The 'Correspondence' Affair #6 - August 3, 1912 (Alexander to Millicent)

[avirra.livejournal.com]

From : London, England

August 3, 1912

My Dear Millicent,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I read in the news from the United States that the woman flyer that you wrote to me about, Miss Harriet Quimby, died in a airplane mishap last month. For reasons unknown, her plane pitched forward without warning and threw both herself and her passenger out of their seats. Both plunged to their deaths. In reading through her biography, she was a rather accomplished woman, having been a journalist, a theatre critic and author of several movie screenplays. It is a shame she is no longer with us. She sounds as if a conversation with her would have been fascinating.

Regarding your problems with Italian conjugations, I fear that Augustine would not be very much help. The only language she knows more than a smattering of is French and you know much more of it than she does. She did not seem to enjoy the preformance by Miss Dow in 'The Dancing Viennese' either. It would seem her tastes and mine on what constitutes an enjoyable evening do not align well. She is a charming creature, but I doubt we will be seeing one another socially any longer except possibly in passing.

So your Juliet is Ermengarde Breckenridge? I don't know that I would describe her name as unfortuntate, but it is a bit of a mouthful. How did your performance go? I suppose I can wait to get a report from His Lordship since I know he was intending to drop in to watch it for himself. That reminds me. I did pass along your message to him and he flushed. Which I gather was likely your intent.

I am not certain if news of the Summer Olympics counts as current events at your school and are therefore not covered, but Great Britain had a rather good showing. 10 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze. That put our nation at third on the medal count, behind only the United States and Sweden - and, of course, Sweden had the home team advantage.

I've not heard any additional rumblings regarding the Titanic and rather get the feeling that the White Star Line is simply hoping people will forget about it. I doubt that will happen as it has quite captured the attention of the public and benefits are being held in many towns to aid the families who lost loved ones aboard the ill-fated vessel.

As for myself, I am currently clerking in one of the Whitehall offices and His Lordship seems to like to make use of me as an aid on occassion. Your uncle is a very interesting man to watch in action, so I rather enjoy these excursions. I believe I am learning a great deal from being around him.

Before I forget, one thing that struck me in your last letter was the remark that some of your fellow students consider you to have a streak of cynicism. I must say that I never noticed that tendancy in you myself. A bit of a realist perhaps, but not cynical. Perhaps it is simply their own lack of experience outside of the walls of home and school that make you appear that way in comparison. At any rate, I shouldn't worry myself about that if I were you.

Yours,

Alexander

#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Love how you weave elements and events of the period into these letters. I'm afraid comments may be light today given it's the 4th. Here, we're getting remnants of hurrican Arther so no barbeques or other festivities. No fireworks either...bummer.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Love the story in this form--keep it up