Overview
Sun. Sept. 6
Instead of driving up to Raupari Road farm as intended, we stayed at home, made a fruit salad + enjoyed ourselves generally - this latter is awfully easy because we are so supremely happy + contented in each others company - as happy as the day is short. After dinner Ralph, Maud + I met Miss Winnie Wallace, the Methodist Minister's daughter + walked down to the Patriotic Service held in the Kings Theatre. The place was packed but we got a seat right in front. The Hastings Brass Band, conducted by Mr Toms, an old (vanquished) rival of mine, produced excellent music to the well-known hymns we sang; Mr King, Sec[retary] YMCA made the announcements and read a chap[ter] from the Life of St Paul + Rev[erend] Brocklehurst, the principal speaker, delivered,
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a fine address, touching on the present great war in which the British Empire has so justly intervened, on the splendid bravery of the Belgians + on the black blot on the German Empire caused by their breaking down their treaty guarding the neutrality of Belgium, + thus loosing their honour for ever. A collection was taken up for the Red Cross Society (a previous collection was devoted to the Belgian relief fund). The service was most enjoyable. Miss Wallace returned with us to tea. Instead of going to church Maud and I sat by the fire in drawing room where she showed me the treasures of her "Glory Box", she has got a most delightful collection - such pretty things and indicating her good taste + dainty ideas. She also read to me an article on "fasting" by Upton Sinclair + becoming prettily serious for once, revealed a knowledge of things + a quantity of good sense which surprised and delighted me. NB I usually managed to keep her so smiling + happy that she can rarely be persuaded to become serious + argumentative but when this does occur she fairly plunges me head over ears.