News From Egypt.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 March 1915, Page 2

News From Egypt.

' A LEVIN MAX'S LETTER. j A most interesting letter writtten to a Levin lady by one of the Levin soldiers now lighting in Egypt hu.s been handed to the Chronicle • for perusal and publication. It is so well written, and gives so graphic a description of the country and its inhabitants that wo reprint the long letter in its entiiety save for the elision ot the names of friends mentioned therein. "The World," February Ilth, lUlo. "In a previous note I explained the correct address, although since I have been given to understand that G.P.O. 'Wellington will ensure letters being forwarded. When this reaches you my "title" will have changed to "Staff •Sergeant-Major" ; that will be the only alteration. The sub-heading of this letter will 110 doubt set you wondering For the time being we have forsaken Zeitoun and Cairo, and it is laid clown that we divulge not the locality we are at the moment in. This letter j will be censored and if it roaches you more like a pianola record than a better blame the censor not me. Perhaps Miss —■ could be persuaded to try it on the piano. 1 wrote a scrappy - note in the trenches to you : since then we have shifted quarters and at the moment ale very comfortable although steadily employed. The health of all is good, . a Levin man, is 011 the sick list this morning witli some slight complaint. He is not having too good a spin. He was sometime in Abassia hospital and is now unwell again. Of course everything in a soldier's life is rough and coarse living finds out a man's weak spots. We have all been vaccinated and from the effects some have not yet recovered. Of course if a man lias kept lit throughout his days, avoided excesses and i% constitutionally strong such things as inoculation and vaccination are not likely to trouble him much. Any physical weakness is bound to develop under stress ot continued exertion and application. It seems romantic, being in New Zealand and imagining life in Egypt. We, however. have taken its wonders in small doses, and not having the keen perception possessed by women-folk are not so apt to "enthuse" over marvels of dead and gorie-liy days. Our vocation too ,does not leave much room in the mind for continued appreciation, and I am afraid wo take all Egypt and its ancient records as a matter of fact. One thing I have discovered and that ir that Rameses TI, King and Emperor I.ad 32 skulls! Of course, we had got very tired of Egypt which is the second stage of a visitation here and are entering 011 a third stage when a true appreciation of all these wonders are realised. I like Egypt and its people very much. Its climate is marvellous and the limitations of the good the country can do unbounded. Under British protection the country could ascend once more to its ancient prowess ; it won't, however, tor the reason that its mankind lias not the physical strength or virility to help it along. Should the British and Europeans settle here in large numbers then much might be done. The country mijzlit become a power to those possessing it and a valuable asset to the British community. Britain has expended much 011 the development of the natural products of the country. ' It is now wellrailed. and well watered. Its liar hours and docks are as complete as i! is possible to make them. AVitli the Suez Canal, through which passes tin. whole of the British merchant service east and west, adjacent, its commerce should make it wealthy and noted. Its opportunity has now come: it remains for Egypt to seize it. 12.-2.iry. TliLs morning the only news is that of Levin) has been ordered again to the hospital. Do not know the exact complaint but expect it is climatic change. Black ink 11111 out, so must take the Egyptian colours. The social life of Egypt wo are gradually becoming acquainted with. We have visited folks in their hollies and find them sociable and fond of home life. Some evenings we have spent in these homes have been extremely entertaining. The music ha.s been delightful : mostly Italian. The instruments are stringed—guitar, mandolin and banjo, and the music operatic. It is quite the best in the world. Usually some half a dozen instruments are available, and music Spanish or Italian opera. One could sit all day and night and listen to these artists. Of course, nearly everyone plays an instrument of some sort or sings. Tlie- pianos in most houses have a special pedal that when used turns the instrument into a stringed one when it is then used for accompanying stringed bands. Most of the girls are convent-trained, and the climate of Egypt being .dry and the air light some beautiful voices are the result. Youi rarely hear English or songs: mostly airs from operas. I heard one girl in HeliopoTts sing the "mad scene" from Hamlet with top E for a finish, and she "could" sing ft. ft astonishes and delights us—to them it- is usual. But Egypt is worth a visit for its singers. These folk, of eourse, are not bom Egyptians, but mostly French, Belgian, .Spanish. or Italian, who have made this place their adopted country. The people we were on visiting terms with were two Belgian families at Zeitoun and an Ttalian home in Heliopolis. We had music every visit and only regretted time did not permit of more. My chum, a Ceylon tea-planter, used to think himself something of an amateur. but he never would sing ill Egypt, and I do not blame him. There is so much finish, ■purity of voice, of enunciation, of articulation among the singers we heard, that any travesty would he unpardonable. Our part of these delightful evenings used to he stories of our '>wn country. Of course this Expeditionary Force is the best advertisement New Zealand ever had. Egypt is so cosmopolitan and possesses so many nationaliticfi that the Force cannot fail to advertise it. This afternoon. T referee at a football match between our company and a Greek team. Meanwhile will close and give yon news anon. 16.12.15 Quite a long while since I last wrote but have been busy with little time to spare,. Our football match was a draw, but we licked them at tennis 011 Sunday (do not be shocked). The tonnis players are poor (at tennis) and

our win was a -proportionately /large one. Tlie club ware very, nice to us and gave us a great time-"-tried to take us down first by giving ue a good feed but we were much too ihard to suffer from the effects of a'big feed. The French girls were delightful and our broken French was the cause of a great deal of joking ami laughing. The few English "Johnnies'' in the club consoled themselves by recalling that Wilding was a New Zealnndcr so that no disgrace attached to a beating from New Zealanders. Fancy being ranked with "Wilding. My mate from Levin and I formed' two of the team. Sunday is the day for sport in this particular spot that for the inoinent suffers our existence, and human-like we have fallen from grace and permitted ourselves such pleasures as come our way. Tlih cafes, the major portion, run kniemntograph s'hows as part of their establishments. On Sunday evening pnteifdmilias with mother and the chK'lref make for the cafes. Dad drinks !i<w>r — sometimes so does ma ; more often she drinks wine—the kiddies eat chocolates. All fill the cafes. Because mother is there father keeps sober and so drunkenness is unknown among the r«.sulent: folk. Tll Heliopolis, which is unite a fashionable quarter, this practice is universal; all the.host families Till their .Sunday evening in this manner. And it forms a quiet and mannerly mod© of spending the evening. The English people here are extremely hospitable. Our fellows boast that they are on visiting terms with the best •society. Fortunately, they are making good and are welcome wherever they go. I have never had the luck to have time spare for these invitations, but judging by the stories I hear the lnds are having a big time. Our Levin friend is still in the hospital. but improving 1 hear. I'm afraid a lot of mothers wouldn't know their sons now. The lot are tanned as brown as Maoris, and are heavily moustached (I cannot grow one). They look more manly ami seem to have developed physically and in .spirit. I expect you are very tired of this epistle hut am sorry for its length. Please write as often as y.on wish when you have the time as letters are always appreciated and relished. I only can hope you are well. Best regards to all of you "