Otterpool Camp, July 27, 1915 Dear Folks: - Folks in Holland now include two, since Nita has gone east. Say, send my letters to her, will you. Have written once to her and will write again But have quite an extended correspondence now and am behind in spite of the fact that I have written three home this week and now one to Cliff. Well, I spent my last weekend in London, from Friday night till Sunday night, and may say, I spent one of the best outings of my life. London is all I expected and then some- in fact the most wonderful spot I ever saw. I went up with Cameron. He has a brother there, a sub-editor on The Times. This brother proved a prince. We slept in a hotel and in the daytime were shown over London by said brother. On Saturday, we took in the Parliament Buildings and Westminster Abbey. A continual wonder was all we needed so we went in. As we went around, he explained all the different tombs-Mary, Queen of Scots and so one-some really marvelous tombs. One was a kind of vault with the door partly open and reaching out of this was a skeleton reaching up for a woman who being tried to be protected from death by her husband. In another room was the Order of the Bath or something. All their banners and stalls that were carved out of oak, each stall carved differently. The carving is wonderful and then the room is worked out in some design and, and, at the same time, is of stone. Also saw the coronation chair, a dilapidated affair, they brought from Scotland. Enough of Westminster-a person has to see it to appreciate it. Among other sights was the zoo, another fine spot. I have a few pictures taken and I will get them developed and send and explain the principle of each. Also, Buckingham Palace- a large and very plain building. They have wire netting on the roof as a protection against a bomb. They have also removed the water from the pond or lake near the palace so aircraft can't locate it. Saw the Admiralty Building-nothing much- but the roof is well strung with wireless. Also saw the Horse Guards, a really wonderfully got up affairs. Their uniform is gorgeous, tunic red over that a shining steel cuirass and a helmet with white brocade. Rest of uniform to match. Add to this, they have a sword and are mounted. You have a thing of beauty On Sunday, we went to Richmond, an ancient but splendid high class and every class resort. There you see all kinds of pleasure craft on the Thames. As we walked up the bank we heard several exclamations, such as " Oh, there goes a Canadian". Kind of nice to feel as if you are an advertised novelty. Among other sights was Hyde Park- a place where you see all latest fashion but, as Cameron's brother said, people are dressing plainly this year. One other marvel is the Tube. You climb into elevator, go down a steel shaft to station in the bowels of the earth. There you catch a train and shoot across London underground. The ventilation is pretty good. When you are going it is quite cool; as you stop it is fairly hot. It is fairly easy to get around. London. Buses, double deckers, street cars-did not see many- are also of double decks, Say, if this letter is rambling, blame the tent as they are arguing on every known subject and yelling and carrying on- very confusing. Enough of London-pretty weak and condensed. Another marvel of the country is that a picket went to a farm the other night, stayed in the stable, went into the house, asked for some papers. Wonder of wonders, they were given papers 1870 or so. Papers talking of things that have been history for years. Shows how alive they are here. We were bathing today, walked a long way but had a fair bath-beastly cold. Baseball scene to get along alright now. Had a good letter from Ina the other day, also one from Nita. Would like a glance at the prairies again. Not much chance to get out of camp here, five miles to the closest town. Well ma, a good night and good cheer, Perry . July 29 Thurs. Well, it got too dark the other night so I didn't finish. Last night I played baseball- at least caught flies and then had a bat at cricket, the first time I played any ball outside of catch. This year, we are goring to get up a team. To continue on the Abbey: It is a marvel-divided into different chapels built, I guess, at different times. The thing is one mass of sculpturing in memory of some lad who was great or near great. And then, on one of the slabs of stone in the floor will be the name of some person and a date. On a tomb, will be an epitaph and, if he was a sailor, a fine cutting of sailing ships-old type with guns showing. Then, on one, it said "so and so who was barbarously murdered"- gives place and date. Then the sculpturing is an old time stagecoach, held up by four men, one of who is shoving his pistol through the window at the guy's head-this to demonstrate that highway robbers did this. As we stood in this part. a lad came up to us and said, if we waited till a quarter to one, we could get into the royal tombs. A ticket was necessary but our uniforms got us in.