BMS/CWK/95/22a/1

Envelope and letter from Bessie Kaye to her parents. Sent from Newnham College, Cambridge

20 Jan 1918

From: 1918 To: 1918

Lectures begin regularly tomorrow; encloses timetable of lectures. Refers to Professor Ridgeway, Irish and difficult to understand, who will not have anyone in his lectures of a different political persuasion to his own. Discusses economies applied this term: coal scuttles now only half filled; dinner to be at mid day and supper in the evening, also to save coal. There will be no hot water all afternoon and evening. Lunch has been meatless; pease pudding & potato dishes and milk puddings or stewed apples. Cheese at lunch has been entirely done away with and no second helpings at dinner. To economise on labour the students are to make their own beds, lay their fires and dust their rooms. There was a fight at hall meeting as to whether the students should empty the slops. It was defeated. It has snowed and the roads now in an indescribable state. Reports on the purchase of a chair, hearth rug and bedspread. Tells of going out to tea with various friends. Is very sorry that her clock has broken; thinks it should go to the makers to be repaired. Requests parents forward a few things she has forgotton. Writer and Dymphna have been made flower secretaries; it is a thankless job as flowers are very scarce and expensive.

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family correspondence, World War One, Cambridge University, Cambridge Newnham College, coal, clocks, flowers