Thanks to Sandra Trimble for sending this letter written by Daisy Glendinning in Hong Kong to her sister Lily in Australia:
Hong Kong
Tuesday Oct. 24th 1916
Dear Lil and George,
Just a line to let you know we arrived here safely on Sat. morning, we had it very rough from Manila, by Jove, how did she roll & dip, I said my prayers several times during those two nights. I was very bad from Wed. night, till we got here Saturday. I could not keep a scrap of anything down all that time, I was nearly done when we got here, could just walk and that was all, it is an awful sickness. I have been very queer ever since, but am getting better every day. I suppose I will be alright in a few days. Tom kept up nearly all the time, he was a bit sick on Friday, but was alright on Saturday.
Hongkong is not a bad place. There are some very big buildings, but the Chinese parts of it make me feel anyhow. I am glad we are going out to Taio to live, it will take about and hour and half to go there in a launch, but we will be away from the sights of the city. I suppose people get used to them, but I don't like the look of them. “a thing of beauty is a joy for ever” what say you? The are some queer sights over here, the poor women dragging great loads on waggons through the streets, just like horses, they don't seem to mind, they are talking away to one another all the time, & pulling for all they are worth, and all the people who live on the sampans, its marvelous how they do live.
I went for a rickshaw ride this morning all around the racecourse, it was very nice, I don't care much for the trams here, you ride up on top, like the buses used to be, but I feel as though I am going to topple over. I have met some nice people here. There have been a good many callers to see Tom, Arthur Mason and Horace Hyatt & Ernie Cook, were here on Sunday. Horace is just as goaty as ever, all talk and not much sense in it. Perce was glad to see us he missed Cis and Wally so much, I can see a great improvement in him, looks and ways too. We are going to stay here till the 1st of next month, we are going to buy the furniture today, and send it to Taio.
I hope you enjoyed Cronulla, how did the kiddies like it? I often think of poor old Boke wanting to come to China, and the way he used to punch Tom. How is little Lil? I suppose she is growing by now & little Bid, I hope she is better, and I suppose Dean is busy working. Perce was surprised to hear you had four youngsters. I just dread having to go across the sea again, but I suppose in five years time 'll have forgotten how I felt, take my tip, never take a long sea trip, it is alright for a week, but afterwards you get so tired of it. Cis has a very nice home here, nicely furnished, but I'd rather have it in N.S.Wales. Well Lil I think I'll close as I have a lot of writing to do, I don't feel to good, so will say Tata, with fond love to all from us. Kisses to all the kiddies.
I remain
Your Loving Sister
Daisy
Notes:
- Perce is Percy Glendinning brother of Thomas (Daisy's husband, the "Tom" in the letter above) and Walter
- Walt is Walter Glendinning married to Cissie they had Lyall b 1913, Kathleen b 1914 and Mavis b 1917 all born in HK
- Percy and Walter both worked for the Hong Kong Tramways.
- The letter mentions they'll soon be moving to Tai O. Thomas was a member of the Hong Kong Police Force, and would be stationed at the Police Station there. He was murdered there in 1918.