September 29, 1912

Cleopatra's Needle

Another lovely fine morning. Ben
Frank and I went for a long walk.
Miss Ethel was too tired from the night

before. Went down to Trafalgar Square
round Buckingham Palace (a bleak
looking place). Along "Rotten Row" through
St. James and Hyde Parks. Love the
beautiful statue of Queen Victoria in
the Park right near the palace. Went
along the embankment as far as
 Cleopatra's needle. Took a car and
got home in time for lunch. Was
tired so did not go out again that
day.

September 28, 1912

Annie went to the National Gallery

with Mrs. Hirst she enjoyed it very

much. In the evening Ethel Hirst

Ben, Frank and I went for a long

walk. Went to Trafalgar Square to see

Nelson's monument Its very fine. At

the  base are four lions designed by

Landseer and they are wonderful!

There is a tall tower with a statue

of Nelson seated on his horse on the 

very top. The figure of Nelson and the.

horse can be seen over the tops of 

buildings long before we reach the square.

Walked around the Parliament build-

ings, Westminster Abbey, White Hall

and all the different statues around

the Square.

September 27, 1912

Annie had a letter from Jim
and I one from Bessie Chisholm.
it seemed awfully good getting
word from home but  made us feel
very far away. We all went for a
walk in the morning and Catherine
and I went out in the evening again.
Played cards with Ben and Frank
Hirst in evening.

September 26, 1912

Mrs. Hirst took care of baby

while Annie, Catherine, Ben, Frank

and I went to see "The Tower of

London." It was quite a ways out

and took all the afternoon. It's

such a mssive well preserved
 building. We went in over the steps

under which trhe bodies of the Little

Princes were buried and climbed
 stairs until I thought my legs 

would drop off. Saw all kinds of

old Armor, Swords, bayonets and

weapons of all descriptions. Saw a

room the walls of which were decor-
ated with carving done by prisoners.
The block on which people were
beheaded, where the scaffold stood
and the chapel used in William
the Conqueror's time. Last but not
least we saw the Crown Jewels. They
are very wonderful and well worth
seeing. When we came out of the
Tower we waited and saw them
changing the guard. Went through
quite a little ceremony over it.

September 25, 1912

Went shopping and got a dark

green cashmere dress for wear on

the boat. Annie got such a pretty golden brown silk dress em-

broidered in golden brown with touches

of black. One of the prettiest dresses

she ever had.

September 24, 1912

Catherine's birthday. She is six

years old. Miss Sugg gave her a

box of delicious candy and in

the afternoon Annie Ben and 

Frankie Hirst took her to the Zoo. She 

had such a good time and was

much excited over all she saw.

September 23,1912

Got no word about our tickets so

went down to the P and O office. Its
right near Trafalgar Square and
I enjoyed the morning very much.
Made all necessary arrangements
about our passage. Got deck chairs
 and made arrangements to have
the baby's pram crated as we
 could not take it on board ship
save in a crate. Got home for
dinner. In the afternoon Annie
took Catherine to the barbers and
had her hair cut. Read in the
 evening while Annie played cards.

September 22, 1912

After we got baby to bed Annie

Catherine and I went shopping.

Annie got her sit wh ich is very

becoming also a blue and white 

silk waist to match it. In the

afternoon Annie took Catherine

to see the Leola pictures while

Miss Field and I went as fas as

Regent Park. The flowers were

 very beautiful and the walk was

just what I needed.

September 21, 1912

A beautiful right Sabbath morning.

Miss Field and I went to Marylebone

Church. Enjoyed the walk very much

but never did care for Church of

England service. In the after-

noon Annie went to srvice at

St. Pauls Cathedral. Got dates mixed

again 22nd was Sunday.

(Note: See wikipedia for more information on Marylebone Anglican Church and St. Paul's Cathedral)

September 20, 1912

Mrs. Hendeson one of the ladies at

Miss Suggs asked me to go with

her to see the "White Lily." Its a

sort of exposition but I was not

at all carried away with it. Saw

a splendid show of real Irish lace

and enjoyed the Egyptian room.

Saw young Egpytian girls working

the silver net shawls so much work

at present for evening wraps.

Went out on a Metropolitian train

and intended going home the same 

way but we took a tube train instead

and were sometime getting to the

right street.

September 19, 1912

 Mrs. Hirst took care of baby
this morning so Annie and
I went to the Wallace Art Gallery
together. We did enjoy it so much

The paintings were grand. Few

painting by Rembrandt. Gainesborugh

Van Dyke! Reynolds, Bonheur and

Landsier. Stayed at home the rest

of the day as we were tired.

(Note:  Check out the Wallace Collect in Wiki.  Also, given the time period and these two ladies' adventure, Wikipedia confirms why she would have mentioned Bonheur's paintings.)

September 18, 1912

Mrs. Hirst, Ben, Fankie, Catherine

Miss Hirst and I went to see

Madame Tussaud's wax works.

They certainly were very fine and

we enjoyed the day so much.

We were folled by one of the guards

standing perfectly still and Ben

 Hirst looked up his guide book to see 

who he was when he smiled 

we felt cheap.  Ethel and Frankie

went into the Chamber of Horrors.

The rest of us went to see the

Nelson and Waterloo room

instead.

September 17, 1912

 I took care of the baby while Annie
and the Miss Charles went to the
Tait Gallery. She enjoyed the picture
very much. Catherine and I went
{Picture "The Doctor" in Tait Gallery}

for a walk later on.

September 16, 1912

Annie, Catherine and I went

up to the Museum again. I did

not go in. Took care of baby while

the rest went. Its a wonderful

 building. Could spend a year in

it and not get tired. Got the dates

 wrong her Sept 15 was Sunday and

 we were at the museum. Did my sew-

ing on the 16th.

September 15, 1912

An uneventful day. I did a

little sewing, gave Catherine a

bath. Went for a walk in the

 evening. Took Catherine along.

September 14, 1912

All went for a long walk

today. Got a carriage for the

baby so took her along with us.

Went up to the British Muesum

and intend going again to-

morrow. Annie played cards in

the evening while I read or talked.

The children go to bed before we

have dinner so we feel free.

September 13, 1912

Went for a train ride this morning

and enjoyed it so much. The

trains are two story affairs and 

we always ride on top so we can

see the sights. Time is just

flying past and we get so little

 done. We have five meals a day

and that with the children takes

all the time.

September 12, 1912

Miss Sugg took care of the 

baby this morning and we went

shopping. Rode on the top of the horse bus. Enjoyed it very much

but we were so high up that it seem-

ed as of all the motors were going to

strike the bus. Annie ordered a 

new suit which will be very pretty I

think. Laid in a supply of gloves

as they are much cheaper than at

home. Got home for lunch and

did not go out in the afternoon.

September 10, 1912

Have not been out much as of  yet

bit each day I go our for a walk and 

venture further from home. Today

I went up among the shops. The

buildings certainly are fine and

look so massive and substantial

Ten or a dozen peole from

 New Zealand are boarding at

Miss Suggs and they have told us

many interesting things about our

new home. Annie went to the P. 

and O. office today to see about

our accommodations for the next

voyage and seems pleased with

everything. Had a long interesting 

letter from Jim and Mr. Peck 

sent word that they had a cable

 saying he had arrive in 

Hobart safely.

September 9, 1912

London is dreadfully bleak

and big and so very cold. We are

just perished all the time. Never

pretend to dress up in the evening.

September 8, 1912

Felt strange and small in the 

big city of London but we are com-

fortably placed at Miss Suggs and

the tableboard is good.  The child-

ren are as good as can be.

(Note: Merry Farmer has made these comments about life in 1912 as related to the popular series Downton Abbey if you go here. )

September 7, 1912

Saturday morning beautifully fine.

We got into Plymouth Harbour about

Six A.M. I got up at five and went 

on deck as soon as I was dressed.

Tried to get Annie up but failed.

Quite a few passengers got off at

Plymouth. Its a beautiful place

with high cliffs all around and the

town built in the hollow between. I was

hungry for a sight of land and

could not have wished for any

thing prettier than the land we saw

that morning. The water was too

 shallow for the Oceanic to get up to

 the wharf. A smaller boat was sent

 to take the passengers ashore.

Left Plymouth abut eight A. M. 

and crossed to Cherbourg on the

coast of France. Reached Cherbourg 

about twelve oclock. The scenery all

 along the coast of France was lovely 

could see away back in the country

and the land seemed laid out in

 small fields each surrounded by a

 hedge. Cherbourg seemed strongly

fortified. Forts were built out quite

 a distance from the town. Nearly all

the passengers got off at Cherbourg

and a new crowd got on. All 

afternoon we rather moped around.

The trip up the English Channel

was simply grand. The Isle of 

Wight is such a beautiful spot

One of the stewards told us it is 

called garden of England

It kept us busy running from 

one side of the ship to the other so

as not to miss anything. Passed

near Cowes where so many regattas

take place. Bottle ships were scattered all

through Southampton Harbour

and a number of odd looking forts

were built some distance from

 the shore. Got to the wharf at

 Southampton about seven o'clock

Dreaded landing very much but it

was not so awful. More amusing 

than anything else.The Customs officers

were very lenient and only kept us a 

few minutes but we had a lot of

luggage. Special train was waiting

to take the passengers to London. Got

to Waterloo Station about ten and 

to Miss Suggs at half past. We were

all tired and glad breakfast was

not until nine Sunday morning.

September 6, 1912

Very quiet all day. Everybody tired

after the spoirts and sat around 

reading or talking. Just beginning

to get well acquainted and sorry

its nearly time to leave the ship. Went

to the music room after diner and

talked. A lady who sat opposite us at 

table we had named the "the human ice-

berg." But later on we found her a 

charming woman and had some

 very pleasant talks with her. Baby

and Catherine were so good and

very popular with everybody. Two

Italians nearly drove me mad every

time I appeared on deck with the

baby. The just followed me around

all the time.

September 5, 1912

Foggy all the day and very damp.

Fog horn blowing all morning. Sat out on

deck till lunch. Had sports in the

afternoon. Potato race, obstacle race,

threading the needle, deck quoits and

billiards. Then afternoon tea was served.

After dinner wrote letters and

listened to the orchestra. Got to bed

about eleven.

(Note: I had great difficulty figuring out the word "quoits" in this entry.  It was also mentioned on Sept 3rd where I originally skipped it, but now have updated.  According to Wikipedia, it was a popular game in the early 1900s.)

September 4, 1912

A beautiful bright day. We managed

to get up on deck for a walk before

breakfast. Sat on deck all morning

Gave Catherine a bath after lunch.

Sat on deck all afternoon. Got the

children asleep before we went to

dinner. I wore a light silk gown 

and Annie a pole blue foulard.

Went to the reading room after dinner

and wrote some letters. Annie played

cards. Harriet cut her first tooth today.

She is only five months old. The fog

horn is blowing so I decided to stay

near the children.

September 3, 1912

 

Still rough and raining. The 

port holes are all shut and the

close air makes the motion of the

 boat so much more noticeable. Took

baby on deck for a while in the morning

but it was too damp in the afternoon.

Catherine goes all around the boat and

everybody makes such a fuss over her that

she is getting spoiled. Most of the people

play shuffleboard and deck quoits most

of the day. But so far I am content with 

a walk around the deck two or three

times a day. Went to dinner at 

seven thirty. Annie wore a rose

silk dress that is very becoming to her.

Went on deck for a walk afterwards

but it ws too rough to stay long.

Went to bed early.

September 2, 1912

An uneventful day. A stiff wind 

blowing. Sat on deck most of the time

but it was wet and damp. The

SS Philadelphia left New York at

ten A. M. Aug 31. and for some hours

 today we sailed abreast of her. Then

the Oceanic began to forge ahead and

when we came up from dinner we

could just see her lights about ten

miles behind. Annie dressed for

dinner tonight. She wore black net

over Alice blue. Made low necked

and very becoming to her. Had such 

pleasant surprises in the letter line

today. Several of Annie's friends from

Charlotte had written her steamer

letters and Mrs. Wray, Miss Julia

 Alexander and Miss Ella Summey

wrote me.  They serve five meals

on the boat, three in the dining room

and morning tea at eleven on deck and

afternoon teat at three.

September 1, 1912

A beautiful day but a strong 

wind has been blowing all afternoon

and evening. So far we have not

been seasick but tonight Annie and

baby seem a little upset. Catherine 

had supper at five and went to bed.

I had to go to dinner alone. Wore my

blue linen dress and some red roses.

Ate everything indigestible. When

Annie and the children went to bed

I went up on deck for a walk. Quite

rough and the boat was rolling. The

waves looked so lovely as they rolled

away from the boat and broke with

spray.

(Note: Annie is the mother of Catherine, who will be 6 on Sept. 24, 1912, and Harriet, 4 months, born March 25,1912.)

The Oceanic......

A member of the White Star line, first launched in 1899,

 the Oceanic would make her transatlantic crossing 

in about five and a half days....