Norris: Diary, July - September, 1904

August Thursday 11 1904

Arrived Liverpool early in the morning. Docked about 7:00 A.M. No trouble with Customs - baggage not even opened. Train left for London 8:15 A.M. arriving at 12:00 noon. no scheduled stops - distance 203 miles as good if not better than anything of its kind in America. Rained all the way en route to London.

Stopped at Hotel Metropole - lunched there.

In afternoon went to Amer. Express Co. to Cable Office to Dent's - Chronometric makers

Evening Dined at Grand Hotel, Grill room excellent dinner table d'hotel Price 3s - with Butler. Waked up the Victoria Embankment with Butler afterwards as far as House of Parliament and then back to hotel. Went over our list of articles to purchase and our plans in Bo' room until about 12 Midnight & then retired.

Met young Sloane, son of Prof Wm B. Sloane on the cornrs? of Pall Mall & Haymarket about 5:30 in afternoon. Told me Arthur Brownlee was in town at the "Savoy".

Have a cold - feel mean?. Have done nothing for it.

Weather fine.

August Friday 12 1904

Arose about 8:30 A.M. Weather fine.

After breakfast in Metropole went to Amer. Waltham Watch Co. 125 High Holborn St. Saw there Mr. Robertson. Treated most courteously. Spent most of the morning with them discussing watches.

Went from there to Brockbank & Aitkens with my watch of their make to have it rated and put in order. From there to Hope Bros. Cannon St. & Queen Victoria St. to see about clothing - from there to Grand Hotel Grill where I met B. and lunched with him. Very good lunch price 2s - 6d.

Went to Amer. Ex. Co. Bought traveller's checks Did some shopping. - Back to hotel. Dined with Butler at Grand Hotel. Walked down Victoria Embankment with him after dinner as far as Blackfriars Bridge & then back and to Bed.

Have a cold fairly well developed. Took 1/2 grain Rhinitis and 1 oz. whiskey on retiring with heavy flannel covering.

August Saturday 13 1904

Arose about 7 a.m. Cold apparently breaking up. Went to Cary #7 Pall Mall, instrument makers. Spent most of morning there. Went to Hotel Savoy about 11:45 A.M. Called on Arthur Brownlee. Found him in bed with a cold Stayed about 15 minutes. Went to Hope Bros. about clothing. Back to "Metropole". Lunched with Butler at Grand Hotel. Back to Metropole. Met Prof Mc Clure of Princeton who had come to call on B. Pleasant chat with him until about 4:15. Went to my room and did some work. Brownlee called about 6:20. He, Butler & I went to Frascoti's Restaurant for dinner. Excellent meal Table - d'hote price 5s each. Afterwards went to the Hippodrome. Good performance. Three horses abreast harnessed to a two-seated sleigh containing four men dash at full speed across the stage and plung into a tank of water over their heads & then swim across & out the other side. Mr. Fitzhugh Whitehouse, Worthington Whitehouse's uncle sat a few seats from us.

Went to bed directly after the show. Cold bad Weather pleasant and cool It is understood verbally between B. & me that we are to pay for our own meals and be allowed 9s per day for same by expedition beginning with breakfast this morning

August Sunday 14 1904

Arose about 8:00. Weather threatening. Cold about the same. Took Coach "Venture" from Metropole and drove to Windsor and back. Fare 17s - 6d. Beautiful ride about 30 miles one way. Rained hard when about 6 miles from Windsor, and stopped just as we reached hotel. Had lunch - below average, and then walked up to castle and saw the band play by the station garden overlooking the country for some miles. Had only a few minutes and then back to London on coach. Dined with Butler at Grand Hotel Grill. Back to Metropole where we listened to the music for about 20 min, and then to bed.

August Monday 15 1904

Weather clear at 6 A.M. windy & cloudy at 9 A.M. rainy at 10 A.M. clear & windy in afternoon - cool.

Went to Cary 7 Pall Mall about tin trunks which I delivered there. Then to Whistler's, Gun-smith on Strand where I delivered Howard Colby's shot gun which he lent me. It is to be put in order & called for next Monday. Back to Metropole, met B. went with him to Silver Co. shopping then to Beck Co. then to Hardthmuth's, then to Currie & Thompson, rubber good, Fleet St, then to Cook & Son, then to Partridge & Cooper, Stationery, Strand. Had lunch in between and then back to Metropole about 5:30 P.M. Day spent entirely in shopping.

Dined at Frascoti's with B. & his friend Mr. Clift an American about 30 years old who has been in London 3 1/2 years. Has important position with Westinghouse Electric Co. in charge of factories here & in Germany - thousands of men under him. Very clever & interesting. Pleasant evening over dinner table and back to bed.