THE PADRE -OF .TRISTA.N DA -CUNHA-. [ - To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] Srn,—I recently received a communication from the desolate
- outpost of Tristan da Cunha which may be of interest to you. It has taken six Months to reach me. The Rev. R. A. C.
Pooley (the "Bob Pooley " of this enclosure).- was in my
• School House while he was a pupil at the Edinburgh Academy.
He left his curacy in Liverpool and volunteered to go out as resident padre to Tristan da Cunha, to succeed the late Rev. Rogers. It is a real act of self-sacrifice, as with luek they get one visit a year. Possibly you May, be willing to insert part of this communication in the Spectator.-I am, Sir, &e.,
F. A. HARDY.
18 Howard Place, Edinburgh. Tristan da. Cunha,
Oct., 1927.
Many thanks to you for stirring up so much: interest on behalf of this lone spot. . The Academy books are here all right. -I use BOITIQ of them in the school. There are about forty scholars and two adults to teach. They are as keen as most boys and girls at home. Considering the disadvantages and the teacher, they do well in the three _Ws,- with geography,- poetry and the Bible. -We must soon tackle the building of a school. -At present weaneet in a room too small for us. They built us, a house with the wood and atone we brought here, the Walla are 2 or 3 /t. thicktO stand the -Winds. Climate temperate. The Church is 41 by 10k ft. We sing minus any music, as the harmonium died of asthma. It is truly wonderful what one can do without, When necessary. Tristan should be held on account of its trading in whales, etc., its health, morality, ability, and given good le-aderShip, all should go well.- We are badly -in need -of ships calling: "Too costly." This the world become more selfish than ever ? A ship should call annually,. as used to be the -case.
• The people are very kind. Theygave me lots of socks, mounted horns, fire-wood, eggs and A fowl on my birthday. -But our goats 'here are dying of scab or cold. Most unlucky. BOB POOLBY.!'
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