{LAURIER HOUSE,
OTTAWA}
June 11, 1932
[handwritten] Personal [end handwritten]
His Worship
Mayor Mortimer Bezeau,
Kitchener,
Ontario.
My dear Bezeau:
One of my earliest recollections of old Berlin was the lamp lighter who went his rounds ere the close of day, hooked his ladder to an iron rod that ran through the lamp post about a foot or more from the [handwritten] lamp [end handwritten] itself, and then proceeded to light the oil lamp which found its place in a four sided glass enclosure covered by a tin top.
That day is long since past, but I am most anxious, if at all possible, to secure one of these lames and lamp posts as well, if [handwritten] any are [end handwritten] still available, to put up at the entrance to the grounds of my home in the country. A couple of years ago, I wrote Sims and asked him if he could secure one for me. He was, however, unsuccessful at the time, but I have felt that, as Mayor, you would be in a better
(page 2)
position than he was, and, indeed, be in the best position of any one to discover whether one of these lamps could not be found, somewhere, somehow, for me.
It does not matter how old in appearance the lamp may be, or whether, as in all probability would be the case, the glass were shattered. If I could get the metal frame, I would be able to have it properly painted and the glass replaced, and also secure a lamp if the old one has disappeared. Indeed, I might arrange to insert an electric light in it. I imagine there might be difficulty in securing one of the old poles on which the lamp was mounted, though if one could be obtained, that would be all to the good. What I want is the genuine article to which I can point and say it came from my own home town, which, as long as life itself continues, will evoke many cherished memories.
I am sure if you ask someone connected with your board of works, [handwritten] he [end handwritten] will be able somewhere to dig up what I want. If at all successful, I would be more than obliged if you would just place the order for the lamp and post and their shipment to me at Ottawa by freight. The shipment had
(page 3)
better be made payable on delivery, and the account for the articles and the cost of crating, etc., mailed direct to me.
I have less hesitancy in asking you to interest yourself in this matter, as I know the satisfaction and pleasure it will be to you to do so, especially if successful in the venture. I need scarcely say that the association of your own term of office, with [^handwritten] the [^end handwritten] acquisition of this souvenir of childhood days would be a feature of added interest and satisfaction to myself.
With kind regards,
Yours very sincerely,
[signed] W.L. Mackenzie King
P. S.: I am sorry I did not know, when I passed through Kitchener on Thursday of this week,[^handwritten] [?] [?] return journey [^end handwritten] that it was the tenth anniversary of the incorporation of Kitchener as a city.
[initialed] W.L.M.K.
