DONALD GEORGE MACKINTOSH MACKAY
Known to the American Mackays as "Cousin Donald"
Exerpts from letters about the social life in summertime Blue Hill, ME
OBIT a
nd photo of Donald in here.
Cast of Family Characters: Children of Reverend Donald Sage Mackay and Helen ("Nellie") Smith Mackay: Annette, Olivia, Winifred. Stewart. Children of Annette Mackay Pyle: Eileen, Nancy, Edwin, Hugh, Julie. Olivia's ("Bo) daughter, Shelby. Dr. Edwin Pyle (Annette's husband) and Thomas Hutchinson (Winifred's husband)
Blue Hill, Maine Sunday - August, 1937
Dearest M -
I arrived here safely this evening. It is most exciting and thrilling to have reached my destination after so much traveling by boat, two cars and train. I couldn't help thinking of Uncle Donald much of the time, especially at Portland. We passed through St. Albans, by the way, enroute from Montreal. (12 The countryside in New England is for the most part very pleasant and sometimes very beautiful. One misses the big vistas and mountains in the background but the woods and the lakes were lovely.
Annette and the cousins have given me a very warm welcome and made me feel very much at home already. I motored down with Olivia and Annette. There was no one in when we arrived except Hugh who is about 12, a tubby new chap in long trousers, shy but very nice. The girls were out playing tennis but came in later. They were both tanned brown, with hair in a mop. Very American in appearance but good fun when you get to know them. Later Eddie appeared. He is about 14. Julie is the youngest - about 8. I'll tell my impressions of them later. Their attitude to their mother is very amusing! Dr. Pyle (Annette's husband) is not here but hopes to come soon.
After supper we went on a drive to Blue Hill Falls. It was a lovely drive though I was very sleepy. I slept like a top and didn't appear at breakfast til 9:30. However, it is kind of a cafeteria meal as most seem to be here.
In the afternoon, Eilen took me out sailing, They have an 18 foot boat with a mainsail, a jib sail, and we went along at a good pace. I enjoyed it immensely. Then when I got back about 5:30, Annette and Olivia and the kids were all ready to go on a picnic in the motorboat. So we set off and reached a small island about 7. Then we set off home again and had a bathe in the fresh water lake near their house. The water was warmer than the air - like a hot bath! I had forgotten my costume and was arrayed in a costume lent me by one of the ladies - a wide pair of shorts of blue and white striped cotton!
We returned about 8 o'clock and then sallied forth to a house nearby where I was introduced to my first cocktail party. We live and learn in this amazing country. The people were very nice. The man, Mr. Semier? Mr. Samueles? is a German and his wife an American, apparently an old "flame" of Cousin Donald. The cocktail stuff was absolutely foul - tasted like scent. So I made a meal of the hors d'ouvres and quietly packed the cocktail under the chair!
After that we came home to supper, after which the house was infested by hoardes of youngsters who smashed up most of the furniture. I became quite versatile in conversation, talking almost in the same breath to Gordon Curtis, the nice fellow from next door (who I think is Eileen's special boy friend) on the differences between the springing of American and British motor cars and to Annette on the place of the Church in the community!
Friday was sunny in the early morning but by the time I stirred my legs, it was clouding over. Annette had arranged to drive over to Castine, another holiday place about 20 miles or so distant, to have lunch with a friend of hers whose name I have forgotten. It was raining before we got there. The house was very beautiful, old for New England, and the people were very kind. A young American student from Harvard took me out fishing on the Penobscot River, which was rather good fun, although it was raining and we didn't catch anything.
We got rather lost on the way back and found thqt Eileen had gone off camping with friends of hers. The maid was out for the evening so we had a scrambled meal of scrambled eggs, camping out in the kitchen, And so … late to bed. I forgot to say that we went to a lecture on "England, the Unknown Isle" by Mary Chase, a local authoress of some renoun who has spent the last two years in England. it was most interesting, especially for me, as she spent most of the time contrasting English and American modes of behavior.
On Saturday morning I was wakened by Annette knocking and saying that a Mr. Keller had phoned and wanted to golf with me at 9:30. So, after a hasty breakfast, I golfed. He was an older man, a music teacher in Lawrenceville, a big boy's school. He wasn't a particularly good golfer but we had a nice round of holes.
We had a nice lunch - with boiled potatoes for the first time. Annette, Olivia and I went for a brisk 8 mile walk which I enjoyed immensely. Olivia (usually known as Bo) has a sweet wee Scottie called Angus who came with us, rather like Jersey. We came back to find four boys arrived from Waterbury to see Eileen who was still away camping! So they camped in a field at the back and came in to dinner all arrayed in white jackets!
Later we went down to the movies and met Eileen coming out. She had arrived back from their camp, having had a wonderful time. The boys had meanwhile gone up to Mineral Spings, the local dance hall, and Annette wanted us to go up as Nancy had disappeared on a date! But Eileen wasn't having any - so I guess they had to amuse themselves!
Well, that's all the news, Daddy. My warmest love to yourself and Mummy and all the family. I miss you all so much and wish you were here.
Donald Mackay
Wednesday, Aug. 26th, 1937
My dearest M -
I think it's your turn for a letter, so here goes. First of all, ever so many thanks for your lovely long letters with all their news. I saw that the "Queen Mary" and the "Cameronia" were due in New York on Thursday so I watched the mails with bated breath and sure enough your letter came this morning. Also a postcard from A. Annie.
I'm glad my first letter reached you safely. It sems so long ago now that I can hardly remember what it felt like to be seasick! Some of the party who came out with me left for home today on the "Queen Mary".
I think my last letter took my news up to Saturday, so I'll start from Sunday. Sunday was another glorious day. We set out for church at 11:30, Annette, Olivia, Julie, Shelby and I, driving down in the car, of course, although it's only 100 yards. On the outside, it's rather a pretty church with a square white steeple amongst the trees. Inside, I thought it rather plain and dull - too much like a drawing room with hideous stained walls.
The minister is a Mr. Hickland whom I had already seen at the Lecture on Friday night. He has a most unpleasant, rasping voice and although he was obviously sincere and good, he had the knack of irritating one with everything he did. The service followed a liturgy in the beginning of the hymn book, including responsive readings which were nicely done except that he had no sense of worship at all and the congregation was rather small. Then he got mixed up in the responsive reading and read out a bit which sent Annette off into giggles. Then we had a violin solo half way (beautifully played) and then the sermon, preached by a Mr. Smith of Yonkers Church New York. It was very good on the whole.
The crowning glory came at the end when Mr. Hickland announced that there would be another violin solo. The choir is at the back of the church you will remember, and he added that he was so sorry for our not being able to see the performer as he could. So he suggested that we should all turn around and watch the violinist and enjoy the performance better. So we all had to stand up and turn around. Shades of Worship! The rest of the family don't seem to go to church much, but it is not surprising really.
In the afternoon I drove Annette out to see her cousin Ruth, a Smith family connection, who is rather nice. Her brother was there too - a nice fellow of about 28 or so. It's amazing the number of people who are divorced in this country. His small daughter was with him and his ex-wife has aleady been divorced three times. Such is progress.
In the evening Stewart arrived from New York. I liked him very much. He has rather a hard face but is very interesting and good company. We get along very well.
Annette and I went down with him to Olivia's bungalow at the shore amd had a lovely supper and chat together. It was quite like old times in Aaron with the smalll room and the Aladdin lamp on the table — Annette would keep talking about the problems of divorce! But Americans seem to find no difficulty in revealing their most private affairs in public.
Later Thursday: I meant to finish this last night when I came in but had a short but sharp spasm of toothache and didn't feel like it. However, I slept well and now it's away. To resume the story…? Golf in the morning and played 15 holes before lunch. We had a swim and then I lay down on the rocks all afternoon enjoying the sunshine.
In the evening, Annette had arranged a picnic so we drove over in the motor boat with some friends to Long Island where we had a lovely picnic with "corn on the cob"of course! I'm getting to like it very much. the colourings of the hills and the sea were glorious coming home and it was almost dark when we reached the bungalow again. Later we had our usual four at bridge with Olivia and Stewart.
On Tuesday Olivia and I had our usual round of golf in the morning, 18 holes this time and in the afternoon, Annette was mercifully engaged, so Stewart and I had a peaceful afternoon at the beach, he looking after the children and I going for a row in the boat. We then built a fire and had tea ready for Annette and Olivia when they arrived. After a glorious bathe — the cove has scarcely a chill on it and they thought it cold, we had a lovely picnic tea on the beach and sat there nearly til dinner time when Eileen came in the car and drove us up. Olivia came up afterwards and as the house was quite peaceful with everyone out at the movies, we had another good game at bridge.
On Wednesday, Annette had arranged to go on a drive to Schoodic Head in the New Arcadia National Park about 40 miles to the northeast. We had planned to start about 10:30 and got away in good time, just beore 12:30! But it was a gloriously clear day and I did enjoy the drive. We had some wonderful glimpses of coast scenery, and the view from Schoodic Head, which is right out in the ocean, was grand. We had another nic lobster dinner which I enjoyed much more than last time although pursued by wasps. At night we went down to the bungalow after dinner and had another nice evening's bridge.
I feel much more at home now than I did at first, though it's difficult to get on intimate terms with the family — partly because I'm older a good deal I think and partly because their outlook is so entirely different from ours. However, they have all been extremely kind and it's been a grand holiday. i feel ever so much the better of it. Edwin arrives on Monday. I'm still toying with the idea of going back up to Canada for a few days in September but am going to Ellsworth today to find out the fares.
Now I must fly to catch the mail. My very warmest love and ever so many thanks for all your letters. See and take good care of yourself now that you're back home, and don't do too much.
Love, Donald
Saturday, September 12th, 1937
Dearest M….
You may well wonder at the strange address which heads this letter, but I don't know much more about Mattawamkeag than you do. this is being written in a tiny single room railroad station, very tumble down and dirty, with a big stove in the middle of the floor. It is wet and misty outside and generally speaking civilization seems quite far off. I am only here for an hour or two awaiting my connection to Montreal, having left Blue Hill about 2 PM today. My train is due here at 9 PM. I arrived about an hour ago, went for a walk about a mile out of the village, came back and watched the last glimmerings of the sunset on the broad Mattawankeag River from a bridge, and then in the gathering darkness, patrolled the short street of this rather scattered but not unattractive place, debating between the chice of the Mother's Restaurant, Bishop's Restaurant or the Real Thing. The latter made no pretense of being a "pub", so I plumped for it and got two very nice sandwiches and some coffee, all for the modest sum of 25 cents, Now I am back in the rail station, whiling away the hour writing you, waiting for my train which taks me into Montreal at 7 AM tomorrow.
Well, to go back and give the news. Again so much it seems too have happened this week that it's hard even to remember. First, of course, thanks ever so for your letters which came in a bunch on Tuesday, evidently on the Queen Mary. I was very thrilled as I got three - two from yourself, dates 28 and 30 August and one from Glasgow from Daddy. It was tremendousy interesting to hear of your holiday. Carradale seems to have been a happy choice. I'm so glad you are keeping better and more like yourself. Do be careful! Dr. Pyle was most interested in your case and says it's always a slow business. Rest is the only cure. i was so sorry to hear of Helen's mishap. she must have got an awful fight. I can sympathize fully with her as I got a mild sting once, you remember, at Whiting Bay.
I'm glad the car was such a success. i was afraid it might break down altogether without my skilled attention! I wasn't surprised to hear that Norman had gone into the ditch twice in the first mile. I never did think much of his driving abilities! However, maybe he'll learn. You will be all settled down for the winter now in Glasgow with holidays over for a while.
Well, as to my news. I think my last letter was posted on Monday just after Winifred arrived, so I'll start there. I'm now safely aboard the train enroute for Montreal at last! It is a tribute to the C.P.R. that I can write at all on this reailway carriage but please excuse the writing.
Winifred has been tremendously good fun and is awfully nice.In fact, some xxx pretty but is handsome, dark with the usual long Mackay nose, sharp features and a twinkle to her eyes. She has developed quite a western accnt and is altogether most entertaining. She also asks very warmly for you all.
I didn't quite know what we did on Monday — it was rather dull and threatening weather, but the day passed in swapping notes and stories with Winifred. Her two children are most attractive — especially Bill who is David's age and quite like him except in accent. They would be a scream together.
Winifred was the only one who could make much fun out of Edwin, Annette's husband, who was in rather a surly mood all week. He's an awfully nice man, thoroughly dependable and capable, but he evidently has very little time for Blue Hill, and most of the mealtimes were spent by him criticizing the food and Annette's management of the house and children — which, as you can imagine, was rather awkward for outsiders. Also, he and the Stewart-Olivia side get on about as well as oil and water. The children evidently regard him with awe — Hughie being the only one to treat him with any degree of familiarity,
Then trouble developed over Eileen wanting to go home on Wednesday with her boy friend in his sports car. Edwin refused to let her at first, but after, caved in with rather bad grace. It's a pity he adopts this kind of attitude to the family because he's very nice when you get him by himself, With these rows — Winifred and Tom's sudden arrival — and getting the children off — as well as rows in the kitchen between maids, poor Annette has had a most hectic week!
Tuesday was a lovely day — so Winifred and Olivia and I went out for a golf. Winifred is quite good though it took her a little to get used to the short course. Afterwards we went for a picnic in the motor boat to a little island out in the bay and had a bathe. Then when we were about to go, we found that Billy had left his shoes down at the edge of the water and the tide had come far in and covered them. So I gallantly waded in, trousers (an old pair I had borrowed from Stewart) and all, up to my middle but could find no sign of them. It reminded me of the time I lost my one shoe at Corrie Crowie!
Wednesday was rather hot and sticky, but we had our usual round of golf in the morning. Annette and I went in to Ellsworth in the afternoon and did some messages and then back in time to go out in the motor boat and fish with Edwin. He had made elaborate preparations, digging dozens of clams, chopping a lot of them up as chum and throwing it overboard to attract mackerel. It was sultry looking as we atarted and very warm. Edwun chaffed me for taking two extra sweaters in addition to my golf jacket, but we had no sooner started than the wind blew up and it got cold. So I had to give them to the kids who had none! We fished for two hours, the last half hour being pouring raim with thunder and lightening and caught three fish — two mackerel and a very small codling (the latter mine!). Then back, where Olivia had some warm drinks waiting, which were very welcome!
I had thought of leaving next day but developed rather a heavy cold. so I took two aspirin and had a long sleep on Wednesday night and delayed my departure. Left Friday.
Annette brought me breakfast in bed next morning and a little later Winifred appeared - and Tom, her husband who had just arrived unexpectedly, having flown from Oregon to Boston in 18 hours. I like him immensely. He is very tall and quiet. Quite good looking though his looks hve been spoiled a bit by an operation fo a bain tumor some years ago (quite successful) which has left a scar beside his ear and killed his facial muscles so that his mouth slips sideways a bit when he speaks, but it looks like a kind of wry smile and is quite attractive. He is a typical Westerner, straighforward and genuine, and he and Winifed seem to get along very well together, although they are quite opposite in temperament. He is in the lumbr trade in Newport, Oregon and owns a small mill there.
We all went for a walk later and he spent most of the time either in raptures over New England houses (which evidently are palaces compared to the Western shacks!) or pointing out the different kinds of trees and where lumbering had been done. I slept for a bit in the afternoon and then came down for Julie's birthday party. (I gave her a paint box and she got a Mickey Mouse wach from Annette.) Afterwards we went across to the house next door where Olivia is now. They own it and had leased it to the Curtis family who moved out on Wednesday morning. We had a lovely dinner together and then played bridge and 500 until bed time. My cold was almost away but I took another aspirin to put it away.
Friday was quite sunny but rather humid and sticky. I went over to Ellsworth early with my trunk in the Ford, Edwin blowing me over with some luggage of his. We got back by 10 AM and then spent an hour or so carrying dinghies and canoes up fom the shore to the storage shed beside the bungalow, which was quite hard work!
Edwin was leaving at mid day with the family (except Anette and Julie) so we had an early lunch and got them safely off. There were momentary signs of a storm when he found that Nancy had gone off for a farewell lunch with her boyfiends, but she appeared at the right time, and all was well!
I was to set off on my trip that afternoon though as you will see, Fate and my stupidity ruled otherwise.* My train was 3:30 from Bangor and by 2 we were well on our way to Bangor in the Buick. We dropped Winifred and Tom off at Ellsworth Falls to see a lumber station, and Annette and I went on to Bangor, which we reached in good time. i got my ticket and checked my bag through to Meltawankeag. Then I came back to the car and said goodbye to Annette and to Olivia and Stewart who had come over in Olivia's car which they had turned into a garage for repairs.
They drove off and then the catastrophe! I remembered that I'd left my raincoat and camera in the car. For a moment I dashed round the station looking for a taxi to chase them but of course couldn't find one when I wanted it. By this time it was too late as it was only 15 minutes til the one and only train per day, so I resigned myself to the loss of raincoat and camera unless Stewart happened to notice it. Then the horrible thought struck me! My passport was in my raincoat pocket — so I couldn't go. There was nothing to do but gnash my teeth and save my sanity by playing bagatello in the station a cent at a time. I phoned the lumber station and put a message through to Winifred and Tom. it was a mercy they were there as the party had intended going straight from Bangor to Bar Harbor for dinner! The reply was long overdue in coming back and I had to hang about for an hour beside the call box. Eventually it came when I had almost given up hope. It worked out that Annette had run out of petrol.
So back they came and back I had to go, through mist, with Winifred driving (a real experience!) to Blue Hill. In a way I scored as we had a delicious dinner at the "Vanity Fair" in Surry where Winifred stood us, with Chicken Newburg and blueberry pie! Sleeping last night was quite a problem with no pyjamas, etc.!
Today was wet and misty. We went on a walk in the morning and then set off after lunch. I caught the train in good time and had a pleasant journey from Bangor about 60 miles to Mallawanteag, up the banks of the broad, smooth-flowing Penobscot River, Tomorrow I go to Ottawa and then via Toronto to this conference, leaving there Friday morning to return by Niagara, Albany and the Hudson River.
My warmest love to you all and especially to your dear self. i enclose 2 maple leaves. The woods are already ablaze with red — a glorious sight!
Love to all,
Donald
* Maybe losing things is a common trait to all families, but this episode was particularly poignant to me, because my father, Professor Donald Sage Mackay, suffered from the anguish of losing things, forgetting appointments, etc. The absent-minded professor jokes certainly fit him. He would rage around like a character in Greek drama calling himself stupid and suffering horrible guilt.
Letters Home to Scotland from Donald George Mackintosh Mackay
August/September 1937
Visit to Blue Hill, Maine
