Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Isabel Field
Date
02 Sep 1896
See full details
See transcription
Object Detail
Date
02 Sep 1896
Transcript
Cranmore Lodge Wednesday
My dearest Sis
I have been reproaching myself for leaving you so long without a letter, but I must send you a line tonight to show you I have not quite forgotten you all. Poor old girl you may be sure you have my deepest sympathies about present and future worries, it does all seem a piece of the most unfortunate ill-luck that ever befell a girl. If it is any comfort to know it, Alice McG. is in the same box and both she and Robert are cussing fate as they had planned a trip home at the beginning of the year. Don’t breathe a word of this to any Dunedinites for of course it is early days yet and Alice keeps herself very much to herself and is voted “frigid” by her friends in consequence. She is very delicate and the hill has proved too much for her, I am afraid.
Just fancy having Mrs Scott next door, she came up last week and has been over once. She already seems better for the change and rest from those naughty boys. They are perfect little wretches and worry their mother terribly and I am sure she would never have got better lying in bed with those whiny children round her. She has brought the two little girls with her. Marion is the sweetest child and so is Helen Margaret tho’ the latter favours Master Jack too much for my taste.
How is poor old Ethel? Mother and I are very anxious to hear how you both are. We have been worrying about you and are so afraid you will knock yourself up. I enclose you a card which will explain itself. It is a bit of a venture to start a room, but the rent is not deadly, only 2/6 a week and furnished at that. I have £5 capital to start with and already 2 pupils so I will not run into debt yet awhile. I advertised in the “Star” and I start teaching next week. I have been asked so often to take pupils so thought it wise to commence in time for spring sketching.
Daisy Fitchett has started a Studio, but so far has no pupils. She is frightfully lackadaisical and about as unpractical as they make them.
Tell Will he would see a marked improvement in me re. money matters and pride myself that I know exactly how many beans make five.
Reading this letter over there seems to be a good deal about myself in it.
Mrs Finker is back and has brought Mother an elegant butter cooler of frosted silver and cut glass which reposes on the sideboard and I am glad Mother has decided it is only to be looked at! How glad you will be to have a yarn with old Dunedinites. Kate Rattray left covered with honor and carrying the championship with her. There is a cocksureness about her that is sure to carrying something before it.
Well dear old girl I will say goodnight. I have not got over the influenza properly yet and still feel very seedy. With much love to yourself and Will and Ethel. Your loving sister Fanny
My dearest Sis
I have been reproaching myself for leaving you so long without a letter, but I must send you a line tonight to show you I have not quite forgotten you all. Poor old girl you may be sure you have my deepest sympathies about present and future worries, it does all seem a piece of the most unfortunate ill-luck that ever befell a girl. If it is any comfort to know it, Alice McG. is in the same box and both she and Robert are cussing fate as they had planned a trip home at the beginning of the year. Don’t breathe a word of this to any Dunedinites for of course it is early days yet and Alice keeps herself very much to herself and is voted “frigid” by her friends in consequence. She is very delicate and the hill has proved too much for her, I am afraid.
Just fancy having Mrs Scott next door, she came up last week and has been over once. She already seems better for the change and rest from those naughty boys. They are perfect little wretches and worry their mother terribly and I am sure she would never have got better lying in bed with those whiny children round her. She has brought the two little girls with her. Marion is the sweetest child and so is Helen Margaret tho’ the latter favours Master Jack too much for my taste.
How is poor old Ethel? Mother and I are very anxious to hear how you both are. We have been worrying about you and are so afraid you will knock yourself up. I enclose you a card which will explain itself. It is a bit of a venture to start a room, but the rent is not deadly, only 2/6 a week and furnished at that. I have £5 capital to start with and already 2 pupils so I will not run into debt yet awhile. I advertised in the “Star” and I start teaching next week. I have been asked so often to take pupils so thought it wise to commence in time for spring sketching.
Daisy Fitchett has started a Studio, but so far has no pupils. She is frightfully lackadaisical and about as unpractical as they make them.
Tell Will he would see a marked improvement in me re. money matters and pride myself that I know exactly how many beans make five.
Reading this letter over there seems to be a good deal about myself in it.
Mrs Finker is back and has brought Mother an elegant butter cooler of frosted silver and cut glass which reposes on the sideboard and I am glad Mother has decided it is only to be looked at! How glad you will be to have a yarn with old Dunedinites. Kate Rattray left covered with honor and carrying the championship with her. There is a cocksureness about her that is sure to carrying something before it.
Well dear old girl I will say goodnight. I have not got over the influenza properly yet and still feel very seedy. With much love to yourself and Will and Ethel. Your loving sister Fanny
Pages
7 pages
Sender's address
Cranmore Lodge
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-05
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-05.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23234786
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23234786