Flavored with Cinders
Hotel Suisse1
Kandy, Ceylon
Telegrams – Suisotel
Sallie dearest:
We just came up here this morning. It’s four hours by train from Columbo, much cooler and very tropical and lovely. Mrs. C. had to wait for a package she was expecting from Bombay and Mrs. Gillis and Dorothy didn’t want to leave so soon, so father and Adelaide and I came and simply love it. Hope to stay four or five days, and then go on up to Nuwara Eliya (pronounced New Arailia). This hotel is splendid and we are right on the lake where at sunset all the elephants go to bathe and drink.
Our last few days in India were hot and dusty, but busy seeing the temple at [Wadura], which I think is the most worthwhile thing to see in all southern India. We were still living in a car, so I was glad to know it was nearly over, but in [a] way sorry to feel that we had finished India. It is such a big country, so important and such a lot “doing” there that this place seems more like a toy. We bade a tearful farewell to Abdul at Tuticorin, where we took the steamer and had a desperately rough trip over to Columbo, so I was more glad to see it and the fine big hotel right on the beach with real bath tubs and good food. Sardines, crackers, canned soup and cheese are all right for a while, but it doesn’t take long before such a diet grows monotonous, especially when flavored with cinders and nearly jerked off your lap with every jolt of the car.
I got a pretty blue satin afternoon gown, quite plain as to trimming but with a prettily draped skirt and rather good lines, except that it is bunchy around the hips, which I hate but I suppose I’ll have to get used to it as everyone seems to look the same.
A dear letter from you was waiting for me, written at Mary’s shortly after Thanksgiving, a lovely Maltese lace sort of scarf from Mrs. Wiegenstein, and several handkerchiefs from different people. I sent Mrs. W. not long ago some dear little camels, elephants, etc. beautifully carved out of sandal wood. I thought they would make lovely dinner favors. She entertains such a lot, and so cleverly, although she has very little to do with way down in Batangas that I thought she could work them in beautifully – inviting people to the animal fair, have a little “jungle” scene for the centerpiece, etc.
I hope you will sometime meet Adelaide Gillis, for she is one of the finest girls I ever knew – just my age and most attractive, although different from the usually attractive type in that she is rather quiet, perfectly natural and simple, sweet but with lots behind her. You know what I mean. We have been together practically for four months and will be till we reach Europe, probably. They live in Los Angeles, but have a ranch where they spend most of their time. She has twenty very fine horses, raises them and expects soon to have her own ranch. She has taken the first prize over all the horses in California for the last two years, but you would never dream it, for she is not the ordinary type of horsey woman that you picture.
It is lots of fun having her with us, and we have so much in common and so many of the same ideas that we don’t get tired of being together.
Lover is safely back from his tiger hunt, but minus the tiger as it was so cold and snowy they couldn’t get up into the mountains, but got lots of small game in the foothills.
Isn’t it too bad that John wouldn’t stick to it and make good at Culver?2
We want to go home on the George Washington. We have to go on the [?] D. L. you see, and she is the best of that line. We just found out that she sails on May 31st, so tell Shang to plan the menu and include barrels of lettuce. Think of it, I haven’t had a mouthful of lettuce for over a year! We sail on the first of February for Egypt. It takes eleven days. Father told you, I suppose, that we want Arthur and Margaret3 to meet us there. Had one cable saying it was uncertain, but they had written. However, we’ve received no letter and don’t know what will happen, but I do hope they can come.
Oceans of love,
Alice
January 15, 1914
1 http://www.ceylonhotels.lk/suisse.html In business in 2009.
2 Culver Camp in Indiana
3 Her brother and sister-in-law
