| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Hotel Beau Site, Chamonix, Haute Savoie, France, to her relatives, regarding Aunt's birthday and thanks for greetings; good weather; Professor Allier's late arrival by train meant that the hymns were chosen late for the service again; the minister was annoyed to discover that Chamonix uses a different hymnbook from that at Argentières, but he should have checked that beforehand; he is stationed at Les Praz, and could have walked but is lazy; sermon on Revelations; the minister's views annoyed Uncle as they were formed without knowledge of archaeology; rudeness of one woman at church presuming on the minister's time; he is sensible and makes them find out things for themselves, rather than 'carry them' as Uncle does; the English women at the hotel, having begun by despising Aunt and Amelia, are now very keen to know Uncle, who has not taken to them; walk to the Cascade du Dard; Uncle was lazy about the walk and kept trying to make them turn back; he refused to believe there was a waterfall even when Amelia ran ahead and saw it; finding out information for him about the Bossons glacier (he does not speak French); he intends to go and see it and the arrangements made for the suspension railway which is to go to the Pierre Pointue and then via a lift to the top of the Aiguille du Midi; the war is delaying the work; she wrote to Frau Buchli to send Uncle's ice axe, despite Uncle's procrastination which, added to the delays of war, means that things do not happen; he also intends a visit to the Mer de Glace, but his heel is again giving him trouble; Amelia practises her singing during their walks, going ahead while Uncle and Aunt walk slowly; Aunt is strong if she is allowed to go in her own time; exercise is essential to benefit from the generous meals, but it is difficult to make him go for walks; Mr. Benton's wife has had a son and both are well; she is a self-satisfied woman; considering her background it is surprising; she judges women by whether or not they are married, the goal in life; Mrs. G.'s son-in-law has died. |