BLACKWELL FAMILY GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Simmons, Ethel ALICE STONE BLACKWELL Marlborough Cottage Rust hall. Tunbridge Wells Sep 20th 1923 My dear Miss Stone Blackwell Very many thanks for your letter. When you told me that Kitty said "Hurrah" to my keeping the pin, I felt as if she had given it to me again! - please tell her so. I'm relieved by your letter; but must be brief now.- Ere this, my letter of Hospital Experience will be in Kitty's hands - so your question will bealready answered. Thank you so much for your kind enquiries! Your very warmly Ethel L. Simmons My dear Kitty It is washing day Thus Mepham & I have had a rare bother because the "copper" is not copper but galvanised iron - & it is a brute! So now I am resting & writing on the sofa - as I generally do. My foot is quiescent - like a naughty child, hoping to be forgotten & not put to bed! The weather is cold already. - We have had Mrs. Harrison here-. She is Francie Pailthorpe by birth- Mary's sister. & now lives in Canada & England alternately - giving her married girls the benefit in turn. She is so like Mary Pailthorpe! - whom you will remember as dear Dr's protegee(when a medical student) - & our adopted sister. Winnie & I are quietly busy - while Bertha is visiting in London -. I am busy cutting out & mostly making under-garments & night dresses for Berwin & myself -. Also seeing about new tenants - & income tax return - - washing & coppers - sketches as gifts - & our neglected garden -; not to speak of blackberry jam to make! So correspondence has to be scrapped - Much love - not scrapper - from Winnie & me - Yours Ethel. Simmons Marlborough Cottage Rusthall. Tunbridge Wells Kent. June 12 1922 Dear Miss Blackwell Very many thanks for your letter & kind thought. I had been thinking so much of Miss Barry - Blackwell -; I was on the point of writing to her when your letter came. I did not think of the operation as being likely to be performed at oncebut seeing in the press that there had been Irish Romanist disturbances in Boston I felt a bit anxious for news. What a clever man Dr. Derby is! Now, I so hope the operation for cataract will take place pretty soon-; there's nothing so trying as waiting for something unpleasant or trying! Kitty is really one of the bravest people I've Ever met! But the folk who don't & won't give way, often suffer most, afterwards, from the nervous strain they've had - don't you think? I wish I could do something for her-! I suppose, after an eye operation, the onlyway to have intercourse with a patient is by touch or scent - I can't touch her hand -; would she like some sweet scent - while she lies blinded or deafened with bandages? Some people hate scents - but if she enjoys it I'd like to send just a little say, violet or old English lavender-? Yours very gratefully Ethel L. Simmons We all send our love to Kitty. Simmons Family 3 Exmouth Place Hastings Agnes Tefaine (missionary) Bertha Mattie Burr (married Mr. J Cullen) 6 children living (one died) Jessie Mary (married Mr W Keen - 1 son) Gertrude Annie (married Mr. M Field 3 children Ethel Lawrence Harold Harman - married Miss Field; 3 children - one died. Winifred Mariam Millicent Pearch (an RC!)way to have intercourse with a patient is by touch or scent - I can't touch her hand; would she like some sweet scent - while she lies blinded or deafened with bandages? Some people hate scents -but if she enjoys it I'd like to send just a little; -say, violet or old English lavender - ? Yours very gratefully, Ethel L. Simmons We all send our love to Kitty. Simmons family 3 Exmouth Place Hastings Agnes Tefaine (missionary) Bertha Mattie Burr (married Mr. J. Cullen 6 children living (one died) Jessie Mary (married Mr W. Keen - 1 son) Gertrude Annie (married Mr. M. Field 3 children Ethel Lawrance - Harold Harman - married Miss Field; 3 children - one died Winifred Marian Millicent Pearch (an RC!)Ethel Simmons I leave it to your discretion either to tell or not to tell Kitty what I have said to you-. I don't want her to be distressed in any way-; & things may cheer up - or I may get a post- before long - & then she would have been made sorry unnecessarily. This is a sweet little house & garden - tho' shabby-, & I believe we may be able to let it, furnished, quite well; but that too is a matter to be well thought out. You signed yourself "Cousin Alice" & it looked so nice, that perhaps I'm taking advantage of it- to write like this! Yours very warmly, Ethel L. SimmonsMarlborough Cottage Rusthall - Tunbridge Wells- March 5th 1923 Dear Miss Stone Blackwell - Your little note & your notice of Madame Breshkovsky which came to-day gave me so much pleasure that I feel I want to say, Thank you, at once It was so pleasant to receive an appeal, without feeling oneself a sort of worm for not giving to it; - because of being understood! The other day I was really stung into telling the Secr of an Excellent Society - that he need not keep on sending me [the] an appeal for the renewal of last year's donation; - for I have proven interest & willingness - , & so the firstreminder would have been responded to, had I been in a position to do so. The poor, old tenant has got on very little further, in clearing off her debt -; & I see little prospect of her catching up arrears! However - one can live in hope; - & I am now more sure -, dead certain -, than ever, that the story of the widow & the barrel of flour & curse of oil is true to a letter. And experience is even more valuable than mere mental assent - isn't it! There's one thing on my mind - that is the dear Doctor's diamond. If it has to go 2 out of my affectionate hands, it seems to me that it would be horrid for a jeweller to have it - . Could I not sell it - - (if I get to that pass) to some U.S.A. admirer of Dr. Blackwell -; who would value it for its really best worth, as a momento of her? I mean to stick to it as along as I can - but the last month has made me realize what might have to be done if to avoid doing wrong), & I should like to do it with as little heartache as possible. -This is put very badly - but I think you'll understand.Marlborough Cottage. Rusthall Tunbridge Wells- Jan 19. 1927 My dear Miss "Cousin Alice" Thank you for your little note & the pleasant verses - about the small dog friend of dear Kitty. I don't write often- but really I can't do more than I have on hand. - My sisters' health is never stable or good for long -: & our income is always unstable & dependent on house property- where bad tenants & constant repairs give endless bills & anxiety; & good tenants seem a most "rare, refreshing fruit," as Lloyd George put it once! I have been trying again to sell dear Doctor's diamond - but can only get the face value of the diamond from people who speak of the brooch as "second hand," whereas it is doubly valuable as having come from her dear hands! - (How well I remember her lovely fingers!) If you Much love to Kitty & I'll be writing to [Sir Fock?]!should ever meet an appreciative would-be-possessor I would gladly sell it for $25; which is really too little. Perhaps I had better take out the diamond + sell that alone - for its present value. The cutting is lovely - but old-fashioned, they say. I hope this cold season does not try your eyes + health - or give Kitty worse neuralgia than usual? I'll try to write a letter to Jock - for Kitty - when business letters + family washing + nursing permit! We are having too mild a winter + I do hope it will not pay us back by frost in Spring, when the apple + other fruit blossom will suffer - ! I do love our little garden + its fruit trees; - it is our chief recreation. I hope you have no dear friends in China -; things are very serious for all white folk who are not brutally Red there! Do you ever hear from the "grand mother of the Russian Revolution" - or did the Reds kill her? Yours with best New Year wishes + cordial greetings - Ethel SimmonsMarlborough Cottage Rusthall - Cambridge Well. Jan 18th 1928 My dear Miss Stone Blackwell I promised to let you know when the time came that I felt I must sell dear Doctor's diamond. I have decided to do so -; either by selling the brooch as it stands - or by taking the diamond alone to a jeweler, + getting what I can for it. - That will be about $15, I expect. I do hope you + Kitty are well - + not suffering much from weather + cold! We had 15 degrees of frost here + were very sorry forEthel Simmons our shivering selves, + almost as sorry, when a thaw came + ballcocks + pipes were broken + floods descended thro' ceilings! The snow too was deep, + , as we had no woman or man the work of digging ourselves out, to coal + wood sheds, was pretty hard! The youngsters made a long toboggan slide of our road - + going out was dangerous. Now we are having nice, mild days + quite a nice lot of sunny hours -. I always look out for Boston in the paper, + think of you + Kitty + hope for the best for you! A happy New Year + much love to Kitty + also to you - (if I may!) Yours cordially Ethel Simmons Marlborough Cottage Rusthall - Cambridge Wells. Feb 19 1928 My dear Miss Stone Blackwell - Thank you indeed for your kind letter + sending the cheque from Kitty -. It is a great relief to me not to have to go to a jeweler; + to have the matter so beautifully + bountifully settled. But do you think I ought to cash the cheque? Is Kitty really able to afford this fresh kindness? Please tell me what you think -. I do hope your treatment is still being successful + that you are really better + stronger -. I am less tired, + have had a good deal of extra rest in bed - which costs nothing, + is very efficacious! With warm thanks + thoughts, Yours sincerely Ethel SimmonsMiss Alice Stone Blackwell please read aloud the enclosed letter to Kitty, yourself. (I am sure you will!)Ethel Simmons Marlborough Cottage Rusthall Cambridge Wells Dec 20th 30 My dear "Cousin Alice" Just a word of Christmas greeting + best wishes - + many thanks for your last kind, sympathetic note. I am just up again after a short but painful little illness + am all behind with letters etc. So please give my best love to Kitty + tell her the little princess must bring my greetings + good wishes till I get time to write. We thought Kitty would love the little English girl - + one who may some day be Queen of England! I know the enclosed cutting will be of interest to you - I still read your lovely Spanish translations as one eats sweets, now + then! Yours with warmest good wishes + affects. Ethel L. SimmonsMarlborough Cottage. Rusthall Cambridge Wells - Jan 18th / 31 Dear Miss Alice Your life of Mrs. Lucy Stone has made me want you to see Dr. Katharine Bushnell's book, called The "Magna Carta of Women". I want to send you the abridged edition which I have here.- It answers the objections raised in the early days of your sweet Mother's brave fight for freedom for women. But I am writing not only to congratulate you on that book - but to suggest your sending a copy of your Spanish American Poems to - whom? - No other than the Earl of Chester - our dear Prince of Wales! He has been learningSpanish so as to speak in Spanish at Buenos Aires - + he has also studied the life of Bolivar, in preparation for his trip, as "Earl of Chester", (which is his oldest title, I think;) to the S. American Republics. "He is returning to the Continent he already knows, in the role of a well-informed + sympathetic friend"; - + in an unofficial character. "During the past months, the Prince has invited to York House many prominent S. Americans - + Englishmen with intimate knowledge of S. America; has discussed with them every phase of life . . . in the countries thro' which he will pass."- This extract from the daily paper shows you our Prince is in earnest over his trip 2 and I believe he would be really indebted to you for a copy of your lovely translations. I shall post this tonight -(or 1st post on Monday) just as the Prince sets sail from Spain (with Prince George) - to [fet?] open the British Trade Exhibition at Buenos Aires, on March 14th - (the only official Engagement he has) + to travel far + wide in S. America. So I hope your book - if sent to Sir Herbert Gibson (Chairman of the British Trade Exhibition) at Buenos Aires - might be a pleasant greeting to the Prince of Wales on his arrival - I think you must call him Earl of Chester on the cover! Do send a copy - please dear "Cousin Alice"! Our Prince is so[*Ethel Simmons] "human" & sensitive - I'm sure he will like it! I can't send this off without a line to dear Kitty - & must close rather abruptly - Yours with very warm greetings Ethel L. Simmons PS And if you do send, as I hope - then I also hope your poems will be far more widely known, because the Prince reads them! I could pass on a letter from you (just a few words) which is, of course, necessary before any publisher would accept her song. She is a thoroughly trained Royal Academy musician + you would not need to be ashamed of having your poetry associated with her composition. I am so pleased to hear that you have met the Chilean poetess & that she will introduce your book so widely! I really love your book & do want another copy with some words from yourself in it! I really had to give my other copy to Kitty - (Mrs Simmons) she liked it so much! So I enclose a small cheque for your publisher - & please write my name in this copy for me! Your very cordially Ethel L. Simmons Much love to Kitty - I am very busy - but will write soon - I do hope she is well?Marlborough Cottage Rusthall Cambridge Wells - March 8 / 31 My dear Miss Stone Blackwell - I thank you so much for your letters + for sending the Spanish poems to our dear Prince of Wales! Now I am writing to ask another kindness;- but for my sister-in-law, Mrs. Simmons of 216 Upper Grosvenor Rd Cambridge Wells - She is very fond of your poetry - + being quite a musician she has composed music to lines from "The Palm Tree" - Of course she may not use your words without permission + has only written the song for herself + her daughter (who sings to her) -. But she would be so grateful for a few lines from you allowing her to set some verses of the "Palm Tree" (Leopolda [?]) to her music, if you would not object to it?Marlborough Cottage Rusthall Tunbridge Wells Dec 16th '36 Dear "Cousin Alice" A happy Xmas to you! It seems sad to have no dear Kitty to send to - yet I rejoice that she is spared the trial we have gone thro' lately. I see the USA papers say we took it calmly - or "callously" - & only thought of losing t.&.d & that we were too proud to have a Commoner as Queen! If only such people wld have walked about with me - & seen the deep distress everywhere - the damping of Xmas joy - even - among people who wld have no monetary loss, only a blow to their respect & pride in a dearly loved friend & King! And people have said to me: "If it had been a farmer's daughter - & a pure girl it wld not have mattered"; - &, "if only she werea decent woman! - T, "I blame them both, - he knew she was married" - T, "She isn't a decent sort - she had (has) two husbands living"! One workman said: - "it's against the Old Testament ... "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife" - These are culled from conversations everywhere going on in shops & public places - among people strangers to each other - & mostly working class or middle-class folk. Better-class people call Mrs. Simpson a "Vampire" - & our Archbishop openly rebuked that social set (fast people) to whom Mrs. Simpson belongs - & where we did not expect our King to be found -& enmeshed. It has been such a blow!- one felt inclined to wear black to express one's distressful grief! But we are now thankful he went - he cd do nothing else - "his honour rooted in dishonour" demanded it. They smashed the windows of this woman's town-house, before she fled to Cannes - the workmen hate her so! She is the "strange woman" of Prov. VII - against whom there is no defence, except the Law of God; - the Fear of the Lord! - But I believe the "Empire on its knees" - on that Sunday especially - will yet bring our loveable Prince to repentance & conversion; his work burnt up - yet "he himself saved as it were by fire" - How are you, these days - & that very charming John Thomas? He will know England & believe us not quite hardened against God - in being a "nation of [?]-keepers" - and you, too, I am sure! So glad Roosevelt got in! Yours affectly Ethel Simmons PS An old book of 1859 has just come into my hands & really charmed me - It is Mrs Harriet Beecher Stow's "The Ministers Wooing" Do you know it? The Puritanism of New England is perfectly entered into - it is a piece, too, of fine writing -; literature indeed -; & the sentiments are of fine & high-toned morality & religion. It shld be re-printed! I meet people here-; "Strict Baptists" who yet represent that old form of mentality in religion -; it exists today & tho' somewhat mistaken - yet it permeates England for good. E. L. S.