Series 03: John Brady Nash letters, January 1914-December 1915 - Page 141
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[Page 141]
[At the top of this and following pages of this letter is the word "girls". Not transcribed.]
the elder, without removing the basket, bends in curtseying-like fashion to the ground, picks up stones, throwing each into the basket, which was not touched during the manouvre with either hand. They carry the baskets & their loads with much grace. Two older girls are coming this way, a strong wind is blowing across the sand, yet only now and then is the hand raised to steady the can. I can judge the wind by the way in which the clothing is being blown about.
1-3-15. Another anniversary today is that of the Prussians entering Paris in 1871. They expected to be in Paris in 1914, they nearly were, but the hope of realisation was short lived. A wonderful feat of arms it was to prevent them, one which will ever redound to the credit of British arms and valour, no matter how long the world may last. What may be the ultimate outcome of this war is not now apparent to me, but even if it be against us temporarily, even such pause will not detract from the magnificence of the stand which, in Champagne and Flanders, the few British fighting men have made against the best equipped and most highly trained soldiers every launched for fight against an enemy. Despised for their fewness they were by German Bill and his officers and he tried to smash them by weight, but his was not quite enough to destroy them, he pushed them back, but in the doing of it he exhausted his strength, whereupon the British at him in true bulldog style pushing him to where he now stands fast. The coming summer what will happen? Wait and see.
No letters so far this week, Wednesday. We were raised in hope yesterday, but the alarm was false.
Yesterday I arranged a trip to Sakkara from here. There were of the party eleven nurses, Jerrom, & me. A guide to look after us Hassan by name. Twelve donkeys and two camels were ready about 11-15 a.m., we having mounted & starting about 11-30 a.m. You should have seen the cavalcade. The girls were a sight. Some wore but ordinary skirts, astride the donkey these curled up above the knees, those with long gaiters, to the knee, were all right, those without arrayed overcoats to hang each side, those with divided skirts & able to ride were correct