Telephones (2 lines) 2177 - 2178.
Telegrams: "New Inn"
Proprietress: E. M. Berry.
Manager: H. H. Berry
Saturday, Oct. 5.
Dearest Honey:-
This is certainly the quaintest place ever. It is built about an open court like the "closes" in Edinburgh. A balcony, open, runs around the two upper stories and against the walls are set numerous interesting old carved chests and buffets. I began writing in the Oak Room, quite famous for its panelled wall and heavy beams, but it was so cold and damp that I came around to the sitting room where there is a tiny electric grate in the fireplace. Really I don't think I have been warm a moment since I landed, except when I have been walking the streets. This is no time of year for touring altho the English are evidently, a lot of them, sightseeing. It has been fine to visit the Cathedrals without the mobs of Americans[.] This morning there must have been twenty in the group with which I went thru the cloisters and crypt but all so quiet & appreciative. I don't care much about lingering over the week end in this rather expensive place, but I think it best to linger because my insides are a little upset. I went to Mrs. Saunders on Pitt St., but she is full, and here is the only inexpensive address that I have with me.
It rains as in April, every few minutes. I arrived yesterday by bus from Hereford in a downpour and made my way by stages from the bus terminal to this hotel. I hated to leave Hereford & wish now that I had stayed there over the week end. Miss Weston, one of the regular boarders at Castle Pool, was most kind to me. She went with me to Worcester, where I enjoyed the Cathedral and the Porcelain works so much more because of her company. Isn't the Cathedral beautiful? Thursday afternoon is closing time in Worcester so I lost the opportunity to get cards. We lunched at the Shakespeare Inn, rather messy but I had my first chance to hear a radio there. It furnished music while we sat there, good music, not jazz.
Yesterday morning I had a great treat. As soon after breakfast as I could, I went to the cathedral and heard a part of a beautiful service and then made an appointment with the verger to see the collection of chained books, the largest on the Continent, under the guidance of a man who loved every page of every book. He spent more than an hour with me alone, pulling down dozens of the priceless volumes and showing me this and that of interest in them. I hope that Miss Wild has seen them. She should have. His love for the treasures of the library is like, only much greater, my affection for our aure [?] mathematics books and I think he felt my appreciation of his devotion to them. Do you remember the Mappa Mundi? I got a great thrill from that and shd. have brought back a reproduction if I had been coming home.
This morning, after hunting up Mrs. Saunders, I went into the cathedral here, got the end of the service, and went through the wonderful cloisters with the fan vaulting. On the way to Mrs. S., again, I invested in a colic band and one wool combination. The beds are like ice, no heat in my room. At Hereford I had a little gas grate. The c.b. is even now keeping my tummy warm. I shall sleep in my wool combination[.] Last night I slept with my old grey coat laid over my middle. The feather bed felt very pleasant. It is pouring at present, so I shall not go out. People tell me that the rain is much needed. But I am afraid I shall not get into the Cotswolds. What is the use in this weather? Church Stretton is a place to remember in this region.
Sunday noon. I remind myself of T. Tembarom. Do you remember how, during that year in England, he set himself to the task of meeting half way all kinds of people? Well, I am trying to learn the English and I seize every chance to talk to them. It was a pleasure this noon to talk with a nice couple who have covered 7000 miles in England on a vacation from some point on the Equator. It takes them 5 weeks on a Danish boat to get back. Some, I will say, are a little slow in opening up. I am glad I stopped here for the week end altho it is expensive, but I feel better. The colic band & the rest have been good for my insides. I attended the service in the Cathedral this morning & got little out of it except the music. It seems to me that not much is put into it.
A few of my observations so far run as follows:- Eng. women wear their clothes as short & as tight as we do. Many of them have bobbed hair. All of them smoke. I am the only one in the dining room who does not take wine[.] They all seem to use the left hand for the fork. The knife is a pusher. I shall be hopelessly mixed up in my manners, being partly left-handed any how. I will post this - Give my love to E. & G. I shall write anon to them.
Much love to you,
S. E. S.
