TRANSCRIPTION:
Étaples
10th Aug 1913
Dear Miss Collier,
I have been intending to answer your letter for some time but have never had time. As you see by the above I am sketching at Étaples a fishing village in the North of France near Boulogne. I am with another chap and am having the time of my life. The French people treat us jolly decently. Étaples is where Lee Hankey gets most of his subjects for his pictures. I am glad you are getting on well. It must be decent to get a criticism from [illeg.] Brown I think his pictures are simply fine. As regards sketching in Cornwell I know it is good but I think too good for the place is [illeg.] out and you cant get rooms for love or money. That is only what I am told so you go but to make sure about your digs first. I still hear from [illeg.] Bill Andrews. Bill & Denis are still fighting. By what I can hear the school is going to the dogs. Remember me to Miss Copeland when you write. I must retire as I have to get up early tomorrow. I am going to Paris in a weeks time. You must come down to tea at my [digs?] at New Cross some time next term and I will show you what I have been doing. Don’t wait for any further invitation but just drop a card when it suits you. Send any letters to my London address 53 Shardeloes Road New Cross S.E and they will send them on. You will thus save postage. Well good luck. I hope you are getting lot of sketches.
Your sincere friend
Ebbie Gibson