stay with these old friends at 

Teignmouth while we were house-cleaning

and I was expecting her back v. soon.

She was 82, and in one way I was

thankful that the end should have

come so quickly while and before her

faculties had begun to decay. She had

3 elder sisters who died by inches poor

things and I always dreaded the same

fate for our old friend. I shall miss

her specially in the Winter, where I

have little to distract my mind and

thoughts. I have been paying visits

since the middle of July and meant

to have returned home next week;

but Alicia Carter writes that

Martha Hamersley & fam: are going

to their other gr her mother-in-law

for this month, so I hope to pay

her a visit first. Harold Hamersley

is at home for a time and they

have all been making the most

of the lovely weather we have had

lately. St Swithin's activities were

particularly objectionable this year

but personally I prefer a chilly

summer even if it is rather wet.

Emily Edwards had a collection of

cousins here soon after I first came,

wh was rather interesting as I had

not seen some of them since before

[*2DKL/0513*]

the war. Three were Napiers, from

Kenya, where most people seem to

go now.a.days, either temporarily

or permanently. I am afraid these

are not getting on v. well.

I must congratulate you on the

success of the 3^rd Division in Rifle

Shooting. It must have been a keen

pleasure to you that they should p win

such an honourable trophy. I am v.

sorry that the Minister of Defence has

a down on you and hope that

won't lead to any v. serious consequences -

I suppose truth-tellers will

always rouse dislike, like the prophets

of old. I wonder if there is any

chance of yr Labour Govt being cast

out. They don't seem to have ^been any

more successful in producing an Utopia

than ours has - but it looks as if

you had more chance of yr financial

house being set in order, than we have.

The idea of our Govt seems to be to

they are approaching 30, if nothing happens

to give them a serious view of life. They

are usually very self-absorbed, wh makes

them capricious and inconsiderate very often

(or appear so) not from malice but carelessness.

I have the advantage of having known Gertie

as a child; and also of having known

her mother more intimately up to the time

she left school than anyone ever has

before or since, I should say. I recognise

one or two ^other characteristics in Gertie (wh I

have not mentioned) inherited from her

mother. Also I was once a young girl

myself, and tho' a v. different type from

Gertie, both as regards looks and disposition,

of that devilry wh any person with any

Irish blood in them is almost bound 

to have. Now if you will lay up carefully

in yr memory what I have said in this

dissertation on 'la jeune fille', you will be

able to understand, to a small extent, yr

daughter when she grows up - you will

probably have to allow for an extra dash

of devilry in an Australian. If you don't

know already xxxx Wordsworth's: "She was

a phantom of delight", you ought to read it.

It is a v. beautiful description of the nicest

sort of woman; (the lines are on his wife)

as she appeared to him on first acquaintance

and later on. I am a very poor reader

Moretonhampstead

Devon:

March 22^nd

Dear Cousin Harold,

I was v. glad to get yr letter, (on

the 18^th) and to hear there was a chance

of yr being able to start for home pretty soon,

though I can quite understand that you

must have feel a good deal of melancholy
in leaving yr command and closing

that chapter of yr life. It has been a

glorious one; and as time goes on I expect

the horrors and disappointments and physical

evils will be softened down in your memory

and only the finer parts stand out.

One thinks one would like everything to

be smooth and pleasant in life, but the

result would be very monotonous and boring,

no doubt, in practice. I am sure my own

character has suffered from practically

always following the line of least resistance

for the sake of a quiet life - in most

things anyway - I don't say I have never

butted my head against stone walls when

I thought it right. I am going to address

this letter as usual, and trust you will

[*but after all you are in the prime of life still, and

no doubt have

gained some

qualities in

this war wh

will be serviceable

to you in

the battle of Life.

Wishing you

all good luck

Yrs very sincerely

Martha T.*]

get it some time. I hope you have safely

received all the letters I have sent on to you.

The other day I sent a card to the Australian

Base P.O. to say that I thought you would get

your letters more quickly if they were sent

straight to you - I think they have taken the

hint, as only one or two have come since.

I xxx was so glad to hear that you had

had a wire to say that all at home were

well. Australia seems such a long way

off even in these days. I hoped to have

had Henry here by this time. After

seeing you, he wrote and said he thought

they would be leaving Philbeach Gardens

about Mar 14^th and then he might be

able to pay me a visit. However they

seem to be staying on and I have heard

no more about it in his later letters. I don't

much mind (as long as he does come later

on) while the present weather continues.

Just now we are having snow again, in

small showers, and the most piercing easterly

winds such as I hate - not bad weather

if one is fairly robust, but I could do

with a little more warmth myself. Gertie

Edwards came on the 6^th for one night.

I was v. glad to renew my early acquaintance

with her, and think I should be as fond

of her as when she was a child if I saw

enough of her. I fear she was profoundly 

bored even for so short a time, but I expect

the consciousness of doing her duty bore her

up! She thought me v. cruel (and antique)

for not letting her smoke anywhere but in

the Library. I really don't mind girls

smoking, from the point of view of principle,

because I don't feel as if it were any

business of mine to object to unpleasing

habits if their nearest relatives approve.

But I do think it quite dreadful for

anyone, and especially a young girl, to

be such a slave to anything, that she

is unhappy if she has to abstain from

it for even an hour or two - even if it

is harmless to herself and, not a nuisance

to others ^v. often. But I think it is

generally allowed now that tobacco

in excess is extremely harmful - Gertie was

rather annoyed because I told her it

was bad for her mouth, mind, morals,

memory, and general health! I don't

think there is anything very puzzling

in her character - She seems to be me to

be just a certain type of girl - she probably

seems to you a mass of contradictions,

but, except for a comparatively few

exceptionally strong characters, I should say

that girls of Gertie's class and upbringing

have more or less fluid characters till