coming.
Wednesday 13 th January.
I have not heard anything of the war for nine days.
I had a letter from Emily yesterday. She is in Holland and writes that no one will change her German money. She is in a fix. I am so very sorry for her but she hopes to do better in Rotterdam. She says she has been to three banks but they will not change her any. I am anxiously waiting her next letter.
We hear of sixty flyers setting out for London. But the fog was so dense they could see nothing. On getting to Dover it was clear so they dropped a few bombs.
There are many new men in today and I hear we have fourteen-thousand men in the place. So you can guess that every home and place is full of them.
I was in the chemistâs yesterday when a young man came in who was employed there and he was allowed to go free. There was great joy as the owner was at the front and he was the only capable one left - the rest being boys.
I have had a miserable two days, not busy at all, and my head nearly driving me frantic.
So many things are scarce though the prices are not high. It is just that things run out. Today it is posted that there will be no white bread after the 15 th .
I was at the Peligeausâ today and they said that for many weeks no bird seed could be bought. Many people were letting the canaries fly out of their windows. Marie saw one a few days ago on the house tops. One came into their garden and they caught it. It was half dead with hunger. Having some seed from the last bird they had they fed it. It was over an hour in feeding. They will keep it as long as the seed lasts.
Thursday 14 th January.
No war news today but we hear of a terrible earthquake in Italy and ten thousand are dead. Here they say it is a great punishment from God to the Italians because they have not kept their bond in the alliance. They have gone to war with the Russians rather than helping Germany.
Also had a letter from Emily in Holland. She says she is waiting there for the birth certificates of the children which must come from England before they can be allowed on board ship. She has had a very rough time with the journey. I am glad I did not ask her to take the children. Now that it has turned out to be such a bad journey itâs perhaps as well that she suggested it herself.
I am very anxious over them. In fact the anxiety is making me quite ill. As the letters are three days old before I get them it is very likely she is on her journey home by this time. She has heard how very badly the Germans are treated in England and seems anxious over her reception.
Well, she canât be any worse treated than I am here. In fact it will take a great deal to make me believe that the English so far forget themselves. She writes that her opinion has changed since she left here. She hears more news but cannot tell it to me. I wonder over it often.
Today the death is announced of the young priest who preached the sermon in the cathedral on Thursday last which so much surprised me. I think the poor man must have been partly delirious when he spoke to us that night. He was taken to the hospital on the Friday and was high in fever (Scarlet). He just sank and died on the Wednesday evening following. Itâs a very sad case as he is only thirty-two-years-old and was a marvellous preacher.
There is a lot in the papers at present of what Father Vaughn has been saying. The Jesuits here greatly deplore his sermon. I should like to read it. The Jesuits also remark that he did not say all that was published in the papers here as regards the Kaiser. We have written to a friend for a book of the sermon from England.
Today is miserable and I have been ill all day.
Friday 15 th January.
This morning I was awakened by the noise of many horses in the streets. They were for the front and were principally working horses for all the good ones went away early in the war. These were left for the farmers to use in the fields but now even these are going and they are here
Wednesday 13 th January.
I have not heard anything of the war for nine days.
I had a letter from Emily yesterday. She is in Holland and writes that no one will change her German money. She is in a fix. I am so very sorry for her but she hopes to do better in Rotterdam. She says she has been to three banks but they will not change her any. I am anxiously waiting her next letter.
We hear of sixty flyers setting out for London. But the fog was so dense they could see nothing. On getting to Dover it was clear so they dropped a few bombs.
There are many new men in today and I hear we have fourteen-thousand men in the place. So you can guess that every home and place is full of them.
I was in the chemistâs yesterday when a young man came in who was employed there and he was allowed to go free. There was great joy as the owner was at the front and he was the only capable one left - the rest being boys.
I have had a miserable two days, not busy at all, and my head nearly driving me frantic.
So many things are scarce though the prices are not high. It is just that things run out. Today it is posted that there will be no white bread after the 15 th .
I was at the Peligeausâ today and they said that for many weeks no bird seed could be bought. Many people were letting the canaries fly out of their windows. Marie saw one a few days ago on the house tops. One came into their garden and they caught it. It was half dead with hunger. Having some seed from the last bird they had they fed it. It was over an hour in feeding. They will keep it as long as the seed lasts.
Thursday 14 th January.
No war news today but we hear of a terrible earthquake in Italy and ten thousand are dead. Here they say it is a great punishment from God to the Italians because they have not kept their bond in the alliance. They have gone to war with the Russians rather than helping Germany.
Also had a letter from Emily in Holland. She says she is waiting there for the birth certificates of the children which must come from England before they can be allowed on board ship. She has had a very rough time with the journey. I am glad I did not ask her to take the children. Now that it has turned out to be such a bad journey itâs perhaps as well that she suggested it herself.
I am very anxious over them. In fact the anxiety is making me quite ill. As the letters are three days old before I get them it is very likely she is on her journey home by this time. She has heard how very badly the Germans are treated in England and seems anxious over her reception.
Well, she canât be any worse treated than I am here. In fact it will take a great deal to make me believe that the English so far forget themselves. She writes that her opinion has changed since she left here. She hears more news but cannot tell it to me. I wonder over it often.
Today the death is announced of the young priest who preached the sermon in the cathedral on Thursday last which so much surprised me. I think the poor man must have been partly delirious when he spoke to us that night. He was taken to the hospital on the Friday and was high in fever (Scarlet). He just sank and died on the Wednesday evening following. Itâs a very sad case as he is only thirty-two-years-old and was a marvellous preacher.
There is a lot in the papers at present of what Father Vaughn has been saying. The Jesuits here greatly deplore his sermon. I should like to read it. The Jesuits also remark that he did not say all that was published in the papers here as regards the Kaiser. We have written to a friend for a book of the sermon from England.
Today is miserable and I have been ill all day.
Friday 15 th January.
This morning I was awakened by the noise of many horses in the streets. They were for the front and were principally working horses for all the good ones went away early in the war. These were left for the farmers to use in the fields but now even these are going and they are here
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