I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Thomas Hancock Nunn.

P.S. Going as the guest of the Club, your son could manage on a pound or so just for odd meals etc., for

which the Club might not have contracted beforehand. If you care to see me about it, and care to call at

Toynbee Hall between 7 and 8 on Monday, I shall be glad to see you. That or come up here to supper

tomorrow evening at 8.30.

I approached the Oversight of the leather workers where I was employed, for permission to take the three weeks

off that the expedition entailed, but was met with the objection `such opportunities do no good to such as you, and

your place will not be kept open if you take the time off'. My immediate reaction was `I can get work at any time,

but I shall never get an opportunity like this again'. When I returned, my place was still open, all was forgotten, and

when two years later I wished for time to go on a similar trip to Florence, this time paying my own expenses as a full

member, the request was readily granted.

I shall never forget the thrill of standing for the first time on foreign soil, reading foreign advertisements and

drinking in all the sights and sounds of such a venture. Our itinerary called for a stop at Lucerne, and Milan on the

way out and after staying for eleven days in Venice, stayed at Verona and Lugano on the homeward journey.

I asked myself `what can I do to show my gratitude?' and answered it myself by saying `I believe I shall say

"thank you" best, by enjoying every minute to the full', and so it seems did all concerned. As my birthday falls on

April 25th, I had my 20th birthday in Italy. I had naturally never set foot in a hotel in my life, and dinner of many

courses had never come my way, but no foolish shyness or thrusting forwardness marred the happiness of a never to

be forgotten experience. I read, before leaving, Ruskin's Stones of Venice and thrilled to stand on the little island of

Torcello, and read over again the chapter dealing with the humble origin of Venice. Again, no spiritual blessing