Lansdowne Crescent, Worcester
January 25th, 1907

Dear Harold,

It has been nearly six weeks since I heard from you, and then it was a letter of such coldness. I know that if all had gone according to plan, we would have been married and en route back to Malaya. Can you not accept that it was not the right time for us? Cannot you give me the benefit of knowing that I am not rejecting you – only asking you to wait for one year, while I fulfil my very important promise to my parents?

Our social life in the Guildhall started out rather spectacularly. We had the Mayoral Ball at the Guildhall on January 14th, followed by the Fancy Dress Ball on the 16th. Both went surprisingly well, and were enjoyed by all.

Father then decided to flaunt convention and have a party, which he said was mostly for me, at the Guildhall on Saturday January 19th. He invited all my friends and made it much more light hearted. The newspaper reported that ‘Surprise must have been felt by the absence of members of the corporation and a predominance of the younger generation. More of a dance for his daughter than an official function, red baize covered the wide staircase. Rugs were laid on each landing – and chairs were grouped. At the foot of the stair a palm was surrounded by a cluster of plants. In the window were shrubs and creepers, sweet mimosa and orchid. In the Assembly room there were more plants. The Front Hall and the supper room were decked with white and yellow narcissi and mimosa.’

Names that you will recognise amongst those at the dance were Mr. and Mrs. J.C.R. Day, Mr. R. and Miss Needham, Mr. and Mrs. E. Needham, Mr. A. Needham, Mrs. and Mr. T. Stinton, Mr. F. and Miss Tree.

The dancing was glorious – a mixture of polka, valse, 2 step, lancers, and John Peel. For one of the waltzes we had the music from Chinese Honeymoon, the musical of which you may remember that May and I and also Charlotte and Dot went to with your brother John in London in 1901 – five long years ago – before we were sweethearts. I so wish that you had been at the dance with me. Father was hoping to cheer me up, as I have been very depressed by your continual silence.

Then on the following Wednesday evening, Father organised a Children’s Fancy Dress Ball in the assembly room. He and mother stood at one end, and the children in lines of 4 came forward to be presented, curtsied or bowed to them, then separated in twos, and went around the outskirts of the hall again. The children were delightful in their costumes. Those of us who were helpers wore Georgian fashions with our hair powdered and styled as they did then. The children were dressed as Dick Whittington, Heralds, Spanish matadors, Cavaliers, Japanese Geishas, Indians, Hiawatha etc.

You might like to know that Master Bob Day dressed as Tommy Atkins. Miss Elgar was a Normandy Peasant. Master William Needham was Pierreaux, Master Tree was an Old English gentlemen, Betty Webb was an Early Victorian and Miss Williams was Margarite.

Our list of activities seems endless. Mother is so grateful for me standing with her for support. She has her first ‘At Home’ as Mayoress on Tuesday next from 3-6 and needless to say I will be with her.

We are also going to attend Cinderella at the Worcester Theatre – a pantomime which has been very successful this year.

As far as political things go, Father did me one real favour in return for my help. He has got the council to agree to set up a committee in connection with the Women’s Suffrage issue. On the committee are the Bishop of Birmingham, The Countess of Carlisle, Mr. Israel Sandwell, Mr. Richard Whiting and the Hon. Mrs. Arthur Lyttleton.

No matter how exciting all this is I only want a letter from you telling me you still love me. Perhaps you can just send me a quote, if nothing else. Mine for you to identify is this, The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.

Much love from Muriel

*****

30th January 1907
Lahat, Perak

Dear Muriel,

Of course I still want to marry you. I can’t pretend that I am not still hurting and thinking that you have not been fair to me, but I am trying to understand how your sense of responsibility for your mother’s welfare in particular has influenced your decision.

I find it hard to think of things to write just at the moment. I wish you well with your various official activities. I am pleased that you are keeping in contact with my family.

I have been working hard, as usual, and there is in the air a promise of a promotion and a new venue for my work if this year continues to be as successful as the past ones have been.

I see you have been borrowing from Chesterton again, knowing that I couldn’t resist.

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.

Love,

Harold

*****

20th February, 1907
Lansdowne Crescent

Dearest one,

Oh Herold, how wonderful to hear from you, even though you sound as if you have not completely forgiven me. But you do say you love me still and still want to marry me. I have so longed to hear those words. I can now continue with my work this year with a lighter step, knowing that I haven’t thrown away the best thing that has even happened to me – being a partner with you.

And I did recognise the Chesterton, you quoted, and agree with the sentiment. And I know that you are still questioning the rightness of my decision, but I feel in my heart that I have done the right thing. Only time will tell.

The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums.

On the social side, this week has had the Worcester Choral society concert, which was poorly attended for some reason, but was excellent all the same.

Father and Mother and I gave prizes at Holy Trinity last Wednesday, at the Infant School and it was such fun seeing the little children in awe of the Mayor in his fancy robes. Father told them about how he had a special feeling for this school as he had been involved in raising funds for its building some years ago.

I am very sorry to have to report that Mr. William Elgar died on the 12th of January, but he was aged 84, so he had a very full and long life. I went with Father to his funeral.

Do you still want me to tell you some bits of newsworthy happenings that don’t directly relate to the Mayor of Worcester and his family?

I will go back to what happened in January. In France, a new Darracq racing motor car achieved a speed of 108 miles per hour. Can you believe that anything could go so fast?

In Berlin, Isadora Duncan was forbidden to dance in public. Also in Germany, the Zeppelin LZ 2 airship was destroyed in a gale.

Please tell me more about Ipoh and Malaya in general, and what happens there especially the medical care.

Much love,

Muriel