Mrs Gibson witnesses an impassioned women’s political meeting, and tells of the philanthropy of friends; she is also overwhelmed by laundry. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. Please get in touch if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk
Dear Jean,
It is quite a while now since I wrote you last but as Papa will have explained I have been like Martha “cumbered with much sewing”. George being here made a deal of difference but we enjoyed his visit very much. By the way we had a letter from him today – the first – saying he had been discharged from hospital and was rejoining his unit. He expects to go back to Canada almost at once. He seems to have spent so much time in Glasgow and Edin. that he never went to Greenock at all.
This afternoon Mrs. Clark and I have been at a women’s meeting to hear an address by Mr. Mitchell Cotts, Dr. Murray’s opponent. It was great. Mrs. Grigor Macleod went up to the platform – beautifully dressed, and read a speech from three sheets of foolscap finishing up with this “If I were own wife to Dr. Murray I would vote against him”. Truly it was a most astonishing proceeding. The meeting broke up with cheers for Mr. Cotts and the singing of “He’s a jolly good fellow” Truly a most astonishing meeting!
Mrs. Clarke came home with me and we have had tea and talk round the fire for a couple of hours and I have now convoyed her through some of the mud as far as Coulregrein. Mr. Clark goes south next week for a meeting in Edin. and will make some stay in Glasgow as his school is shut.
Your letter has not come this week so far. We are hoping it is because you are pressed for time. From what you said in your last you seemed to have left yourself a good deal to do about the week-end. Mrs. Clark says they had only a few lines from Bessie who has five exam.s before Christmas.
Mrs. Menzies came in to see us before tea on Tuesday and stayed for a few hours. Mr. Menzies who was ‘visiting’ joined us later. It was very nice of them and we had a long talk together. They now have an old lady in the house with them. She is some poor old soul who had to turn out of her room in Newton and could get no other and the Menzieses took her in and gave her a room to save her from the poor house.
You will be sorry to hear that Mr. Macallum, Greenock is dead. Aunt Dean saw him passing a few days before so it must have been rather sudden. We are very sorry as he was a nice man.
Kitty Graham has been writing Papa for a testimonial and says she is going to seek an appointment. Surely she is not wise to leave in the middle of her training. Is Clara coming home at Christmas?
I have been trying this week and last to overtake arrears of washing and not coming great speed with storm and wet. “Oh that the clothes would wash themselves!” or at the very least “dry themselves”.
Papa and I will be real glad to have you with us again for a bit. Love from us both and the lil’ small. Your loving Ma.
Ref: 199.50.64iii/L18
Transcribed by Vivienne Parish, Museum Visitor Assistant
