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Transcription

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locusts, deaths head-moth, the wing of a
tussore silk moth, and I know not what
besides. Some fragments she had polished
the surface of with methylated spirits believing
them to be silver. I have kept her letter as a
curiosity. Most politely I returned her
treasures with my opinion of them but I
have had no acknowledgement. Probably
while I set her down as a lunatic, she
regards me as a stupid dolt without per:
:ception.

15th. January 1917
We have passed into the new year very quietly
but with a growing optimism that before
the close of it the Huns may be thoroughly
vanquished. On the Western front our men
are full of confidence & fight and are already
sure that they have them beaten. We are
having a cold changeable winter with
a good deal of frost & snow in the country
districts but not much of either here.
Last Monday (8th) I received from the "Antiquaries"
Club a beautiful silver salver as a presentation
for having acted as Secretary of the club for
fifteen years, i.e. since its inception till the
close of last session. The presentation was
made by George Macdonald. For the winter

of 1900 the idea occurred to my brother Jim that
it would a pleasant thing to have a small social
dining club connected with the Society of Antiquaries
Accordingly he invited a number of the Fellows
who took most interest in the Society's affairs,
to a dinner at the University Club before one
of the Society's evening meeting, in order to
discuss his proposal. The idea met with
unanimous approval; we had an excellent
dinner, and I well remember certain notable
Fellows falling asleep and snoring, during
the progress of the subsequent meeting. This
dinner was followed in its turn by one or
two others at the houses of other Fellows, while
the idea was being worked out. At last
I was asked to be Secretary, and a small
committee was appointed to approach 40
members of the Society to induce them to join,
and to draw up rules - One member of the
committee strongly urged that there should
be no subscription, I as strenuously maintained
that there should be otherwise there would be less
inducement for members to attend. My view
was accepted with the result that as only
about one half of our members ever attend
at one time, & some not twice a session, we
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