I enclose an extract from a speech which might have been made by you,
but was made by--who do you think? Our modern St. David.
I read Oliver's _Ordeal by Battle_ before I left Agra. Most of my
relations sent me a copy. So far only one has sent me A.J.B.'s _Theism
and Humanism_: books are always welcome: but as their ultimate fate is
very uncertain, it is wiser to stick to cheap ones.
I think the idea of R---- on an Economy League is too delicious. I
should so like to hear the details of their economies.
I hope you have noticed the correspondence in The _Times_ on Wild
Birds and Fruit Growers, and that the latter contemplate invoking the
aid of the Board of Agriculture in exterminating the former.
The birds here increase as the weather gets colder. Geese, duck and
teal are to be seen flighting every day. We shot a pochard on Tuesday
and a plover yesterday. Large flocks of night-herons visit the
flood-lands and rooks have become common. White wagtails appeared in
great numbers a few weeks ago, and sand-grouse are reported in vast
numbers further north.
As there is no news, perhaps it would interest you to know, how we
live in these billets.
The house is very convenient on the whole, though cold, as there is no
glass in the large windows and the prevailing N.W. wind blows clean
through, and there are no fire-places.
As to our mode of existence, my day is almost uniformly as follows:
6.30 _a.m._ Am called and drink 1 cup cocoa and eat 4 biscuits.
7.15 _a.m._ Get up.
7.45 _a.m._ Finished toilet and read _Times_ till breakfast.
8.0 Breakfast. Porridge, scrambled eggs, bread and jam, tea.
8.30-9.15. Read _Times_.
9.15-10.15. Parade (or more often _not_, about twice a week 1 parade).
10.15-1.0 Read and write, unless interrupted by duties.
1.0 Lunch. Cold meat, pudding, cheese and bread, lemonade.
1.30-4.0. Read and write.
4.0. Tea, bread and jam.
4.30. Censor Civil Telegrams.
4.45-6.15. Take exercise, _e.g._, walk, ride, fish, shoot, or
play football.
6.15. Have a bath.
6.30-7.30. Play skat, or talk on verandah.
7.30. Mess. Soup, fish, meat, veg., pudding, savoury, beer
or whisky.
8.45-10.15 Bridge.
10.15. Go to bed.
Such is the heroic existence of those who are bearing their country's
burden in this remote and trying corner of the globe!
_Enclosure_.
"Meanwhile, let personal recrimination drop. It is the poison of all
good counsel. In every controversy there are mean little men who
assume that their own motives in taking up a line are of the most
exalted and noble character, but that those who dare differ from them
are animated by the basest personal aims. Such men are a small
faction, but they are the mischief-makers that have many a time
perverted discussion into dissension. Their aim seems to be to spread
distrust and disunion amongst men whose co-operation is essential to
national success. These creatures ought to be stamped out relentlessly
by all parties as soon as they are seen crawling along the floor."
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