| Title: | McMahon Glynn, Patrick to Glynn, Ellen, 1917 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4454 |
| Collection | Patrick McMahon Glynn: Letters to his family (1874-1927) [Gerald Glynn O'Collins] |
| File | glynn/106 |
| Year | 1917 |
| Sender | McMahon Glynn, Patrick |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | politician |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Destination | Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland |
| Recipient | Glynn, Ellen |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 562 |
| Genre | politics, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Home and Territories Department Spring Street, Melbourne. 27th March, 1917. My Dear Mother I am afraid I have not written to you for too long a time, but on more than one occasion I sat down with the intention of writing to you in my own undecipherable hand but interruptions stopped me at the moment. You doubtless have heard that I have again taken office, with some reluctance I confess. Politics are very mixed in Australia just now. The Referendum on conscription which took place on the 28th October and resulted in an adverse vote has split people who were previously together in politics. There was a good deal of temper displayed by some advocates on the platform—a want of tact and temperance in manner and expression. The result was that the Labour Party divided into two, the minority under the leadership of Mr. Hughes. After some time the Liberals decided to join for the purposes of the war with the Hughes' party. I, personally was against this, but had to bow to the decision and was selected as one of three managers to formulate terms, with the result that a composite Ministry was formed, and as the Senate had a majority of two votes against the Ministry, we took the bull by the horns and went to the country. Next week I commence my campaign in what was once a safe district, but has been somewhat knocked about in my absence by those who dealt with the question of conscription. It contains a large German population with whom I have sat on fair relations, as, apart from the fact that I was their representative, I have endeavoured to see that no unfairness was practised towards them. However, except for the fact that so far as it concerns my professional relations I am not deeply concerned. One likes success of course, but it means continued severance, practically four or five days every week, from one's State and home. Mrs. Shackell writes now and then from Sydney. She is now 70 and not as vigorous as she was, though she seems to swim every morning. Most of her friends are elsewhere. With her usual emotional impulsiveness she wrote saying that she would have to discontinue writing if I did not correspond oftener. As a matter of fact I must write a hundred letters a month more than she does, but her sensitiveness resents any apparent laxity. I think when I last heard from her I suggested that some other member of the family should write, thinking it would please her, but female memories are not always as retentive as yours. Two of the children, Ellie and Dympna, are now at the French Convent just outside Melbourne. They never would have been satisfied had they not gone there, and after a week's experience thought they never would be content to remain there. It is a credit to their hearts to feel homesick. Dympna, however, was determined to remain on, however desirous of going back. We miss them very much, but, as you have shown us, life is a matter of vicarious sacrifice in the interests of others. I hope to be able to write by next post, and know you will excuse my dictating the letter as I am very pressed to day. With love to all, Your affectionate son, P. McM. Glynn |
