Alexandria. Nov 20 Dearest Mother. I hasten to tell you (since I understand that this letter will reach you as soon as the first) that I have got a passport here and do not need another. The Consul, who was rather a silly old thing, real Levantine, received me, by the way, with open arms as "the famous traveller." It's so funny, not to say absurd to drop back into these parts where everyone knows me. I spent yesterday seeing antiquities and the Museum. The little that is left is very interesting - the strangest mixture of Egypt and Hellenism. Today one of the Museum people is going to take me to see some new work, not yet open to the public, which they are doing on the site of the famous Pharos, or near by. I shall like to see it anyhow. We leave at 3 p.m. and get to Beyrout [Beyrouth (Beirut)] at 4 pm on Friday - tomorrow - whence I shall telegraph to you.
Alexandria is not much of a place but it makes me feel as if I were dropping back into the East. Oh my East! my cab driver yesterday showed all the affectionate solicitude of one's Oriental servants, took me for a drive along a very smelly canal because I was tired of looking at catacombs and insisted on my drinking a cup of coffee under the trees to fortify me before I went to the Museum! It did fortify me - or else he did. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude