47
Headed notepaper: CASILLA DEL CORREO 226
Buenos Aires, 13th Aug…….de 189 2
No 1
My dear Mother,
Here I am at last in the old digs. Julian looks well, but is very neuralgic.[1] When the warm weather comes I expect he will feel better, & that will be very soon now; in fact it has almost begun, for the last two days have been perfect. We were off the Ensenada port by day-break of the 11th, but what with the health-visit, the delay of the special train, & the custom-house it was after three when we reached our lodgings. They look very nice now. Julian has made them brighter by draping the top of the piano with a piece of grey-blue cloth, & adding to the furniture a book-stand, & to the nicknacks some photographs, two lamps, ink-stands, & a china afternoon tea-set, – the last a present from a lady.
Julian got his presents on his 21st birthday, & was much pleased therewith.[2] I stood him – along with our companion in digs, Ferguson, the other 29th Feby.[3] man – a dinner in the Café de Paris, & we drank many happy returns to him in a bottle of fiz.
There is not much change in B. Aires in the last few months. The big boulevard, projected through the centre of the town, has advanced a block & one house in our street has been re-painted. Those are the only noticeable improvements.
At the same time there seems to be a little more stir in the streets & people tell me trade is improving. The revenue returns for the first half of this year are double what they were in the corresponding half of 1891, & the imports in the same time, excluding railway-materials have increased 50%. If they have only political quiet the country will come forward again. I only hope it will do so gradually & not too suddenly. We have had enough of booms here, & the Argentines easily lose their heads.
I want to write a line to the Pater, so this, my first from B. Aires, must be short. I hope you got my letter from Rio. I spent the night there with Youles & had a good game of whist.[4] McKinnels & Allens were out of town.[5]
Best love to all.
Jack
The p.o. box is now 226. But all letters hitherto addressed to 2260 will come right.
