Somewhere in England — Train Journey
Letter #14

(Had to cut the previous letter — too heavy (sorry!))

Dear Sweetheart

[Hand-drawn detailed diagram of British train compartment with labels:]

The Train Window — width of the Compartment

[Diagram shows window layout with annotations:]
- "height the Compt." (left side)
- "window (static)"
- "window (movable)"
- "window station"
- "4 pieces of wood is hinged + pushes in that closes the window which drops till a hole in the leather strap is engaged in a ventilator"
- "floor of the train"
- "to raise the window (close it) for fall on the leather strap to its fullest length."

The window recess drop below floor level because the recess is is 2/3 d's (approx) the height of the coach. The seats (backs not moveable) + the panel next to the windows are covered with what seems to me to be a carpeting rather than the ordinary upholstering (another sign of permanence?) The coach is smaller than ours, but the train is speedy — must have averaged 50 m.p.h. The freight cars, they call them "goods wagons" remind me a great deal of the train at Benning — small — like toys — hold about 10,000 lbs (ours 45,000 lbs), but apparently they do the job.

To get back (of course you realize I haven't the time to organize my impressions — it was quite an experience + thrill)

Many of the people had greenhouses in back of their homes — but tiny, looked like 10 ft. square. Probably grew flowers though it most likely was vegetables.

As we passed by I was very much impressed by the compactness + neatness about every piece of land — everything was being utilized. The hills were gentle + even in the valleys undulating — + rich (it must rain a good deal). The land + I'm referring to that which included the towns (what names!) might have been laid out by a landscape artist (a good one)

We had a Scot (its Scotsman — not Scotchman) as a conductor — wonderful to listen to. In describing some bridge he referred to the Geo. Washington Bridge as linking Bklyn + N.Y.!

Well dear — that's all for now. I'd like to describe some of the historical places I've seen — but can't.

Hope you are well. I love you.

Your devoted husband,
Dolph