The TransAtlantic Voyage

Stationery Belle uses in her first letters to Leonard.


Thursday Evening
April 28, 1922
9:45 p.m.
My dear dear Hubby,
Oh how I wish I could speak to you now and tell you how well we are.  We have had it very calm so far. Now that I have got the kiddies to bed I can write some so will do in my cabin.  First of all I want to thank you for making it so comfortable for us.  All the Cheif [sic] Steward has been to my table every meal and to see that I get anything I want.  he even ordered special milk puddings for the children at night which are not on the Bill.  I am really ashamed as we certainly have a first class Bill of fare and service, too and we have a very nice table steward.  I gave him 1£ to start off with.  The Steward and Stewardess I have not bothered yet.  The children are fine and Nancy is eating so well and 2 dishes of ice cream she had for dessert at Luncheon.  Sheila that enjoys herself strapped on to the chair and amuses all the passengers.  I wish you could see the red rosy cheeks she has already.  She had a long sleep that afternoon then we went on deck from 5 to 6 o'clock.  Supper at 7 p.m. then Bed for them.  I had a good rest too.  I feel the good of the change already and only the second day.  Nancy has been so good.  I didn't have to speak one cross word to her since we left.  Oh but didn't she want to get back on the Pier so bad to Daddy and cried as we came downstairs but believe me I didn't cry anymore.  I was just tired out from holding Sheila.  It surprises some of the passengers how well I can manage the 2 children and they tell me I must have courage to take such a chance travelling but it comes easy to me.  Well my dear I do hope your hand is felling better by now as it is my only worry.  I know it will be well in time.  I want to thank you also for the beautiful flowers.  I wish you had seen them they are in a great big jardeniere on our table but I kept my Boquet and some roses in our bedroom.  We are very swell indeed but didn't I leave you broke I certainly feel ashamed.

Sheila and Nancy on deck aboard the RMS Scythia

Sunday Evening
Dear Hub,
A few lines more hoping your hand is better.  We expect to get in Wednesday night.  We all are fine and have not been sick a minute but will be anxious to get home for the children's sake.  we saw a big liner to day [sic].  I wonder was Bert on--.  Since I started this at 5 p.m. I was speaking to Mr. Beal and he told me they expect to make Queenstown Thursday morning.  He is an Irishman.  The meal hour being 7 p.m. he had me give the children theirs at 5:15 then I put Sheila to bed but she was up again at 7 so I stopped it.  Besides Nancy I could not get to bed at 6 no sleep for Nancy in the afternoon. She  prefers the swing on Deck.  She dont [sic] feel lonely anymore.  They were having lots of fun here in the State Room to night [sic] as either of them were not tired.  Sheila had two sleeps to day [sic] but it was 9:45 now when I got her off.  I exchanged what american money I had at the Pursers office at 4:33 I gave him $25.60c and he gave me £5.12s 9d is that right or did he do me for couple halfpence.  I tried to get some gold but it cont [sic] be had.  A nice English fellow Mimew Shewane would like him.  Sids type.   Well I will leave this space for later news.
Monday night


 Rained all afternoon all well.  Will be glad to get off the children are fine mostly all the other children on board took colds.  Nancy asked me just now if Daddys hand was all better yet.  So you see she dont [sic] forget you and Sheila and our Table Steward are great friends.  She calls him Dad Dad and plays with his buttons.


Tuesday night


 Well Dear Hub I guess I will close now.  It will be 10 o'clock p.m. when we get to Queenstown Thursday.  I am glad it is daylight anyhow so will say good Bye your loving wife and kiddies.

++++++++++++
A Word About British Currency at the Time
The £ sign stands for the Latin word "libra" meaning pound, and also means pound in British money.

The "s" stands for the Latin "solidus."  A solidus mark or a scilling (in old English possibly from Norse or old German) mark was a mark or notch made in a length of metal wire to enable it to be divided into convenient regular sized pieces. Therefore the English word shilling appears to be directly related to the word solidus. So the "s" means shilling(s).

The "d" stands for the Latin "denarius," which evolved to the French "denier". The British penny descended from both, so that the "d" means penny.

The basic unit of currency was the pound (sterling). The currency now is, of course, the Euro(€).
There were twenty (20) shillings per pound.
The shilling was subdivided into twelve (12) pennies.
There were therefore two hundred and forty (240) pennies per pound.
The penny was further sub-divided into two halfpennies or four farthings (quarter pennies).

Threepences are self explanatory, being worth three pence. They were struck in silver until 1944, and in nickel-brass (referred to as brass) from 1937. The common
name for the old silver threepences was "Joey". The word threepence would often be pronounced as though there was only a single middle "e", therefore "thre-pence."

Sixpences again are self explanatory, being worth six pence. They were also known as tanners.
Florins or two shilling pieces were, just as obviously worth two shillings, and would also be referred to as "two bob."
 
 

The 28th of April 1922 was a Friday;  in all likelihood and judging by the content of her first letter,  Belle began her first letter to Leonard Thursday, April 27th, the evening after the ship left New York.
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