1 7 West Cliff. 31st March, 1916. My dear Ruth, I suppose Emma has got home by now but she must have had
an awful journey as the railways are still all blocked as the result of
the storm. We did not get the worst of it here, but it was bad enough
and I am thankful this morning it is much warmer and looks as if thar
weather was really over and there might be a chance of Spring at last. I heard from Dorothy this morning, poor thing she is I am sure in an
awful fright but I am so pleased to hear she happened by a bit of luck
to hear of the lady wanting a tenant for a room in her flat for it sounds
much nicer than a boarding house or hostel and is very cheap, and if
the other people turned out decent it would be some company. Of course the hours and the pay are very bad and would really not be
worth keeping unless there was some chance of promotion, but it will be
a kind of trial trip and experienceand may lead to something else. I've been making all enquiries I can for some time now , asking everyone
about work and pay and conditions and it is very discouraging, all the
hours are terribly long and pay not capable of being lived upon under
present conditions, rooms very hard to find. Hve you any idea of what Marjorie thinks of doing? Or what she
would like to do. Do you think she would care to come to London and
take this course of training in motor mechanism and driving? I enclose
the prospectus. I know she is interested in it and it might just be
an occupation for her for a time. I am awfully taken with it and would
love to do it , the fees are very low and the whole thing sounds most 2
businesslike. It semms that women chauffeuses are really wanted now
and it would be very useful to know. I think it is quite possible that
I could arrange with Miss Roberts to leave for a time even if not for
altogether, she can always get odd friends to come especially in the summ
summer and she likes nothing so much as a variety. May Darbyshire is
coming to her on the 15th for a fortnight so I shall be on the loose then. I have alittle money in hand and then there will be the £50 and it
might not be a bad investment. Anyhow will you study the enclosed and
also sound Marjorie as to what she thinks , it might just be the distraction
she needs, but I have heard so little I dont know what her ideas may
be. Tell her I have also discovered a First Aid Yeomanry Nursing Corps
which sends members abroad in different capacities, paying a small sum for
themselves. I am just off now to pick tow at the Depot, a very wearisome
job! Do you know what is a good speed at typeing I can do 1800
an hour now but not with great accuracy? Much love to all
Yours ever Olive. P.S. Tell Emma I forgot she owed me ten shillings but I think she paid
some things I forgot about too. I wish you were having a little
change for your holiday. Return papers please.