Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Isabel Field
Date
05 Sep 1896
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Object Detail
Date
05 Sep 1896
Transcript
Cranmore Lodge Sept 5th 96
My dearest Sis
You cannot think how glad I was to get your letter this morning, and lose no time in answering it. I have been in bed the three last days with this wretched influenza, and still feel very weak and shaky. I could not go out to Warrington as I intended and now it is too late as I begin teaching next week. Mother has told you I expect that I have heard from May, there is nothing special in it or I would send it on. The only things she bought in Paris were a pair of corsets and a pewter pot! Isn’t that like May? They were recalled from Paris on account of the death of Mr Garden’s Mother, tho’ of course May did not tell me this as she has always declared that Mrs Garden was dead. Now the Cumines have given out her death and gone into heavy mourning for of course she is their sister. Everybody knew she has been in an asylum for years, and it makes it very awkward now for the Kenyons as they have always given out that Mr G. was an orphan. Alice is greatly excited over Fanny’s marriage. I think she had grave doubts whether she would ever get married at all. When Robert heard the news he offended Alice greatly by saying “Poor wretch” and then went down to the Athenaeum and hunted up St Petersburg in the Encyclopedia and came home with the gloomy news that it rained every 2nd day in the year and for three months the sun never set! He certainly has the happiest knack of rubbing the gilt off everybody’s gingerbread.
Mrs Sise has a much happier way of doing it. When Alice told her that Mr Melville had got a Chaplaincy, she said, “To the British Embassy of course?!” and Alice had to admit that it was only to the Anglican Church. The Stephenson marriage is looming in the near future. I believe they want Willie for best man but I am glad to say he has a most important balance, I don’t fancy him mixed up in that affair. They are a terribly vulgar lot, and I believe the wedding is to be a gorgeous affair.
That was rich about Mr Nairn, you must show him the extend of your “powers” later on when you take to painting again. I hear he has done a good portrait of Miss Grace. Have you seen it ?
I am frightfully dissatisfied with my own work. I would like to give myself a rest from painting for a time but now must tackle my Exhibition work, and with anything but a fresh brain! I miss having someone to consult and talk over things, for now that May has gone I have nobody who takes any real interest in my work, except Dr Scott and one’s ideas have to be of the first water before one submits them to his critical judgement, and Signor Nerli, although he may have a very nice opinion of me, behind my back, is absolutely useless as far as advice goes.
Father paints away as much as ever, and the “old Study” is given over to innumerable busts of Dr Stuart in various stages. He is working up for another clay revival and several Dr Stuarts are melting in kerosene tins and I know that he meditates another “statoo” for the Exhibition.
Well dear old girl I mustn’t stop to write anymore tonight. With much love to yourself and Will ever your loving sister Fanny.
Isnt Ix a coldblooded wretch, he has never been near to enquire after Ethel and I don’t suppose he will dream of offering to help to pay expenses. I enclose May’s letter after all in case you might like to read it. Sent it back after perusal. F.M.H.
My dearest Sis
You cannot think how glad I was to get your letter this morning, and lose no time in answering it. I have been in bed the three last days with this wretched influenza, and still feel very weak and shaky. I could not go out to Warrington as I intended and now it is too late as I begin teaching next week. Mother has told you I expect that I have heard from May, there is nothing special in it or I would send it on. The only things she bought in Paris were a pair of corsets and a pewter pot! Isn’t that like May? They were recalled from Paris on account of the death of Mr Garden’s Mother, tho’ of course May did not tell me this as she has always declared that Mrs Garden was dead. Now the Cumines have given out her death and gone into heavy mourning for of course she is their sister. Everybody knew she has been in an asylum for years, and it makes it very awkward now for the Kenyons as they have always given out that Mr G. was an orphan. Alice is greatly excited over Fanny’s marriage. I think she had grave doubts whether she would ever get married at all. When Robert heard the news he offended Alice greatly by saying “Poor wretch” and then went down to the Athenaeum and hunted up St Petersburg in the Encyclopedia and came home with the gloomy news that it rained every 2nd day in the year and for three months the sun never set! He certainly has the happiest knack of rubbing the gilt off everybody’s gingerbread.
Mrs Sise has a much happier way of doing it. When Alice told her that Mr Melville had got a Chaplaincy, she said, “To the British Embassy of course?!” and Alice had to admit that it was only to the Anglican Church. The Stephenson marriage is looming in the near future. I believe they want Willie for best man but I am glad to say he has a most important balance, I don’t fancy him mixed up in that affair. They are a terribly vulgar lot, and I believe the wedding is to be a gorgeous affair.
That was rich about Mr Nairn, you must show him the extend of your “powers” later on when you take to painting again. I hear he has done a good portrait of Miss Grace. Have you seen it ?
I am frightfully dissatisfied with my own work. I would like to give myself a rest from painting for a time but now must tackle my Exhibition work, and with anything but a fresh brain! I miss having someone to consult and talk over things, for now that May has gone I have nobody who takes any real interest in my work, except Dr Scott and one’s ideas have to be of the first water before one submits them to his critical judgement, and Signor Nerli, although he may have a very nice opinion of me, behind my back, is absolutely useless as far as advice goes.
Father paints away as much as ever, and the “old Study” is given over to innumerable busts of Dr Stuart in various stages. He is working up for another clay revival and several Dr Stuarts are melting in kerosene tins and I know that he meditates another “statoo” for the Exhibition.
Well dear old girl I mustn’t stop to write anymore tonight. With much love to yourself and Will ever your loving sister Fanny.
Isnt Ix a coldblooded wretch, he has never been near to enquire after Ethel and I don’t suppose he will dream of offering to help to pay expenses. I enclose May’s letter after all in case you might like to read it. Sent it back after perusal. F.M.H.
Pages
8 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