Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Jane Saunders
Date
03 May 1942
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL358
Date
03 May 1942
Transcript
Studio West St Corfe Castle Dorset Sunday May 3rd 42
My Dearest Jane
It was good of you to write. I am sorry not to have sent you my news from time to time & rumours get around, happily false ones in this case.
I have gradually recovered – am really much better. Times of course when I feel a worm – who wouldn’t. This tiresome & horrible winter slowing passing. It is still too cold for me but this morning I saw the cows climbing up the hills a good sign. The wind in a nice quarter at last. My chief grouse is bronchitis.
How long since I wrote? Contact ceased suddenly at my end. You writing better than ever from yr caravan, an answer to my answer. An enchanting little mouse story that would make any mere cat purr with pleasure – much less the likes of me. I laughed a lot over the Wertheim sentiments. She is a caution! You were more than equal to her. This is all past history. Date about end of Dec 1941 near Carlisle – in caravan. Winter was pressing on me & it was a cold as death in my little 2 roomed cott next door to Studio. Studio one big freeze & not enough anthracite to heat it more than just take off the chill. Work Nil. Now I am casting off slowly my winter sloth. No it has not been ideal the cottage. Frankly too much for me, even with the occasional help of a willing neighbour.
Try not to be unhappy Jane Dear. It is hard not to be when one is over worked & ill. I hope this septic trouble will soon clear up & the treatment wholly beneficial. I wish I had a place of my own to ask you to. My cottage is not much larger than your caravan. A long time ago it was an oven. Walls a yard thick & I get behind the chimney on raidy nights & trust to expert excavation to dig me out. Poor Amy lives in a glass house. I try to focus on my work – my cherished escape, but life is all very difficult & addling in spite of the Pension of £150 p.a. which strange to say has a depressing effect on me. All artists should have at least that sum with 50 years before them to enjoy their freedom & make proper use of it. Let me know if things get sticky I can always send you a fiver – I mean this. I now get a midday meal at the Inn – 3/- a time but worth it. Good food well cooked – plenty of vegetables.
AK very kind & generous with odds & ends & bits & pieces (literally) from her garden produce. Sometimes a fresh egg from some one else & best of all N.Z. butter once in a while. Now of course drying up in this calamitous war wh has spread nearly to antipodean shores. Now at the start mercy of invasion. I am very unhappy & afraid of what may come to them. Here, at Corfe, it is hardly a healthy spot. The enemy uses it as a land mark (we hope he will not destroy his landmark). I should like to go to Wales (inland) or anywhere North but it is not easy to move. I am so glad you have fill up yr caravan & go to & fro & can rely on the Heares as friends and a buttress against unhappiness.
Give my warm love to Hannah. How is she? Is her brother safe? Tell her I am not writing many letters these times my eyes not too good. I am going to a Bournemouth occulist for treatment.
I must stop this rambling letter. Don’t feel you must answer my answer please. We are both working hard & from now on I hope to be out of doors. It was so cold for so long & now so nice. How is your garden?
I suppose you don’t know of a Cumbrian Farmhouse up your way? Did H like the Isle of Man?
Love dear Jane. Frances
My Dearest Jane
It was good of you to write. I am sorry not to have sent you my news from time to time & rumours get around, happily false ones in this case.
I have gradually recovered – am really much better. Times of course when I feel a worm – who wouldn’t. This tiresome & horrible winter slowing passing. It is still too cold for me but this morning I saw the cows climbing up the hills a good sign. The wind in a nice quarter at last. My chief grouse is bronchitis.
How long since I wrote? Contact ceased suddenly at my end. You writing better than ever from yr caravan, an answer to my answer. An enchanting little mouse story that would make any mere cat purr with pleasure – much less the likes of me. I laughed a lot over the Wertheim sentiments. She is a caution! You were more than equal to her. This is all past history. Date about end of Dec 1941 near Carlisle – in caravan. Winter was pressing on me & it was a cold as death in my little 2 roomed cott next door to Studio. Studio one big freeze & not enough anthracite to heat it more than just take off the chill. Work Nil. Now I am casting off slowly my winter sloth. No it has not been ideal the cottage. Frankly too much for me, even with the occasional help of a willing neighbour.
Try not to be unhappy Jane Dear. It is hard not to be when one is over worked & ill. I hope this septic trouble will soon clear up & the treatment wholly beneficial. I wish I had a place of my own to ask you to. My cottage is not much larger than your caravan. A long time ago it was an oven. Walls a yard thick & I get behind the chimney on raidy nights & trust to expert excavation to dig me out. Poor Amy lives in a glass house. I try to focus on my work – my cherished escape, but life is all very difficult & addling in spite of the Pension of £150 p.a. which strange to say has a depressing effect on me. All artists should have at least that sum with 50 years before them to enjoy their freedom & make proper use of it. Let me know if things get sticky I can always send you a fiver – I mean this. I now get a midday meal at the Inn – 3/- a time but worth it. Good food well cooked – plenty of vegetables.
AK very kind & generous with odds & ends & bits & pieces (literally) from her garden produce. Sometimes a fresh egg from some one else & best of all N.Z. butter once in a while. Now of course drying up in this calamitous war wh has spread nearly to antipodean shores. Now at the start mercy of invasion. I am very unhappy & afraid of what may come to them. Here, at Corfe, it is hardly a healthy spot. The enemy uses it as a land mark (we hope he will not destroy his landmark). I should like to go to Wales (inland) or anywhere North but it is not easy to move. I am so glad you have fill up yr caravan & go to & fro & can rely on the Heares as friends and a buttress against unhappiness.
Give my warm love to Hannah. How is she? Is her brother safe? Tell her I am not writing many letters these times my eyes not too good. I am going to a Bournemouth occulist for treatment.
I must stop this rambling letter. Don’t feel you must answer my answer please. We are both working hard & from now on I hope to be out of doors. It was so cold for so long & now so nice. How is your garden?
I suppose you don’t know of a Cumbrian Farmhouse up your way? Did H like the Isle of Man?
Love dear Jane. Frances
Sender's address
Studio, West St, Corfe Castle, Dorset
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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