Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, no date – approx. 1911

[Note at the top of the first page]

You will have to excuse my penmanship.  I over write myself when I get hold of a pen.  I cannot make it travel fast enough to convey my thoughts.

14 Oakleigh Park Drive, Leigh on Sea E

Dear Fred,

You will be pleased to know that your letter + handsome enclosure came as an absolute God-send.  I was just about on my beam ends – I did not lose my position with the Oliver Coy and there were no contributory reasons for me not being there now as far as hard work and a very hard man who came into the coy 5 years ago + took up the position of Treasurer (His Mother having put £1,000 into the business) are concerned.  He is a Welsh socialist + has spent most of his time in Indian + knew nothing whatever about the business.  The first thing he did was to try + learn + his (after a time) objective victim next was Mr Harding our then General Manager who was drawing too much salary – sic- I was at this time responsible for the Railways + Gov’t offices + Depts + of course felt uncomfortable too.  At any rate he managed to get rid of Mr Harding.  But he lost his head + no doubt there were contributory reasons for his going.  The next blow I had was about two years ago when another £1000 of Davies’ money went into the concern + a buying agent from India came home bankrupt + (the man) Davies put him on my beautiful Railway a/cs so that he could deduct £1 a week from his retainer towards the liquidation of his debt.

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Now, of course, there was nothing left for me but the Gov’t Depts which I pursued with a finish that even surprised myself + disgusted the swine Davies as he couldn’t quite feel the ropes. Soon I went until the first quarter of this year+ when he saw what business I had done, said that the Govt’ business didn’t pay.  This is after taking all my lovely Railway contracts + handing them over to a protégé that didn’t have to go over the 11 years of hard work to keep going. I had my gov’t business in such perfect order.  St M Staty Offices – Military = Naval + Civil Services that the Gov’t authorities asked the Coy to reduce the price of the machine with a view to a permanent contract.  This Davies did + I had already one of the finest years business in front of me that I have ever had made solid. That meant that Davies discovered that he could save £250 in giving me 3 months notice with the privilege of taking up a minor position or rather losing my comm-n on the gov’t business as it was so splendidly tied up for them. That the cold blooded socialist comes in and said well we can do without a gov’t man for a year at least. So I did the hardest 3 months + the most successful ever I did since I have been pushing Oliver’s.  Of course that absolutely killed his avaricious prig + meant me walking out with almost a broken hear.  Consider working 11 years selling Typewriters + keeping

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A growing home together + then to find that the only mistake you made was that you did your work too conscientiously + thoroughly.  But if I had have had £1000 Davies would never have been in a position that he chuckles in to day.

My sickness you refer to was an absolute break down which lasted me several weeks.  The disappointment + the brutal treatment I have recd gradually grew on me after the last six months terrific work that I had to keep very low.  I was examined by two specialists in Nerves + Neither would prescribe for me, other than complete rest, fresh air + cheerfull coy.  You use the word sick Fred I do not like it – everybody can work themselves to a standstill + not be sick.

With your great kindness in the monetary way I cannot thank you too much for what has been a rarity for a long time a letter from you; but what a surprise and a blessing the contents.  My family are all well in health thank goodness + Emmie sends her kind love and as far me I can only subscribe myself.  Your loving + very thankfull brother

Ernest A. Paulin

Hope your family are all well

I want you to understand that it was no personal fault of mine that I took the 3 months notice.  I had done too much + tempted Davies to steal.