Letters Sent Home by an Edwardian Gentleman During 1912
Christmas day socialising 1912, a drive in the afternoon, Boxing Day pantomime, Melbourne not the place it used to be, "Ruffians" driving about in motors ...
December 26th 1912
Grand Hotel
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
…
Yesterday [Christmas Day] I lunched with Dr. & Mrs Jones and her mother and brother were there & the 2 charming children, so we were just a family party, it was a fairly hot day & not suitable to Xmas fare, but I went through with it and am still alive; turkey, Plum Pudding, Mince Pies etc.etc. washed down by Champagne! Such a meal with the glass at 90⁰ [32⁰c], plenty of crackers & children got various presents, I gave them each a book. I enjoyed it, they are all so nice.
In aft.noon I motored out 14 miles with Mollisons to Mitcham to see a place out there they talk of taking & had tea there, a pretty spot, fine views, nice garden & lots of fruit, so I hope they do take it & move in middle Jan. so much nicer out there than in this town. In evg. I had supper & more champagne with Mrs Callan & her son! I’m glad Xmas is over.
This aft.noon I take 3 Mollison children to Pantomime, 3 girls, 16,11 & 9 so I shall have done my Xmas duty. Going up to the Smiths at Macedon on Monday; Alison & her brother & S. in law are over in Tasmania on a motor tour & do not get back till 7th.
The Murphys are in Melbourne at Menzies Hotel & I went to see them on Monday; much as ever, they have invited me to stay up on the station, so I shall go in May & then on to Queensland where A Moore has invited me to spend winter. Will probably go up to the Finlays in April, have not seen them yet …
Every thing [sic] out here has got so much dearer, it is not the place it was & I should not be surprised to see a big set back in a year or two; extravagance seems to prevail & every Tom Dick & Harry has a motor, many on borrowed money I’m told, today crowds of them going every where & such awful looking ruffians as one sees in them mostly.
I saw Mrs Smith in her motor in the street last week, down from Macedon for day, but not to speak to. Of course a great many people are away up country & at the sea.
I’ve had a very happy morng. pottering through Botanical Gardens by myself, heavy rain last evg. freshened every thing up & they were looking lovely. I always liked a prowl through them, they are so well laid out & ponds with most lovely water lilies & all sorts of trees & shrubs from all parts of the world; there were very few people considering it is a holiday & one can walk about on the soft buffalo grass which they keep so green & nice …
Very mean of Mrs ?????? only leaving Justine £20, but I have long ago come to the conclusion that the more money people have the less they give or do for anyone else, possibly that is why they have it; one wishes one had money oneself. Not for ones own wants, but one could do so much for others not so endowed. It is a topsy turvey world!
Best love
Yr. affect. son
Arthur
Grand Hotel
Melbourne
My Dear Mother
…
Yesterday [Christmas Day] I lunched with Dr. & Mrs Jones and her mother and brother were there & the 2 charming children, so we were just a family party, it was a fairly hot day & not suitable to Xmas fare, but I went through with it and am still alive; turkey, Plum Pudding, Mince Pies etc.etc. washed down by Champagne! Such a meal with the glass at 90⁰ [32⁰c], plenty of crackers & children got various presents, I gave them each a book. I enjoyed it, they are all so nice.
In aft.noon I motored out 14 miles with Mollisons to Mitcham to see a place out there they talk of taking & had tea there, a pretty spot, fine views, nice garden & lots of fruit, so I hope they do take it & move in middle Jan. so much nicer out there than in this town. In evg. I had supper & more champagne with Mrs Callan & her son! I’m glad Xmas is over.
This aft.noon I take 3 Mollison children to Pantomime, 3 girls, 16,11 & 9 so I shall have done my Xmas duty. Going up to the Smiths at Macedon on Monday; Alison & her brother & S. in law are over in Tasmania on a motor tour & do not get back till 7th.
The Murphys are in Melbourne at Menzies Hotel & I went to see them on Monday; much as ever, they have invited me to stay up on the station, so I shall go in May & then on to Queensland where A Moore has invited me to spend winter. Will probably go up to the Finlays in April, have not seen them yet …
Every thing [sic] out here has got so much dearer, it is not the place it was & I should not be surprised to see a big set back in a year or two; extravagance seems to prevail & every Tom Dick & Harry has a motor, many on borrowed money I’m told, today crowds of them going every where & such awful looking ruffians as one sees in them mostly.
I saw Mrs Smith in her motor in the street last week, down from Macedon for day, but not to speak to. Of course a great many people are away up country & at the sea.
I’ve had a very happy morng. pottering through Botanical Gardens by myself, heavy rain last evg. freshened every thing up & they were looking lovely. I always liked a prowl through them, they are so well laid out & ponds with most lovely water lilies & all sorts of trees & shrubs from all parts of the world; there were very few people considering it is a holiday & one can walk about on the soft buffalo grass which they keep so green & nice …
Very mean of Mrs ?????? only leaving Justine £20, but I have long ago come to the conclusion that the more money people have the less they give or do for anyone else, possibly that is why they have it; one wishes one had money oneself. Not for ones own wants, but one could do so much for others not so endowed. It is a topsy turvey world!
Best love
Yr. affect. son
Arthur