| Title: | McMahon Glynn, Patrick to Glynn, Ellen, 1917 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4455 |
| Collection | Patrick McMahon Glynn: Letters to his family (1874-1927) [Gerald Glynn O'Collins] |
| File | glynn/107 |
| 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 | 537 |
| Genre | politics, family, Melbourne climate |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Home and Territories Department, 61 Spring Street, Melbourne. 25th July, 1917. My dear Mother At the last moment I find there is a mail going out, so rather than miss it, I thought I would type a letter. We have difficult times here, though probably not as acute as you are experiencing in the Old Country. Providence has been bountiful in the way of seasons, though the cost and difficulties of transit prevent full advantage being taken of the harvest. I see that in Ireland new troubles arise in relation to the question of autonomy. We are a somewhat keen race with a taste for disputation, and the Government of the United Kingdom is not always as wise in relation to the factors that should determine action as one would wish. This is the way with Governments all over the world. If you only had the luxury of a few hours in Cabinet once or twice a week, you would see what a hopeless thing it is to get the average common-sense at all to the level of that of individuals. I think it was Lambrosa, the Italian, who said that intelligence of assemblies was always far lower than what might be assumed from the intelligence of the individuals composing it. And so it is with political questions. I hope they will find some solution based upon unity of country. An attempt to split Ireland into two sections would make the position far worse than it is or would be under a unitary Government I have just had a letter from Ellie. They are more used to the school now. She has passed her examination, gaining 80 per cent, for Algebra, which is very good for a girl. I remember how you used to teach us mathematics in our early life. They now and then come in from the Convent—about eight miles from my office. I send the motor out to bring them in occasionally on Thursdays, and go out myself whenever I am impounded here at week-ends. Yesterday I had to unveil a tablet to the memory of some of the men belonging to a branch of this Department who had gone to the front and had done their duty by enlisting. I find that one of the papers contains a short reference to it, so I enclose the extract. Adelaide is a much pleasanter place in the winter than here. This place seems to be the centre of wind and weather fluctuations, though on the whole it is a good climate. Personally I would relish a year in the Old Country. The transition of the seasons is more regular, and with all the successful efforts of Nature to burst through in April and May, and the comparative placidity of the atmosphere in summer, as well as the keenness of the winter air, not speaking, of course, of the winters when sliding was our chief fun, when one admired Sam Wallace on skates and yearned for the opportunity, which did not come, of emulating his girations at Newtown and Cool. Well, I find I have to go to Government House to an Executive Council, so with love to all, Your affectionate Son, P. McM. Glynn |
