Item 14 - Letter from George to Ruth Mallory, 13 August 1915

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from the train to Cambridge, Friday

He was on the train ½ hr from Hitchin where he would change for Cambridge. He had taken part in a whist drive which had been a great amusement. He had the opportunity to inspect a remarkable collection of women, and a few less men, commenting on the stupidity, utter banality, and depth of spiritual emptiness of middle class provincial England. He was pleased to win first prize of a hundred cigarettes.

He had enjoyed Wensleydale very much and had tried to take a photograph of it to show her as he thought they should go back there together. He describes the countryside, colours, buildings and views.

[He changes onto the Cambridge line and continues the letter]. He expected to feel like a stranger in Cambridge as it would have changed and be unfamiliar but Benson [his former tutor and the Master of Magdalene College, 1915-1925] and Gaselee would be there.

He had sent a pile of dirty clothes from Pately Bridge and asks her to have them washed. He would write again from Cambridge.