October 11 [1913]
Monastir
My dear Gertrude.

This morning I got your proofs & the two books – it was so very nice of you, my dear, to send them. The books I have not had time to look at yet except the outsiders – but the proofs I sat down quickly to read. I like the article immensely – It is not dull but very interesting & delightfully written – smelling of senna and camels –

I do like your writing – you very clever & charming person – and you in your desert I’ll take with me to wrap me away from my desert –

As for the books, years ago I read Rhoda Fleming - & much look forward to reading it again – the Danka I’ve never seen & shall of course love.

This show has so many thorns. Bilinski has a “nephrite” & is really very ill indeed – his infernal motor car won’t come, & he can’t ride – The women of Koritza have made themselves into some militant mudthrowers to insult his wife – so I cannot leave him to go there alone or the whole commission is dead – with difficulty I have persuaded the Frenchman that we all must go through Koritza as a band for if we don’t we might just as well not go at all. The sacred legions are all gathered & [?] confound them – a certain Dane called Yerson of the Press came in today full of it - & the Frenchman has been told of the mudthrowers – But I hope to be off myself tomorrow afternoon & that the rest will follow to outride the Koritzote crowd – to maul through with me - & then I have to tell the people who regard us as big with their fate that we have miscarried or what they will and that their fate is in London after all – disentangle my unpopular party if I can, & depart for the neat sacred legion in Colonia – God is great – And once over or in, it will amuse me. Only I hate making speeches especially in French –

The Serbs too have to be squared – I have done it once for escorts etc – but must again – they talk of bands & look grave & hope we’ll not go quite yet etc etc –

And the very Powers who would not send their delegates will now begin to stamp & thump because we are late in starting.

For your benefit, because I haven’t urging my political views to the F. O. except in conversations with the V. C. I am persuaded that the Serbs in alliance with the Greeks will go to Elbasan or nearly. There on the hogs back of Albania they will (if I know anything of the mountain fighting) run up against a most uncomfortable proposition – hard to climb, impossible to artillery, held by sharpshooters, wounded scuppered, trains delayed or destroyed – lack of ammunition – its no joke – mountains – They who last time went gaily with Albanian countenance to Durazzo are now thinking it easy to do it again – with Albanians as enemies.

And I think & daresay they are good soldiers. While they are busy spilling their money & blood will Austria stand still? Will Italy? Oh its getting quite interesting – while behind them all over Macedonia lies Vlack cursing & hatred –

Well I haven’t my line – or rather I must go to bed – I’ve been nearly talked to death today. I hope your brother goes on well – don’t forget the address by Santa Quaranta – nor yours.
Dick.