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The 'Correspondence' Affair #50 - October 12, 1914 (Millicent to Alexander)
From : Thun, Switzerland
October 12, 1914
My dearest Alexander,
In case his own letters to you have yet to reach their destination, I have heard from Lawrence. He is enlisting this month and will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He is somewhere in the southern Mediterranean area, which of course makes sense with his particular talents. In other news from him, he is well, but has less hope daily of there being a swift end to conflict. From all I have been able to read, I fear he is correct. One can't heap fuel in an enormous pile and then act surprised at the size of the fire when someone finally sets it ablaze.
As you will hopefully find, this letter has accompanied your Christmas present. Since I have yet to hear from you, I have no way to judge the speed (or lack thereof) that my letters manage to reach you. I have been told once again that I am being quite forward and likely rather wanton as well to send you warm clothing of an intimate nature, but I will take Lawrence's advice over theirs in nearly every instance I can think of. As I was not able to consult with you in advance, I can only hope that your opinion of the gift is similar to Lawrence's. There is a packet of the pipe tobacco that you mentioned with fondness enclosed as well, so perhaps at least part of the gift will be welcomed.
My darling Ermengarde has been quite the mother hen to the younger students here. You would think that the instructors here would become more maternal in the face of outside strife, but such has not proven to be the case. When I ventured that opinion to Analiese - one of the senior girls here - she rather rolled her eyes at me and stated that if our instructors had maternal longings, they would not be 'old maids teaching young maids'. A bit of a crass way to say it, but I must confess that she does seem to have a point. Lawrence shows more maternal concern that the majority of the staff here. There are, of course, a few exceptions, but there are not enough of them to go around nor do they have unlimited time to devote to comforting. If maternal inclinations do indicate how one would enjoy motherhood, Ermengarde should wed a man that loves her dearly with the financial means to support a large brood.
I am somewhere in-between myself. While I do comfort some of the younger girls on occasion, I think I am looked on by them more as an elder sister than as a motherly sort. Which suits me quite well as I am not ready for motherhood even on a surrogate basis. Ermengarde can gather all the chicks she likes under her wings - I shall not be completing with her for their attention.
My lessons are going well, though several classes are being cancelled and replaced by others. Our headmistress is being very insistent on languages now and we have to study at least one of each side of the conflict in addition to whichever language is our native tongue. Lessons that take place outside of the confines of our school yard are all gone for the duration of the conflict as well.
Of course, the language lessons don't bother me in the least as I do enjoy them. Ermengarde, however, is of the opinion that the world would be best served if everyone would just learn English and cannot fathom my love of languages in the slightest. Perhaps it was because I was exposed to so many languages from a young age that makes the difference. Perhaps not. Dear as Ermengarde is to me, I cannot deny that she and I will never see eye to eye on such things as languages and literature.
I miss you very much. Both your conversation and the ease that even silence has between us. I had read about companionable silence in a book once, but had never experienced it until we met. I try every night before retiring to take a look toward our star. I know that it is a silly fancy that such a thing makes me feel closer to you, but I strive to be serious in so many other ways that I think I am entitled to a bit of silliness in my life.
All of my love always,
Millicent
October 12, 1914
My dearest Alexander,
In case his own letters to you have yet to reach their destination, I have heard from Lawrence. He is enlisting this month and will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He is somewhere in the southern Mediterranean area, which of course makes sense with his particular talents. In other news from him, he is well, but has less hope daily of there being a swift end to conflict. From all I have been able to read, I fear he is correct. One can't heap fuel in an enormous pile and then act surprised at the size of the fire when someone finally sets it ablaze.
As you will hopefully find, this letter has accompanied your Christmas present. Since I have yet to hear from you, I have no way to judge the speed (or lack thereof) that my letters manage to reach you. I have been told once again that I am being quite forward and likely rather wanton as well to send you warm clothing of an intimate nature, but I will take Lawrence's advice over theirs in nearly every instance I can think of. As I was not able to consult with you in advance, I can only hope that your opinion of the gift is similar to Lawrence's. There is a packet of the pipe tobacco that you mentioned with fondness enclosed as well, so perhaps at least part of the gift will be welcomed.
My darling Ermengarde has been quite the mother hen to the younger students here. You would think that the instructors here would become more maternal in the face of outside strife, but such has not proven to be the case. When I ventured that opinion to Analiese - one of the senior girls here - she rather rolled her eyes at me and stated that if our instructors had maternal longings, they would not be 'old maids teaching young maids'. A bit of a crass way to say it, but I must confess that she does seem to have a point. Lawrence shows more maternal concern that the majority of the staff here. There are, of course, a few exceptions, but there are not enough of them to go around nor do they have unlimited time to devote to comforting. If maternal inclinations do indicate how one would enjoy motherhood, Ermengarde should wed a man that loves her dearly with the financial means to support a large brood.
I am somewhere in-between myself. While I do comfort some of the younger girls on occasion, I think I am looked on by them more as an elder sister than as a motherly sort. Which suits me quite well as I am not ready for motherhood even on a surrogate basis. Ermengarde can gather all the chicks she likes under her wings - I shall not be completing with her for their attention.
My lessons are going well, though several classes are being cancelled and replaced by others. Our headmistress is being very insistent on languages now and we have to study at least one of each side of the conflict in addition to whichever language is our native tongue. Lessons that take place outside of the confines of our school yard are all gone for the duration of the conflict as well.
Of course, the language lessons don't bother me in the least as I do enjoy them. Ermengarde, however, is of the opinion that the world would be best served if everyone would just learn English and cannot fathom my love of languages in the slightest. Perhaps it was because I was exposed to so many languages from a young age that makes the difference. Perhaps not. Dear as Ermengarde is to me, I cannot deny that she and I will never see eye to eye on such things as languages and literature.
I miss you very much. Both your conversation and the ease that even silence has between us. I had read about companionable silence in a book once, but had never experienced it until we met. I try every night before retiring to take a look toward our star. I know that it is a silly fancy that such a thing makes me feel closer to you, but I strive to be serious in so many other ways that I think I am entitled to a bit of silliness in my life.
All of my love always,
Millicent