| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Hotel Beau Site, Chamonix, Haute Savoie, France, to her parents, regarding Uncle's alarm at the sudden cold snap; beautiful weather but Uncle's room is under the heavy eaves and is cold; he and Aunt are out at the moment, probably enjoying the view of Mont Blanc; she was pleased Uncle had a letter from Mr. Barbour but did not make much of it in her general letter as Aunt Amy says 'Beware of the Barbours' because of Mrs. Barbour's English accent; Mr. Barbour adds that he still wants Amelia to give him organ-lessons and perhaps lessons in Italian; Uncle wonders that he refers to her as 'Amy' but she and Aunt are conspiratorial about it; she is pleased that Uncle seems to have written back nicely; Dr. Brock has written and hoped that Amelia's help is better; Rome is well arranged for the winter but the Continental Committee of the mission has formed a subcommittee to consider the closure of stations; Mr. Blake in Florence has had his salary decreased; the stations are principally there for tourists, who can no longer come to Italy; Uncle will be kept in Rome by Bible Society work even if the station closes; the services may continue so that the porter can still be paid out of the collections; Naples and Genoa will continue as they have work amongst sailors; the Riviera will be closed; Spanish and African services will probably cease; another year of war is expected; Aunt Amy may be moving lodgings because of noise so Rome is still the best place to write to; thanks for letters; her parents' letter to Herr Axenfeld was sent via Fraulein von Muralt who translated it into German and edited it for safe passage; hopes that Karonga and district have been spared further trouble; her parents' letters probably come via England but there is nothing to indicate and they are not being opened at the moment; Greece is now vacillating about the war and Italy may soon declare war on Turkey; Mr. Cotterill's gift of a copy of the Odyssey has been lost, to her regret; the Cotterills are near Lucca; Dr. Elmslie has replaced her father in some duty. |