Reginald
de Mornay Davies Diaries
1904 - Cad About Town
Wednesday, January
13th
8.30 Started at just
before 9.10 and saw my girl coming down Stanley Gardens. It was
raining and I had my brollie and after I had passed Stanley Gardens
I slackened down a bit as I was walking past and as I neared Notting
Hill Gate. I heard footsteps coming quickly behind me and I looked
and saw her coming fast behind me. Got a ticket just as she got
one at the other place and went down in the same lift with her.
She sat down. A train came in just as we got to the platform and
she got on at the near end and I at the far end and we entered
the carriage at the same moment and she sat in a cross seat and
I sat down in the next one in the same line she sat with her back
to me which was most disappointing. She passes my seat getting
out at the Bank though.
Played Matador with
Sammy and Gillham and lost. Met Gracie at 8.30 went to the Park
with her and had a happy time till she told me of her worry about
a fellow she is engaged to and of which engagement I knew nothing
and hates the fellow. Gave her my advice as to how to choke him
off by writing a letter and getting a witness to the copy. Tubed
from Lanc. Gate to Notting H.G.
Doll left for Bournemouth,
Train (Waterloo). Tube 4d lunch Peggs and coffee 8d. Tube 4d for
Gracie and Myself 2d for chairs. Paid Jepherson 6/6.
Thursday, January
14th
To Macs in evening
- La told me it was her birthday tomorrow. Wrote La to wish her
a Happy Birthday etc etc. I had quite forgotten it. Forbes-Robertsons
birthday sometime this month. Did not see my girl this morning.
Posted 3 postcards to La from Hugo, Jean Kathy. Had lunch by myself
to day at Crown Court. Posted 3 letters for Herbert and he owes
me a 1d stamp and I owe him 6d. Meditated to an office year book
in the Tube.
Friday, January
15th
To Macs it being
La's birthday. Mrs Douglas there. Played silly rotten games! But
the last we had was not though it was "Books" (like
consequences) Played Matador at C.C with Collins Jack and Sammy
and then with Collins after and won. Borrowed 1/- from Holah.
Saturday, January
16th
Willie lively Devil
played for Catford Rugby Football Club on the London and Westminster
Bank Ground. Went to St Mary Abbott's Church for 5 o'clock service
the music before it began and after Evensong .... very much.
Saw Sergeant in Kensington
Park Road who told me Stapleton was in (this about 9.30) came
back and found Stapleton. He has come to say that he and Cecil
were coming next Saturday evening - walked him to Leverette and
Fry (?) (Portobello Road). Miss Withers to tea. Walked with Willie
to deliver notes first to Colville Gardens then to Arundel Gardens,
Ladbroke Square, Palace Gardens & Campden Hill, Holland Park
& Holland Villas Road and home by way of Bayswater Road and
Clarendon Road.
Saturday, January
23rd
8.30 My girl - my
darling girl - I waited for her this morning. Two trains and then
she came down and by good luck there was a previous lift load
down so it did not look as if I had been waiting. She sat in a
cross seat and I sat opposite her on the opposite site but did
not look at her much though now I wish I had looked at her more.
She was dressed in her black rig out and awfully nice she looked
and such a lady. She read a letter as usual for a bit and I read
the Standard. I wish I had followed her when I got to the Bank
as there was a fog and it was quite dark though quite clear
Met Hilda Vardon
at Notting Hill Gate waiting for a bus to come up to taker to
Miss Websters told her I had been trying to telephone her there
but never got a chance at lunch time.
To Saint Mary Abbot
for Even Song and did enjoy the first thing on the organ. Passed
9 Stanley Gardens at about 4.10 in ____ _____ and saw a lot of
girls and ladies having tea in 28 ad then I found out that 28
& 29 are one and yet 26-27 & 28 are described as the "Twentieth
Century Club"
Sunday , January
24th
Washed Dickies cage
in the afternoon and mended her blind by putting in new cards
and that is all I have done today.
Tuesday , January 26th
Lunched at Crown
Court with Sammy Gillham and Collins. Played Matador and lost.
Took J.O.C two shirts.
Eveline dearest left
by 2 o'clock train from Waterloo for Bournemouth. Herbert and
Dow saw her off.
News of Whittaker
Wright's sentence of 7 years Penal & Death half an hour later.
Stapleton in for
a few minutes - saw him later in Bedford Gardens with the Parsons
and a fellow Marshall to whom he introduced me went to S's studio
and I talked to Parsons about Weston. Tube 4d Lunch C. & S.E
8d
Wednesday , February
3rd
To Macs in evening
. La played delightfully something of Greigs [sic] which I thought
was Heaven on Earth to listen to. Cathy's cold much worse. Did
not get out to Lunch till 2.5. Had lunch with Jack Gillham &
Clark. Took Palmer on winding up companies (II) back to Fredrick's
Place, Old Jewry. Paid Jepherson 6/6.
Thursday, February
4th
To Macs in evening
at 9. La just going to bed as I got there and I said goodnight
in the hall. Angus and I talking as to "Food of Man"
and vegetarianism [as] the natural diet. Left 10.15pm. Lunch at
Crown Court with Collins Gillham & Clark. Won in first and
lost a bit when Gillham came in.
Friday, February
12th
Walked to Marble
Arch via Westbourne Grove and Queen and Bayswater Roads. Bus to
Bank. Lunch at Crown Court and played Matador with Collins Sammy
& Gillham and won & against S & C and won.
To Mrs Cleverton
with Doll and Ted. Ted forgot his teeth so had to go back when
we got to the door!! Miss Eyre there (who bowed to me in the Tube
one day and I couldn't remember where I had met her) and one of
the other girls I met before there. Has a very pretty way of dancing
and a very pretty ankle. Hernandez and his friend Thomas there
- also a Miss Lane Fox who though she had seen me before a Miss
Ellis, Rumbold and Larry "you ask me why - love". Got
back about 12pm
Saw the fellow (whose
face I like and who I have seen in Crown Court) going down Bartholomew
Lane he saw & looked at me. Sent Jepherson 6/6. Frank went
to Crowthorne.
|