Mr Gibson and his teaching colleagues have resolved to agitate for better terms and conditions; he is also pleased to see more of his pupils returning home safely from the First World War. Lord Leverhulme is back on the island and his development schemes are changing the face of Stornoway. 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
Jean dear,
It was Mr. Brown that came in on Sunday evening and so kept me from writing your letter. He had arrived on Saturday evening. He told us he had come by Aberdeen and had seen Maud, whom he would not have known if she had not spoken – “she is so grown-up.” We were sorry you had taken the cold – or it had taken you – after your having escaped it so long. Well, the wise thing was “in-bed!” So we hope you are all right again and none the worse of it. How about the exams.? I think you said your Practical paper was to be at the beginning of the week. It is a branch of the subject that lends itself to a very nasty searching paper, so I hope you got on all right.
Three exams. for one degree subject seems to be giving you almost more than the value of your exam. fee. I hope you remembered to square up the exam. fee for your First Science examn.
I am having no end of worry with the staffing question. Mr. Maciver has now left us and I have not any matheml. instructor for the classes from II.A up – and it wants only three weeks of the examn!
We had a farewell tea to Mr M. on Friday evening and in making the presentation – a silver watch – I took occasion to say a few things on the position of the teaching profession. These are duly reported.
On Saturday forenoon we had a meeting of the teachers of Story Parish to consider the S. Bd’s [School Board’s] offer of £400 towards a bonus. Resolved to decline bonus & to ask again for Craik Scale. It was also agreed that in the event of refusal Headquarters be asked to offer the resignations of the Nicolson Institute staff! The meeting was a large one and was almost unanimous. On Sunday we went to church in the morning and heard old Mr. Maclean (salary, we understand, £100) proclaim to a congregation that had Lord Leverhulme as one of its members that riches take to themselves wings and flee away. We liked his doing it.
Lord L. came on Thursday night & is to be here for ten days. He is hustling his schemes along. More and more wooden huts get carted up the road.
You had better hurry home if you want to see the old Story. I daresay there will be a little mud left down about the quays still, as a surviving vestige of the old features of the organism.
More of the boys are getting home – Arthur Maclean & Donald W. Macarthur, home from Palestine, were up seeing me to-day. I am glad to see them back safe.
Duncan Macleod, one of the boys of the present Sixth, whom I have with great difficulty “extracted” from the Navy, got home on Friday. Not even Duncan himself can tell why he wasn’t set clear two months ago. He is coming back to school in a week.
I have asked your Mamma for news of herself to send you. “No news about me!” she says. Hut was quiet on Saturday night (about £1). Mr. Murray says it will soon be closed for the season.
Mamma has started to make a little caché of eggs for you. “’M!”
Our best love to li’l Sheann.
Papa
Ref: 1992.50.64iii/L35
Transcribed by Dawn MacDonald, Archives Collections Assistant
