To his sister Margaret Layzell (in East Africa)
[Monday] Aug. 3 (1914)
Maitland Temperance Hotel, 33 Shandwick Place
Edinburgh
Dear Margaret:-
[We are anxiously awaiting tomorrow's mail news ab[ou]t you. I suppose you two do realise what we have been feeling at being with[ou]t a notion of your doings these three weeks!..]
I came here from London (by sea) last week, & am thinking of going on to Oban, or somewhere there. But these days there seems only one thing to think about. – this European nightmare, (– only if it is a reality), of general war. Who could have believed that such madness would have fallen on everyone? Until the last moment it seemed that something must avert such a cataclysm. What will be the end of it? Special editions of the papers were coming out all day yesterday (Sunday) in Edinburgh. And you two – why, I suppose it would take some weeks for the news of London sacked by Germans to reach you! The excitement & the anxiety here are tremendous. – All home news you will have had. Edinburgh is a noble-looking city, & I am enjoying a prowl round new territory.
Affectionately Richard
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