Walper House Hotel
Berlin Ontario
(Tuesday) 28 October 1913
My dearest girlie
You will see by the above address where I am. Isn’t this rotten ink. Before I commence my news I will just refer to your letter in case I am rushed for time at the last minute.
Is "Shadows" a mournful play that you required your handkerchief again. You seem rather fond of weepy plays. It is funny about the old chine being repaired. I wonder how much Florrie knows about your affairs in conjunction with mine. As you say she is a pretty girl but not my style. I think I once told you I promised to buy all my china from her when I got married, so it is as well she knows you. I think David would say things under his breath as I know he detests any fancy business when he goes away. I should have felt highly honored if my girl had turned up like Miss McClean did. I have not hear from him yet & presume there has not been time for him to send a letter from Cuba.
Did you see father at Mr Ure’s meeting. It is almost certain he would be there, though possibly in the crowd.
You seem to be putting in a lot of time at sewing? What are you making haven’t I to ask? By the way just a reminder. You remember laughing don’t you? Well, don’t forget.
I will not learn to swim until you are able to teach me & possibly – well who knows – it may be on some propitious occasion next year.
It was awfully funny you letting out about the polo match. I laughed quite a long time & thought it very funny. Please give my kind regards to Mrs Russell & Mrs Thomlinson. Now to my doings.
Sunday I went up to Bentley’s for dinner. Afterwards I helped to wipe up as I thought I might as well get in training. When everything was finished Mr & Mrs B, Len Saxon & I went for a walk. They live in quite a nice part & all the surroundings are beautiful. We walked down to the shores of the lake & although a great deal of building is going on & all the roads are nothing but a morass it was a revelation to me. The foliage is gorgeous & it is hardly possible for me to describe it. From there we wandered on to a forest & the silver birches looked splendid altho’ there were no leaves on the trees.
Then we went back to tea. I did not help to wipe this time. Later on we went to Raymond Sugden’s & had a talk & some music & went back to Bentley’s for supper. Len & I came back to town together & I had some patterns to prepare for Monday.
Monday morning I caught the 8.40 & went to Hamilton. I engaged a cab and set off to see the customers, It cost me 15/- for the cab but it was worth it as I should never have got through with my heavy bag. Net result about 1000 yards but I have to go again tomorrow & may get something decent. I got back just in time for dinner & spent the rest of the evening mapping out my route for today & preparing my samples. It was rather late when I got to bed.
This morning I was up at 5.30 as I had to leave on an early train for Berlin. I arrived here about 9.15 & got to work at once. I finished by 3.30 & didn’t book a single order. It is a rotten state of affairs isn’t it.
I hope to meet Len here this evening as he is in the city (save the mark) doing some surveying. I wired him last night I was coming up.
Did I ever tell you of my flirtation with Rhoda at Millbrook. We were very friendly for quite a long time & then it dropped off. I never knew the reason as it was the sweet maid who chucked me. However on Saturday night the whole tale came out. I was chaffed most unmercifully about Rhoda by Mrs Sugden & it seems she was at the dance when I was so stricken with Rhoda (Another dance you notice) (Did you remark "Bunte(?)")
Then of course the usual postcards ensued & it went on for quite a time. Mrs Burgess (Rhoda’s mother) was ill & Mrs Sugden (who was unmarried then) nursed her professionally.
Now it all comes out Rhoda chucked me for Len Saxon & Mrs Burgess was very cross as she thought I was ‘such a nice young man’. She told this to Mrs Sugden. Tis rather strange I find all this out in Canada.
However I have forgiven Len & we have agreed to let the matter drop, especially as he is engaged to a girl in Ashton. I feel very pleased it was Rhoda who threw me over as – well I might never have met you. Don’t confuse her with Elsie – the girl who can cook.
I have got a cushion cover with all the arms of the various provinces of Canada worked on. When I get home I want you to mek it into a cushion as I think it will look rather well.
I don’t think I shall be able to bring you out here unless my screw goes up a big lot. The hotel bill is 22/6 per day in Montreal but only about 17/6 in Toronto. For an eight weeks trip including the fare which is £32 return it would cost about £100. It would be cheaper to go to Africa methinks.
However we shall see. Tomorrow I go to Guelph & Hamilton & will add more in Toronto on my return tomorrow evening.
To resume. Thursday 30-10-13.
After writing the foregoing I went to find Len Saxon. I found his hotel but the bird had flown. In other words he had only stayed in Berlin a few hours & so I was done out of my evenings pleasure. I didn’t like the hotel where I had put up & the natural result was I cleared out & caught the train to Guelph.
There I found a very nice hotel & got to bed early as I was so tired. Unfortunately I was too tired to sleep & I tossed about for hours. Next morning I went to see the one & only customer here & he turned me down quite nicely.
Methinks it was a very good thing you were not in the vicinity as the language was – well hardly fit for the drawing room – or for that matter the smoke room either.
My feelings were rather bitter as I had taken all the trouble & not got anything. Then I read my little poem & girded on my armour & trained to Hamilton. After lunch I visited my customer & spent two hours with him. I thought he might give me an order of at least £250. He kept me on tenterhooks for a long time & then he picked out four cloths & gave me the order.
I am accustomed to fairly decent orders but this took my breath away, gee but it was a beauty; 132,000 yards value £1980. Then all was bright & gay as a May morn. I was happy for the rest of the day as it is the years order & no competitor can get a smell. That makes it I have done as much as Brown did, but I don’t think I shall do much more. However one never knows.
I caught the 5.5 back & after dinner went up to Bentleys. I really ought to have gone up for dinner, but as I was detained in Hamilton it couldn’t be done.
I met another Stalybridge fellow but did not know him. We had a quiet evening & talked. They are removing on Friday. I offered to go & help but I am afraid it cannot be done as I have made a few appointments.
Today I have done nothing except write the firm this morning & visit a few clients this afternoon without result.
Tonight I am going up to Mr & Mrs Sugdens for dinner & it is nearly time to go now.
I hope there will be a letter tomorrow morning from you, but you never can rely on the mails to Canada. There was a much better service in the olden days when the mail came once a week. They did keep time then. You should see the letters in the papers about the mails. The sarcasm is wonderful.
Time flies along very nicely & it will not be long before I sail for home. Whatever I shall do when we are married & I have to come away I don’t know. The passionate maddening feeling I have at times just to see you for five minutes & to love you for two seconds only is almost unbearable. I could never have dreamed in days gone by it was possible for me to love you – or anyone as I do. I always thought I was rather cold & treated it rather cynically I’m afraid. Now I’m learning things & I shall keep on learning. Altho’ things have been rather brighter socially for me since I came here, I want you & you only. I don’t care a tuppenny continental for anyone else, but my whole being cries out for you. Now my mind is relieved somewhat I shall contrive to exist for another six weeks & then I shall have you once more. We must manage in some way or other, our respective families notwithstanding, to be married next year. I could not go away on a long trip without you & altho’ the expense would have to be considered very carefully we would manage some way. We always have done in spite of things looking black for weeks.
Now I must close dearie & hike to Balmy Beach where the Sugdens reside.
Please give my love to mother & my dearest love sweetheart to you.
Yours for all time
Harry