'
"We were all--except Susan--out for a trial ride in father's new
automobile tonight. A very good one we had, too, though we did get
ingloriously ditched at the end, owing to a certain grim old dame--to
wit, Miss Elizabeth Carr of the Upper Glen--who wouldn't rein her horse
out to let us pass, honk as we might. Father was quite furious; but in
my heart I believe I sympathized with Miss Elizabeth. If I had been a
spinster lady, driving along behind my own old nag, in maiden meditation
fancy free, I wouldn't have lifted a rein when an obstreperous car
hooted blatantly behind me. I should just have sat up as dourly as she
did and said 'Take the ditch if you are determined to pass.'
"We did take the ditch--and got up to our axles in sand--and sat
foolishly there while Miss Elizabeth clucked up her horse and rattled
victoriously away.
"Jem will have a laugh when I write him this. He knows Miss Elizabeth of
old.
"But--will--Venice--be--saved?"
19th November 1917
"It is not saved yet--it is still in great danger. But the Italians are
making a stand at last on the Piave line. To be sure military critics
say they cannot possibly hold it and must retreat to the Adige. But
Susan and Gertrude and I say they must hold it, because Venice must be
saved, so what are the military critics to do?
"Oh, if I could only believe that they can hold it!
"Our Canadian troops have won another great victory--they have stormed
the Passchendaele Ridge and held it in the face of all counter attacks.
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