Letter from Frances Hodgkins to William H. Field
Date
04 Oct 1892
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Object Detail
Date
04 Oct 1892
Transcript
My dear Will October 4, 1892
I am afraid you long ago have voted me a fraud but I really am going to begin a letter to you tonight and if possible finish it before morning even if I have to sit up all night with a wet bandage round my head. I know that sister of mine has given me away so completely that I will make no excuses but go straight ahead with this epistle. I am surrounded with books of reference, and I daresay I will be able to worry thro’ with the help of them and the dictionary.
Many thanks for the Parson and the Painter. The vulgarity for which Sissie says you apologised I am afraid in my opinion only added a decided piquancy to the book. The illustrations are wonderfully clever and far in advance of the letterpress which seems little better than a peg to hang them on. I know you know want me to tell you something about Sissie don’t you Will? She has been painting a good deal lately and rather knocked herself up. The long tramps she took with her sketching class were too much for her I think but now they are nearly over I am glad to say and she is quite her old self again. She is very anxious that you should go to Melbourne but between you and me I am rather inclined to think that it is one for you and two for herself for she knows unless you come home via Sydney you must inevitably touch here. But seriously, Will I think you ought to go then you will be about equal in the matter of travel won’t you?
I believe there is in your possession a relic that ought by rights be mine a letter you wrote to me some time ago, but never posted. Why did I never get it may I ask, if it is still in existence I think I have every right to claim it don’t you think so?
Did Sissie tell you I have been rusticating in the country? I had glorious weather but it was very lonely work there all by myself and at the end of a week my resources gave way and I made tracks for town with enough sketching material to last me for some time.
Sissie read me aloud today your description of the new frame Mr (or Mrs?) Pearce has put my picture in. I only hope I may never see it. I daresay I am very obstinate but I intend to persevere with those white frames. I know you don’t approve of them but some day, Will I hope to persuade you personally that they are suitable to some pictures which gold would only kill. Do not worry about changing my poultry frame. Sis has made up her mind to annex it so I suppose it had better leave McGregor Wrights and adorn your walls in the meantime.
I think after our Exhibition is over, I will give my painting a rest. I am beginning to hate the sight of a brush, and feel inclined very often to put them in the fire. However I daresay if any-one else offered to perform that kind little action for me I would be the first to object.
Has your Boating Season opened yet. I suppose it has. The Otago Rowing Club had their opening day last Saturday. Neither Sis or I were able to go but I hear it was very successful.
Well! I think I have come to the end of my news. It has not struck ten yet, so I think my record is a good one. Do not believe anything Sissie may tell you regarding this letter, and believe me to remain with love Yrs very affectionately Fanny Hodgkins
I am afraid you long ago have voted me a fraud but I really am going to begin a letter to you tonight and if possible finish it before morning even if I have to sit up all night with a wet bandage round my head. I know that sister of mine has given me away so completely that I will make no excuses but go straight ahead with this epistle. I am surrounded with books of reference, and I daresay I will be able to worry thro’ with the help of them and the dictionary.
Many thanks for the Parson and the Painter. The vulgarity for which Sissie says you apologised I am afraid in my opinion only added a decided piquancy to the book. The illustrations are wonderfully clever and far in advance of the letterpress which seems little better than a peg to hang them on. I know you know want me to tell you something about Sissie don’t you Will? She has been painting a good deal lately and rather knocked herself up. The long tramps she took with her sketching class were too much for her I think but now they are nearly over I am glad to say and she is quite her old self again. She is very anxious that you should go to Melbourne but between you and me I am rather inclined to think that it is one for you and two for herself for she knows unless you come home via Sydney you must inevitably touch here. But seriously, Will I think you ought to go then you will be about equal in the matter of travel won’t you?
I believe there is in your possession a relic that ought by rights be mine a letter you wrote to me some time ago, but never posted. Why did I never get it may I ask, if it is still in existence I think I have every right to claim it don’t you think so?
Did Sissie tell you I have been rusticating in the country? I had glorious weather but it was very lonely work there all by myself and at the end of a week my resources gave way and I made tracks for town with enough sketching material to last me for some time.
Sissie read me aloud today your description of the new frame Mr (or Mrs?) Pearce has put my picture in. I only hope I may never see it. I daresay I am very obstinate but I intend to persevere with those white frames. I know you don’t approve of them but some day, Will I hope to persuade you personally that they are suitable to some pictures which gold would only kill. Do not worry about changing my poultry frame. Sis has made up her mind to annex it so I suppose it had better leave McGregor Wrights and adorn your walls in the meantime.
I think after our Exhibition is over, I will give my painting a rest. I am beginning to hate the sight of a brush, and feel inclined very often to put them in the fire. However I daresay if any-one else offered to perform that kind little action for me I would be the first to object.
Has your Boating Season opened yet. I suppose it has. The Otago Rowing Club had their opening day last Saturday. Neither Sis or I were able to go but I hear it was very successful.
Well! I think I have come to the end of my news. It has not struck ten yet, so I think my record is a good one. Do not believe anything Sissie may tell you regarding this letter, and believe me to remain with love Yrs very affectionately Fanny Hodgkins
Pages
8 pages
Sender's address
Cranmore Lodge
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-02
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-02.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23212975
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23212975