September 10, 1916

Dear Folks,

Frances's of Aug 18th., Father's of the 2oth. enclosing the Round robin and Mothers of the 22nd. received. The Cook's visit was surely opportune; and what interesting people they must be. I should dearly have liked to see them. When Rex writes he must convey to them my kindest regards. The Round Robin was a delightful idea. I enjoyed it muchly - especially the signatures. I like, too, the Cook's productions for our guest book.

And speaking of the guest book, it rather strikes me that the first entry should be mine, and I would suggest the insertion of a bit of one of my least appreciated but rather pet productions: "Smoke". I refer to the section beginning "I built for myself a lodge in a fringe of the forest."

To return to your letters, I am sorry you were misled by the caption of the review picture. I certainly meant at the time to have written that only two of the companies had completed their course. I must have overlooked it.

Thank you, Mother for the socks, which have reached Louie. I see no objection to the cotton legs. I got a small parcel from Bloor St. a week ago including a pair of socks. With these of yours I shall be well set up till Christmas at least. One or two of the pairs I brought with white toes have had to be darned; but the ones you yourself made and most of those given me by others show no sign of coming through. I wear three or four pairs a week, of course.

You ask about our relation to the Canadian Army. It puzzles us. Of course, we are still privates in the 32nd Battalion, and if we failed here, would go back as such. Therefore logically we are still on the Canadian pay-roll. But there the logic ceases. Logically the Canadians should supply us with the extra boots, slippers etc. which should have been but were not issued to us; but they won't. Logically they should pay a subsistence allowance for us here; but they don't. On the other hand, since the Imperial authorities seem willing to feed us and furnish us with cadet uniforms in expectation of using our services, it seems a bit odd that they should strain at a pair of running slippers such as are issued to their own men. The funniest part of it is that Skilling and the others who went to St. John's Wood were immediately issued there with double kits of everything and in spite of their protests were issued Imperial pay, while they continue to draw their Canadian allowance. As Chesterton would say -"the blackness of great darkness."

The week has been as usual a busy one, and there is nothing to record in the way of diversion until yesterday afternoon when I saw a pageant in honor of Shakespeare and in aid of the Star and Garter Hospital in the garden of Wadham College. It was very lovely - gay costumes, good dancing and singing and lots of kiddies romping about as bees, flowers, and what not.

Am putting in a quiet week-end here. Went to New Road chapel this morning; but slept I am afraid through most of the sermon. We were out compass marching till midnight on Friday and I didn't get to bed very early last night. Have just come from lunch and am now going to have a nap.

Love to all,
Bun