Letter from Dora Giffen to her brother John Willard Giffen, March 13, 1922

34 Geziret Badran,
Shubra, Cairo.
Mon., March 13, ‘22

Dear Willard:
Many Happy Returns of the “twenty ninth.” And so you will be twenty three when this reaches you; but I don't think that is old period a person is a mere youth at twenty three. But just wait until you get to be twenty five. Why! I am old enough to be in my second childhood now, - that is the only way to explain why I feel that I know less now than I did on March 29, 1906.

I went to see Rev. A.A. Thopmson and family (there are four children) off on their way to America last Saturday noon and it reminded me somewhat of a departure from Cairo sixteen years ago. You will likely be seeing at least a part of the Thompson family before long. I had hoped to call on them before they left, but I have been busy and they have been busy, so I made going to the train do. They take my “best” to you all.

Avis, Clarice, and I were very much interested in a newspaper clipping which John Lyons (Avis's friend who was in N.Y. to see us(?) off) sent to Avis. It told about a fearful trip from London to N.Y. which our old “Pannonia” made. It left London Jan. 15th last, I think it was, and encountered four terrible storms, which almost tore the boat to pieces, but after about six weeks out it finally reached N.Y. No passengers were on board, only a crew of eighty some men and its cargo. We recognize some of the names mentioned, especially that of our nice old Captain Grunow. You know that during the war of vessel that Captain Grunow had charge of stuck a mine and went down and Captain G. floated around unconscious in the wreckage of his boat for over twenty four hours before he was picked up by a passing vessel. Captain G. was too modest to ever tell us that story himself, although he did tell us that one of “his” ships had been destroyed by a mine during the War. Many of the crew which were on the Pannonia, when we came across the Atlantic, could have told the most blood-curdling stories of things that had happened to them during the War (so some of our party said), but they could very seldom be prevailed upon to say anything about those things.

There are hundreds of tourists here in Egypt now, - there may be well on to a thousand, if reports are true, - and from the number we meet on the street most of the thousand seem to be in Cairo. They are all Americans and some of them are the “poorest excuse.” Others show a little bringing up. Some of them act as if they own the world, while “the world” is laughing side splitting laughter at their foolish mistakes and silly airs. I'm glad I am an American but not an American tourist.

Some of the tourists (a very few) are friends of the mission. Last Thursday at prayermeeting I met a cousin of Mrs. Hoyman’s from Wilkinsburg, Pa., who was a very good friend of Betty Minteer _____’s, I found out in the course of our conversation. She will very likely be at our house for dinner some night this week. Last Wed. nite Rev. Paul Calhoun, whom you know; if you have not forgotten (He conducted special meetings in M.C. one year), was at our house for supper. He had arrived in Cairo the day before he was here. He is pastor of a church in Omaha, Neb., of which Constance Garrett, one of our new missionaries, was and is still a member. He led prayermeeting Thurs. night, then went on up country on Fri., and will only be in Cairo a day or two on his way back to Alex. Thursday after dinner as I was wending my way down to Khroonfish, Mr. Atchison, Mr. Calhoun, 2) and Mr. Reed Shields (from the Sudan, who went home on the same boat with the Thompsons) picked me up and took me a little ways in their carriage. They were then on their way to see the Azhar University but Mr. Atchison said later that they did not get in, for the attitude of the students there in now such that the police will not guarantee the life of any stranger who enters. The students in the Azhar were on a strike not long ago and the strike may still be on, for all I know. They are strong nationalists. Once a body of “sherjuck” (sheiks) secured a room in the American University for a literary meeting and held a political meeting instead. Therefore when they asked to hold another meeting in the university a week ago, they were refused permission, but they went on and announced it as being there anyway; and when I was leaving the Univ. on the afternoon that the second meeting was to be held, the Egyptian police had just spotted them trying to hold a meeting in one of the buildings of the “War Office” (or department) just across the street from the University; so of course they were asked to leave, and leaving just as I did, you might have taken me for the most rabid of Nationalists, had you been there, judging from the company I was keeping.

My watch says it is supper time. When I was on my trip up-country I let my watch fall and shortly after it, it stopped running. Last week (I had neglected to do it before) I took it to the jewellers and he found something bent and fixed it so now it is running just as well as it ever did.

Supper is over. I must hurry and get this finished, then do some studying before going to bed.

Mother’s letter which came last Thurs was written on Feb. 15, and said nothing about Mrs. Reed's death; but one which Miss Thompson rec’d from Miss Anna McConaghy, written on Feb. 18 and rec’d in the same mail, explained matters. Miss Anna Y. passed Miss. McC’s letter around and in it she mentioned you all. Please remember me to her when you see her. She also mentioned the fact that John Ballantyne won the State Oratorical Contest. Hip! Hip! Hooray!! I rec’d two B&Ms. Last week, - of Feb. 8 and 15.

Aunt Elizabeth saw me at church on Mother's birthday and told me to send Mother lots of love for her. Also Miss Buchanan sends love to her again (I rode home from prayermeeting with Miss B. last Thurs. nite.) I think that Uncle Johns will probably stay in Egypt for another year. Uncle John himself will not be satisfied as long as he stays here, I am afraid, but he sees that it will be best for Aunt Elizabeth to stay. I wish Uncle John did not feel himself to be a drag on the Mission, for he is far from being that. I also wish that Dr. Alexander could manifest a Christian spirit once in a while. Nufced, except that he still tries to run the Mission and that he tried to get Rev. Kruidenier moved to Alexandria to get him out of his way in Cairo. But sh sh!

Dr. Zwemer usually has a good-sized Egyptian audience when he preaches on Sabbath evenings. He said something in his sermon three or four weeks ago at which some of the Egyptians took offence and we have been hearing quite a good deal about it from the Egyptians since then. One has to be careful not to say things that might give offense, for the people are pretty touchy these days; otherwise things are going along with their accustomed smoothness. We hear of more trouble breaking out in India these days.

I was sorry to hear that Mother and 3) Martin had the “flu.” Hope Father and Willard escaped entirely and that Mother and Martin escaped any bad affects afterwards.

Mrs. Coventry will be able to go to her school for a little while tomorrow. Last sat. was our “at home” day and she stayed in with the guests all of the afternoon. We did not have as many callers as we do sometimes, but we have too many sometimes. Assis Ishaq and Sitt Fardos were there. We do enjoy them and I think perhaps they enjoy coming.

Miss Criswell from the P.M.I. is in Assiut Hospital with something like typhoid. Poor woman! She has been having her hands very full this year. Sitt Urania got obstreperous, they dismissed her, and as a result they have had one or two (court cases) law suits filed against them; and Sitt Urania has been trying to run an opposition school. At any rate and at all costs they are glad to be rid of her.

Mark Roy held special meetings at the Girls’ College all last week, so, while he was here we entertained him to dinner last sat. Noon. Saturday morning I bought myself a new summer hat. I am going to wear my old one for school but I just had to have a new one for good. I went by myself to buy it. I first went to a little milliner's store which Sara recommends and upon entering the door whom should I see but Cousin Margaret G. Russell and Mrs. fFank Henry. They were getting Cousin Margaret a hat, so helped me to choose mine. Cousin M. came down last Wed. and is staying until Sat. of this week at Mrs. Frank Henry's, getting some sewing and shopping done. Mrs. Henry asked me to stop off at their house on my way home from Khroonfish on Sabbath and take dinner with them, which I did, and then stayed all afternoon (until church time), when they offered me a bed to rest on. When I was lying down Mrs. Henry and Edna Giffen, who was staying over Sab. there, refixed my hat; and thereby hangs a tale. - I was tired when I got home from shopping last Sat., so that may explain why I was so perfectly disgusted with my new hat when I got it home, while I had liked it so well in the store. After dinner Saturday I got to work and refixed the lace that was on the hat (it is a small hat) and thought I liked it better for a time, and then decided I didn't. Mrs. Henry thought she decidedly didn't, so she remedied it by taking a few minutes off of her afternoon nap for remedying it while she had possession of the hat, and I am just as well satisfied that she did.

I was at Uncle John's for supper Saturday night. Cousin Margaret was there; also Mrs. Henry and Edna, Eileen, and Bobbie. Mr. Henry is away. Edna Henry is a big girl, thirteen years old. They are all nice-looking and very nice.

For the last two sabbaths I have been teaching a class of women in the Khroonfish Sabbath School. I have enjoyed them very much altho I cannot say much for my teaching.

I went down to visit the little school there for an hour this morning and listened to the Arithmetic classes. Some are doing very well and others are not. Thirty six is really more than the teacher there can handle, altho when it comes to order she is a good disciplinarian.

I have not played much on my violin this year. Martha Glass and I played a little last Friday night. It was the first Martha had played for me. We hope to get around to the “Festival” music some time but not this week. For me there is Tea at the English Residency (Lady Allenby’s) tomorrow; a trip to the Muski., Wed; Tea at Uncle Johns on Thurs. to meet an English lady, Mrs. Dr. Grant who used to be a good friend of Mother’s in Cairo; and Tea at Mrs. Birbari’s on Fri. in honor of Cousin Margaret Russell. Cousin Margaret is going to take some little thing home to you all for me, - just some little things to let you know I think of you often.

Birthday love and kisses from Dora.

P.S. I can think of nothing I want sent out, except perhaps shoes. In my next letter I will try and let Mother know more definitely. - I attended a representation of the Good Samaritan given by the boys of the C.M.S. School in Old Cairo last Friday afternoon. It was very well given. Love Dora.