Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Rachel Hodgkins
Date
03 Apr 1913
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Date
03 Apr 1913
Transcript
Belton, Mona Road, Darling Point Thursday
My Dearest Mother
Here I am safe & sound – had a very decent journey on the whole. The first night was bad – everyone smashed up at once after a hearty dinner in port. I was not ill – but squalmish – we ran out of the storm at last next day – then it got calmer & the last day & half were lovely just a gentle heave enough to make the sea feel alive. We were late casting off as you no doubt heard. 8 o’cl before we left the wharf. Some say it was the weather others that there was a lunatic on board – a little of both perhaps. A dull lot of people on board – excepting a little Mrs Nathan – the Defiance Butter one – from Palmerston. She won a £4 sweepstake & is going to lay it out in pictures at my show (?) Amazing how money comes to these people. There were such a lot of starved looking men who eyed her greedily when she got it – she took out an expensive purse & put it in. Next day a canny & pleasant Scotch lady sitting beside her took a ticket in the sweepstake - & won! Luck is catching – I kept close to Mrs Nathan – she had a good supply of Viennese chocolates (the best) & French novels which we shared. Arrived in Sydney at 3 o’clock – drove to Metropole – no room – sorry I hadn’t taken the address of a handsome dame with auburn hair & a thick veil who accosted me at the wharf & begged me to try her lodgings! Rang up Betha & was told to come out for one night only – Eva Dixon was on the way from Brisbane & might arrive to occupy guest chamber any moment. So I came – great excitement – Judge George – (the future Sir George) having just been appointed to the High Court amid public & private rejoicing that very day. It is a very popular appointment – he is the man of the moment & his name is on everyone’s tongue. He is a dear kind fellow - & has been every sort of a trump to me astonishingly kind & thoughtful in the midst of his own triumphs. Thinks of every thing – the handsome Betha does not fash her self. I can’t fathom her – she is mysterious. That one so fine to look at can give ear to so much parish pump stories as she does is beyond me I believe she prefers Maggie G’s company to mine! The Judge doesn’t. Well I lost no time in getting to work. The Judge placed his Associate at my disposal all yesterday. He took me to Horderns – I nearly swooned when I saw the Show Room – not an inch of wall space – show cases & stands thick every where - & fixtures. I said quite definitely I couldn’t show my pictures there – then the heads of the firm were called into solemn conclave – they were keen to keep me - & they put their heads together & have decided to erect a temporary wall & clear a space in front of it - & with this I must rest content tho’ it is far from satisfactory. I am fixed to open on Monday 14th the Chief Justice & Lady Cullen to open it I believe – if not Mr Justice Rich & Betha in her sables & corduroy. Have not seen Lydia but go with her to some function on Sat. & dine with some people at Australia tomorrow night. Very hot here – calm & blue – this house is very comfy & well managed – 3 servants – we go out in their motor launch after lunch.
No bother with Customs tell Will – never glanced at me. I am here till Sat. Longer if Eva D doesn’t come – address to c/o The Hon: Mr Justice Rich. He is a stickler for etiquette. How is dear Girlie. I have often thought of her & hope so much she is better & up & her own bright self again. My love dear to you all – both houses. Will write quite soon again. Your loving Fanny.
My Dearest Mother
Here I am safe & sound – had a very decent journey on the whole. The first night was bad – everyone smashed up at once after a hearty dinner in port. I was not ill – but squalmish – we ran out of the storm at last next day – then it got calmer & the last day & half were lovely just a gentle heave enough to make the sea feel alive. We were late casting off as you no doubt heard. 8 o’cl before we left the wharf. Some say it was the weather others that there was a lunatic on board – a little of both perhaps. A dull lot of people on board – excepting a little Mrs Nathan – the Defiance Butter one – from Palmerston. She won a £4 sweepstake & is going to lay it out in pictures at my show (?) Amazing how money comes to these people. There were such a lot of starved looking men who eyed her greedily when she got it – she took out an expensive purse & put it in. Next day a canny & pleasant Scotch lady sitting beside her took a ticket in the sweepstake - & won! Luck is catching – I kept close to Mrs Nathan – she had a good supply of Viennese chocolates (the best) & French novels which we shared. Arrived in Sydney at 3 o’clock – drove to Metropole – no room – sorry I hadn’t taken the address of a handsome dame with auburn hair & a thick veil who accosted me at the wharf & begged me to try her lodgings! Rang up Betha & was told to come out for one night only – Eva Dixon was on the way from Brisbane & might arrive to occupy guest chamber any moment. So I came – great excitement – Judge George – (the future Sir George) having just been appointed to the High Court amid public & private rejoicing that very day. It is a very popular appointment – he is the man of the moment & his name is on everyone’s tongue. He is a dear kind fellow - & has been every sort of a trump to me astonishingly kind & thoughtful in the midst of his own triumphs. Thinks of every thing – the handsome Betha does not fash her self. I can’t fathom her – she is mysterious. That one so fine to look at can give ear to so much parish pump stories as she does is beyond me I believe she prefers Maggie G’s company to mine! The Judge doesn’t. Well I lost no time in getting to work. The Judge placed his Associate at my disposal all yesterday. He took me to Horderns – I nearly swooned when I saw the Show Room – not an inch of wall space – show cases & stands thick every where - & fixtures. I said quite definitely I couldn’t show my pictures there – then the heads of the firm were called into solemn conclave – they were keen to keep me - & they put their heads together & have decided to erect a temporary wall & clear a space in front of it - & with this I must rest content tho’ it is far from satisfactory. I am fixed to open on Monday 14th the Chief Justice & Lady Cullen to open it I believe – if not Mr Justice Rich & Betha in her sables & corduroy. Have not seen Lydia but go with her to some function on Sat. & dine with some people at Australia tomorrow night. Very hot here – calm & blue – this house is very comfy & well managed – 3 servants – we go out in their motor launch after lunch.
No bother with Customs tell Will – never glanced at me. I am here till Sat. Longer if Eva D doesn’t come – address to c/o The Hon: Mr Justice Rich. He is a stickler for etiquette. How is dear Girlie. I have often thought of her & hope so much she is better & up & her own bright self again. My love dear to you all – both houses. Will write quite soon again. Your loving Fanny.
Pages
4 pages
Sender's address
Belton, Mona Road, Darling Point
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-26
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-26.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23118157
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23118157