Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
Your two letters of May 5th and May 9th reached me safely. The earlier one came to the home and the one with the later date came direct to the office.
I am glad it was not necessary for you to have the gold inlay in your teeth. No doubt the cost would have been very heavy.
We are sorry to learn that you are having such a difficult time in your last quarter. We can readily understand unless work is available you will have great difficulty in financing yourself, especially in the smaller amounts which one must have available in his pocket.
"Today I sent you 25 dollars in American money as requested in your letter. The unfortunate part of it is that to send what would be normally equal to £5, cost £8:16:5. There is the difference in the English sterling plus the difference in exchange between Australia and America. These two things combined, make sending money a ruinous matter."
Your letter of the 9th helped us to understand these problems much better than any other letter you had hitherto sent. Today I sent you 25 dollars in American money as requested in your letter. The unfortunate part of it is that to send what would be normally equal to £5, cost £8:16:5. There is the difference in the English sterling plus the difference in exchange between Australia and America. These two things combined, make sending money a ruinous matter. Just think of it, to send £5:0:0, one must spend £3:16:5 additional. However, we are very glad to be able to send this to you, and wish it could have been more. This will enable you to pay your dentist and the other small amounts you refer to, and will give you a few shillings in your pocket.
I have been trying hard to get rid of the amplifier and today I called in to see Johnny Walsh. Johnny assures me that there is very little call for machines of the kind, but his advice is that we again advertise it and if unsuccessful in disposing of it, we may have to dismantle it and sell the parts. Of course, this is a pretty difficult matter and will take some time to effect. It would be great if we could sell it just as it is for a reasonable figure.
We note that you have nothing further to add concerning work over the summer period. Evidently you seem inclined to remain at the College and undertake work for Dean Ames. Personally I think this is the wisest plan. While there may be more interest in going with your friends to St. Louis, I really believe it would advance your personal interests more if you accept Dean Ames offer and remain with him. He may also be able to get you additional work in some of the Associations. Could you not exploit that to the limit? Could Larry Bowen help you in any way or Norman Weston? Do not feel at all reticent in approaching any of them for this purpose.
Your letter of February 24th reached us this week. We were very delighted to get the news it contained. You are certainly a fortunate young men to be able to spend a weekend at St. Louis. It is good that you were able to make arrangements at such short notice, and that there were others who could undertake the jobs for which you were responsible. I know you would enjoy the opportunity of a visit to such a home and with such friends.
I did not visit St. Louis when I was in the States though I had planned to do so, but time would not permit me to make the trip. We were interested in all that happened at St. Louis and thank you for giving us such a full account.
The Central YMCA at 1528 Locust Street in St. Louis.
The building is now called Centenary Tower
and only the bottom two floor are now occupied by the YMCA. See this history on the YMCA website.
I remember very vividly the campaign held some years ago to secure money for the Central building at St. Louis, and for other branch buildings. It was one of the first of the huge campaigns which the Associations organized in the post-war period. St. Louis was followed by the Detroit Campaign and then by the New York campaign. All of these raised new standards of achievement in money raising for local work by the Associations. Thank you for sending me copies of the material you collected at the Central Y. Some of it is very suggestive and I am sure it will be of value to us.
The mail bag of miniature photographs also arrived safely. Ditto the “Association Collegian” on Feb. 16th. While your visit was of short duration, you packed into it quite a lot of sightseeing.
We not that you were to speak on “Australia” on the following Sunday. We hope you got on alright. We are sorry to hear that the phonographic record was cracked when it arrived. I knew the thing was packed securely, as I had it specially done with the object of making sure it would reach you in useable condition. Perhaps it may be possible to get one from the San Francisco office of the Australian National Travel Assocn. At any rate a little pressure at that end may persuade them to get one for you and if you are unsuccessful, please let me know and I will see if I can secure another record.
I quite imagined you would have some difficulty in maintaining your work at the Kenwood Church. In one of my former letters I mentioned I thought this would happen in view of the prevailing conditions. If you are without that source of revenue, you will be facing difficulties, I am certain, unless it is possible to find something else to take its place.
The greetings you forwarded in your letter I will pass of the various persons named.
Mr. Handley, Melbourne High School, has just left for a trip to England, and America, but I do not think he is likely to go inland as far as Chicago. He has made a number of enquiries concerning yourself.
The folk at home are reasonably well. Keith had a very bad illness and lost 1 ½ stone in weight in ten days. He had Pharangitis, and the medical man said it was one of the worst cases he had seen. However, he is back again at work and is slowly picking up.
In my last letter I mentioned that Ruth was having a bad run at the Hospital with illness. We had her examined and I am afraid it may mean that she will have to abandon her hospital training for some time. The prolonged period of night work seems to have upset her a good deal, and she must keep a prolonged holiday. Whether she will return to the Homeopathic Hospital to complete her training is doubtful, as we do not think it will be wise to go back to the place which has proved so difficult. However, that remains for the future to decide, but in the meantime she is home and I am trying to make arrangements to get her away for a spell.
Under separate cover you will find letters from Ruth, Joyce and Edith.
Having these two patients at home has place a pretty heavy strain on mother, but she is bearing up exceedingly well. Fortunately Ruth did not come home until Keith was practically well again, so that mother did not have the two of them simultaneously.
Rex. is still away in Sydney, but we expect he may be back any day now. He has been away for three or four weeks.
The great event in Australia during recent days, was the opening of the Sydney Bridge. I have sent you a number of newspapers including a copy of the “Australasian” in which you will find illustrations of that Bridge and the account of the opening, which may interest you.
I have heard recently from Harry White, and also from John Cook. What has happened to Clive Glover? I have not had a word from him for a long time. Tell him a letter is overdue.
Dick Nitschke of Adelaide called in the other day as he as passing through to Sydney to the opening of the Bridge. He was also over here at the time that Holmesdale Nitschke was playing with the South Australian cricket team against Victoria. Holmesdale was been doing very well at representative cricket this year. Just the other day, against New South Wales, he made 119. Dick reports that the folk in South Australia are feeling the strain financially, specially in finding money for the building Edith is erecting in King William Street, Adelaide. I think he has put between 20,000 and 30,000 into it already and it is not yet finished.
We have had a number of special Finance Committee meetings recently, with the object of trying to find out in which directions we can increase our departmental revenues. I am afraid we have not got far, although various plans have been suggested which might be possible on trial. The Board will never meet our financial needs until they tackle an annual financial campaign. It is the only way to meet the position.
Ivor Burge is expecting between 30 and 40 fellows at Easter Camp. The main party will leave tonight. He is putting a lot of time into camp work and is doing a fine job. The Boys’ Department will not have an ordinary camp, but they have about 15 or 16 fellows who are spending the whole of the Easter period in doing odd jobs to the camp property at Shoreham.
Alf. Hines is still away on holiday and we do not expect him back until after Easter.
I have not been able to get any definite information concerning the Australian exhibit on the Chicago Exhibition, but hope to have it available for you shortly.
Last Sunday week I had a full church when I took, the Cricketers service at our own church. We had a splendid body of young fellows present and on the whole a most enjoyable gathering. Last Sunday I had a Sunday School Anniversary at Coburg. We had the Church packed 10 minutes before time of commencement. Scores of folk were turned away and here again we had a really good service.
I have a very busy time ahead of me in connection with Rotary Club work. We have the district conference at Geelong, April 14 to 18, and then at the end of April and the beginning of May the Rotary Boys’ and Girls’ Week. All of this is consuming a good deal of my leisure, but it is an interesting job, and I am glad to have a share in it. You did not tell me whether you called at the Rotary Club in Chicago. I think it would be a good thing for you to make that contact.
I must close now. You have our united love my boy. We sincerely hope your second term’s results will satisfy you. Please let us have all details as soon as you can. Time is slipping by very rapidly and it is difficult to imagine that you have been away over 9 months. We look forward to your letters with eagerness.
With much love from us all,
Yours affectionately,
Dad
In the last few letters, specifically Nos. 22 an 23, it's apparent that Noel is gearing up to do presentations about Australia to various groups in Chicago.
There are references to the famous Aboriginal preacher, inventor and writer David Unaipon, plus various literature about Australia.
The reference that really caught my interest this time was about the "Kookaburra record" in letter No. 23 from 28 Dec 1931.
"In your last letter you asked me to secure a copy of the Kookaburra
record. I was able to get this from the Australian National Travel
Association, although I understand that copies cannot be procured in the
ordinary gramaphone stores. We tried it out on our own machine at home
and it is quite good."
My first thought was of the children's song "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree." But it turns out that song hadn't been written or recorded yet. That would be a little later in the 1930s.
So that left me puzzled. Fortunately, George mentioned the Australian National Travel Association, and an internet search turned up "Jacko, the Broadcasting Kookaburra." And the pieces fell into place.
It turns out that early Australian radio used to regularly broadcast the sound of a kookaburra, which is a variety of kingfisher bird native to Australia. The call resembles a mad laugh.
The bird that recorded that call also became quite famous and was known as Jacko, the broadcasting kookaburra. He and his exploits inspired a children's book a few years later.
There is an author's note at the start of the book that reads
as follows: "This is the true story of Jacko, the Broadcasting
Kookaburra, that so many of his fellow Australians have heard
laughing over the air from the wireless stations of Melbourne,
Sydney, and Brisbane; and from the gramophone record that was
arranged and produced by Mrs. Harold W. Clapp for the Australian
National Travel Association. The story begins with Jacko's capture
in the bush. It tells of his many adventures, and ends with his
home-coming after a four-thousand mile caravan journey along the
eastern seaboard of Australia. The illustrations and chapter headings
are from drawings made by Miss Dorothy Wall, whose exquisite pen
has captured the humorous spirit of the story."
This article led me to search online newspaper archives at Trove.nla.gov.au, where I found a delightful article from 18 March 1931 about how the recording of Jacko's voice was obtained and how the recording would be used to promote Australia abroad. According to the article in The Argus of Melbourne:
"After the wax master-disc had been made it was played in the studio for the benefit of the bird, which was still perched on the chair from which it had laughed into the microphone. The first few notes brought a puzzled expression to tho bird's face; then it lifted its beak and laughed so heartily that it fell fluttering to the floor, where it continued to laugh until the record was taken off the machine."
Since Noel was still in Melbourne and preparing to leave for Chicago at the time this article was published, I'm sure that the recording being discussed in the letters must be this one (and the one referenced in the article about the Jacko children's book). Perhaps it is also the very album that the kookaburra is sitting on in the old photograph from the Australian National Travel Association at the top of this page.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure yet if Noel was ever successful in securing a copy of the record.
In letter No. 22 George worried about his ability to get the record safely to Noel. "The phonographic record I will endeavour to get and send on to you,
although there may be some problem in packing it securely for
transportation to America. I am wondering whether it could not be
procured in the States. I will make enquiry regarding that from the
Vocalion people."
Then, in an upcoming letter in March, he acknowledges Noel's report that that album arrived cracked.
In letter No. 31, which will be posted at a future date, George writes: "We are sorry to hear that the phonographic record was cracked when it arrived. I knew the thing was packed securely, as I had it specially done with the object of making sure it would reach you in usable condition. Perhaps it may be possible to get one from the San Francisco office of the Australian National Travel Assocn."
I'll update this post if and when I find more references to it in George's letters.
As a point of interest for any non-Australians reading this, here is an example of a kookaburra's call and laugh from YouTube:
Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue, CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
Christmas is over and we are back at the office in the interim between the Christmas and New Year holidays. We had a very quiet Christmas both as far as home is concerned and also at the Association. Keith, Mother and the two kiddies and myself had dinner at the Y on Christmas Day, with the members of the staff. Ruth unfortunately could not get away from the hospital so she could not be present. Evidently they are short handed at the hospital and a number of the nurses who expected to get away were prevented from doing so. She was greatly disappointed and did not like the idea of remaining at the hospital for Christmas dinner.
On Boxing Day, Mother and I went to "Manyung" and Shoreham Camps. It was a wonderfully good day and we enjoyed every moment of it. There were between 40 and 50 in camp at "Manyung" and the fellows were having a royal time as the weather has been wonderfully good. There are a number of improvements at the camp which make for ease in handling a crowd. For instance a large 6 ft. range with new brick chimney, etc. has been added to the kitchen and this is a great convenience to the cook and makes catering for a large number much easier than it was before.
Down at Shoreham, we were delighted with the progress made in the care of the equipment. Everything had been freshly painted and grass cut, and the whole place looked splendid. There were 16 boys in camp from the Ballarat Y with Mr. Ack Way also with them. With our own boys there at 75 in all. Both of the camps are looking splendid just now, and we were greatly delighted with them.
We were accompanied by Colonel Lamb of the Perth Board of Directors. He was immensely impressed with what he saw. Messrs. Reynolds and Nevile took two car loads of us for this fine run of about 120 miles. We had dinner at "Manyung" and tea at Shoreham.
In your last letter you asked me to secure a copy of the Kookaburra record. I was able to get this from the Australian National Travel Association, although I understand that copies cannot be procured in the ordinary gramaphone stores. We tried it out on our own machine at home and it is quite good. While at the National Travel Association's office I secured a little booklet entitled "Talking Points on Australia". This I am sending to you under separate cover. It is full of interesting material which you can use in your talks on Australia to various groups. On the back of the pamphlet you will notice that there is an agent at 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco and would suggest that you keep in touch with that office, and ask them to forward to you any new material they may receive. Your information on Australia would then be kept up to date.
I am also sending a picture of the "Koala" which is large enough for you to display as you speak to small groups. That kind of material always helps people to understand what you are talking about, as it visualises the animal.
By last mail I sent to you a copy of Unaipon's book on "Aboriginal Legends". I am also sending a little booklet called "The Song of the Stars" written by Dr. Boreham, the great Australian Baptist preacher and essayist. This is a Maori story, which I think you could also work up into a talk for young people's meetings.
Uncle Bill was over to see us yesterday. He has been having a very difficult time in his business. So much so that he is hardly earning sufficient to pay the rent of his shop. I called in to see him on Christmas Eve, and found that his stock had been greatly depleted in his endeavours to pay his way. He had evidently sacrificed much of his stock so as to keep going.
I think I told you in my last letter that next week we expected to take the two kiddies to the Community Camp at "Manyung". It promises to be between 20 and 30 people at the Camp so that we should have an enjoyable time. The kiddies are looking forward to it with great interest. The two Laurie girls will be in Camp and we expect Kath. and Dorrie also to be there.
I want to ask you to please go back over my letters and answer the numerous questions I have raised in them. While we enjoy reading your letters we want to say that they are remarkable for what they do not say rather than for what they do say. You never refer to the receipt of any letters from us so that we do now know whether they are reaching you safely or otherwise. I think it would be a good plan for you to acknowledge the receipt of the letters giving the dates they bear. I this way we shall know whether you are receiving them. Will you be good enough to look over our letters and give us the answers to the questions we have asked you. You have never once referred to the receipt of your wristlet watch, which we posted to the "Niagara". Did you get it? or did it go astray?
We will write you from Camp but it will probably be a week or two before we write again from the office. If we miss a mail or two you will understand the reason.
We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas, although I can imagine by this time conditions will be getting pretty cold and you will realise how bleak a place Chicago is in mid-winter.
We are unite in warmest love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad
Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue, CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
Your good letter of 6th November arrived yesterday. We were delighted with the news it contained. We quite understand that you will be finding it difficult to keep your correspondence going, especially in view of the schedule of studies you are carrying and the amount of outside work you are doing.
Thank you for the clippings from the student paper which helped us to appreciate the push ball contest, and some of the other features of college life. We were greatly amused at your account of the push ball contest and of your golfing experiences. It is good to know that there are times when you have the opportunity to “let up” a little and can manage to see the humour in the situations you are facing.
It is fine to learn that you have been successful in securing a sufficient number of jobs to maintain you reasonably well. Between the work in the main lounge and cafeteria, you are practically covering your needs for food and shelter. It was good of Clive to help you secure the other job at the Community Church. This should be quite a good piece of practical work which should stand you in good stead along the line of experience as well as proving so remunerative. I have been wondering how that will work out in the winter months. I hope it holds for you and that you will have other opportunities of similar kind turn up should that not continue for long.
Your medical examination on the whole, I think, is pretty good. You must simply attempt to make up any of the deficiencies referred to in the Doctor’s report, especially in the matter of posture. The others are not so important, although I know that vaccination is required in America, although it may not be necessary in Australia.
All your Christmas cards arrived safely and I am pleased to note that you sent to a number of the Directors as well as to your immediate circle of friends.
Thank you also for the greetings from Tom Laing and Vic. Jones and also from Clive and May. Tom Laing was good enough to drop me a letter by this mail, telling me about the fellows at Springfield and how they are progressing.
Your enquiry regarding David Unaipon raises the question in my mind as to whether you do not already possess a copy of Unaipon’s book . I have a very distinct recollection of handing you my copy. Have you looked through your material? In any case I am sending you another copy so that you may be able to make use of the material as opportunity presents itself. I am afraid you are asking too much to expect David Unaipon to write out anything for you. You may not know but he has been away from Melbourne for the past three months and is now I think in South Australia, so that I am afraid it will not be possible for us to get any material of the kind from him.
The phonographic record I will endeavour to get and send on to you, although there may be some problem in packing it securely for transportation to America. I am wondering whether it could not be procured in the States. I will make enquiry regarding that from the Vocalion people.
I am very delighted to hear that you have been giving addresses on Australia, so as to give you more material that you may be able to use I am sending to you a copy of “Australia Today.” This is a splendid magazine published by the Commercial Travellers’ Association and is full of interesting information concerning Australia.
I was very delighted to get the copy of the Association College Bulletin with the picture of the student body and faculty and also a small group of foreign students in which both Clive and yourself appear.
Alec. Moodie returned to Australia a fortnight ago. He has an offer open for me to return to Honolulu to a position with Ralph Cole. Unfortunately, however, there does not seem to be any possibility of us “wrangling” his re-entry to Honolulu on account of the stringency of the immigration laws. We have tried in several directions to get the American Counsel here to stretch a point in his favor, but there seems to be little chance of this being done from this end. If Moodie could get action taken at Washington in might be worked that way but it doesn't seem very hopeful. When Moodie got to Sydney he was advised by the Brisbane Association that his position on their staff was closed. Evidently before he left for America there was some understanding with the Brisbane Board that he should take a position abroad if one opened up. During the time that he was away conditions at Brisbane became exceedingly difficult and the Board felt that they could not re-emply him on his return – So that Moodie came straight on here to Melbourne and did not return to Brisbane. His wife is staying with her people at Geelong. Alec. is now looking out for another job, and there seems to be precious little opportunity for anything in Association work so that he will have to return to business again. It seems an awful pity that he cannot be fitted into Association work especially in view of his recent experiences and the wealth of information he has obtained concerning the Association in Canada and America.
By the way, we had a letter from John Akau, Junior, one of the Honolulu delegates, in which he wished to pass on to you his greetings. He spoke very highly of the enjoyable time he had with the Australian fellows en route to Toronto.
Keith sat for two subjects in his Intermediate Accountancy, namely, Commercial Law and Auditing. He was very unfortunate in just missing a pass in both subjects. He got 58 in Commercial Law, two marks below a pass, and 60 marks in auditing, five below a pass. However, he is not very disturbed about it as he now feels hat he can do much better in the May examinations. It would have been a great thing for him to have secured these two subjects at this examination and would have made it easier for the May examination. Now he will need to take five subjects in May. This will be a bit of a hurdle for him, but he feels pretty confident that he can do it.
You will be glad to hear that yesterday he secured a job with Louis Dreyfus & Co., Grain Merchants, 465 Collins Street. This will probably see him over the next few months while the wheat season is on. He also has prospect of another job and is nibbling it so as to discover whether it will be a better one than the Dreyfus job. It is a great relief to know that he will be employed during the next few months at any rate.
Ruth was home today on her usual day off. She is still in the surgical ward, but expects that she may have to take duty in the Children’s Ward before long. She is still happy in her job although she finds the long hours a heavy strain, particularly since the motor accident I referred to in my last letter. Evidently this shook her up more than she thought.
Edith was not successful in securing a Scholarship at the University High School, but she did obtain a free place at Gardiner for the next two years. Joy unfortunately failed in arithmetic, consequently did not secure an additional two years free place. She will probably go to Fintona or Presbyterian Ladies' College in the New Year. They were both greatly delighted with the postcards you sent along and of course at the news contained in your letter.
You will be glad to hear that Mr. Handley of the Melbourne Boys' High School, has accepted a position on the Boys' Work Committee. He is very keen and has been exceedingly useful. Mother went along to the High School Break-up and he then spoke to her about the time you were at the High School. Evidently he has a warm pot in his heart for you.
Nearly all of the wind-up social functions have been held at the Association building. The Vikings' Dinner was held last Thursday with about 100 fellows present. It was a great turn-out. Jack Brideson was awarded the McRae Cup and Len. Lacey came second.
Last night we had a combined Senior Activities Dinner at which the "13" Club and Mrs. J.R. Nichol's helpers were guests. This was also a good affair with about 90 to 100 present. The diplomas won by the Educational students were distributed and Frank Trainor gave a splendid address.
I think in my last letter I told you that we would probably have to close down on "Melbourne's Manhood". We now think it is possible to continue it in a re-organised form. Our printer has undertaken to publish it without cost to the Association. We shall have to reduce the number of pages and print the magazine on different paper so as to reduce costs. You can be sure I am delighted that we are able to continue it.
Laurie Bowen wrote me the other day and in his letter narrated the difficulties the Association Movement was experiencing on account of the depression in America -- how impossible it was to find jobs for men in Association work, as most of the larger Associations were reducing staff rather than increasing the number of their employees. I can quite understand the situation as we have had to reduce our own staff pretty drastically during the past year.
I have nothing further to add regarding the amplifier excepting that Jack Walsh had an enquiry a little while back for an amplifier. He is endeavouring to get the enquirer interested in your machine. Rex. is similarly endeavouring to place it with some of the country picture shows.
Under separate cover I have sent to you a copy of each of the "Argus" and the "Herald" giving the election results. You can see as you peruse the papers how wonderfully the commonsense of the Australian voters has manifested itself in the swing away from some of labor's wild-cat financial schemes. This result should help to re-establish confidence in business circles, and perhaps help in the reduction of unemployment.
We are expecting fine attendances at all of the camps. At Manyung we expect about 60 for the young men's camp and between 20 and 30 at the community camp which follows it. At Shoreham we are expecting the following attendances at the four periods: 70, 60, 70 and 35, but in the last two it is likely that the enrollments will be considerably higher than the figures given, as the entry dates do not close until some time in January. The Scouts are also holding a camp so that we shall have 7 camping periods before the firsts week of February.
I am endeavouring to get away for the Community Camp at Manyung, and hope to take mother and the two kiddies along for a fortnight's spell. Mother is keeping very well, I am happy to say.
Well, my boy, we must express our delight that you are managing to maintain yourself and I hope, studying hard. I quite understand that you will not find it easy to carry your schedule, but I know you will do your best to stand up tot he strain and that you will capitalise every moment of your time and make it contribute to your success. Don't become too seriously involved in the social life of the college at the detriment of your school work. That is the common error made by students in their first year. There will be ample time for social life when you have demonstrated your ability to carry your schedule with honor to yourself and to Australia. We are all greatly encouraged by your last letter and we wish you every blessing and success in the New Year. Naturally we shall want to know how you got on with your first term's work and we hope you will keep us posted with the results of any tests.
Don't forget to keep close to the Source of all strength; you will need His continued guidance and blessing in all that you undertake.
With our united love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad
(handwritten postscript) The Staff send greetings also McDonald (of N.Z.), Trainor, Jenner, Nichol, Hooke, and heaps of others.
Mr. N. A. Hughes
Passenger, R.M.S. "Niagara",
C/o Union Steamship Company S U V A.
My dear Noel,
Well you have been to Suva. I hope your impressions of the Island are as vivid as mine were on my first visit, as you make the acquaintance of Mr. Barker.
We are naturally anxious for you to let us know just exactly what occurred and hope you will not fail to write regularly, so that we can be kept advised of each stage of your journey.
Remember that apart from your mother and myself, the two little ones at home will be full of eager interest to know how you are faring.
I want you to be specially careful that you maintain the high standard of personal conduct with the folk you are mixing with. The tendency is, on holiday "to let down the bars" a little, and "when in Rome do as Rome does". I know shipboard life well enough to know how easy it is to "slip" on some of the seemingly small things in personal conduct. Don't forget you have two standards to maintain. First, that of a Christian man and secondly, that of an Association Officer. Throw yourself heart and soul into the life of the ship as far as you are able, but do not compromise your position in either of the relationships I have referred to.
Don't forget also that you should put in at least two to four hours a day in definite preparation for Conference and for your future work at the College. You will be expected by the Faculty to pass certain examinations, so that you may get your entrance status fixed early in your College life. Prepare for that work on the basis set out in the College catalogue. Make each day count in preparation for that period and don't fritter away all the hours of the day and night on the unimportant things generally associated with shipboard life.
I hope both Alec. and yourself will feel that you have a fine opportunity to think through some of the problems associated with the Conferences, so that you may be able to make your own contributions to the discussions.
Also, I would suggest that you get Alec.'s help in preparing a few short talks on Australia and on the Australian Y.M.C.As, so that you may be in a position to speak when called upon at some of the gatherings you attend.
The time spent on shipboard will give you a splendid chance to prepare material which you will afterwards use at the Conference or at College.
I think you should set out to uphold the standards attained by other Australian students in America. This cannot be done without concentration of purpose and hard work. You would be wise to cultivate the Habit of study, and even if the attractive sides of life on shipboard are very appealing, I hope you will maintain a daily habit of study in preparation for the future.
I want you also to take a daily study in the text material you have on "The Life of Christ", so that you will be able to follow in something like consecutive order the great events in His life. Such a study will help you to understand the great ideals of the Kingdom of God, and will fit you to more effectively serve your fellows because you can appreciate the scheme God has for their lives.
We will be anxiously awaiting news from you. You will, of course, write from every port of call. I found it a very great help to write a short portion of my letter every day, while the events were fresh in my mind, and in this way I was able to advise your mother and my friends just what was happening of interest each day. You might perhaps find it wise to adopt a similar method.
