In this letter Sydney expresses concern that the family may not have enough food because of war shortages. He assesses the children’s progress and gives Rose Mary plentiful advice on managing their advancement. He is thrilled that Frank has joined the Artist’s Rifles. He is working long hours and business for his company, he says, is booming. I believe he is living in the Bluff Hotel. The Bluff is a district on high ground overlooking Yokohama. Foreigners lived there.
Bluff
18 Mar 1918
My own darling Rosie,
Just received your letter of the 25th January and was pleased to hear from you once again. Letters are few and far between but I can quite understand you have plenty to do and consequently little opportunity for correspondence. I have been frightfully busy too, seldom getting home before 7:30 pm and generally tired out and more fit for bed than anything else. However am really very well and so have nothing to complain of except that I miss you so and long for the time when we shall be together again.
I am getting very concerned about you all now that there seems such difficulties over the food problem. I do hope that you are having enough to eat. Each week one sees the toll of ships sunk by submarines and with the vast numbers of American troops crossing the Atlantic must make it all the more difficult to supply the increasing demand for food stuffs.
I am very interested in your suggestions to come out to Japan again Darling. But as things are now and with Frank in [military] training I am afraid you could not be happy away from them all, even if you have me. I miss you so much indeed, but would rather put up with that than know you were unhappy worrying about the others at home. No, for the time being _____ you had better stay where you are at least until the war is over, which, let us hope, will not be too long now, and then you [can] come out again for a couple of years while the boys finish their schooling, and then perhaps we can both have a trip home.
However, it must rest with you Darling, and if you can make arrangements to take a trip via America I shall be quite happy as I shall know that you will see the children properly provided for in your absence.
Vi, I think, ought to be in school for some time yet. She is rather backward for her age and not at all fitted for office work, unless she has changed a good deal.
So Frank has joined up. I was particularly pleased to hear that he has been able to get into the Artist’s Rifles, O.T. C. and I shall be glad to have word of him from time to time. I know the Regiment of Old. When I was in the Queen’s Westminsters, we used to consider them the elite of the volunteers.
Please thank Renie for her photograph. It is splendid of her. Her letters too are extremely interesting and make me feel very proud of her. I must also congratulate her on coming out 3rd in the competition on efficiency at the office. This, I consider all the more praiseworthy as she has not had the opportunity of an education I should like to have given her and which doubtless many of her competitors had received and therefore, more or less, leaves her at a disadvantage. Both Mr. Frazar [and] Mr. Bowden think a great deal of her and there will be, I am sure, always a place in the office for her. Would she come back to Japan[?] There is just a possibility, by the way, of her meeting Tony Klingen (sp) in London. She leaves the firm at the end of this month in order to act as companion to a wealthy Dutch lady on her way to Holland. I expect she will write to Renie.
Tell the ‘Boys’ I was so pleased to have their letters and to know they are getting on so well at school. Maurice, by the way, ought soon to improve in his letter writing and I would suggest you make a point of this when you have occasion to see his master. Don’t say anything to Maurice, but quietly help him along. How is the violin going? I am looking forward to seeing him a brilliant violinist one of these days. You must see that he has lessons under a good master. I am quite prepared to spend some money on it. By the way, with regard to his school fees, ask Mr. Curtis to pay it and if I get a ‘wad’ at the half year in April will send you a hundred pounds to pay for these extras.
There is very little news as I have often remarked. I had very pleasant weekend at Kobe and Mrs. Drummond put me up. We went for a car ride on the Sunday through the hills at the back of Kobe and I enjoyed it immensely. Mr. Frazar was with us too. I had some auditing to do and a Masonic Meeting on the Saturday evening and so filled up the time very profitably.
We are doing a tremendous business and this year will most probably be a record. There is, of course, a good deal of responsibility for me but I’m enjoying it. Although I shall be glad when the slack time comes to have a good rest and perhaps my long looked for trip home!
There is some news of course!! H____ Frost is engaged to be married to a Mr. O’Dell, the fellow who wrote “All at Sea” which was put on at the G_____ I think just after you left for home. He is much older than she is but quite a nice fellow and I know him intimately.
So sorry to hear of poor old George’s [Sydney’s sister Millicent’s husband] illness and hope he has quite recovered by this time. They always seem to have the doctor in their house. Give my love to them.
Must really close now, it’s getting late and I am tired out. Take the greatest care of yourself Darling for
Your everloving Syd