12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham SE
Feb 9 1916
My dear Mother
I am sorry to hear you have a little lung trouble again, and are confined to your room again. I hope taken in time it will not develop into anything serious and that you will soon be about again.
We were quite a large party here from Saturday to Monday. Rosie is very shy but I expect improves as one gets to know her better. I think her photo distinctly flatters her for though she has quite good features her complexion is poor. Betty seemed very flourishing and pleased to come over.
The Zepps got nearer you than us on the last occasion. The raid was pretty generally expected at the first favourable opportunity, only the Germans by way of a change made for the Midlands instead of London. I should hardly have thought anything of the raid could have been seen or heard in the Evesham neighbourhood.
I am still assisting the Bank room at the office. The head of the room is away with neurasthenia, which is unfortunate as the War Loans and the reduction in the exemption limit have caused a great deal of extra work. A large number of fresh claims have come in from investors in War Loan stock. The numbers of people who hold £100, £200 or £300 of that stock is amazing. In a very large number of cases the investors are working class people. One wonders how they came to put by so much.
I don’t know exactly how many lady clerks we have now, but I fancy about 30 to 40. I think most of them are getting into the work though they have not had time yet to become at all proficient.
We have our regular organist, Dr Shinn, back at St Bartholomew’s. The organ sounds so different when he plays it, although his deputy was quite an efficient performer.
I wonder when Cyril will get his leave. Perhaps the next we hear of him will be that he is on his way home. I suppose the wedding will be very soon after his arrival, as I expect his leave will not be very long.
My cold is better, but in that condition when it still hangs about, and does not entirely disappear.
With love to all, I remain.
Your affectionate son
John D Sladden
