December 31, 1917 - New Year's Eve in London

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, December 31, 1917: Slept till 10:30. Had breakfast in the Savoy. Saw Judd Welliver, Sun correspondent. He is depressed and wants to get back to N.Y. Nearly everyone is more or less discouraged. Is a good experience for me but I should prefer to be in N.Y. Sent cable to Dorothy. Not doing much work yet. Just looking around to get my bearings ... Went to dinner with Welliver at the Wellington on Fleet St. Met Draper of the Tribune, Miller of the U.P. and a Mr. Moare, all Americans, and went with the crowd to Moare’s lodgings where we had some of Welliver’s homemade mince pies, some candy liquors etc. and a lot of conversation. Saw the new year in. Opinion of the correspondents is that Allies have a fierce task ahead licking Germany. After we all finished, the crowd escorted me through a lot of lanes and alleys to Fleet St. Welliver then walked to the Savoy with me.

Weather cool and raw[while New York City had record-breaking cold weather].

Don Martin wrote a short note to Dorothy on December 31, 1917, again on Savoy Hotel stationary, mentioning a cablegram he had sent her and what he had done that day.

Dorothy:

I sent you a brief cablegram today so you will know everything is all right with me at the beginning of the year. ... Today I walked about a bit. Saw the King’s palace, the London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral and some other buildings of historic interest. They are all screened against air raids. People talk a great deal of these raids, which occur about four or five times a year, but it is easy enough to get to protected spots when they come. ...

With love

Dad

Monday, Dec 31 - 1917

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