Letter to William Robson from E A Hornel, 9th August 1907.
Florence Hotel, Kandy
My dear Robson, I have just written Father McHardy a few lines, seeing
his long looked for letter has never come to hand.Well I was very pleased
to get your letter with all the news, which made me feel I had been
over to Archies for an afternoon. I saw by the Kirkcudbright Advertiser
your Sports etc. went off very well, and that you as usual took a very
active part also the children who I was glad to see scooped in many
of the prizes. I was sorry ....................................
However I hope in spite of all bad Radical administration a first class
Rifle Club House will be established in your midst. I will be home soon
now and I look forward to our little walks and talks together. I will
finish my work here next month, as I have got a great quantity now of
material which will keep me finishing up for a long long time to come.
I am now doing a lot of studies of details of all kinds so I will not
be handicapped at home when finishing up the pictures.We leave here
for a short holiday in Australia on the 21st September and leave Ceylon
for home on the 18th November, so that if all goes well we should be
home in good time for Xmas rejoicings. After leaving Galli we went up
country to the Tea Country and stayed with friends in a bungalow - the
air was cold and for the ten days we were there it rained every day
and all day. English flowers grow there and the blackbird sang in its
sweetest songs every night and morning. then we came down to Kandy where
we will be til within a few days of leaving for Australia. Kandy is
a beautiful town and within four miles there is a fine Botanical Garden
where I am finding some very excellent material. All the government
experts live there and they one and all have been very helpful and exceedingly
attentive. I have all over my visit been met with great kindness everywhere
and I shall always remember Gallo especially for all that is best and
charming in Sing.... life. On the whole we have a most enjoyable time
though the elements very trying indeed and in fact by the end of September
I will just have enough of it. I think I prefer a country that leans
to the cold side as there is a deal of comfort in a roaring fire and
good blankets. We are getting home when we will have plenty of use for
these luxuries and I look forward to facing a home winter of what ever
type with .... satisfaction and pleasure. I will be very pleased to
hear again from you: you will have plenty of time ...... before I leave
for Australia, but address your letter and art: Father McH and do the
same to the Post Restanto Colombo. M.. H joins in all good wishes for
Mrs Robson and family, Marie and yourself. Hoping you are all well and
flourishing....
Your true friend,
A E Hornel