Saturday 3rd February 1883

[jamesfraserwest]

Walked with Walter to see the school at Five Ways acquired recently by the grammar school under the guidance of Mr Beuttler one of the masters. Everything is in excellent order. Played a game of billiards with Mr and Mrs Warden and Branson at the house of the former. He has some fine Sea...........[?] and other good pictures.

Comments

[poliphilo]

"views"? "scapes"?

[strange_complex]

Slightly frustratingly, I'm unable to check, because the diary is with my Mum in Birmingham. Either of those suggestions does seem likely, but I presume they couldn't have looked obviously right from the original script, or Mum would have deciphered them first time round. I checked quite a few readings over Christmas, and managed to make improvements at some points - but obviously didn't spot this one.

[strange_complex]

Just dropping back to this comment to say that I've actually re-checked this reading now, on my recent visit to Birmingham. It's definitely not either 'views' or 'scapes', and in fact seems to be a name beginning 'Sea...' - something like Seaby or similar.

[elena_c]

I'm for "sea novels", just to get in a reference to Doyle's Dr. Watson (who apparently loved sea novels). But "scapes" or "views" is more likely, lol.

[strange_complex]

I didn't know that about Watson, but now you say it I can so see him settling down with a rollicking good maritime yarn!