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[Page 156]
there he can see everything of note in 5 or 6 days and doesn't want to see them again as for the rest well there's miles and miles of streets with very sooty buildings on either hand. Motor cars and squeaks, kids selling newspapers, and crowds that it is difficult to get through. And at night there's still the kids yelling "Extra Speshil" etc and a lot of lights and theatres similar to other big towns. Around Horseferry road are a lot of youngsters who ar touting for the tailors and others, who charge awful prices, and offer to show anywhere for a tip. As soon as the newcomer arrives a mob of clamorous kids, surrounds him, "Do you want a new tunic digger? Do you want the War chest? Do you want etc. Mostly all the way from the Strand, are the angels who's smiles can be had for money? But a fool and his money soon parts, anyhow a bloke thinks anything of old Aussie, he'll give them a wide berth. Some mens idea of leave is to get drunk in London and long before they've finished their leave their money is all gone of course they've never been "Had" their far too smart you know, and they think everyone is a mug who doesn't go and do likewise.
The Warchest Club is a grand institution and has only one disadvantage , around its precincts are all the bums and strays from the A,I,F. As soon as you land there a chap whispers in your ear " Gives a bob digger", lend it to him and it'll be no time, before another man comes on the same stall. Then there is the chap with puttees or something for sale, calls you aside if you're fool enough, and shows them to you; of course there very probably stolen, from one of the chaps who has spent the night there. If you turn them down, they say, "Oh, you'd turn your own mates down", but they're no more your mates. than the shark is the mate of the sailor.