1914

10 Dec 1914, Tillsonburg, Ontario [Postmark]

Tillsonburg 10 Dec

Dear Mater;

            I phoned Pater on Sunday night and he told me you were off on a holiday. I hope you have a good time. You certainly deserve it. However you generally manage to see a good many things down there and get a pretty good rest, don’t you? So make the best use of your time [next page] for rest.

Pages 3 & 1

Things are quite quiet here but always lots to do. Last night I was out to a small card party at the Davis’. Davis is a jeweller here with a couple of pretty daughters. They are quite nice. In fact as nice as most here.

I haven’t seen much of them up till now for some reason or other, but more likely I shall see more from now on. There is a son too about 26, but he is rather retiring as regards some things. He is not quiet, but he doesn’t like to dance or play cards.

Page 2

We had just eight of us there last night. The youngest Davis girl, Nerta [?], wasn’t playing. Miriam [next page] and Worth Davis, Frances Thompson, Gladys Luke, Irene Biethe, Wilfred Hill, and Walker Barnard made up the bunch.

Hill is secretary of the Harvest Tool Co. here, and Barnard was a draughtsman at the Car Factory, but since it has closed, on account of the war, he is out of work.

I am going to keep this bunch together if I can. We ought to have a pretty good time together [next page] The girls are all the prettiest you would want, and quite nice, and the boys are O.K.

We played five hundred, last night and had great sport. My luck seems to have changed at cards and I am doing much better. I always used to have such infernally bad luck.

About ten o’clock we had a sit down supper, principally [next page] of waffles, and maple syrup. Quite a unique idea, and certainly very nice.

Pages 6 & 4

Tuesday night was our Home Guard night. We had about sixty-five out, and we had our first street march. We drilled till about nine-fifteen, and then paraded Broadway for half an hour.

We are getting on quite well, and the turnouts have been good we practice Tuesdays and Fridays.

Monday night we had a debate at the A.Y.P.A. [Note 1] Resolved, that Environment had a greater influence in moulding the character, that Breeding [?] or Heredity.” So be sure it is rather a mixed subject, as both sides in reality [next page] intermingle, and neither condition is very clear cut.

Page 5

However it made quite an interesting debate and good fun. I was on the negative. We lost, but not by very much.

My project of getting “Waits” [?] is progressing very well. I have my quartette, and most of my orchestra.

It will be a [next page] male quartette, and the orchestra will be, five violins, flute, cornet, and a slide trombone.

All play well, and we ought to do pretty well. I have all the parts but the trombone, and I am pretty sure of him.

We will sing carols and perhaps a few Christmas hymns.

Sunday I was out at the Lukes [next page] for tea, and after tea. In fact I have a standing invitation to tea there on Sunday or rather I should say dinner (5 o’clock).

The Lukes have been exceedingly nice to me, and treated me very well.

Page 9 & 7

Tomorrow after noon, four of us 2 girls, are going out shooting. We can get some small shot guns for the girls, very light, and shooting small shells, and a rifle, so we ought to do a lot of damage.

Isn’t this mornings news fine, about the battle in the South Atlantic [Note 2].

Britain still rules the waves, doesn’t she? [next page]

No more word about the military.

Page 8

Well Mater I must say goodbye. Give my love to the Smiths, and Miss Lizars if she is there and lots for yourself.

Your loving son

   Car

1. Anglican Young Person’s Association.

2. The Battle of the Falklands, 8 December 1914, saw the defeat of a squadron of German cruisers under Admiral Maximilian von Spee by a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee.