ARW writes of visit to Corfe with Ma, Grandma and Grandpa (ARW's wife and parents); suicide of Mrs Monk; reading of Ivanhoe.
Arrival of William's letter, his lodgings and work for Mr Laukert; method of calculation of weight and volume of water; William's sister Violet; unexpected visit from the Bishop of Salisbury ("quite a jolly old cock") and Mrs Usherwood, conversing about Stonehenge and Canon Swayne's alpine garden; encloses card (not present). William's [engineering] certificate and medal.
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William's studies, fees and diet; rain delaying work on house but tiling of roof begun and emptying of cesspit for laying of drains arranged, Railway bank cuts off natural drainage, details of drainage plan; Violet going to London after Christmas, Madame Michaelis leaving Croydon to set up a (teacher) training college near a kindergarten in Notting Hill; postcard re. civil service ticket enclosed (not present).
Progress of house alterations, delays, carpenter and plumber and Charles [builder] still present, problems with toilet cistern, unfinished outdoor drains, flooded kitchen, lack of roof gutters, stairs and porch, but balcony finished and gas lighting on; Charles's wife has sold a collection of old coins.
Proposed visit by William and Mr Crump, best to delay as wallpapering not yet finished; faulty boiler design not noticed by plumbers or by Mr Rigler or Ponton, fixed by ironmonger Mr Seller; Gas stove working well.
His sister Violet's dissection of a rabbit as part of her exams; replacement of pipes and bricks to remove smell in house from drains, including sketch plan; and the appointment of "the illustrious Slugophilite ... slug catcher to Her Majesty" and Museum [curator] in Jamaica, his imminent marriage, honeymoon in Corfe and departure; the slug William found a new British variety; request for news of Crump.
Damage to William's eyes in an accident, glad he is improving after glass removed; newspaper from Stockton California with news that pioneer surgeon John Wallace had fallen and broken an arm; Monk and ARW have been building a pond and bog in the garden, details of method and materials; sending pages of Stanley's catalogue of drawing instruments; plumbing for steam pipe in house.
Death of Werner von Siemens, sending obituary [not present] from Daily News; asks for news of William's work; sister Violet's work, Ma (Annie Wallace) away; magazine club begun with 9 members, initial name "Parkstone Perambulating Periodicals" changed after objections from some members to triviality, circulating The Nineteenth Century, Cornhill, English Illustrated, New Reviews, Natural Science, Good Words, Contemporary, Magazine of Art, and Fortnightly; visit from Mr Ponton with books of pinhole photographs taken in France; recent sharp frosts, fears plant damage; Violet pleased with William's sketches; asks for details of latest stamp-album, and of William's fellow medallist and fellow lodger.
Thanking Miss Macdonald for a gift of shortbread on his birthday, which he unfortunately cannot eat but others will appreciate. [copied by Miss E? Macdonald and sent to Violet Wallace from Broomhill, Sheffield 19 Jan 1914].
Thanking her for gift of an almanac and wishing her a happy new year. [copied by Miss E? Macdonald and sent to Violet Wallace from Broomhill, Sheffield 19 Jan 1914].
ARW thanks Macdonald for the new year gift of an almanac; apologies for lateness, due to not knowing where she went for her holidays; weather; his daughter Violet's lack of work.