Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Hannah Ritchie
Date
08 Jul 1924
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL049
Date
08 Jul 1924
Transcript
Belle Vue Hotel Montreuil – s mer Pas de Calais July 8th
My Dearest Hannah
My thoughts are playing round St Paul & you 2 in the Pavilion, Is everything burnt & lovely brown by now – here it is green green – suffocatingly so.
I hope there are no heat waves or things. I cant conceive what it can be like if it is any hotter than when I left.
Don’t stop & become as a poached egg will you. Seek health & coolness in the North. I hope the insects – beastly things – and pains etc have ceased bothering you & Dorothy.
Tell her from me that I did not post the Drawings after all – I failed to find a carton roller & they are too big to post flat. Better keep them till she comes which should be soon now. It is luckily cool & pleasant now but it has been cold & wet – really cold.
I have been this side of death with indigestion – the food too good & abundant – but am better & going on well now. Agnes Drey settled down to work, hard at it, putting paint all over her self. She or I, or both, take the 3 terrier dogs out walks in the evening. Yesterday one killed a chicken, only a little one & she had to pay 4 frcs. Such a scene.
Somehow I like her much better in France. She seems more natural & in her proper setting. She speaks easily & loves the people – they also like her. The Womens’ International Art Club have invited me to send some works to their next show – I accepted.
The Americans 3 of them, are here – with a rather tedious Mother who has to be amused. Her idea of amusement is to spin like a top all day & every day – tho’ she is very fat & nearly 60. She confided in me what she called “travel” was to “string up” the towns one after another 24 hours to each. Spend all her money & go back to America & save for another fling!
Please give the enclosed 5 frs to the Postmaster – the little man - & ask him to send my letters to this Hotel & deface/cancel Hotel de France. Is this too difficult? Don’t give it to the girl – I tipped her – she is a careless little wretch.
Much love from us both & hoping for a p.c soon to hear your plans & how you are. Yours affectionately F H.
My Dearest Hannah
My thoughts are playing round St Paul & you 2 in the Pavilion, Is everything burnt & lovely brown by now – here it is green green – suffocatingly so.
I hope there are no heat waves or things. I cant conceive what it can be like if it is any hotter than when I left.
Don’t stop & become as a poached egg will you. Seek health & coolness in the North. I hope the insects – beastly things – and pains etc have ceased bothering you & Dorothy.
Tell her from me that I did not post the Drawings after all – I failed to find a carton roller & they are too big to post flat. Better keep them till she comes which should be soon now. It is luckily cool & pleasant now but it has been cold & wet – really cold.
I have been this side of death with indigestion – the food too good & abundant – but am better & going on well now. Agnes Drey settled down to work, hard at it, putting paint all over her self. She or I, or both, take the 3 terrier dogs out walks in the evening. Yesterday one killed a chicken, only a little one & she had to pay 4 frcs. Such a scene.
Somehow I like her much better in France. She seems more natural & in her proper setting. She speaks easily & loves the people – they also like her. The Womens’ International Art Club have invited me to send some works to their next show – I accepted.
The Americans 3 of them, are here – with a rather tedious Mother who has to be amused. Her idea of amusement is to spin like a top all day & every day – tho’ she is very fat & nearly 60. She confided in me what she called “travel” was to “string up” the towns one after another 24 hours to each. Spend all her money & go back to America & save for another fling!
Please give the enclosed 5 frs to the Postmaster – the little man - & ask him to send my letters to this Hotel & deface/cancel Hotel de France. Is this too difficult? Don’t give it to the girl – I tipped her – she is a careless little wretch.
Much love from us both & hoping for a p.c soon to hear your plans & how you are. Yours affectionately F H.
Sender's address
Belle Vue Hotel, Montreuil - s mer, Pas de Calais
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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