Letter from May Garden to Frances Hodgkins
Date
04 Jul 1897
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Date
04 Jul 1897
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Troup House July 4 / ‘97
Dearest Fanny
A desire for another of your letters forces me to write - not a sense of honesty in answering the last jolly one. I fear I am dead to any proper sense of shame. I hear always something about you either from Ally or home. Fancy dear old Sis with 3 children! I haven’t even landed one yet. It ought to be here in Oct – tho’ if I do nothing idiotic in the meantime. I am going to Edinburgh for its birth & to a lady-doctor. I don’t fancy men for such times. We are to stay at the old Roxburgh as long as I think wise and then I shall transfer myself to her house where she has kindly offered ‘to board’ me & the nurse whom she is to engage for me. Frank can then go to his club or stay on at the Roxburgh. This is much nicer than going to Aberdeen – a place I simply loath – for Frank has some men friends he is fond of at Edinburgh so I shall not worry about him. He was at Edinburgh some time with his regiment stationed at the Castle above the town, so knows the place well & promises me some lovely drives. I was there late last Nov – but mist shrouded everything the whole fortnight.
It is wonderfully quiet up here: one never dreams of seeing anyone here unless they are staying with one; but I seem to find lots to do & not too much time to do it in. I get more fun out of the horses than anything else. I have not had the chance of riding in Scotland for reasons you may guess, but I have learned to drive & much enjoy it. Our last purchase has been a pair for the new brougham – a very necessary thing here at 10 miles distance from the railway along a coast road that is always cold & generally stormy. Otherwise I don’t approve of the vehicle. I have always an awful longing to drive it instead to going inside like a grandmother. However I use the pair in the dog cart & have lovely times.
They have both a great objection to traction engines and as all the stone for the new tower is coming by engine the groom & I have a lively time. One of them (in single harness) took the 4 wheeled dog cart over an earth wall lately when he met one. Nothing was broken tho’ & fortunately I was not in the trap. We had an awful ? last week. Frank has a grey mare – a beauty in shape, colour, temper & soundness & when we arrived here she was said to be ‘in foal’. Great Expectations were built on this foal & the mare lived in state in a loosebox all the winter & of course was never used; & oh, my dear, once or twice we did need an extra beast so badly for we had not bought the pair. All last week excitement (on the part of the groom, Frank & myself) rose high & we speculated about the foals probable colour. Excitement was succeeded by doubt & doubt by the horrid certainty that there isn’t a foal there at all & never was: & the only person now who doesn’t feel foolish is the grey mare who is looking handsomer than ever.
The Jubilee here was signalized by an enormous bonfire (they were lit all over the country at 10.30) & by some fireworks which Frank arranged. There was also a school picnic for 500 children of which the chief expense fell on the husband. I lit the bonfire with great ceremony. Frank made a very good & awfully loyal speech & the crowd sand “God Save the Queen” led by the Choir precentor. Then came the fireworks & we got home just before midnight. You know just as much about the Jubilee from the papers as I do. I should not care to go to London for it – all the hotels must have been so very crowded.
I was very glad to hear of Rosie Webster’s engagement: isn’t that the man we all matched Gertie Rattray to? Mollie Butterworth is to have the cousin, is she not? I have been most awfully distressed to hear of poor Alice McG’s illness. Do give her my love & sympathy. She really mustn’t indulge in any more babies. Fancy little Fanny with a son! I should like to have seen Mrs Spence but really the two times I have been in London I have simply been too ill for anything. Both my visits to London have been during the ‘first two months’ on both occasions – ask your mother what that means to some people - & at that time life – to me – is simply not worth living. I never felt well – I fainted at meals till I was ashamed to look the waiters in the face. I could not even shop with enjoyment. You can imagine how bad I was when I never even attempted a picture gallery. I couldn’t have stood the standing & the closeness. I just managed the theatres in the most comfortable seats & the loosest and thinnest of blouses low in the neck. Now strange to say tho’ I have lost my figure I’ve got the best of health, & can walk any reasonable distance & drive myself anywhere.
I am simply charmed with the summer here (There’s a wide difference between the seasons at this end of the world) the country has now got a ‘clothed’ comfortable look & from the blue sea & red sandstone cliffs to the cosy farms I am beginning to love it, & the people are awfully kind, &, I think, will like me. They seem so awfully proud & pleased with a small visit from the “lairds” wife that I feel quite ashamed & wonder what I have done to deserve it.
We have had a late spring & everything is very backward: tis only the last week or two almost that I have ceased to depend on the conservatories for flowers; & the spring vegetables are horribly late in coming in. No joke that sort of thing 10 miles from a shop. I suppose you are already working for the Exhibition: may you be very lucky, dear & please even yourself - you generally seem to please your public. There is an old mill on the edge of our boundary stream – built of red sandstone – green with age in places. I never pass it without wishing you were here to paint it. That mill would be worth £30 to you for it is paintable from all sides. Tell Alice MacG that her little case & your dear Mother’s thimble have made all my babie’s flannel undergarments. I often thought of them both as I “scalloped” the edges of “barries”. My best love to your mother & Sis; & love & a big hug to your dear little self from. Yours lovingly May Garden
Dearest Fanny
A desire for another of your letters forces me to write - not a sense of honesty in answering the last jolly one. I fear I am dead to any proper sense of shame. I hear always something about you either from Ally or home. Fancy dear old Sis with 3 children! I haven’t even landed one yet. It ought to be here in Oct – tho’ if I do nothing idiotic in the meantime. I am going to Edinburgh for its birth & to a lady-doctor. I don’t fancy men for such times. We are to stay at the old Roxburgh as long as I think wise and then I shall transfer myself to her house where she has kindly offered ‘to board’ me & the nurse whom she is to engage for me. Frank can then go to his club or stay on at the Roxburgh. This is much nicer than going to Aberdeen – a place I simply loath – for Frank has some men friends he is fond of at Edinburgh so I shall not worry about him. He was at Edinburgh some time with his regiment stationed at the Castle above the town, so knows the place well & promises me some lovely drives. I was there late last Nov – but mist shrouded everything the whole fortnight.
It is wonderfully quiet up here: one never dreams of seeing anyone here unless they are staying with one; but I seem to find lots to do & not too much time to do it in. I get more fun out of the horses than anything else. I have not had the chance of riding in Scotland for reasons you may guess, but I have learned to drive & much enjoy it. Our last purchase has been a pair for the new brougham – a very necessary thing here at 10 miles distance from the railway along a coast road that is always cold & generally stormy. Otherwise I don’t approve of the vehicle. I have always an awful longing to drive it instead to going inside like a grandmother. However I use the pair in the dog cart & have lovely times.
They have both a great objection to traction engines and as all the stone for the new tower is coming by engine the groom & I have a lively time. One of them (in single harness) took the 4 wheeled dog cart over an earth wall lately when he met one. Nothing was broken tho’ & fortunately I was not in the trap. We had an awful ? last week. Frank has a grey mare – a beauty in shape, colour, temper & soundness & when we arrived here she was said to be ‘in foal’. Great Expectations were built on this foal & the mare lived in state in a loosebox all the winter & of course was never used; & oh, my dear, once or twice we did need an extra beast so badly for we had not bought the pair. All last week excitement (on the part of the groom, Frank & myself) rose high & we speculated about the foals probable colour. Excitement was succeeded by doubt & doubt by the horrid certainty that there isn’t a foal there at all & never was: & the only person now who doesn’t feel foolish is the grey mare who is looking handsomer than ever.
The Jubilee here was signalized by an enormous bonfire (they were lit all over the country at 10.30) & by some fireworks which Frank arranged. There was also a school picnic for 500 children of which the chief expense fell on the husband. I lit the bonfire with great ceremony. Frank made a very good & awfully loyal speech & the crowd sand “God Save the Queen” led by the Choir precentor. Then came the fireworks & we got home just before midnight. You know just as much about the Jubilee from the papers as I do. I should not care to go to London for it – all the hotels must have been so very crowded.
I was very glad to hear of Rosie Webster’s engagement: isn’t that the man we all matched Gertie Rattray to? Mollie Butterworth is to have the cousin, is she not? I have been most awfully distressed to hear of poor Alice McG’s illness. Do give her my love & sympathy. She really mustn’t indulge in any more babies. Fancy little Fanny with a son! I should like to have seen Mrs Spence but really the two times I have been in London I have simply been too ill for anything. Both my visits to London have been during the ‘first two months’ on both occasions – ask your mother what that means to some people - & at that time life – to me – is simply not worth living. I never felt well – I fainted at meals till I was ashamed to look the waiters in the face. I could not even shop with enjoyment. You can imagine how bad I was when I never even attempted a picture gallery. I couldn’t have stood the standing & the closeness. I just managed the theatres in the most comfortable seats & the loosest and thinnest of blouses low in the neck. Now strange to say tho’ I have lost my figure I’ve got the best of health, & can walk any reasonable distance & drive myself anywhere.
I am simply charmed with the summer here (There’s a wide difference between the seasons at this end of the world) the country has now got a ‘clothed’ comfortable look & from the blue sea & red sandstone cliffs to the cosy farms I am beginning to love it, & the people are awfully kind, &, I think, will like me. They seem so awfully proud & pleased with a small visit from the “lairds” wife that I feel quite ashamed & wonder what I have done to deserve it.
We have had a late spring & everything is very backward: tis only the last week or two almost that I have ceased to depend on the conservatories for flowers; & the spring vegetables are horribly late in coming in. No joke that sort of thing 10 miles from a shop. I suppose you are already working for the Exhibition: may you be very lucky, dear & please even yourself - you generally seem to please your public. There is an old mill on the edge of our boundary stream – built of red sandstone – green with age in places. I never pass it without wishing you were here to paint it. That mill would be worth £30 to you for it is paintable from all sides. Tell Alice MacG that her little case & your dear Mother’s thimble have made all my babie’s flannel undergarments. I often thought of them both as I “scalloped” the edges of “barries”. My best love to your mother & Sis; & love & a big hug to your dear little self from. Yours lovingly May Garden
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-06
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-06.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22902955
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22902955