The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-30
Warren RidicuIes the Postcards Helen
Has Written to Her Friends at Home.


Helen nibbled the end OF her pen,
and gazed frowningly at the postcard
| before her. On one side was a pic
j ture of London bridge. on the other.
| the address and the This space may
| be used for communication" space.
She had written London, August 2,
1912" but her inspiration ended there.
At last in desperation. she wrote what
she had written on at least dozen
other postcards.
| 1--WE are having very wonderful
| trip. London is most interesting
city" This, If written large, filled the
space.
| Then she took up another card ad-
dressed it to the next name on her
| list for Helen had conscientieusly
made a list of all the people to whom
she wanted or felt she ought to send
postcards.
This list is always longest on ones
first trip. The reason is obvious. The
first time you are in Europe you wish
all your friends to know it, and spend
most of your time and money in writ
ing postcards and buying souvenirs.
The next time you have more sense.
And now as Helen wanted to send
card to almost everyone she knew, the
task was most arduous. Letter writ
ing wa for her always hard, and post
card 'phrasing" was even more SO
She never knew what to say. She
would anguish half an hour over
sentence for the blank space, which
was too small to write anything con-
nected and too large for just much
love-"
Writing to Mother.
When she had written about twen-
ty, although there were many names
still on the list, she pushed the cards
aside and took out some notepaper.
She would relieve the strain by writ
ing to her mother.
London, Aug. 2, 1912.
Dear Mother know I have writ
ten you only hurried notes, but have
been SO rushed So am staying in this
rainy afternoon to write some letters
and postcards that I have been put
ting off from day to day.
Well. have seen really a great deal
of London in the short time we have
been here. Have had to see most OF
it alone as Warren has been too busy
to be with me- We did 60 together to
Westminster Abbey and I am hoping
he will go with me to the Tower. But
even. IL he had the time-he hates
sightseeing so.
However, we go to some different
place for dinner every evening which
really is a most interesting way to see
the city There are so many beauti-
full restaurants here and the food is SO
good and so cheap. I am sending you
one of the menus to show you Just
how cheap things are. Look. at the
vegetables that are only 4d g cents),
and even asparagus is only a Shilling.
Ninety cents is what they charge at
home.
But am afraid TIM talking too much
about food. Warren says I would
make a good press agent for the Lon
don restaurants. can't help being
enthusiastic when I find what delic-
ious things you can get for such alb
surdly small prices. But perhaps you
would rather hear Of something else.
About the stores-I know you will
be interested In them. Much to my
surprise, I have not found them par
ticularly cheap. So I am buying very
little. We have about come to the
conclusion that by the time we pay
duty the things will cost us more than
they would at home.
OF course, there are some few
things you can, get much better here
raincoats, for instance. Warren and
| each bought one; they are very |
smart" as they say over here, and
very well made. British substantial |
solid and thick" is warren's phrase. |
But I don't care for their gowns |
They haven't as much style and are |
not so graceful as ours. Perhaps |
am prejudiced, but I don't think the |
English women dress nearly as well Is |
we do-at least not on the street. |
that is little French model--gray-
blue chiffon. 1t is very prttty, and
think reasonable-all handmade and |
only nine pounds. (s45). But of course |
Til have to pay duty on that.
I have bought you some gloves and |
handkerchief; these are two of the |
things that are cheaper. But, mother |
wish you could see the English shoes. |
They are awful, Heavy, thick and |
clumsy, and no small sizes. I tried |
to get a pair Of Observation-Disclosures" |
they call them, and could not get any i
thing small enough. Said they didn't |
make anything under size 3.
Warren is having a couple of suits |
made at place on Bond street. The i
cloth, of course, is excellent, but he |
doesn't seem enthusiastic about the |!
tailoring. Say they want everything |
too tight across the chest, and the |
work is clumsier than ours. I intend |
ed to have suit made here. but think |
now I can do better at home.
Mother you would be astonished If |
you could see all the American goods /
that are on sale in the shops here |
Every few counters you will come |
across sign OF some american |
made" article. And I find, too. that /
many of the shops are selling Ameri- /
can goods as their own. Just yester- |
day 7 bought some black sick stock |
ings and when I got home found I
=, ciIt ON rho inside ssNada !