The Hostel, Christ College, Brecon
Dec 14th 1902
My dear Father and Mother
I think I will write a joint letter to wish you many happy returns of the anniversary of your wedding-day; I hope the clock we are all giving you will prove a good one. I hope you got my wire last night, I didn’t hear from Cambridge till after 7.0.
I quite expected that result so was not surprised. I shall start for Oxford at 10.30 tomorrow and shall have a companion with me, James, who is entering for History at Jesus Coll. I have got rooms reserved for me in coll. And the total charge per day will be about 5/- or 6/- for board and lodging; there will also be a tip expected by the scout. I don’t know when the exam ends but I think it does on Friday afternoon, so if Father gets me a ticket for Oxford, and gives me £2 I think that will quite cover expenses, or I can keep an account. I shall get a little dinner in Worcester tomorrow as I have to wait nearly an hour, I shall bring all my boxes with me to Evesham at 3.7.
They are all very decent here about my failure to get anything and seem quite as sorry as I am; I think I have to enter either for an open or closed schol at Oxford, so shall enter for the latter if only one is admissible. I shall find out all about it when I see the Principal.
I had a day’s skating on Wednesday, borrowing a pair of skates, but the ice is all gone now. Last night I went to the School House supper and had to reply to the toasts of the School and the Cadet Corps, I also contributed a song; the supper was very successful. I am glad it was held before I had to go away again. I haven’t done much work this week, as it is hard to settle down to work for four or five days only, and one doesn’t get much benefit from it; I was busy with the Breconian, which was issued yesterday. Hoping you will have a nice day tomorrow, with love to all
I remain
your loving son
Arthur F. S. Sladden
P.S. Has the question of the [dance] been settled?
