HG12/10/202a

Letter to Gertrude Longuet-Higgins, from sister, Mildred Sampson. Sent from Port Alfred, Grahamstown C.C., South Africa.

19 Jan 1913

From: 1913 To: 1913

Thanks for Christmas letter and good wishes. Harry's [Henry's] photo arrived in excellent condition. It is a portrait of a man of thought and intellect. If the family purse allowed, it would be nice to have his portrait painted. Is immensely interested in Herbert's wedding, which is long past; hopes Gertrude will send an account of it. Hopes his generosity to 'his own people' will not cease with the match. [Reference to the marriage of Herbert Johnson and Violet C Meeking]. Maude did not tell the writer about her visit to Gertrude; has not heard from her for ages. Comments about family being poor correspondents 'dating from the time when ... father confided all our little family failings ...' 'How few of us seem to come to remember the nice doings and sayings of one another's early days.' Not building a house in South Africa yet; if Victor becomes a judge permantly does not know where they may have to settle. Wonders if Herbert and his uncle will come 'this way', writer would like to see them, but their wealth and prosperity are rather alarming. Finds it a struggle to live up to a certain standard of daily life; 'native servants are very hard to train and and keep trained.' Mavis is very well. Her holidays here have been spoiled by the weather. Comments about the weather. The sea is cold but the temperature on land is so great that a thick fog settles on the beach and makes everything damp. Today the temperature has frequestly beren 113-116 degrees in the shade.

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Longuet-Higgins, Gertrude Mary,
Sampson, Mildred Alice Longuet,
Longuet-Higgins, Henry Longuet,
Johnson, Herbert,
Meeking, Violet,
Sampson, Victor

family correspondence, South Africa, marriages, servants, weather, World War One