Introduction

Here's something to think about: Do you know anything at all about your Grandma's Grandma? Do you even know her name? I would bet that most people don't. I am so lucky that this journal has survived and somehow landed in my hands all these years later, so that I can have a tiny peek at her life, and a small sample of her "voice". A little background info about her: my Great-Great-Grandmother's full name was Frances Arabell Drummond (maiden name was Gregg). She was a member of The Women's Christian Temperance Union; the purpose of this trip, in addition to sightseeing, was to attend the World's Conference of the WCTU in London and to spread the word of the "evils" of alcohol. She was 56 years old at the time, a widow, and she lived in Oberlin, Ohio. In addition to her journal covering the nearly 2-month-long trip, I also have her passport and lots of postcards and souvenirs; I will post pics as soon as I get a scanner. Her first entry is dated April 4, 1920.

Here is the itinerary of the trip, taken from a pamphlet included with the journal:

Sunday, April 11 -

Arrive Southhampton.

Monday, April 12 -

To Salisbury. Drive. Proceed to Bristol.

Tuesday, April 13 to Thursday, April 15 -

In Bristol. Auto rides to Cheddar, Glastonbury, Wells, Bath, Tintern Abbey, etc.

Friday, April 16 -

To Oxford. Drive. By Afternoon train to London.

Saturday, April 17 to Sunday, April 25 -

In London. Attend the W.C.T.U. Convention.

Monday, April 26 -

To Warwick. Coach to Stratford-on-Avon and Kenilworth.

Tuesday, April 27 -

To Bettws-y-Coed.

Wednesday, April 28 -

In Bettws-y-Coed.

Thursday, April 29 -

Coach to Llanberis, train to Carnarvon and Chester.

Friday, April 30 -

To Windermere and coach to Ambleside and Keswick.

Saturday, May 1 -

To Melrose. Drive to Abbotsford. To Edinburgh.

Sunday, May 2 and Monday, May 3 -

In Edinburgh. Drive.

Tuesday, May 4 -

Via the Trossachs to Glasgow.

Wednesday, May 5 -

In Glasgow. Side trip to Ayr.

Thursday, May 6 -

To London.

Friday, May 7 -

In London.

Saturday, May 8 -

Leave London at 8:45 A.M. Victoria Station for Dover, thence by steamer to Ostend, and train to Bruges.

Sunday, May 9 -

In Bruges.

Monday, May 10 -

Bruges. Auto to Ostend, Nieuport, Dixmude, Ypres, etc.

Tuesday, May 11 -

To Brussels. Drive. Leave by sleeping car.

Wednesday, May 12 -

Arrive Lucerne.

Thursday, May 13 -

Via Brunig R.R. to Interlaken.

Friday, May 14 -

At Interlaken.

Saturday, May 15 -

Via Bernese Oberland to Montreux. Visit Castle of Chillon. Lausanne.

Sunday, May 16 -

At Lausanne.

Monday, May 17 -

To Paris.

Tuesday, May 18 to Friday, May 21 -

In Paris. Drive about the City. Drive to Versailles. Auto to Belleau Woods, Chateau Thierry, etc.

Saturday, May 22 -

To Cherbourg and sail by the American Line S.S. "Philadelphia"

Sunday, May 30 -

Due New York.