19th November 1917 `` It is not saved yet -- it is still in great danger . But the Italians are making a stand at last on the Piave line . To be sure military critics say they can not possibly hold it and must retreat to the Adige . But Susan and Gertrude and I say they must hold it , because Venice must be saved , so what are the military critics to do ? `` Oh , if I could only believe that they can hold it ! `` Our Canadian troops have won another great victory -- they have stormed the Passchendaele Ridge and held it in the face of all counter attacks . None of our boys were in the battle -- but oh , the casualty list of other people 's boys ! Joe Milgrave was in it but came through safe . Miranda had some bad days until she got word from him . But it is wonderful how Miranda has bloomed out since her marriage . She is n't the same girl at all . Even her eyes seem to have darkened and deepened -- though I suppose that is just because they glow with the greater intensity that has come to her . She makes her father stand round in a perfectly amazing fashion ; she runs up the flag whenever a yard of trench on the western front is taken ; and she comes up regularly to our Junior Red Cross ; and she does -- yes , she does -- put on funny little ` married woman ' airs that are quite killing . But she is the only war-bride in the Glen and surely nobody need grudge her the satisfaction she gets out of it . `` The Russian news is bad , too -- Kerensky 's government has fallen and Lenin is dictator of Russia . Somehow , it is very hard to keep up courage in the dull hopelessness of these grey autumn days of suspense and boding news . But we are beginning to ` get in a low , ' as old Highland Sandy says , over the approaching election . Conscription is the real issue at stake and it will be the most exciting election we ever had . All the women ` who have got de age ' -- to quote Jo Poirier , and who have husbands , sons , and brothers at the front , can vote . Oh , if I were only twenty-one !
XXXXX and Susan are both furious because they ca n't vote . ''
Canadian Gertrude Glen Italians Kerensky Lenin Milgrave Miranda Poirier days