Читать книгу The Times Great War Letters: Correspondence during the First World War - James Owen - Страница 28

GRUMBLING—AND MORE SWEATERS

11 December 1914

SIR,—THE WEATHER IS very cold, and the troops are very wet, and the mud is very bad, and the embarcation officer at Southampton sends our parcels to the German by mistake, and Mr. Penoyre proves to be an elderly alien female enemy making enormous profits out of sweaters in Mile End-road, and everything is wrong and it’s all the fault of the Government.

Thus my correspondents. Otherwise I should have thought that the Government of this country is engaged at its proper task of carrying on war advantageously with the enemy. To this end it has called for brave hearts, and is now engaged in equipping the brave bodies that contain them. But this will take till the day after to-morrow or longer, and meantime voluntary help, such as your readers have lavished through me, must do its best and keep its temper. I am very sorry, Madam, that one of your mits got into the Gloucester’s sack and the other into the Worcester’s. But would ladies please stich these most useful things together? And, yes, Madam, it is quite true that I did give your nice golf coat (the very small one of rose du Barry silk with the lace insertions) to a Belgian lady—and much comforted she was, poor thing. But would some of my kind senders mingle more discretion with their kindness?

I submit that the knell of Empire will not sound for these blunders of mine. But I do foresee grave ill if once the great civil population of these islands begins to count as a thing of any merit the little they can give and do for those who, through wet and cold and worry and waiting, give and do all for us. It is laid on us all, as never before, to do our utmost and keep, though it be a very mask for tears, a cheerful countenance.

I had almost forgotten. I want, please, a great many more sweaters to dye khaki, and a great many more ladies’ golf coats—long or short, but not the very small ones. The response to my asking for these has been prodigious, I know, but I want a great many more.

Yours faithfully,

JOHN PENOYRE