DLA017-0133  Transcription

HOTEL EUROPA & HOTEL POSTA

DOLOMITI BOLZANO ITALIA

18. July 1930

My dear Philip,

[illegible] Price wrote me the news of the terrible accident poor Patrick had and I am thankful to God that he has escaped But, I can imagine what an awful shock he must have had and how he must feel the tragic end of his friend, that poor girl, who fell a victim of the accident.^[1] As an old friend I am writing a few words to tell how I feel with all of you. Please communicate to Lucy and to Pattoo my sympathy and the great joy over his having got through without serious injury.

Though I don’t know them I sincerely sympathise with the parents, what a fate of stroke [sic]! Loosing [sic] a daughter in such a terrible way. Having seen her well and strong one day, and then find her gone for ever! The older I grow, the more I come to the conviction that this mortal life is only a part of our existence. It cannot be that the Creator should mete out the earthly life of His creations in such an unjust /seemingly!/ manner! Justice can only be the foundation of the Universe, of which our world is a part, and it must be for the best whatever happens to us. Why? We are not given the faculty to understand and we have simply to submit to the supreme will and wisdom of God!

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I do hope Patrick is as well as he can be under the circumstances, he is a strong, young chap and he will get over the effect of this sad period of his life. I wish that it should be so and give my love to him.

I hope that both you and Lucy are well; [illegible]^[2] wrote to me that you spend a week in Scotland, I hope the change [does?] you good. She also told me you are going to see them and play golf; the Buckingham Golf course is very nice and their [sic] is an excellent professional. I have had lessons from him. I miss golf very much.

I expect all the other boys are holidaying at present somewhere. Remember me to all of them [illegible] they are. Dear Johnny with his faultlessly pressed trousers! Give him a handshake from me.

Now a few words about myself. I will be short as I can’t say anything very cheerful. I should have been very happy if I could have stayed for the summer up in the mountains and painting and the fine scenery, with the fresh air would have satisfied me for a while. But on the whole I am very tired of this constant homeless wandering, but I had to do it as in southern Italy the relaxing climate I couldn’t stand. I felt very low down, I went to see a doctor he advises me to take a cure somewhere. I don’t know what I will do. Certainly I feel that being quite by myself and companionship, no home, makes me feel [down?] and I don’t know how it will be with one when I get older and my energy is gradually leaving me.

I hope we shall meet here later in the summer.

With love to all of you, | your old friend

Vilmos

Editorial Note:

Vilmos Ruttkay de Felső-Ruttka (born 1869), commercial attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in London; for biographical notes, see [4856]. 

SMDL

20/01/2018