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a medal and all the while he was 〃just a middy。〃 〃But isn't it awful to think of our chaps that were left on the ship〃 he said quite miserably。 It is a beastly dull war。 The whole thing is so 〃class〃 and full of 〃form〃 and tradition and worrying over 〃putties〃 and etiquette and rank。 It is the most wonderful organization I ever imagined but it is like a beautiful locomotive without an engineer。
The Boers outplay them in intelligence every day。 The whole army is officered by one class and that the dull one。 It is like the House of Peers。 You would not believe the mistakes they make； the awful way in which they sacrifice the lives of officers and men。 And they let the Boers escape。 I watched the Boers for four hours the other day escaping after the battle of Pieters and I asked； not because I wanted them captured but just as a military proposition 〃Why don't you send out your cavalry and light artillery and take those wagons？〃 The staff officer giggled and said 〃They might kill us。〃 I don't know what he meant； neither did he。 However； I'm sick of it but there's nothing else to talk of。 I hate all the people about me and this dirty town and I wish I was back。 And I'm going too。 I'll have started by the time you get this。
I mean to cut out of this soon but don't imagine I'm in any danger。 I'm taking d…d good care to keep out of danger。 No one is more determined on that than I am。 Dear Mother； this is such a dull letter but you must forgive me。 I was never so homesick and bored in my life。 It will be better when I go out tomorrow in my green tent and leave this beastly hole。 I like the tent life； and the horses and being clean。 I've really starved here for four days and haven't had a clean thing on me。 God bless you all and dear Nora God bless her and Chas and the Lone Fisherman。
DICK。
Outside Ladysmith。 5th March； 1900。 DEAREST MOTHER：
I was a brute to write as I did last night。 But I was so blue in that miserable town！！！ It was so foul and dirty。 The town smelt as bad as Johnstown。 My room in the so called hotel stunk； the dirt was all over the floor and the servants had to be paid to do everything even to bring you a toweland then I had no place to write or be alone； and nothing to eat The poor souls at my table who had been in the siege； when they got a little bit of sugar or a can of condensed milk would carry it off from the table as though it were a diamond diadem I did the same thing myself for I couldn't eat what they gave me and so I corrupted the canteen dealer and bought tin things I've really never wanted tobacco so much and food as I have hereto give away I mean； for it was something wonderful to see what it meant to them。 Three troopers came into the dining room yesterday and asked if they could buy some tea and were turned out so rudely that it seemed to hurt them much more than the fact that they were hungry： I followed them out and begged them to come back to my verandah and have tea with me but they at first would not because they knew I had witnessed what had happened in the hotel。 They belonged to a very good regiment and they had been starved for four months。 But in spite of their independence I got them to my porch。 I had just purchased at awful prices a few delicacies like sugar and tobacco； marmalade and a bottle of whiskey。 So I gave them to them and I never enjoyed anything so much The poor yellow faced skeletons ate in absolute silence still fighting with their pride until I told them I was an American and was a canteen contractor's friend Then I gave them segars and it was too pitiful In our column； if you give a man something extra he says a lot and swears it's the best drink or the best segar or that you're the best chap he ever met Just as I say it to them when they give me things。 But these starved bodies tried to be very polite and conversational on every subject except foodwhen I offered them the segars which could only be got then at a dollar twenty…five a piece （they had not cost me that as I had bought them in Cape Town for two cents apiece！） What has Dad to say to that for economy？ They accepted them quite as though it was in Havanaand then leaned back and went off into opium dreams Imagine the first segar after three months。 I am out here now on a bluff； with two trees in front and great hills with names historical of the siege of Ladysmithnames which I refuse to learn or rememberI am perfectly comfortable and were it not for Cecil perfectly content If she were only here it would be perfectly magnificent I have a retinue that would do credit to the Warringtons in the Virginians Three Kaffir boys who refuse to yield to my sense of the picturesque and go naked like their less effete brothers； two oxen and three ponies； a little puppy I found starved in Ladysmith and fed on compressed beef tablets。 I call her Ladysmith and she sleeps beside my cot and in my lap when I am readingI have also a beautiful tent with tape window panes； ventilators； pockets inside； doors that loop up and red knobs； also； it is green so that the ants won't eat it。 Also two tables； two chairs； a bath tub； two lanterns； and a cape cartand a folding bed In Cuba I had two saddle bags and was just as clean and just as happy。 One boy does nothing but polish my boots and gaiters and harness； so that I look as well as the officers who are not much good at anything but that。 I must tell you what I think is the saddest story of the siege They could not feed the horses； so they kept part of them for scouting； part to eat and drove 3；000 of them towards the Boers。 Being； well trained cavalry horses； they did not know how to eat grass； so at bugle call the whole 3；000 came trotting back again and sentries were placed at every street to stampede them back into the veldt One horse from one battery met out in the prairie another horse that had been its gun mate in an artillery regiment five years before in India and the two poor things came galloping back side by side and passed the sentries and into the lines and drew up beside their battery。 Another horse found its rider acting as sentry and when the man tried to drive it away it thought he was playing with it and kept coming back and finally the man brought it in to the colonel and cried and asked if it might have half of his rations of corn。 Good night and God bless you all with all my love。 DICK。
March 15th； 1900。 DEAR MOTHER：
I am on my way back to Cape Town。 This seemed better than staying with Buller who will not move for two or three weeks。 I shall either go straight up to Roberts； or we will return to London。 I have seen the relief of Ladysmith and got a very good idea of it all； and I do not know but what I shall quit now。 I started in too late to do much with it and as it is I have seen a great deal。 It is neither an interesting country nor an interesting war。 But I don't have to stay here to oblige anybody。 If I do go up to Roberts it will only be to stay for three weeks at the most and only then if there is fighting。 I won't go if he is resting as Buller is。 So this will explain why we start home so soon。 I am very glad I came。 I would have been very sorry always if I had not； but my heart is n