Series 01 Part 02: Hughes family correspondence, 3 April 1917-22 September 1918 - Page 246
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[Page 246]
4.
of the Melbourne lady who opened an anonymous letter of abuse to me in this fashion? –
"As a recent convert to the Catholic Church, and a member of one of the most ancient families whose proud boast it is that they scorn paltry titles & whose hands have never been soiled by trade –"
and then she abused me to her hearts' content & signs herself "Loyal au Mort", forgetting that the hands that never were soiled by trade are very much more soiled by the writing of an anonymous letter!
As far as public meetings go, I have spoken at half a dozen, & have another tomorrow night. I may also speak on Wednesday the last night before the Vote. I have been very well – in fact too well – received. A little spice of healthy opposition bucks a fellow up a lot. I haven't felt called upon to go out every night. John Hughes seems to have been almost always on the stump. They say he speaks very well. I am on the Finance Committee which controls the sinews of war, & we have got ample funds for the fight, so that if we lose – and I hope we won't – it won't be from want of good solid backing. No subscription lists are seen by anyone but the few members of the Finance Committee.
The GREAT FREE TRIP is over, & the Mullinis have returned home. They – as I fully expected – never stirred out of Melbourne, which they found good enough for them. Jackada went to a great Conscription Meeting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 100,000 people present, with Jowett M.P. who, according to Jackada, has developed into a very effective platform speaker, & simply lives for politics.