Place Viger Hotel
Montreal
(Friday) 10 October 1913
My dearest of all,
I have arrived! My impressions of Montreal are rather vague just at present, but for the present let that remain.
Yesterday we called in at Quebec & stayed there four hours. After lunch I went on shore with Anderton & Windus & we had quite a long walk. We skirted round the base of the Heights of Abraham & I marvelled however the soldiers managed to climb the ascent.
You remember what the cliff was like in our little cubby hole at Port Erin & how sheer the drop was down to the water? Well Abram’s Heights are just like that only on a grander scale & it is all rock. We stood & gazed at it for a few minutes & it was time well spent. Then we walked along for about a mile & climbed up some steps – hundreds of them there seemed to be - & got to the top. What a glorious view there is! We gazed at it & without exaggeration we could see for six or seven miles on three sides. After that we walked to the town. I have never seen so many statues or churchs in a single town before. Of course one has to remember it is a very historical place & innumerable battles have been fought there. That is hardly a reason though, why a statue should be put up to every general who fell while fighting.
We got back to the ship & cast off at 4.30. The scenery up the river is gorgeous. There aint no word for it. The colorings &autumn tints are indescribable. I never could have believed the trees would ever look as they did.
I got into conversation with one of the officials of the Allan Line who had boarded the vessel at Quebec. He knew all the points of interest & pointed them out to me as we passed them. It turned out he knew m/c quite well having lived there for over five years. He also knew J&S as he did business with us when in town.
My packing did not take long but I do hate the business. I got to bed by 9.45.
We were wakened soon after six this morning as breakfast was served at 6.30. Unfortunately a thick fog came on & we had to anchor out in the river. The result was we did not get tied up till 10 o’clock. I was soon through the customs & came on here. I have a lovely room with bathroom attached – quite the nicest room I have ever struck.
I thought it would be a good idea to go & look Woods & Howard up so set off. Needless to say I lost my way but after taking three trams got there all right. We were soon busy talking & they let me down as lightly as possible. Briefly it was to the effect that if they had known I was coming from home they would have cabled back that it would be useless sending anyone out as business is so bad.
Moreover it is not likely to improve in the immediate future. That’s a nice sort of thing to be told immediately on arrival isn’t it? However we shall see what we shall see to quote a famous statesman. Under the circumstances I thought it advisable to go round & see the various men or as many as we could this afternoon. I was received very nicely but they told me straight it was no good me coming over because they couldn’t buy. I laughed at them & told them a nice tale. I shall be better able to judge next week-end.
I called on Birds brother & had a nice chat with him. I shall see him again one day next week & probably go out to his house. He is quite a decent chap but very very quiet & there is no likelihood of a night out.
Woods & Howard are both nice chaps & seem to be well liked everywhere. I think we shall have a little dinner party one day next week & probably go to the theatre.
I feel most horribly tired this evening. For one thing I was up at 5.45 this morning & I did not have my usual afternoon sleep. Ergo I am going to bed early.
How is mother getting on? Did you see her to London safely?
You might let me know when the Accrington & Newcastle weeks are. I have a reason for asking. Also are there any other weeks or odd lots of days you are likely to be away.
I have just been reading the last letter I received from you ere I left England home & beauty. It makes me want to get back again in a deuce of a hurry. Never mind I shall soon be back now I have started.
Good night dearest – I’m going to bed & will add more in a day or two.
Sunday. To continue. Yesterday I went down to the office & did a little work preparing for Monday. In the afternoon I should have gone out with Bird but I felt rather tired so after lunch I went to my room & slept & rested till six o’clock. No, I didn’t sleep all the time. You will think my life has been nothing but sleeping &eating since I left home, but really the change of air is responsible I suppose. Nearly all Englishmen when they first get to Montreal want ten to twelve hours sleep & so excuses are allowed.
Anyway after dinner I had a few minutes to spare so had my toilet attended to. I was undecided where to go after, but as all the theatres are in the same vicinity, I kept an open mind, but was inclined to visit a music hall.
I took a tram (& did not get lost this time) & when I arrived at my destination I studied the program of each theatre & eventually decided on "Oh! I say". Possibly you may have seen the play. In which case I needn’t describe it to you, but I laughed more than I have done for a long time. It is a farce on rather broad lines & if it comes to m/c when I am home we will go & see it. I don’t think we dare take mother though – not after Marie Lloyd!
You saw she was held up at New York? We had the news by Marconigram & were all rather amused.
I got back & had a drink & went to bed. This morning I have done absolutely nothing except read the Sunday paper which consists of 32 pages & a supplement. Rather a tall order but I got through it all. Now after lunch I am writing my mail as I see there is a dispatch tomorrow evening & I may not have time to add more tomorrow.
It has been exceptionally warm since I landed & really I could do with some flannel suits. Everybody is complaining though personally I don’t mind very much.
I received your charming letter yesterday & both Woods & Howard smiled, coming as it did only a few hours after I had landed. There was one from Nora as well & they remarked something to the effect that the ladies must miss me. Unkind creatures. I don’t know whether I told you they are both bachelors.
Now to refer to your letter. Miss Ashton as you say is really very kind to take such an interest in things generally, but really girlie, can you afford even 18/- a week for mother’s board. It is making things pretty stiff for you especially with the heavy expenditure you have in the immediate future. I suppose you will get through as you always have done but frankly I hate the idea of you always having a millstone round your neck.
As you say it is much better for mother to have something to occupy her mind & keep her going.
Incidentally does the sealskin fit you. I’ll lay long odds you tried it on & admired your sweet self in the glass. Now didn’t you? Be quite honest & candid. I think it was promised to you in due course wasn’t it. The guv’nor will have to increase my salary substantially to live up to it. Wot!
How the deuce did Mrs Hilley get to know you had been to Liverpool? Who told her? Tis a mystery to me & I am rather amused. Anyway give her my kind regards & thank her for her good wishes. The dinner party idea is rather good but there won’t be one as far as I am concerned if the guv’nor is invited. No no. Not for me.
The time will soon pass & by the time you get this letter I shall have been away more than a quarter of my time. If there is no business I shall come home at once – or rather not stay in a town playing with the customers, as I had to before. I have made five appointments for tomorrow which is well above the average & I think I can keep up to that rate.
Tonight I am going to church & I wish you were with me. It is rather strange we have never been to church together yet. We must do, as soon as I get home.
Is the date for the bachelors ball fixed. Let me know what date it is & I will try & arrange not to land on that particular day.
Now I will write my home letter & a few postcards.
Yours for all time
Harry