Icons & Visionaries
Wallis Simpson
Sacrifice is a word used too often. When King Edward VIII of England gave up his throne in 1937 to marry Wallis Simpson, a woman still married and already once divorced, he brought new meaning to the word sacrifice. For her part, Simpson was ready to also sacrifice her love for Edward so he could remain on the throne. The pair instead married and Edward, then the Duke of Windsor, moved to the Bahamas as Governor where this letter from Wallis to a correspondent named Jack was written.
October 17th
Dear Jack,
I thought I had told you of each shipment of the delicious smoked trout. I am sure all that arrived safely. The very last shipment from Filsen. The queer seedless
brandied cherries are delicious and in perfect condition – we drank for health as well as the “birthday child’s” – and Jack while on the subject of delicacies do not forget to see if you can get me more of that heavenly smoked trout you once sent – and put them on my account and please send to Lewis.
You of course
know of the awful fire that occurred the night after our arrival – in which the Port was burned to the ground along with 14 ships. I have been busy finding us a new home and reorganizing we only opened for actual work today. Marshall was so active fighting the fire that he injured his back and is
only up now and limping.
The whole of the Rogers visit was us reliant his assistance which was hard on me and I immediately had quite a “PO” of the ulcer pain. This island is jammed and we suffer from shortages of things due to boat service. Soon it will be real war life and a good thing it will
be for those who seem blind to the fact of war.
Mr. Leere who had a dairy on Nassau there and supplied us exclusively with milk is out of the picture at this crucial stage all his cows have a disease so I think I will be “keine” some time. Letters and parcels take ages and the latter are best sent to Mader and Saunders Terminal Port C Miami
addressed to H.R.H. care of that firm we find that the quickest sorting.
The heat has been worse and I really despair of being left here another summer, but England even in war is determined that the Duke shall never have a decent job – so what can we do but grin and bear it as long as this beastly conflict continues.
When this school opens this place will be packed and our hands full to take care of such as our remember.
Well Jack write me fair news and opinions.
Affectionately,
Wallis
