6/12/16
My dear Father
Thanks for your letter of 25th which came some days ago and crossed with my last.
You must have had quite a quiet time just lately. I hope May is all right again. Judy must be very busy what with her work and looking after the house. The loss of that calf is bad luck; I suppose feed is very expensive now. What are you going to crop the garden with this coming season? I suppose potatoes and roots really yield the best crops in a small garden.
I am naturally very interested in the political question of the moment and feel most emphatically that whatever can be said for the present regime, the proposed changes cannot but lead to far more vigour of direction and less procrastination. The latter whilst possibly useful in the game of party politics has little to commend it for waging a war; in fact democracy must during war give way to autocracy. I hope the feeling aroused by the present crisis will quickly abate, and that Lloyd George has some plans matured which will quickly be able to produce successful results. I presume he has, though one mustn’t expect obvious results till after the winter anyway. The French journals, while careful in their utterances, are plainly pleased at the turn of events. I shall be interested to see the attitude of the northern districts represented by the Manchester Guardian.
I think the proposed food regulations look sensible, and are evidently timed to cover the Xmas season. They begin at the right end too in tackling the problem of the richer hotels etc. People are such snobs, they will live quietly at their own tables, but feel they must make a splash in public.
The conquest of Roumania is very depressing, one hopes that most of their army may escape, but there’s bound to be great loss of supplies, and corresponding captures by the Germans. I wonder what is the root of the trouble, faulty strategy or lack of munitions.
Things here go on much the same and we keep busy. Mary is feeling the benefit of the mountain air at Dowlais. I think she keeps you posted with news from there.
With love to you all.
Your affectionate son
Arthur
