The national diary 1908

33

Sunday Feb 2

Very bright & cold this A.M. 9 deg. below zero.

Alfred in bed. Herbert to dinner. B.E.W. not home from Ottawa until 3:30 P.M., train having been stalled by drifting snow. Due at 7:30 A.M. Refreshments only green tea in tin pail from farm-house and very thick bread with butter between slices - not "bread and butter" as generally understood. Later very bad coffee also in tin pail, & 4 soda biscuits. We drove up to see Gladys, found Harold and Jack Alex. there, later came Edmund, later still Eth. & Carl. Only her father and I saw G. Had tea there, the doctor joining us. He afterwards removed stitches. Edmund drove back with his father and me. Wrote notes to M.J.L., Miss Cameron & Mrs. Baker.

B.E.W. had satisfactory meeting at Ottawa on the annual expend. for pictures for Province. Mr. Gill had dinner-party for him at his house. Lord Grey asked to see him in the aft. further about Plains of Abraham Park matter. Had tea at Rideau Hall with their Excellencies &c.

34

Monday Feb 3

Very cold. Alfred's cold very bad. Slept late, nearly one o'c. when I reached the Prep. G. a little tired and headachy. Stayed until after 3 o'c. Miss A. could not go out as doctor was expected. Wrote to Mrs. Bottomley in the evg. B.E.W. & Edmund to opening of New Art Club of which Mr. Edmund Morris is one of the chief promoters. Opened by Sir Mortimer Clark. Fashionable gathering.

35

Tuesday Feb 4

Extremely cold weather continues. 18 & 16 deg. below zero reported this morning, lowest record since 1896. Alfred still in bed, Harold to school. I to the Prep. after lunch arriving at 3:10. All quiet & asleep. Later Miss Allen went out leaving me in charge, the first time she has gone out since the 25th Jan. except about 10 min. on Sunday. Gladys very well & comfortable, no headache. Baby perfectly good & slept. Tea with J.S.H.G. who saw me on tram-car on way home. New moon & eveng. star exceedingly bright & beautiful. Too tired this eveng. to go with B.E.W. to Mendelssohn Rehearsal to which President Falconer & his F. were invited. Baby's name registered: David Graham. Circum. today.

36

Wednesday Feb 5

An exceedingly stormy day. Not as cold, but with high wind and drifting snow. Did not go out today. Dinner-party this eveng. Everybody came in spite of storm. Successful evening. Dorothy arranged the flowers - daffodils. She went to G's and relieved Miss Allen during part of aft.

Guests: Vogt, [Jas.?] [George?], Reid, Gen. Dickson, Herbert Cox, Rev. Bruce Macdonald, Laird, Eth., Carl & E.I. who took Mrs. V's place she being ill.

Did not sleep until after 4 A.M. Very windy all night.

37

Thursday Feb 6

Billiard table put back in place this A.M. D. & I drove up to see G. before lunch I returning very soon, leaving D. there.