April 16, 1916
My Darlingest,
Louie brought me your letter with my breakfast this morning, and I had a great feast. Imagine me having breakfast in bed and me perfectly well! Louie, as I think I said, is a darling. I should be quite spoiled if I stayed here long. Alfred is a perfectly charming Englishman and host, full of humour and good fellowship. He does not drink or smoke - I don't know that he is a total abstainer from both; but at least he indulges very seldom in either. You would be very much interested in his works which he showed me through on Thursday. They are up an alley like most printer's places, and ramble through two or three buildings; but their products go all over the world. Alf's specialty is labels and tags and such like for the hosiery and wollens trade. He does a lot of work for the "T. Eaton Co." and other Canadian firms. Another of his lines is "transfers" used for marking underwear etc. He turns these out by the million. All the "pen-angle" underwear and hosiery are stamped by his "transfers." He is just now taking up a new business - making paper-mache advertising figures and dolls - stealing the German markets. The war has affected him most in taking away his men - nineteen have gone. He is very busy and not able to leave the works as much as he might in normal times.
Yesterday, however, we motored over to Houghton-on-the-Hill to see cousin Annie. The village is the cleanest and prettiest in this part of the country, Louie says, and I can well believe it. The old church is wonderful. Annie's husband, Mr. Herrick is well up on its history and that of the surrounding country. They live in a quaint old house and have a good grazing farm. We had tea, of course, and a beautiful run altogether, going and coming.
To-day was unfortunately rainy; but we kept our schedule in spite of it, and went to the Chater. I am sorry to report that it is in a very delapidated and ill-kept condition. Louie feels terrible about it, but she can do nothing. Aunt Sarah lives in a cozy little house a quarter of a mile away. The management of th Chater is too involved to explain in a letter, even if I fully understood it. We had a little look around and then went to Aunt Sarah's for tea. It cleared up on the way home.
I have had a rather little chance to see much of the city; and have not had time this visit to look up Mr. Freeman. Word came yesterday calling me back to London tomorrow morning; and I am having to go without seeing a number of my cousins. It is a lovely city, though, clean and well-kept and full of interest. I would like to write more; but have not time to-night as I must make an early start to-morrow. You know how I love you and everybody else.
Bernard
