BLACKWELL FAMILY KITTY BLACKWELL 1871 BLACKWELL, ALICE S.6 Burwood Place W Dec: 9th 71 My darling Alice Just a line to wish you a Merry Christmas & tell you that the enclosed is a small token for the day from Aunty & myself.Merry Christmas dear Alice, from Aunt Elizabeth With much love to all Yrs affy, KittyAlice 6 Burwood Place W Feb: 26th 1871 Sunday. Dearest Alice, Aunt Elizabeth having a bad cold has gone out of town for a day or two, to Hastings. So Fanny and I, are left "monarchs of all we survey" — that is No 6, 2 servants, 1 Nursemaid & the baby. I like Fanny immensely. We got on delightfully, & already I have promised her that I will visit her at her home in Wales next summer. Won't you cross the water and join me at Liverpool and from thence journey with me to Fanny's home? All the Welsh cousins would be delighted to see you. They have so few relatives, that they are inclined to make much of all the Americanbranch of the family. If you were here how you and I would trod about to all the sights together. It is So doleful going about sightseeing alone! I get perfectly disgusted at trudging off solus for walks and shopping &c. If you don't come soon, I am afraid I shall even risk the "rope" and go off with some Sea Captain. Don't you feel anxious? I really am so home sick sometimes. I feel inclined to do something desperate. It would be so nice to hear well — especially now that Fanny is here — for Fanny has all sorts of invitations to concerts, lectures & so on, & if I could only hear well I might go about to any extent. I just got "Little Women" & "An Old Fashioned Girl" from Mudie's Library. I saw in a paper the other day that Miss Alcott was thinking of brining out a third part of 'Little Women' to be called "Jo's Boys." That's a promising title, isn't it? I send you by same mail as this a paper called 'Science Gossip'. If you like it, I will send it you every month. If ever you want to send anything to Science Gossip or to ask any questions, send to me on a slip of paper, and I will see they get it. We were delighted to hear that Papa was really gone to San Domingo. We should like very much to see some of Papa's letters to the newspapers. Perhaps he will write letters to the Woman's Journal — in that ends, we shall see them. We do not always get the WJ for the clerk at the office in Boston will persist in directing thepaper, to Aunty's old address, and not to Burwood Place. Feb: 27th Today being Monday, I've been engaged in my usual Monday's work — giving out stores of sugar, tea, coffee, rice &c, &c. And as Monday is a busy day, I shall have to finish this in a hurry for there are all the weekly bills, of butcher, baker &c to be paid. [*Shall send answers to all your questions by Saturday's mail.*] With much love, Affy Your, Betrothed Love to Momma, Papa and Emma. P.S. Just heard the postman's knock — A letter from you has been the result of my rush to the letter-box. I feel your eye upon me! I'll try not to deserve the rope — but — I feel very much inclined for naughty deeds! [*It would have made our Xmas letter too heavy to send this so we deferred it till this mail. K.B.*] 6 Burwood Place W. Dec: 8th 71 Dear Betrothed Aunty and I have just been doing up various small tokens for Xmas & the enclosed is a small remembrance from us both. I sent the things to Somerville, taking it for granted that you will spend the day with Uncle Sam there. Mind I shall expect a fullaccount of your doings. Of course, I shall send a Xmas budget from Abercarne Fach. To-day I been to see one of the 'Sights' of London - Madame Toussaud's wax works. Aunty & I started directly after dinner today. So as to take advantage of such light as there is on the on the short London afternoons. We duly paid our shillings. & bought a guide I started on our tour of the "great hall." The hall is more than 100 feet long, lighted by the large sky-lights. We pass various figures of well-known Englishmen = Cobden — Jacob Bright — Dean Stanley (one of Dr. Arnold's pupils), — Lord Byron in long cloak thrown carelessly over his shoulder — he is generally thought handsome but I must say I thought him not at all handsome & decidedly a bad looking man. Now comes the figure to which I lost my heart? Do you tremble? It was not as you may suppose. Capt. Kidd — but Shakespeare. By the by, I think Capt Kidd may be calleda distinguished individual & yet he was not place among the figures. Perhaps tho', he might be found in the "Chamber of Horrors", where the figures of those who have committed great crimes are; & probably it was because I feared to meet my 'double', that I refused to enter the "Chamber of Horrors." I think it would be an excellent thing for gentlemen to adopt Shakespeare's dress — the short embroidered black velvet jacket, the black-velvet knee-breeches & fitting black silk stockings, looked infintely handsomer & suitable for a gentleman's evening dress than the modern swallow tail & white waistcoat. Let me introduce you to a coquette of the 18th century — dressed in short skirt of plum coloured satin, overskirt of much be-puffed yellow statin, with bodice of the same, flowing sleeves with quanties of lace round sleeves & neck, a mountain of hair & roug[h]ed cheeks! Where she stands opposite Voltaire in his lace ruffles, & fan in hand seems trying her airs & graces upon him.How I did jump at the sight of the next, the likenesses were so very good that I was quite deceived & took them for real people. There stood Gen Grant, Abraham Lincoln & Andy Johnson. I see on referring to the Catalogue that the third in the group is called Gen. Geo. B. McC. — it must be a mistake for it is not like Gen McC and is a most-excellent likeness of Gen Grant! Next came a horror called [G] David Livingston, the explorer. This must be a libel, for surely by day & at night by endless chandeliers. All round the sides of the room are single figures & groups, the wax-figures being the size of life & being supposed to be good portraits of those they represent both in dress and features. Figure first on your right as you enter is Washington in knee-breeches and long queue — on the left Franklin, looking wonderfully natural in home-spun dress. There is Marshall Bazaine holding (apparently) a conversation with Gen Trochu, both dressed in French uniform, with theblue ribbon & cross of the Legion of Honour on the breasts. Now comes a group of Marie Antoinette & her two children, the Lady Elizabeth & Prince Louis, as to the manner of who's death, there is such an endless controversy. Marie Antoinette is lovely — her dress of black-velvet trimmed with lace & ermin, might answer for that of Queen Victoria, who sits in state in the middle of the "hall" surrounded by the figures of her children & the gentlemen & ladies of her Court. Translation shall come next post. Ysgoldy y Marchnatty, Abercarn. CYNELIR CYFARFOD LLENYDDOL YN Y LLE UCHOD NOS LUN, MEDI y 4edd, 1871, O DAN LYWYDDIAETH Y PARCH. D. SAUNDERS, Pryd y Gwobrwyir yr Ymgeiswyr Llwyddianus ar y gwahanol Destynau. Beirniaid: Y Canu. — D. ROSSER. Ysw., Aberdare. Y RHYDDIAETH, BARDDONIAETH, Adrodd, &c. — Mr. T. M. JONES. Ysgrifenydd, — Mr. W.M. LEWIS, Celynen, (Ifor Glan Teifi.) Y CYFARFOD I DDECHREU AM 6 O'R GLOCH. MYNEDIAD I FEWN: - Blaen-seddau, 1s. ; Ol-seddau, 6c.TESTYNAU. RHYDDIAETH. GOWBE. s. c. 1. Hanes Bywyd yr "Apostol Paul" -- (i wrrywod) ........ 4 0 2. Hanes Bywyd "Samson" -- (i fenywod) ..................... 4 0 BARDDONIAETH. 3-- Tri Phennill i'r "Lleuad" .............................................. 3 0 4.-- Englyn i'r "Gwlawlen" ................................................ 1 6 ADRODD, &c. 5.-- "Y Dymhestl Olaf" -- (i wrrywod) .............................. 1 6 6.-- "Fy Nelw dan y Dwfr"-- (i fenywod) .......................... 1 6 7.-- "Cardottyn wyf"-- (I fechgyn dan 12 oed) ................ 1 0 8.-- "Edrych Ymalaen"-- (I ferched dan 12 oed) ............. 1 0 9.-- Am yr Araith Ddifyfyr oreu ........................................ 1 0 CANIADAETH. 10.-- I'r Côr Plant, o dan 15 oed, a gano yn oreu, "Dedwyddwch Teulu'r Dw'r," o Geinciau'r Gerdd, Rhan I. ................................................................................ 12 0 11.-- I'r nifer, dim dan 12, a ganont yn oreu, "Glan Rhondda," ar y geiriau "Wrth gofro ei ruddfanau yn yr Ardd," o'r Ychwanegiad .......................................... 15 0 12.-- I'r tri a ganont yn oreu, "Cân y Barde wrth Farw," o'r Delyn Gymraeg ............................................................ 3 0 13.-- I'r ddau a ganont yn oreu, "Edifeirwch y Meddwyn," o Gydymaith y Cerddor ..................................................... 2 0 14.-- I'r sawl a gano yn oreu, y Bass Solo o'r Anthem "Teyrnasoedd y Ddaear" .................................................... 1 6 15.-- I'r gwrryw a gano yn oreu, yr Unawd, "Telynau Mwyn Cymru," o'r Cerddor Cymraeg, Rhif. 2 ................... 1 6 16.-- I'r ferch a gano yn oreu, "Galar Gwraig y Milwr," o'r Gems of Welsh Melodies .................................................... 1 6 17.-- I'r bachgen dan 12 oed a gano yn oreu, "Mae'r Nos fel y Dydd" ................................................................................... 1 0 18.-- I'r ferch dan 12 oed a gano yn oreu, "Clywch Ochenaid Geneth Meddwyn Tlawd," o Hymnau a Thonau Roberts .................................................................................... 1 0 19.-- I'r sawl a ddarlleno yn oreu, ddernyn o gerddoriaeth yn un o'r ddau nodiant .......................................................... 1 0 Y DARNAU ADRODDIADOL. Y DYMHESTL OLAF. Mae'r Dymhestl Olaf yn dechreu taranu, Mae'r fflam lâs yn dringo pileri y byd Mae seiliau'r mynyddoedd tragwyddol yn llaesu, A'u banau fel Etna anfeidrol ei hyd. Mae'r ddaear yn sefyll yn drom ar ei hechel; A saif holl olwynion y bydoedd uwchben, A Iôr a ysgydwa, yn ngwynt ei ddigofaint, Y bydoedd fel cawod o aeron drwy'r nen. Agorwyd y porth tua beagle Diddym lra, A miliwn o fydoedd gyd-ruthrant i'r adwy-- Ogoniant ofnadwy! Yr haul gyda'i dorf o blanedau ddilyna! Deffroa y byd-- mae y meirw yn deffro I gyd yr un bore, yn nerthol fel duwiau. Mae udgorn y Bywyd o'r nefoedd yn seinio, A'r daran ddiweddaf yn rhoddi cnul angau. Marwolaeth a egyr ei byrth, mae holl furiau Ei garchar gordywyll yn syrthio bob llaw; Mae'r dorf o waredigion yn esgyn i'r wybrau, A bro y cymlyau yn llanw draw. Ynysoedd a doddant I ganol y weilgi, Mae'r creigiau o amgylch y moroedd yn toddi! Clyw'r môr yn nesau at y glanau taniedig, Gan ferwi ar wely o greigiau toddedig Fel cronglwyd o dân ymestyna y nefoedd, A deffry y daran gan fwg yr uchafoedd, A rhua o bell, fel angel-gawr mewn poenau F'ai'n cerdded yn udroednoeth dros danllyd fynyddau. Mae'r llewod yn rhuo ar farwor y goedwig, A genau eu ffau gan fflam yn gauedig. Agora'r Daergryn ei safn newynllyd, A haner y byd ni ddiwalla'i foreubryd; Fe gwyd ar ei ysgwydd y ffrwythiawn ddyffrynoedd Nes syrth eu hafonydd fel rheieidr o'r nefoedd. A thaniwyd y byd i oleuo yr Eglwys, Try wager greadigaeth, I mewn I Baradwys. -ISLWYN. ANERCH MERCH I'W DELW DAN Y DWFR. Fy nelw dan y dwfr, Mor swynol yw dy wedd; Nid oes dy harddach, na dy well, Yn ngwlad tragwyddol head. Nid all na diafl na dyn Dy wneuthur byth yn gaeth; Na chyraedd at dy galon byth Ag un wenwynig saeth. Nid elli deimlo poen, Na gwrido dan sarhad; Ac nid all neb dy frathu byth, Dan esgus gwneud lleshad. Ni wnei sarhau dy hun, Er mwyn cael tamaid sych; Na gwerthu bri dy berson glan I gyrhaedd gwisgoedd gwych. Fy nelw dan y dwtr,-- O na bawn fel tydi: Yr wyt yu lanach ac yn well, Yn llawer gwell na mi. DERFEL.[*the name of the mountain is Mynydd y Sllwyn.*] Abercarne Fach Dec. 23rd 1871. Dear Betrothed, We, (that is Uncle George, Aunty and I left London by a train that was called an express but was instead a very slow train, not getting us to Newport till too late for the Abercarne train. Finding we should have to wait three hours for another train, Uncle G. grew impatient & hired a carriage to take us the 8 miles to Abercarne Fach. As there was a thick fog nothing was to be seen of course except the hedges, either side the road. In Risca ( a village we passed thro’), we met a bunchof the boys & girls of the Village dressed up as Indians & shouting a Christmas carol at the top of their voices. Arrived at the house all the nice young cousins rushed out to receive us & we we conducted into the dining room where was burning a glorious fire. We found a Mr. Charles Sweet & a Mr. Wm Kelley staying in the house. As soon as we had changed our dresses we sat down to dinner. I wish you could have peeped at us the long dining table with the thirteen people round, the tall glass of flowers in the centre, the great open fire (four times as large as an ordinary fire), the room decked with holly & over Mr. Sweet's head hanging a bunch of mistletoe, all made a very cheerful & Christmaslike picture. After dinner we drew our seats round the fire, the girls seating themselves on the floor, the rest of us sitting behind them. Uncle George read one of Dickens' stories to us. It was the first-time I'd ever heard him read aloud & he did it very well. We did not retire till twelve o'clock. Sunday 24th. In the a.m. we climbed to the top of the highest-mountain, Twm Barlwm. The day is warm & the garden so full of green things, that if it were not for thebare trees one would never dream that this was Xmas time, but rather early Spring. Lillie & I found a primrose this morning in a garden bed. To be sure the poor primrose looked melancholy & rather faded, but there it was. In the afternoon we sat round the fire & read & in the evening we gathered round the dining room fire & a story suitable for the day, but rather dull was read by Fanny. We tried to sit up to watch Xmas in but gave in and went to bed. Soon after twelve we heard voices singing a Christmas carol under our windows__ We thought we knew the voices & in a minute we were sure, for without doubt that was Rachel's voice leading & then Maria joins in & more timidly; Gwennie, & Maggie. Again, at 1/2 past 12 we heard coming gradually round the house the tramp of the Village choir, which was going about singing under the windows of all the houses round. Presently they are directly under our windows, but tho' it is pleasant to hear them sing in the clear night, the voices are not so sweet as those of the amateur choir. Christmas day. Of course the first thing was the rush about the house exchanging greetings.The morning Fanny, Uncle S. Gwennie, & Maria spent in dressing for the Xmas time. The rest of us were strictly forbidden to come near the room in which they were for fear we should see! So Lily, Reynold, & I did the best we could amuse ourselves till it was time to dress for dinner. I've taken a fancy to Reynold, tho' we've not exchanged many words. He is fourteen and seems a nice gentlemanly sort of Boy. If you want to be cured of your dislike to boys, come & make your cousin Reynold's acquaintance next summer. I'm sure R. would suit you exactly. One thing I like about R. is that he is so helpful to his mother & so good to Lily. We had a late dinner with of course a baron of beef & plum pudding. We had some games after dinner & then were at last permitted to see the tree. It was a grand tree. One blaze of candles hung with oranges & all manner of small trifles. We all marched round and admired it, & then Uncle G. was called upon to distribute the gifts. I can't begin to name all the things the different people got. Uncle G. had bought in Paris a pretty broach for each young cousin all very pretty. A packet labeled Capt Kidd was handed to me & therein I found what I suppose was oneof my long lost treasures, at last come to light - a plain gold locket with a cross of seed pearls - given of course by Uncle George. The name of Capt. Kidd caused a general laugh. Now you shall have a list of my presents - from Mrs K. a pretty green & purple plaid shawl, Fanny, a pair of mits- Gwennie, a Roman scarf Maria - an embroidered case to hold knitting needles & work; Rachel, two white dimity bags embroidered in red for holding nightdress & comb & brush, also from R. a pretty writing portfolio; - Maggie, a case of that firm-work which you do so nicely to hold pocket handkerchiefs. Lillie's present was a brilliant red Sontag - Aunty received from all. the girls some article, made by their own clever fingers. All presents distributed, we took ourselves to the drawing room & there examined one anothers presents. Uncle George had a pair slippers, presented by F. & Rachel & several small articles from the others. Xmas night we all gathered round the drawing-room fire & Mr Sweet, Mr Rilley & Mr G. W. B. took it in turn to read "Through the Looking-Glass" to us. Have you seen the story? It is great nonsense, but very amusing. It is by the author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Tuesday 26th. The whole household with the exception of Mrs. Rogers started for a climb up "Mynyddy Sllwyn," at the top of which mountain, stands the parish church of Abercarne. Uncle G & Maria rushed up the My_ &c as if their lives depended upon reaching the ch at acertain time. Aunty & Fanny only went part way up; then turned home. The rest of us struggled along any how - Rachel & I being always close together. At the ch: we all met, & peeped thro' the windows to see the decorations - there was plenty of holly, but all that had been attempted, was to tie long bands of it from pillar to pillar. The ch: is not much, but the situation is fine, commanding a view of all the surrounding mountains, when there is no mist, which there was today. There are some half-dozen fine old yews in the church-yard. Hearing a great shouting of men & howling of dogs, we mounted on the fence to see what the matter was & instead of seeing as we expected, [viz] the hounds & huntsmen gathered for a hunt, behold! twenty men and boys armed with sticks, watching and encouraging a fight between the Village curs. On our way home we met many men and boys with sticks accompanied by dogs, all going to join the fight - Ugh! A nice amusement for Christmas tide. Wednesday, 2[6]7th A glorious day. It is Edie's birthday - Uncle G. & I wished her "Many happy returns." Aunty left today for London. We all after seeing Aunty off; went for a long walk, unhappily, as F. stayed at home, I was obliged to give up walking with Rachel & take Maria instead. Uncle G. likes Rachel (just as I do), next best after Fanny, & looks put=out when he is obliged to take one of the other girls, so I yielded her up as his companion with the best grace I could. In the p.m. we had cards (I think them stupid), dancing, singing. Fanny, Maria & "Cousin George" went in a pouring rain in the evening to attend the tea-drinking of the Village School. It is reported that Uncle G. came out very strong - dressing the Xmas tree & showing the children games!!Thursday 28th & Friday 29th It rained so hard that we had but a short run round the garden & so back to find in-door amendments. Uncle G. was wonderful! I never saw him come forward as he did those two days. He read aloud extremely well, he played chess with first one, then another cousin, he showed them new games of cards, he held yarn while the girls wound it, told anecdotes at table, & last, but not least he danced! Actually I found him waltzing with Maria one night, but he ceased as soon as I came in to the room. Possibly he thought I might be over come--I was almost! With all good wishes to Papa, Mamma & yourself, thy faithful Pirate Please let the Somerville people read this. B. 5 Burwood Place Hyde Park. W. Oct. 20th '71. My dear Betrothed, I regret that I cannot bear down on the High School of Boston & chastise those teasing youths. Suppose the women of Massachusetts gain the right of voting next year, in time for the Presidential election, I think I should have to [come] go home in time to help escorte Mamma to the poles. By the by I've received a very, pressing invitation to visit M. Vineyard next summer, tho' I must say, it is not quite as pressing as yours; to visit Boston. Aunt Jemima Smith called to see Marian the last night M. was at Quitsey, & sent a special message to me saying "Next summer, when Kitty comes from England, tell her I expect her to come down & visit me here. I don't want her to come as a boarder, but as my visitor!!" Don't you think I'd better "accept with thanks." I'm so very sorry that Mrs. Lowell has sailed without my journal. We were to have taken it & other things down to her at Richmond, but got a note before we started, saying that she left Richmond earlier than she expected as she should visit Chester on her way to Liverpool. Well perhaps there will be another chance soon, or Uncle George may go home.I had my usual letter from Rachel yesterday. They are full of buying, and making Xmas presents at Abercarne. I'm much afraid that I excited your feelings by talking of a wedding that is to be next summer, if all goes well. Allow me to relieve you from any fears you may have had as to its being Capt Kidd who was to marry. I wrote you I think, of a dance they had at Abercarne, whilst I was there, & of a certain Mr Ward who seemed to have a fancy for Fanny. Two days after the dance, Mr Ward proposed to, and was accepted by, my friend Fanny! You may imagine my astonishment when F. told me of her engagement. When I tell you that four weeks before F. met Mr Ward for the first time in her life! Mr W. had been exactly four times to Abercarne Fach & F. had met him twice at croquet parties! Six times in all. Mr W. lives in Newport 8 miles from Abercarne, is a lawyer, & has promise of good practice there. Mrs B. greatly rejoices at the idea of F.'s being settled so near her. Everyone speaks well of the young man, & if after further acquaintance, they do not change their minds, it will be a match. I really can say nothing for the young man's appearance except that he is a regular Englishman with fair hair &c. Not thinking he was to carry off Fanny, I really did not observe him much. Maria Rogers, who has been engaged for sometime says that she shall insist upon being married before Fanny. We sent F's letter telling Aunty of her engagement, to Aunt Emily. Oct 23rd I'm much vexed that this did not go on Saturday. Aunt Bessie left us on Saturday afternoon to pay a two day visit to an eccentric lady of the name of de Noailles. The Countess de Noailles has a pleasant place by the sea side, so I hope Aunty has had a good time. Uncle George and I are keeping house. Poor Mme Guillerot--the French nurse is quite ill so that I'm anxious for Aunty to return. Paul chatters a funny mixture of French and English, which is very hard to understand. He is beginning to call me by my name - his version of it at least which is--"Miss Tet." Mme G. calls me Miss Kate & Tet is Paulian for Kate. It is really dangerous to leave me here Alice for I'm losing my heart to this fair haired English laddie. Come over next summer & teach me my duty, or send me another Ode. Don't you fearthat I need reminding of my duties. I wonder how many pieces of poetry Floy & yourself composed on the roof of the Boston house. Mayn't I be favored with some of the productions. Think I'm an exhile & ought be made much of. A second letter from you this week! I'm very glad that the school goes on so well. I hope you like being monitor better than I used to - I trembled all over when called upon to exercise my authority. Strange of Capt Kidd to be so timid & fearful of hurting other peoples feelings. There is really no news this week. Fog every morning is the & smoke all the time. We are to have a new servant this week - She says she doesn't drink beer. I hope she doesn't. At any rate we are not going to make her an allowance for beer. Adieu. Love to Papa & Mamma. Your true & faithful Lover Capt Kidd. P.S. I'm very glad Mary Hooper is to be with you. Grandma thought her the nicest of the daughters.6 Berwood Place Hyde Park. W. London. Oct. 29th 71 Dear Betrothed, Yours of June 1st just received! No wonder I've sometimes thought you faithless when letters cross to England, then to America, & back again to England, coming to me four months after date! I will ponder your "lesson" carefully. I only gave instructions that my journal should go to Aunt Emily, then to stay & last to yourself, because I thought it would be taken by someone going to N. S. therefore it would be more convenient to go to Floy first. No danger of my telling Florence to mutilate the journal for I have kept it solely for your sake ; so certainly should not wish my poor work spoiled before reaching you. Tho' Paul has not yet "charming whiskers yellow", he will in the course of years, & at present he is the most dangerous rival you have! It is a new experience to make friends with a young gentleman who chatters baby talk in French. Paul's name for me is "Mees Ket"--Paulian for Miss Kate. If he wants Sarah (the little nurse) he says "cherche a Sara". He knows that Sarah goes to church so every church he calls "Dome a Sara." Blackberries are "grain a Sara." Uncle G. does not see what we all think so nice about Paul--he is rather "a sour looking child"! Sour indeed. I resent such a remark. I tell Uncle G. that Paul never shows his best side to any gentleman except "Mon parrain"--that he is generally afraid of men folk. Uncle George's opinion about babies isn't worth a button, for he is prejudiced against them one and all. We have been driven to our wits end to provide a present for Frances on her wedding. We have taken two or three long tramps about London in search of something & have decided on a mother-of-pearl box for holding rings. It is very pretty, but no one would suspect that it cost two or three dollars. To think that in a weeks time Frances will be Frances Alofsen Gerken Van Mijernerurjk. It seems but yesterday when I used to go over to Jersey City to play with a merry little creature, with long brown curls & only four years old! I'm quite displeased at the way my friends are marrying or engaging themselves. Here has Fanny given herself away, & Maria reports other friends in Massachusetts, as being in like condition. If Maria follows the example set by some of our friends I shall be very wrathful. to the need of providing Xmas presents. Uncle is constantly asking me "What the Abercarnes would like." I answer__ personal ornaments. It is really hard to know what to provide for people whom you have not known long enough to understand their tastes. What are Xmas plans with you at home? Shall you spend the day in Boston? (Strictly private!). What small article, that could be sent in a letter, do you think Floy would like? I had thought of a pretty scarf, or something of that sort. Do you learn French at school? Our little nurse chatters French like a native now, much to the delight of Mme Guillerot! I think you would admire Miss Durant very much. She is a very tall fine looking woman, & the most good natured person living. She is a sculptor & I know you would enjoy a visit to her studio & that she would make you heartily welcome. Just now Miss D. is at work on a bust of Paul which she has had great difficulty in taking, the youngster being restive.I envy Miss Mary Hooper very much! Think of her seeing my betrothed daily whilst poor Kidd (for his sins I suppose), has to bide three thousand miles away. I shall rebel! So don't be alarmed, if I appear some day & carry off "Monitress A. S. Blackwell" from the midst of her rebellious subjects. Uncle G. is anxious to know where I buried my treasure, & I hope he was satisfied by learning from your letter of yesterday, that it was buried all along shore at Cape Cod! I had a dim idea, or remembrance; was it in a former "life"? that I had heard of my treasure lying many a fathom deep, by the shores of Astoria Long Island! Maria begs me to recall the facts, and asks "Did not you bury the treasure somewhere near Squibnocket"? Among so many suggestions, all equally agreable to me, I, Capt. Robert Kidd, feel rather bewildered. One thing I am very certain of, and that is, that the treasure is not hidden this side the sea, for, where the heart is' &c you know, & my heart is with my Betrothed up Massachusetts Bay! Ever thy faithful, tho' Piratical Lover. I believe I reported that Uncle G. had put off his visit to Ireland. He goes over to Paris on the first of Nov. The wedding takes place on Floy's birthday. We have changed our "maid of all work" & the present holder of the place is a queer fat good-natured little thing, who knows nothing whatever of cooking. There will be a chance now for me to make experiments in the culinary art. The person who had just left us, was such a dragon, that I never ventured near the kitchen, when I could help it. Won't you step in some day, and make us some of your nice sponge cake, Alice? I'm afraid you would be disgusted by the fact that a smut would, almost without fail adorn your nose before you were through your cake making. Aunty and I took a walk of six blocks yesterday morning, & in the ten minutes we were out, we had each to remove six smuts from our noses! And this was on one of the clearest days London has during the winter. How I wish that I could pop in & get some household instructions from Mamma sometimes! I think even in the midst ofher work, she would spare a moment to help uplift me from the worries of the kitchen. Now that N. Y. has been so shamefully swindled by Tweed & Co., I think all her absent "respectable" citizens ought to return to help right things. Uncle George is the respectable citizen I've in my mind. He does not say anything yet about returning & as he is pledged to Abercarne for Xmas he certainly won't go back till Spring. If Aunt Marian crosses the water this winter I shall be both glad and sorry to see her. Sorry, because I don't like any of the family to come here if there is the least intention of staying, & because I can't bear to think of Aunts Emily & Ellen left alone in N. Y. This is Sunday & the hour is 9 p. m. (with you it is five hours earlier), Uncle G. & Aunty have gone to a place on the Thames called Mortlake, to dine with a Mr Chadwick, who lives near beautiful Richmond Park. I have been writing to Maria & to you & am now getting sleepy, & anxious for the return of the family. New, there is none this week. Getting our new servant and truing the same has been the great work. Our thoughts are [K. Barry to Blackwell] Paris Nov: 7th 1871. Dear People, A few weeks ago Frances wrote to me, asking me to run over to Paris to be present at her wedding, & as I wanted to pay Anna a visit ; I took the opportunity to do both. So on the second Nov: I left London & after a few hours run through the prettiest part of Kent, took the boat at Folkestone & landing at Boulogne, reached Paris in the evening, and Anna's house at 9 P. M., where I found Anna & the Countess expecting me, a bright fire in my room and the little house bright & warm & cozy - The next day (Nov: 3rd), being Anna's letter day, & the Countess de Pomar not being in the habit of appearing before noon, I set out to explore Paris & renew my acquaintance with the old places; not having visited Paris since the Exposition of 1867. I was curious to see the changes; at first sight the streets seem as crowded and busy as ever, but you soon find the want of the endless brilliant equipages & splendid toilettes, it is the old crowd of '67 with the style & brightness taken out: the city at large has not suffered as much as I supposed, it is true you find the fronts of the houses everywhere peppered with rifle balls from the street fighting, but as thePrussians did no injury during the siege & the Communists used few cannon, trusting to rifles & petroleum, there are few houses destroyed, but most of the grand public buildings are burned & the ruins stand everywhere derisively marked "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite", so that those three words seem to mean "destroyed by fire," for so sure as you see them you see a mass of blackened ruins, & where there are ruins you are equally sure to find those words; no truer nor bitterer comment on French democracy & its friends, than what that democracy has itself written in those three words upon all the buildings that it has finally destroyed __ The present govt. is rebuilding as fast as it can, but has its hands full __ The place has very much deteriorated in minor ways, the streets are not nearly so neatly kept, the whole place has a little look of neglect, the parks & public grounds in disorder, the Bois de Boulogne simply gone, the Champs de Mars a perfectly bare waste, not a tree no blade of grass, two long lines of temporary hospitals, the rest bare earth not even fenced - however, in a very few years all those marks will be effaced, but Paris will never be the Paris of '67 till it again has a brilliant court. 2. & G. all gave me different accounts of their future plans, I imagine they have not as yet any definite plans beyond a trip to Italy for two or three months. Nov. 5th was Sunday & I took the day for exploring the south side of Seine & the eastern part of town. There has been a good deal of change between 1867 & the breaking out of the war, all the North side of the Place de l'Etoile, that Emily will remember, as still rookeries in 67 stretching from Avenue Wagram to the Ave de la Grande Armée, has been swept away & wide Aves. corresponding to the others round the Arc de Triomphe opened & beautifully built up, as the ground on that side falls rapidly from the Place de l'Etoile to Ave des Ternes. You have quite nice peeps down each Avenue looking over the City & beyond to the country on the North - All the wide avenues are more built up than in 67 & the long double lines of young sycamores have all become quite large, handsome trees (very few of the trees in Paris have been in Paris injured). The Place de Roi de Rome, with its grand stairway & the Quais below are least changed, but, instead ofthe throngs of the Exposition, the booths & the splendid view of the Exposition across the river in the Champs de Mars, it is totally deserted & the Champs de Mars stretches out a desolate bare waste of trampled earth. I lunched at Duvals, Boulevard St Denis, cor. B. Sebastopol, had soup, meat, veg, salad, wine & a pear, total damage 31 cents or 1/3 English. Monday (the 6th) Anna had promised positively should be devoted solely to selecting a present as the next day was to be the wedding at the Church de l'oratoire at 1 p.m. "tres precise" as the invitations read & as Anna was to represent Frances' Mother, she was to be at Hotel Byron at 12--so that what with her toilette & C. that day would be quite used up. The usual delays of a moment for this & half an instant for that kept us till noon. When we at last got off, Anna announcing that she has nothing whatever to do & the whole afternoon was at my service. She wanted however to stop & post some letters, then to buy some stamps, then just an instant to leave a book at the Hardwicke's, then being near by she must stop to ask after Mme de Frolich, then on the Champ Elysees she met Mme de Coignet, with whom she must have a talk, then in passing a moment (meaning 20 minutes) with the dressmaker, then to return some artificial flowers that she didn't like, then again to the jeweller who was setting a broach for Frances, then to leave a pamphlet with someone in the Bould. Montmartre, then away back to Jouvain's about gloves, then into Rue de la Poissonniére for "extract of meat", & the man having moved, off to his new shop -- then to the "Ville de Lyon" to buy some braid & so on till it was 7 P. M. before I could lug her by main force into Barbedurme's to pick out a very pretty flower vase with pendent medallions on on which we decided & which seemed to gratify the A's. On our return we found cards from Mr A. G. & F. it was the day for the Mairie & on their return they had called on Anna. The ceremony at the Mairie tho' the real marriage is here considered as the preliminary only, & is performed in a business like way with no one present but the officials & the witnesses; the servant represented Frances as in great delight, dancing about, singing out "Je suis mariée, Je suis mariée", as tho it was the best joke in the world! Next daywe set out at noon Anna & the Countess de Pomar having spent the morning getting ready. Anna had a black satin dress with handsome lace & a black sort of cloak very nicely embroidered with narrow white braid, a much more becoming bonnet than usual, & looked very well indeed; the Countess a black velvet dress and very handsome jewels, looking really very handsome. We found about a dozen of the more intimate friends waiting & presently Frances appeared looking quite pretty, with a magnificent white satin dress richly embroidered, trimmed with a splendid heavy new kind of fringe & handsome "pointe d'Angleterre" lace, exceedingly rich and handsome, hair prettily arranged with a sort of roll on top & two long heavy strands behind with long sprays of orange flowers, an enormous bouquet of orange flowers (of wh I send buds) bordered with pink rosebuds white lilac & myrtle leaves. The ceremony was different from any I have seen & tho' it seemed to give universal satisfaction I did not much like it: Frances & Gerken set off in 1st carriage, then Mr A., the Cys, Anna & & myself in 2nd carriage, then the relatives & friends, & drove to the Sacristy of the Ch. de L'Oratoire (French Protestant) there we all assembled round a long table & the minister M. Coquerel read the marriage contract (act de marriage) from the Mairie of day before, which the couple then signed and the assembled company after them as witnesses - then the door into the Ch. was opened & Mr A & Anna led the way, then followed F. & G., then G's bro & wife, then Countess & myself & so on, & all took seats on two rows of chairs in front of the pulpit, then the remainder of the company went into the pews wherever they saw fit. Then the minister gave a sensible but rather long exhortation & went thro' a form very similar to the Presbyterian with the usual alternate promise followed by prayer & benediction. There were no bridesmaids & the ring was put on by the minister. The ceremony was almost too short & simple, for if you take the trouble to go thro' a form at all you may as well have a more imposing one, & exhortation & prayers were as usual too long - when Mynheer & Mynfrau Gerken returned tothe vestry where the customary salutations & congratulations we gone through with, F. quite self-possessed & in good spirits - the guests fell into line, Mr & Mrs G. passed out first to their carriage, then Mr A. & Anna - then I & the Countess & so on & drove back to Hotel Byron to a very nice lunch handsomely prepared in a very nice dining-room wh. I daresay Marian will remember- Frances, Anna, Miss Boyd & I drank to those absent & Frances then proposed in particular, Marian's health, whom we all drank to & to whom she sends love etc. F. retired to change her dress & the guests took leave, our party & a few others remaining to see her off, finally, at about 5. They set off for Fontainebleau, followed by a large assortment of old slippers & shoes & boots, & we took our departure. I now write, late at night with a bad pen & nasty paper, in order to give you all early news by first post wh. goes out tomorrow to England & next day to U. S. The young couple stay a few days in Fontainebleau then return for a week to Paris then off for a tour in Italy. The Dutch delegation "returns this week & Mr A. will probably go to Holland as soon as the young people are fairly off for Italy, say in a fortnight; he is much better, but not well, his leg is still troublesome - E's letter& present came just in time to be presented. I don't think there were many presents. There were a pair of handsome china lamps, two little bronze candlesticks, a very pretty little table ebony & brass, lined with rose & satin wood, a little photograph stand, E's present & mine. Anna's was at the shop being reset. There were no grand toilettes to describe as the wedding guests were all in walking costume, some handsome, but of course not gaudy. The day was pleasant, bright & warm & all went off well. I think all parties are fully satisfied with the match & I am inclined to think it will prove as satisfactory as marriage can be expected to be. And now, having given a full & detailed account of all that has happened, as far as my knowledge extends, I must close for the post. All well. No news. goodbye - Affy, K.B. - George. Sams birthday on the 4th & Floy's on the 7th duly remembered.K. Barry 1871. & becomes the centre of European Politics & fashion. In the evening I dined alone with Anna, the Countess being at a dinner party, & Anna entertained me in the old way with the "Monstres" "Brigands" &c &c who had tormented her, the last Villany is, that her cook who is a very good cook, [has burned her] has seized upon the opportunity of the [Ctsse?] de Pomar's visit to Anna, [to be laid up and unable to cook at all] to scald her arm so seriously as to be laid up and unable to cook at all, to Anna's intense indignation as well as pity. The next day Nov. 4th being the day of Mr Alofsen's grand dinner preparatory to the wedding, Anna had promised to devote the morning to me to look up some little present for Frances, so we were to breakfast early and be off, but in the morning breakfast was late, then there were household matters that would take but a moment, then an instant to give directions to the dressmaker, &c, so that we left the house at 12.30 with the assurance that now the whole afternoon was at my service, but on the way it occurred to Anna that it would take no time at all [to] just to see the milliner for an instant, & then there was a maker of flowers to see & then a jeweller & then it was impossible to go further without eating something, & so on till itbecame necessary to fly home post-haste to dress for the the dinner, which was to be at Vefour's, a grand restaurant in the Palais Royale so that the whole day was spent solely on Anna's trifles & not the first step advanced towards selecting Frances' present. The dinner came off, a grand affair. I send the Menu herewith. Every one of the different dishes there mentioned had to come on in succession, with its appropriate wine, so that when all was through & the healths drunk, it was quarter to eleven, then there was coffee & liqueurs & some dancing, tho' there were [not many] few young people present & after a couple of hours we took our departure, being the first to leave. Frances looked remarkably well & Gerken I liked much better than when I saw him in the Spring, his brother & wife were there, also. Ganabet & her husband, & a Miss Boyd who was a fellow passenger of Marian's & who sent special remembrances to her, as did Frances - In all 35 sat down to dinner. Altogether it was a decidedly a brilliant and very expensive dinner, but did not strike me as exactly my idea of elegant & the guest were rather heterogeneous - F. was lively and self-possessed, weighs 150 pounds, & as she, Mr. A.