| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Aviemore, Crieff, to her parents, regarding an eventless week, walk along River Earn towards Comrie but drought made it unpleasant and difficult so they turned back, sale of work scheduled for foreign and home missions but Mr. Gardiner, M.P., who was to have opened it, was detained because of the debate on the coal question and Uncle agreed to stand in, 'A[unt] and I went with him to do the spending part', purchase of Christmas presents for friends in Rome, sale attended by Dr. and Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Hunter Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell (she the daughter of Sir George McCrae of Edinburgh), Dr. Archibald and Miss Henderson, and 'Miss Gordon Cumming (an old lady and a great traveller in her day, much interested in the blind in China)', Aunt Amy's clothes not good enough to go to the sale, 'People who say others can live on £50 or £70 a year at the present day should just try it ... Bessie Millar, who is a thrifty little person, told me that with her £130 income, the only luxury she can alow herself is a rare book to keep herself at the same educational level and an occasional visit to her relatives in Edinburgh. A[unt] A[my]'s clothes aren't fit to be seen', changes which have been made to them, Amelia's plan to have a tailored costume made for herself while at home, which will probably cost £8 but will be worth it as materials in France are not so good and fashions change, methods of improving Aunt Amy herself, her eyes are weak and she needs new teeth, but Uncle cannot afford that at present, Uncle is to go to Buchan and may return by Aberdeen, Uncle Alec's board is increasing, but Uncle might only meet Professor Cowan, Mr. Turner the organist is also to teach her a little, but now his mother has died in Melton Mowbray, she hopes he will teach her more about harmony, much-needed practice anyway, Uncle and Aunt at the Academy Sports and Prize-giving, entrance money to be given to the Crieff War Memorial, special service today in Mr. Hunter Smith's church with spaces for local dignitaries and demobbed soldiers, names of 130 killed were read out, a piper played a lament and a bugler sounded the Last Post, 'a very impressive service'. |