A romance is developing between George Townsend and Una Jones. It began on the evening train from Flinders St Melbourne to the suburb of Hawthorn (see George’s earlier correspondence posted under “Letters”).  In this letter George almost dares to tell Una what he thinks of her. Such politeness, such shyness.

28th October 1914

P.S. On looking at your letter I am more & more ashamed of my scawl, but cannot help it. “The Reasonable Boy in Brown” (I like that).
P.S.S. I have fond memories of “a Pretty Little Girl in Blue” (That is also part of a colour scheme)
P.P.S.S. Do you know what you reminded me of on Saturday morning.  The picture on the front of a book by Myrtle Reed called “Lavender and Old Lace” of a sweetly pretty girl in a flounced light blue frock (Don’t be annoyed please).

Since George Townsend’s earlier letters to Una Jones a slight familiarity has developed between them. Una Jones is the girl he met on the train. Other people have noticed their relationship. It took a tram ride to St Kilda for him to learn what others were thinking.

Kew
24th October 1914

Dear “Little Girl in the Train”

Everybody is out, and I am writing this at the Mater’s desk, with her pen, which only makes my deplorable scribble worse.
When I got home my brother said that he was going down to the St Kilda baths, so I went down and told my coach (Mr Thom) that I would not be going to Ivanhoe.
Then he asked me what train I had caught home and winked.
He then went on to tell me what he thought of me and finally said that I might have done a good deal worse.
I asked him what he meant and I found out that he had caught the same train home.
I believe I went red and looked silly, but after a short heated argument, he said that you looked “One out of a hundred”and actually had the audacity to say he liked my good taste.
Then I went for him, and the next statement he made was that you had showed rare discrimination.
I gave him up after that.
Coming home in the tram, I saw a pretty little girl in blue get in at Balaclava and, “Well it wasn’t”
My actions had attracted the attention of My Brother, who began to think he saw me in a new light.
However, I soon lulled his suspicions.
Enough of horrors.
I can’t just imagine you tracking out this afternoon, looking, well as you always look, and going about a hundred yards then getting a car-load of pure dirt in each ear and another down your neck.
I wish you joy.
(Here the inevitable headache comes on as a handy means of winding off).
Trusting to see you on Monday afternoon.

Yours Truly
Geo Townsend

P.S. If you are unable to decipher any word or words, I shall be only too happy to do so.

Una Jones has met George Townsend on the evening train from Flinders Street Station to Hawthorn. It is 1914. As well as their daily meeting on the train George has begun writing to Miss Jones. In this, his second letter to her, he mentions friends they have in common. We do not know who Heckle or Dorothy Holden are. Nor do we know what she has written to him. These letters were discovered in a building that was demolished some years ago.

23rd Oct 1914

Dear Miss Jones
(Since you would have it such) I hope you are quite well.
Heckle was quite interesting when I saw him again last night, and judging by his reports, Dorothy Holden must be somewhat after the same stamp as yourself.
Heckle states most emphatically that she is the prettiest, sweetest girl imaginable, only to meet with a contradiction from yours truly, who, I might say, has his own idea as to who would fill that particular bill.
Still, we don’t quarrell, being both more than satisfied.
I was determined to demand my … Photo last night, but my courage failed me, and now I have become reconciled to my loss.
Still, what is one’s loss is another’s gain.
I was rather surprised, however, that in the light of recent events, you did not wish for your letter back.
I feel a headache coming on so perhaps I had better stop before it gets out of my control.

Yours Truly
“Dear Mr Townsend”
(Save the Mark)

PS After seeing your handwriting I am just about ashamed of my scrawl. GT.

In 1914 Una (Prudence) Jones lived in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. Each evening she caught the 5.23pm train from Flinders Street Station to Hawthorn. On this train she met George Townsend. George, who worked at stock and station agent Goldsborough Mort & Co, took a fancy to Una and dared to write to her.

This is the first of a series of letters written to Una by one of three suitors of the time. The letters were found during the demolition of a Melbourne home some years ago. They trace a blossoming friendship and romance against the background of World War 1.

Oct 16th 1914

To “The Girl in the Train”

Dear Madam,

I am well aware of the liberty I am taking by writing to you, but I have no doubt that in the time to come, I shall be forgiven.That sounds to me a funny way to begin a letter to a person one happens to be vitally interested in, but I can only plead non-practice in the art.

Do you understand that? My trouble is that I don’t know how to write what I want to say owing, I think, to my natural modesty and shyness.(That sounds rot)

I don’t seem to be getting on very fast, so please excuse.

I saw Miss Carter this morning, and she didn’t seem so pleased to see me as she might have. The only remark she made was that “you” and I seemed to be great friends and she was so glad that everything has turned out so well, for which remark I thanked her nicely and assured her that I would do all in my power to further Our Friendship. (She smiled) …. and we parted.

May I confess? I was in error in stating that I had seen you last Sunday afternoon, but the fact of the matter is that a friend on mine did, and on meeting me went into raptures about you. Such remarks as “She looked ripping” “absolutely stunning”, were quite frequent and his whole discourse was punctuated by exclamations of delight.

Bearing in memory last Saturday afternoon, I was quite able to understand.

Excuse my ramblings, and lest I should bore you, if indeed I have not already done so, I will terminate my first - letter (are you good at guessing)

Hoping that this does not cause too much work at the Dead Letter Office.

I amYours truly

Geo Townsend

PS Is not the writing Fierce.