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11 Nov 1899, Lincoln College, Oxford

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Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/126
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are amazing, tho tragic as well. I suppose Mr Rees reads his Bible well & follows the example of its burly heroes & raises up seed unto himself as often as he can. Many less robust than he perish in the attempt & nobody regards their quiet heriosm with a weapon mightier than the sword.
I hope you are sending the rest of that money to me, for I have to pay £1.1.0 as a fee to my December Divinity exam on Monday.
My health is a little better & I have some (illegible). But I suffer from depression & loneliness. I have a craving (which might be mis-
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11.11.99
My dearest friend,
I suppose it was best that I should not come home, chiefly on account of expense. But it was a mistake of mother to say that it would have been no good, for it is the commonest thing in the world for a tutor to advise a man to be in town for two days, such is the ill repute of the Oxford climate.
However I must try and get a whole day out of doors tomorrow, with Morgan & Davies. I hope the weather will be fine. It has been very changeful lately, & the other thing
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Constant is the wind. Of course I am disappointed. I had looked forward to seeing you & my people, to improving my health, & I cannot help saying to the two nights I should have spent with you, for the flesh is very weak, & my desires are simply overpowering at times & I could almost pick up a woman of the streets if it were safe in a pedantic city like this.
Le Galliennes' note is a strange peice of writing, quite past my comprehension, except for the two elements of vanity and
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flattery patent in it.
As for Frank Lucas I didn't have 2 words with him. I should think it unlikely he was a splendid talker. His manners are easy & those of one who knows the (illegible) form well.
His beauty doesn't suit:- he is not unlike Mr Andrews, & has a mop of dull sandy hair, & the nose of a hawk.
I shall write to Ambrose & look up his brother.
I have heard nothing of a teaset from the (illegible), but congratulate you on the gift. What are they made of? Are they new? What is the pattern?
Your references to Mrs Rees

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construed) for the society of such youthful, fresh creatures as this years history scholar, a keenfaced, black haired, bright and naive boy of 18, but of course he is afraid of me, & I cannot interest him, so it is unlikely we shall get on together. Such is Oxford.
I have done no writing or reading at all this week & my notes accumulate.
Goodbye & Goodnight ! Dream of me & if you can travel to me & lie in my arms, that in dreams when I am

farthest from earth I can actually find heaven upon your breast, my own sweet little one.
I am ever & wholly yours
Edwy
Adieu.

Owner:
Cardiff University and Special Collections and Archives
Creator:
Edward Thomas
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Item uploaded:
18/2/2026
Date originally created:
11/11/1899
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