Dear Mr. McQuesten:

Your Christmas card was forwarded to us from Toronto-many thanks indeed. I seem to be a long time in replying. Unfortunately, however, just two days after Christmas I suffered my second paralysis, and as a consequence have been fairly quiet throughout the winter. Slow recovery is one that must be expected after one of these affairs, but I am getting back to form again, and I hope by the time I return to Toronto to be much improved. The principal trouble has been impediment in speech. The Doctors here say this is bound to improve with time--which is proving to be the case.

We expect to make the trip home by slow degrees, and had in mind as a matter of fact reaching Niagara Falls some time around 25th or 26th of April, as our six months permit expires about that date.

If you happen to see our friend Kaumeyer, you might ask him if the room in the tower will be occupied at that time, as Mrs. Smith and I might spend a few days there while waiting for the tenants to leave our house in Toronto. If, however, the room is not available, my thought would be to go over to the General Brock, so that we are almost certain to be taken care of in any case. Please do not let my request interfere with any plans that have been made.¹

I have heard nothing further since I left Toronto as to the health of our friend Dr. Leslie, and I trust he is quite himself again. This also applies to many others of his type that we know in Hamilton.² I was sorry indeed to see by the press that Bill Morrison had passed on. I can quite realize what a jolt this would be to you.

Please remember us to your family, Miss Yorston,³ and any others who would be interested.

Kindest personal regards,

Sincerely, Mel [Smith]

¹ SEE W-MCP7-1.128 for a note about this request. This may be a comment abour Dr. Norman Leslie's condtion after serving as a surgeon in WW1.

² Dr. Leslie is likely Tom's friend, Dr. Norman Leslie, who had been an army surgeon in WWI. "Of his type" may be referring to some effect from his war service. Following is a list of some of the letters (in our archive) from Dr. Norman Leslie to his friend Thomas Baker McQuesten about his war service in WWI from 1914 to 1918. The letters begin on the ship going over to England and continue through his service there and as surgeon in France in the trenches, which he describes graphically. For the full list see:
W-MCP6-1.448
W-MCP6-1.449
W-MCP6-1.452
W-MCP6-1.454
W-MCP6-1.456
W-MCP6-1.457a
W-MCP6-1.457b
W-MCP6-1.458
W-MCP6-1.461
W-MCP6-1.462
W-MCP6-1.465
Box 14-018
Box 14-040
W-MCP6-1.473
W-MCP6-1.474
W-MCP7-1.129
W-MCP7-1.099

³ Miss Yorston was Tom's secretary for many years, in Hamilton and at Queen's Park.