Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Isabel Field
Date
23 Jul 1895
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Date
23 Jul 1895
Transcript
Cranmore Lodge July 23rd 95
My dearest Sis
Your long welcome letter arrived this morning. Your letters are well worth watiting for, and are properly appreciated when they do arrive. We quite understand you have very little time for writing. Babs herself is a handful I expect. Mother and I have been making her a cloak, or at least Mother has made the cloak and I the hood I do hope you will like them it is white serge & fur and looks very pretty. We are waiting an opportunity to send them up to you. I am afraid we are a little late for any more session people but there is sure to be someone going up before long. I don’t think you have heard from any of us for some time, so I have arrears of news to make up to you. Did Mother tell you Annie is leaving us. She doesn’t like the bush and she is a lonely kind of girl with no friends besides her sister in the Kaikorai with whom she has quarrelled, so I can quite understand her wanting to get a place nearer town. Alice McGowan’s girl is leaving her for the same reason, the Sunday trams don’t run now and it has made a great difference to all the girls in Roslyn. We have a another [sic] girl coming on Thursday week and she seems a nice sort of girl and has good references. Alice isn’t suited yet. She got letters from the Spences on Monday. They arrived safely, poor Fanny was ill the whole voyage and had a wretched time, but Aggie & Lulu had what Amy called a ripping time. Did Mr Melville go to see you as he passed thro. He told Alice he intended to. It is so cold I can hardly hold my pen. If the frost holds good Mr Pasco is going to take a party of us out to Outram to have some skating (skates provided) and drive back the same night. I got a message from him this afternoon to be ready to start to tomorrow at 1 o’clock, provided the frost holds up, but as I write I can hear the rain coming on so our little trip is as good as knocked on the head.
We had a great night at the Savage Club on Monday night. It was guest night and we had a bumper house at Mrs Ritchies. I wished you could have been there, you would have enjoyed it. Mother went across and took charge of Cargill infant while Mrs Cargill went to the Savage Club and gave a Dickens recitation. I took Mrs Finker as my guest and she put me to the blush by openly cleaning her mails with a knitting needle at the drawing [room] door.
I got up a little play called the “Ticket Office”. I daresay you have read it in the Press. My part of the performance was the Giddy girl for which I got quite an ovation and was recalled amid loud applause. The Websters gave a little sketch called “A Row in the Pit”, which was screamingly funny I took a small part in it. It reminded me very much of that night we sat behind that woman and her hat. Rosie Webster had a hat quite 3 yds in circumference and the polite Savage Club ears have never before listened to such language as came from behind that hat. Mrs Scott was there looking lovely in a new English teagown.
The Otago Rowing Club is going to have a huge ball on the 8th August in celebration of its coming of age. Willie wants me to go so I am having a dress furbished up.
I suppose you haven’t seen anything of pictures yet. I have taken great care not to send any Nerli work. Dr Belcher has asked me to paint a head of his son Frank, only don’t mention it till it is an accomplished fact. Dolly’s Cousin Miss Raymond came up on Sunday and stayed to supper. She is a very ordinary kind of girl, about 30 and plain, with a queer resemblance to Aunt Mary and has a strong nasal drawl. Mr O’Keefe has returned from Paris and is shocking the proprieties by exhibiting a number of nude studies. Father won’t let me go and see them! Boo hoo!
I suppose you have heard how seriously ill Mrs Butterworth has been, but she is now convalescent tho she is not to get up for a fortnight. It is the same illness as Aunt Bella has had, internal inflammation. Aunt Bella is going out to the Convalescent Home as soon as she is stronger. Dr Scott was in Chch last week and he called to enquire for her on Sunday at 1 o’clock and the girl said Uncle Sandie was still in bed but was quite well and from the extremely savoury smell that came from the kitchen, Dr Scott concluded he was going to enjoy a very good dinner. Another sad case of illness is Mrs Harry Stronachs. She is the I Fraser’s niece you remember and they live at the Miss Edwards old cottage out at the Bay. She has been ill ever since she married for more than 7 months. Isnt it hard on her husband? And harder still on herself.
Sunday evening
I have just come home from the Scotts and must close this letter in time for tomorrow’s mail. Please thank Will for his telegrame and kind congratulations, how thoughtful of him to wire at once. I was pleased … but won’t be jubilant till I hear who the other competitors were. Mother was most surprised and Father said “It was the title that did it! And Willie said “What did you get, £2, good big treat!” Father at once sent the unfortunate Frank unknown to us down to the Times and next morning it appeared, he ought to have waited till it was officially announced to me. Suppose there was some mistake, horrible thought! I would feel as if I had been jilted and sue the N.Z.A. for breach of promise. I got quite a number of congratulations and this afternoon the neighbours came in in a most uncongenial mass. Finkers – Cargills – Kenyons – and all hate each other. Our drawing room is fated to be the most awkward rendezvous for those people who would rather not meet each other! Robert and Alice sent me a very nice note. Willie and I were asked to the Rattrays to supper but the Scotts wanted Father and I to go down there, so Willie went to the Rattrays and I to the Scotts and Mother supped off oily fish with the Finkers.
Mother and I went out to call on Mr Rose’s most resigned widow on Saturday but found her out and saw instead 5 red haired little daughters. Mrs Rose has been staying at the Bay with the Williams and I believe [incomplete]
My dearest Sis
Your long welcome letter arrived this morning. Your letters are well worth watiting for, and are properly appreciated when they do arrive. We quite understand you have very little time for writing. Babs herself is a handful I expect. Mother and I have been making her a cloak, or at least Mother has made the cloak and I the hood I do hope you will like them it is white serge & fur and looks very pretty. We are waiting an opportunity to send them up to you. I am afraid we are a little late for any more session people but there is sure to be someone going up before long. I don’t think you have heard from any of us for some time, so I have arrears of news to make up to you. Did Mother tell you Annie is leaving us. She doesn’t like the bush and she is a lonely kind of girl with no friends besides her sister in the Kaikorai with whom she has quarrelled, so I can quite understand her wanting to get a place nearer town. Alice McGowan’s girl is leaving her for the same reason, the Sunday trams don’t run now and it has made a great difference to all the girls in Roslyn. We have a another [sic] girl coming on Thursday week and she seems a nice sort of girl and has good references. Alice isn’t suited yet. She got letters from the Spences on Monday. They arrived safely, poor Fanny was ill the whole voyage and had a wretched time, but Aggie & Lulu had what Amy called a ripping time. Did Mr Melville go to see you as he passed thro. He told Alice he intended to. It is so cold I can hardly hold my pen. If the frost holds good Mr Pasco is going to take a party of us out to Outram to have some skating (skates provided) and drive back the same night. I got a message from him this afternoon to be ready to start to tomorrow at 1 o’clock, provided the frost holds up, but as I write I can hear the rain coming on so our little trip is as good as knocked on the head.
We had a great night at the Savage Club on Monday night. It was guest night and we had a bumper house at Mrs Ritchies. I wished you could have been there, you would have enjoyed it. Mother went across and took charge of Cargill infant while Mrs Cargill went to the Savage Club and gave a Dickens recitation. I took Mrs Finker as my guest and she put me to the blush by openly cleaning her mails with a knitting needle at the drawing [room] door.
I got up a little play called the “Ticket Office”. I daresay you have read it in the Press. My part of the performance was the Giddy girl for which I got quite an ovation and was recalled amid loud applause. The Websters gave a little sketch called “A Row in the Pit”, which was screamingly funny I took a small part in it. It reminded me very much of that night we sat behind that woman and her hat. Rosie Webster had a hat quite 3 yds in circumference and the polite Savage Club ears have never before listened to such language as came from behind that hat. Mrs Scott was there looking lovely in a new English teagown.
The Otago Rowing Club is going to have a huge ball on the 8th August in celebration of its coming of age. Willie wants me to go so I am having a dress furbished up.
I suppose you haven’t seen anything of pictures yet. I have taken great care not to send any Nerli work. Dr Belcher has asked me to paint a head of his son Frank, only don’t mention it till it is an accomplished fact. Dolly’s Cousin Miss Raymond came up on Sunday and stayed to supper. She is a very ordinary kind of girl, about 30 and plain, with a queer resemblance to Aunt Mary and has a strong nasal drawl. Mr O’Keefe has returned from Paris and is shocking the proprieties by exhibiting a number of nude studies. Father won’t let me go and see them! Boo hoo!
I suppose you have heard how seriously ill Mrs Butterworth has been, but she is now convalescent tho she is not to get up for a fortnight. It is the same illness as Aunt Bella has had, internal inflammation. Aunt Bella is going out to the Convalescent Home as soon as she is stronger. Dr Scott was in Chch last week and he called to enquire for her on Sunday at 1 o’clock and the girl said Uncle Sandie was still in bed but was quite well and from the extremely savoury smell that came from the kitchen, Dr Scott concluded he was going to enjoy a very good dinner. Another sad case of illness is Mrs Harry Stronachs. She is the I Fraser’s niece you remember and they live at the Miss Edwards old cottage out at the Bay. She has been ill ever since she married for more than 7 months. Isnt it hard on her husband? And harder still on herself.
Sunday evening
I have just come home from the Scotts and must close this letter in time for tomorrow’s mail. Please thank Will for his telegrame and kind congratulations, how thoughtful of him to wire at once. I was pleased … but won’t be jubilant till I hear who the other competitors were. Mother was most surprised and Father said “It was the title that did it! And Willie said “What did you get, £2, good big treat!” Father at once sent the unfortunate Frank unknown to us down to the Times and next morning it appeared, he ought to have waited till it was officially announced to me. Suppose there was some mistake, horrible thought! I would feel as if I had been jilted and sue the N.Z.A. for breach of promise. I got quite a number of congratulations and this afternoon the neighbours came in in a most uncongenial mass. Finkers – Cargills – Kenyons – and all hate each other. Our drawing room is fated to be the most awkward rendezvous for those people who would rather not meet each other! Robert and Alice sent me a very nice note. Willie and I were asked to the Rattrays to supper but the Scotts wanted Father and I to go down there, so Willie went to the Rattrays and I to the Scotts and Mother supped off oily fish with the Finkers.
Mother and I went out to call on Mr Rose’s most resigned widow on Saturday but found her out and saw instead 5 red haired little daughters. Mrs Rose has been staying at the Bay with the Williams and I believe [incomplete]
Pages
10 pages
Sender's address
Cranmore Lodge
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-04
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-04.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22310185
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22310185