One Fellow Missus
Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen.
Dampfer Prinz Sigismund
Lover dear:
We sailed yesterday morning at eleven and are having ideal weather so far. The steamer is small but very comfortable. My stateroom has two big port holes, a nice roomy closet, and I can leave my trunk in the middle of the floor, oh, yes and a long mirror, full length. Everyone is German so I hope to improve my knowledge in that line. All the stewards etc. are Chinese except a few from New Guinea, which are perfectly killing. This morning I happened to pass one just as he had dropped a tumbler and by way of explanation he said, “Me no bloke him. Hand belong me he sleep.” He thought it wasn’t his fault, but his hand’s because it let the glass slip. Everything is “fellow”. I am the only female in the first class and they call me “one fellow missus”, the sea is “big fellow salt water”, and a motor car “steamer belong bush”. Out here they always say bush instead of woods or forest. The captain has a big dog that loves oranges, and he has one after every meal. He sucks out the juice first and then eats it, skin and all.
On our way to the steamer yesterday we stopped with a final hope at consuls and there was a letter from you for father and the cunning little plum pudding. Did you see any of them? It is all done up in a little round box and inside of that a little bowl and Christmas cards and then the pudding. Mrs. Leslie gave me such a lovely silver pen knife just before I left, and tonight we are going to cut it with this knife. Father, the captain, and a big German doctor that seems awfully nice. You were such dears to send it, and it is the last thing on earth I could have thought of. In fact had mentally gone all through Daniel Low’s catalogue wondering what it might be. So you see it was a fine surprise. Had a long letter from Mary, and she seems quite happy to be in Pittsburg – my, oh! Wouldn’t I be happy to be there, and it wouldn’t take me long to cover those hundred miles home.
I bought a real “nifty” looking white cotton crepe dress with net frills around the sleeve and down the front, and I added a touch of course Delft blue embroidery – also a big linen hat for the sun, white but faced with that shade of blue. These are probably out of style at home, but “the latest thing” out here.
We get to Brisbane tomorrow where I’ll mail this. Then our next stop is New Guinea in a week, but there’s no use mailing any letters till we reach Manila, because this boat carries the mail.
I got back from the Leslie’s just two days before sailing, so had loads to do. Our motor trip was fine, and weren’t they good to take it, for they planned it all for me just so I could see different parts of Australia.
Have laid in a goodly supply of sewing, reading and cool white dresses for this trip, and will need them all, for it is terribly hot and after we leave Brisbane our passenger list will be very small.
These are flannel flowers, the national flower of Australia. I wanted to send you a box of them, but decided they wouldn’t keep.
Father got a perfectly beautiful black opal, selected the stone and then had it set in a stick pin. He wanted me to choose one for a pendant, but I thought I’d rather have linens and embroideries from China, and laces from India. Now he wants me to have this one of his set in a ring for myself, but I wouldn’t think of it, for it makes such a stunning pin, and he seems so pleased to have it. He wanted to send you some lovely candle shades made of ostrich eggs painted. They really were beautiful, but so delicate I knew they would never get home safely. It’s nice of me to tell you about it now, isn’t it?
Oceans of love for you and Shang.
Alice
January 12, 1913
Yesterday Vin brought me the biggest bunch of flowers (roses, ferns and sweetpeas) I’ve ever seen. He looked like a walking florist shop when he came on board, and a woman brought a huge bunch of the flannel flowers. Wasn’t it good of them?
