AN AIRMAN'S LOVE LETTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 159, 25 March 1918, Page 3

AN AIRMAN'S LOVE LETTERS

THE J3QOK OF THE HOUR. The air, which has provided so much that is sensational lit warfare, lias now, not surprisingly perhaps, provided a literary sensation. Already semis of our airmen have recorded fragmentnrily in verso their impressions of tho ecstasy of flight, of the earth as seen fiom the sky, and of bomb-dropping on towns, but it lias remained i'or tho authors—of "An Airman's Wife" (London: Herbert Jenkins , ; 55.) to piovido us with a calm, deliberate, impersonal record of the pilot's work at tho front day by day—his patrols over the enemy lines on tho hunt for "Huns," his encounters with them at altitudes which make one dizzy merely to think about; his development of new tricks—''stunts" of all sorts, "spins" for thousands of feet, "Imnwlmanr. turns," and other mysterious devices— to outwit the enemy. Though the book is published an-non-ymously, it is betraying no seo-et, wo believe, to state that the letterß wore written to his wife by Captain AYilliam Bond, M.C., formerly ii member of the literary staff of the Continental "Daily .Mail," who was killed while flying on the Western front. The most interesting thing about the. letters is Hie detached, purely professional way in which they relate the putting out of action of a fellownrtist and tho death or disappearance of a flight companion. Here is a typical extract crystallising both erents:

This morning just before we got to tlie lines there was a big scrap in which our "trifiehounas" —as . the facetious call the triplanes— got two Huns and our two-seaters got one, but two of ours were missing. There is no elation over the .bringing down of an adversary; merely the proper pride of the artist in work well done. Due praisn is given to tho opponent for his "stunts" and subterfuges. Indeed, the story is told of one of our men, a celebrated "Air Hog" (a pilot with a craving for a record "bag" of Huns), who found liiinaelf in the nir in a light "agninst some Boclie stunt pilots, and had to skip the fight to watch them stunting." Every day our young airman wrote to his young wife in England—short letters, which, while being model records of his day's work iii the air, are no less perfect as love letters. Always he ends with a message of devotion which is entirely convincing: Darling Wife,—l have t>o many aweet souvenirs , of you in my mind. I am loving you just all the time. Again: A strain! My darling, even if it were ... but it is a delight. It is wonderful to feel that I am making someone happy, because I was afraid I might never be able to do that.' It is lovely to know I can—and yet it is so little I do. No less interesting are the comments of the young wife, who passionately adores him, on the various letters. Indeed, it is «asy to imagine, that for some people these, in their frank—even intimate—analysis of her emotions will provide the chief, interest in the book. Certainly nothing that has appeared for a long time gives anything like an equal impression of young love at its flood tide of emotion. Possibly the airman, as he. is the super-sportsmau, may also be the super-lover. . Always fe?,r is with the wife, and inevitably there comes the (lay when his letters fnil to arrive. For airman is missing. For a time she , hopes against hope, and at length the news of his death is confirmed. But she ends on a note of hope: You are God now. for your human body has released your spirit that is one with the great Spirit. of Love. And his voice answers: Let your love, your happy love, reveal that we who are dead are living with you all, all the while. . . . Just cany on. . . . We'll see you through. —L.R.M., in the "Daily Mail." The monthly reunion of mothers of soldiers and sailors is to he held in the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon. I At the Cltristchurch Public Library Miss Blackett, who is leaving to take up an appointment as librarian to the Wangavrai Council, was presented with a gold bracelet by Mr. C. H. Opie, on behalf of the members of the board, and from the staff she received a gold wristlet watch at a farewell supper that was given in her honour. From the library subscribers she received a gold-mounted fountain pen. The marriage took place on Friday in St. Matthew's Church, Masterton. of Mr. A. It. Elcock to Miss GwendolineMary Houlbrooke, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Houlbrooke,- of Tirauniea. Mrs. B. A. Browning (Melbourne) and her daughter Elsie are visiting New Zealand, where they intend remaining for about three months. They are staying with a relative in the South Island, in the hope that the change will benefit Mrs. Browning's health. The weekly dance for soldiers was held in the Town Hall on Saturdav evoning, and was very well attended. The arrangements were, as usual, carried out by tho Entertainment Committee, and a very pleasant evening was passed by those present. On Thursday evening the memhers of St. Francis. Church Choir, Islaud Bay, paid a surprise visit to their lute organist, who is leaving the district. On behalf of the choir. Mr. A. V. Dsillow made a suitable presentation, iind referred to tho good work Mrs. Eliott had done as organist for the last four .years. The rest of Lhe evening ".vast enjoyably spent with musical and instrumental items, followed by suppe; , . Three hearty cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Eliott and family concluded a very pleasant eve'uing.

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