Sydney
(Thursday) 19 December 1912
My dearest Sweetheart
There is not a larger sheet of paper in the hotel so I must perforce use this. I have not time to write in the office & keep forgetting to bring some sheets with me. However I know it does not matter what kind of paper I use provided I write.
Well as I added on Tuesday morning we arrived here by 7-0 o’clock & after an early breakfast I was down at the office to received three mails, at a most unusual hour. I could not do much work that day because my samples could not be delivered but I had quite enough to do with arranging appointments. Gee, but it was hot. After lunch I went down to the docks & made a row & got my samples up to the office. It was too hot to do anything further that day so I knocked off early & came here after dinner. I had a short stroll but I could not stand the oppressive heat so I came back & wrote a few letters. It was utterly impossible to sleep that night & I tossed & turned for hours. Even when I did get to sleep I was dreaming the whole of the time consequently I wakened up & felt like a wet rag. A hot bath refreshed me & I went to work with fresh energy.
I had breakfast with your uncle & we had a short conversation. I mentioned casually you had broken your engagement & he said "How many more is she going to break". I replied I did not think she would break any more & he smiled knowingly. I do not know how much he knows about Lilly but from what I gathered I do not think he knows anything about the operation. Under the circumstances I refrained from saying anything lest he should think I was better informed than he.
That morning & afternoon I was fairly busy & I received a cable from the firm with prices up in the sky. It is out of the question for me to do much business with prices & deliveries so bad but it doesn’t matter much as we shall reap the benefit in the future.
After dinner I was at a loose end so trotted on to a music hall. As it happened I sat next to two chaps I met in Auckland. With one turn we had no end of fun. The artist was making fun about American rag-time & an American who was sitting in the audience took exception to his remarks. He bobbed up & we were treated to a delightful exhibition of mud-throwing. It was highly interesting as the Yank insisted on showing the man on the stage how he should sing rag time. It was not a put up job though I admit it looked suspiciously like it.
I got to bed fairly early & again could not sleep on account of the heat. This morning I insisted on getting to work in real earnest & Clifford A. T. Todd was in a rotten state. He cant stand late nights although he assured me he only had three whiskies. I believe him really. However Orr took me round & although clients are very busy we were only turned down at one place & the rest made appointments with me. I think I shall finish here much sooner than I expected.
This afternoon about 3.45 I was walking along & I met Miss Hinch – a lady who travelled on the Themistocles from Capetown. Now don’t get jealous. She is years & years older than me & has grey hair. I asked her to take me somewhere nice for tea & she did. Gee but wasn’t there a crowd. We couldn’t find a table anywhere for a long time. Eventually we managed to find one & we conversed about an hour. You remember me telling you about Miss Mercer – the big stout lady who was going to be married in Brisbane to a man she had not seen for 25 years. I was awfully afraid the man would not fulfil his contract but Miss Hinch tells me they were married. I am very glad. She gave me a photograph of Ronny – a dear little boy of 19 months to whom she is a sort of governess. He & I were great pals on the boat.
After dinner tonight I had over an hours conversation with you uncle & then went for a walk & now I am writing you. He wanted to know all about W. but I was discreet & gave nothing away though it tickles him to think I have knocked him – W - out when he, W, was on the spot.
You might inform Mr C P Scott some time that the Guardian is quoted here & in N.Z. more often than any other paper except the Times. I am rather pleased about it & swank like fury with any news of the Guardian’s especially to the insular Australians.
You should see the dresses here. They are simply lovely. When I was having tea this afternoon I kept my eyes open & I was some of the prettiest dresses I have ever seen. Of course being a mere man I can’t describe them but frankly I am glad I shall not have to live in Australia when we are married otherwise it would cost me about £200 a year for your dresses alone.
Then again the shops. They leave M/c far behind in the window dressing. Of course I grant you there are only about a dozen shops here but the crowds round their windows is ample proof of the attractiveness.
I wish I had thousands a year coming in. I saw heaps & heaps of things I would like ot buy but the lack of filthy lucre is the stumbling block.
I presume you have heard David has gone away again. This time to the Canaries, but only for a short period – three months I think. Poor Cowell won’t have a pal now. First I go & then Jones goes. You have never met Cowell but he is a nice lad. Tom knows him well & has had one or two ginger ales with him.
It will take a few sheets to reply to your charming letters & as it is 10.30 I don’t intend doing it tonight.
They all breathe devotion & affection & really dolly you make me feel I want to come right now & let business go to Jericho. I have read & reread them many times & I realise more & more each day what you mean to me. You will only have to wait twelve weeks after the receipt of this letter & I shall cover you with kisses which have been waiting for 11 months. There will be such a lot of lost time to make up. As I mentioned on Tuesday last it is not likely I shall go away again next winter as the firm have appointed agents for S.A. but they may decide to send me out again. Frankly I am not keen. I want to dance with you, I want to always have you with me & I want to love you & kiss you & squeeze you. I want to watch over you & insist on no night work & all sots of things. I am going to scrape & save every penny & get married as soon as possible. You can sew as hard as you like & I will watch you do it & find you needles & thread them & not interrupt at all except for an occasional kiss. I have promised Orr a piece of wedding cake so if I happen to forget it you must remind me.
Now I am going to bed – but I have just thought of something else. One night I dreamed a dream & the next night but one I dreamt the same thing. What does it mean – Can you tell me. Here it is.
I was in Wellington & while having dinner you walked in. You had got so tired of waiting for me you had taken the bull by the horns & come out to Sydney – then to Auckland & traced me to Dunedin Xchurch & Wellington. Of course there was nothing else for it but to get married which we did & even now I can see the scene quite plainly.
Many & many a time have you visited me in my sleep & kissed me & I have almost believed you were with me; until the awakening.
However cheer up dearest t’will not be long now. Good night sweetest & dearest. Will add more later.
Crikey but it’s hot. To resume.
Friday I was busy all day & took heart at the way things were going. At night I talked for two hours with uncle Alfred & then went for a stroll. It was too hot to sleep again though I only had a thin sheet. Saturday morning I had another man in at lunch. Uncle A asked me to go to the yacht club in the afternoon with him. I accepted his invitation & we had a charming afternoon. He looked after me well & now we are bosom pals & get along splendidly together. After a late dinner I fooled round doing nothing, till 8.30 & as it was fairly hot I want for a sail to Manly & sat on the beach for half an hour & came back. Got to bed 12.15 a.m.
Sunday I stayed in bed till eleven o’clock & phoned Mr Todd & told him I was going up to his place for the day. He didn’t mind but I could only go on condition I slept after dinner.
I arrived there just in time for dinner & as per contract I slept in the afternoon. Then I played Frieda (his daughter) at tennis & she beat me 6-5. Then I played Clifford & beat him. He was very hurt & went to his wife & said "Here a man invites himself to dinner & tea; eats my food, beats me at tennis & to crown all takes half a crown off me" He wanted to bet me so I took him on and although he led 2-0 then 3-2, 4-2, 5-3, I beat him 6-5. He says he will show me how to play on Xmas day. After tea we sat on the verandah & talked for an hour or so. Later we had music. Mrs T. sings & plays well & Frieda plays brilliantly. She is 16 years of age. I arrived here about 10.30. Today I have booked 132,000 yards. I feel more than cocky. I would just like to see the fellows at the place open their eyes when they translate the cable. It is practically 1/5th of the quantity I booked in Africa & this is from two men only.
This afternoon I met Miss Hinch & Ronny, not by appointment & so we went shopping. My golly I bet I lost 10 pounds in weight this afternoon. We had a nice time in Farmers toy shop & spent about fifteen bob. Ronny enjoyed himself immensely. He is 20 months old. Tonight I went for my letters. The mail is not all through yet but I got your & Nora’s letter so nothing else mattered.
I have been talking with Uncle Alfred for a long time & now am finishing my correspondence. I have my home letter to write yet. Now for replies to your letters. Something unusual isn’t it. One of my competitors is sitting opposite me – Arnold of Arnold Clayton L(?). M/c. He has been out some time & is doing badly from what he told me this morning even though he is a partner. Doo tu know im(??)
Basil Redfern seems to come in for a lot of good things. I don’t mind in the least you going to theatres with him but for goodness sake don’t break the poor fellow’s heart. You are honored to be asked into the kitchen at home & there is no doubt you are a friend of the family now. That is the seal on friendship.
It is highly amusing about the cable. I can see the fellows laughing & making funny remarks. Won’t I get teased about it when I get home.
Am delighted Rothwell is helping you so much. He is a white man & he often teased me about you right up to me leaving you. Being on the station to say good bye was the climax.
The snap in the Alliance news is splendid. How I wish I could have been at the dance on the 30th ult. Was it good. Tis passing strange what happiness the Salford dance brought us isn’t it. Miss Walsh & I were good pals; I think because I never heardher sing, altho’ I heard rude remarks about her capabilities in that direction. This is a nice long letter & I have read it many times. There is nothing else that calls for any comment though the postscript is funny. I wonder what Miss M. Robertson does think. Twould be interesting to know.
Now for the second letter. How did Stalybridge treat you? You evidently had a splendid time in London. I too wish I had been with you but we shall soon have a day or two together there. I am awfully ashamed of you getting home at 1.30 am. It’s most disgusting don’t you think so. I think we shall make a bonny pair of night birds. What say you.
Where oh where does all the money come from. I have often marvelled at the amount of money that is collected for various objects.
I am thankful that the strain with regard to Auntie’s illness has eased a little. I will try & write her by next mail. Cannot possibly do it this week. You are improving rapidly when you go & take the chair at public meetings. You always had plenty of nerve. I could never do anything like that. My nature is too shy & retiring. When shall we see big posters with your name in letters a foot high saying "Walk hup walk hup come & hear the finest suffragist on the fice of the earth". I can promise all Jaffes will be there that evening to hear Smiths girl talk.
That finishes the 2nd & 3rd. Now for todays. Thanks for all your good wishes. I feel rather homesick just at present but shall get over it I suppose. As you say we shall laugh at our worries "that used to be" & have the finest & most ripping time it is possible to have. Glad Auntie still improves. Give her my love. I couldn’t do anything else than send you the cable when I got your letters & of course I saw from the tone of it you didn’t know what to do & where to turn.
I received a cable from the firm & didn’t take any notice of it because I had not my cable code with me. In due course I translated it & came to the last word. I raised such a yell that Clifford, Orr & the boy came round me & Clifford wanted to know what the so & so & so & so ad lib had gone wrong with me. I made some fairy tale about me proposing to you be letter & you had accepted me so they look upon me as an engaged man now.
Of course you have had to stand the racket. The man gets free every time. The miniature has not arrived yet but hope to receive it in the morning.
Rothwell is funny. He has guessed a lot I think.
Whether the market is bad or not I’ve got to visit all our customers. I heard Brown was having a rocky time in Cuba.
I shall point blank refuse to go back by the Cape & insist oncoming home. It is utterly useless for me to call there on my way back as business will be quiet then.
I had a card from one of my old flames with "Pansie for Thoughts" as the leading line. Rather rich wot.
This letter shall be sent home as you desire but your mother will say some funny things to me when I get back methinks.
Hope the holiday bucked you up & made you perky again.
Have nothing further to add so with my dearest love sweetheart & bags of kisses
Yours for all time
Harry