JULY - DEC 1894 BLACKWELL FAMILY KITTY BARRY BLACKWELL BLACKWELL, ALICE S.[** Missis [Choores?] [to do?] I accept books, Burr. Suppose you send this [?]. Yours [aff?], K. B. Went to gymnasium in N.Y. with Kitty Barry & Kitty [Ireland?] friends of the [?] [stepson?]**] Rock House, St. Clements, Hastings. July 17th 94 My dear Alice; Yours of July 3d came today; also some photos. They are better than usual. I take them to Aunt M. [illegible] Just now I am tied to the house a good deal, our Sarah, good but ponderous, is away on a holiday. We have a tall, very tall, niece of Sarah's to help and also a Short plump girl called Lilly whom we have had some months. Lilly is very lymphatic bodily, but is active mentally. T. is jealous of her, does not do the child justice (T. is 14), consequently I feel disposed to believe something can be made of the girl! It isn't judicious to abuse anyone, not morally bad, too persistently to me - of course I take the opposite side at once. Do you know [illegible] Meredith's novels? I have been so oftenasked of late had I read his latest, Lord Ormont, that I actually sent for it, but it is new, so I got out 'One of Our Conquerors' the only Geo M. in. Bless me! What right has a novel-writer one to give one such a style - or want of it! - that it is nearly too much of a bore, to make the effort to get at the creature's meaning. At least Swinburne is musical -- but Meredith! I know no one comparable to him except Jessie Newcombe, when she writes a letter! Such work as I have often, to make out what her jerky, incomplete, sentences mean! I shall ask Jessie whether she has formed or postured herself, on Meredith's books. Either this week or next I hope to see Paul here. I dare say he [?] [*Kitty Barry*] I hope you mean to take some rest at Camp and have not taken heaps of work with you! A pity you can't make use of the Quitsey Cottage. Are you not sorry you bought it? Floy, this year, will think it is not much use Blackwells owning property at M.V.! Do please give a name to Hobson's Choice - 'Rest Cottage' is stupidly Commonplace; give it an Indian name, or invent one that sounds like an Indian name. I think I had best go to bed - it is 10 p.m. and I have to be [off] up tomorrow at 6 to see what Agnes is doing! Good night and "good luck", so end many of Paul's letters, written just ere going to bed, whilst he smokes his pipe. Would that you could see Burr in his night gown! - An invention to prevent his biting a place on his side he has made sore. He looks so comically meek when ready for bed! 'Any thing acharmed, wanted a copy, and went straight off to the photographer's and ordered a duplicate of mine. Aunt B. is amused because I am not afraid of Major Combe - all because "he has taken to that boy of yours." That is just it. 19th. Here is St. Swithin giving us our third violent downpour today! Howard's birthday- we have wished him all good wishes, &, whilst a sheet of yours [?dries] I write a sheet to Howard. Just think of Howard being 18- it is almost unbelievable! Have you ever noticed what a marked resemblance there is between Howard's writing and yours? There is no news, literally, here. Aunt M. is pretty well. Enjoyed her visit to Frances and now misses her. Aunt Anna I have seen once since our return from Tunbridge Wells on the 2nd. shall each feel a little shy the first few moments after meeting- but it won't last. Aunt B can't think why I had a letter every day from Paul the last fortnight at Tunbridge Wells. I hope the good St. Swithin will not give us downpours when Paul comes, as he has, so far, every day since the 15th his Saintship's day. If we Paul & I dont go for some long walks we can talk this time much more freely. Bless the boy! It is odd how he feels that his is my property. I believe he really [begins to like me, and to trust me. I shall try for a photo of him, that if good, I will have copied to send you and Floy one each. Aunt B even yet can't, I think, quite make out why I am so fond of that boy. It does not the least matter: Aunt B. needn'tlove him, and I so seldom am emphatic and pronounced in my likings, that this is a case which Aunt B. will have to look upon as beyond her comprehension. Paul lent me a lovely photo of Miss Durant (his guardian), which some old friend had given him and I had it copied on China and a frame carved for it- it is a lovely photo and rejoices my heart daily. I shall have the boy's photo taken on China too. It makes it so soft, and almost, in appearance, like a drawing. Major Combe of Sedlescombe, who really started us off in quest of Paul once more, saw the photo of Miss D. who was very dear to him, and he was Rock House, St. Clement's, Hastings. My dear Alice, I am indeed sorry to hear you have been so pulled down. I do hope nothing will prevent your taking a full holiday. May a decent man marry Beth! - it is a dreadful responsibility on your shoulders. I do suppose in a way her marriage will add to your cares - especially as your Sarah was to leave. I hope the servant tangle will be settled satisfactorily for you! Don't you wish, when Howard enters Harvard, that they could live with you? H. boarding at Harvard during the week and returning to Pope's Hill for Saturday & Sunday? I should think a little experience of standing alone would do Howard no harm and test his principals! I had a peep at Aunt Anna this morning. I had gone in to see Aunt M. when Aunt A. appeared. I rose, said good morning - [*as not he may be in the U.S. whither he goes nearly every year. It is literally true, especially as Parliament is still sitting as late as this, that everybody will be out of town. Here in Hastings almost everyone we know is off to Scotland - Ireland - Norway - anywhere but at home! Winter and Spring*] [*Of course you do not send this circulating.*]how are you?" (A shrug!). Then I remarked - "Isn't it beautiful weather?" (Which remark was received with, Shrug 2, an elevation of both hands, and so, with literally not a word, Aunt A. turned and went!!) The weather treats us to sudden downpours nearly every day, but the wind is a glorious South wester, and the sea a constant delight to the eyes of an ex Pirate. Paul came down a fortnight ago. A horrid set of excursionists were down too - I hated them 'en masse', so did Paul. In the evening he and I went for a walk, whilst he smoked his cigar I should not have been aware he smoked, because he kept so carefully on the lea of me I did not smell it - and talked. He is a good fellow: he has had some pretty severe trials of his morals lately, and has come out well. My disgust wi[a]th the girl is great; he says I am "hard upon her", I am not. I know both sides fully, and it is Paul who has come out well, not the girl in this case, he had to keep her in the right way. He! younger than herself too! To think yourself good, and then just go to the verge of wrong-doing! And to give such an experience to a boy too! That a woman has no sense of honour will be the mildest thing he can think of her doings, for he and I considered her engaged already, which fact, had Paul been ever so much 'in-love', being a gentleman, would have been an absolute bar to him. Sunday morning Paul had a sail & a swim. In the afternoon deluges of rain, so we sat and read on the are the twins to see people and work in London. This is as dull as ditch-water, this letter. Have you heard what 'Kitty Barry' was like? I wonder if she is my "double". You should meet her and see! P.S. We have just heard that Rachel Rogers is to marry Sep. 3d Mr Watts widower of her Fenshaw's sister. He was very highly thought of by Arthur Atchison.terrace. It was vexing, for we had planned to see Aunt Anna & then take a walk, or rather, mainly a talk! In the evening, we sallied forth under umbrellas in a drizzle, to Aunt B's amazement. Today (Aug 11th) Paul is off to his Uncle's Mr Lee Childe, in France for five weeks. I want him here for his birthday - Oct 1st. I should like to go off with him to Oxford for his and my birthday, but I fear that will cost too much to be managed. I was to have gone up the 8th to London for the day to see Mrs O Brien, but there was a tremendous gale and rain here (it seems it only rained once in L.) as I telegraphed to her I wd not go up. I never thought of Paul, as he was at the War Office, but he, it seems went to the Station to wave me off, and, of course, could not find me! If Mr [O hannes?] comes over in Sep he will find London "Empty" not till Oct as people return. Prof. Bryce would be an invaluable friend, but just as likely Paul, bad boy, has "made a vow" not to have his photo taken - till he is on the verge of the grave! I go to London, D.V. next week, & hope to see the National Portrait Gallery & there is a picture of Sir Walter wh we used to say was like Paul. I'll put a photo of that if he still looks like Sir W. Yrs affy K.B. ROCK HOUSE, ST. CLEMENT'S HASTINGS. Aug 25th 94 My dear Alice, Do you know where the lines beginning. 'Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing," from which Beatrice Harraden takes the title of her story, are to be found? The Newcombes, Paul, and I, can't find them - the publisher here, says they are from Longfellow, but none of us can discover them after much search! If Longfellow, in what poem are they to be found? If you can't enlighten me, I shall ask Miss Harraden! Miss Botham-Edward said Longfellow, but she can not find the lines any more than the rest. Aunt M. also says "in L." but can't say where! taste for the trash to be had at [Mudies?] or the Circulating library. We have nothing here but Circulating libraries and the whole thing grows more and more distasteful every year. Yours affy K.B.Paul grew quite pink with wrath, at not being able to find the lines in any of my three copies of Longfellow. It amused me, he looked so like the baby Paul, determined to do a thing, hating to give in! Since my last I have had Lord Ormont. I hate it; and, while my wrath was at its freshest, I sat down and gave Jessie Newcombe my opinion of Lord Ormont, and such of the other Merediths as I had read. Three days later I had a letter from their Summer retreat at Unsmere, in Westmoreland, with notes from Mrs, Mabel, & Jessie Newcombe. I copy Mrs N's - "My dear Kitty. I must send you a few lines to tell you how heartily I endorse your remarks on 'Lord Ormont' and Meredith in general. Your criticisms are worthy of the review column of the Daily Chronicle, and dearly should I like to see them there. I had hoped Jessie put up with it longer. Then, dear old Son fails so rapidly, that it seems as though we might not have him with us long, & it is mean to desert him, he so much prefers having his Mistress to escort him! I am meditating extravagance. In London is a library called the "London Library" established to supply good books, standards, 10 volumes to town subscribers, 15 to Country. The subscription is $15 a year or $150 life subscription. We shall begin with 15 but very likely next year pay up to the sum to make it a life sub. One of the Life Members, Wm Hale WHite lives here, and I am going to look at his Catalogues to make sure, though I know now, that I want to be a Member. The Library is near Charing Cross and Paul's work and Chambers, so that, when I go to town I could always see him. There are nice parlours for ladies as well as gentlemen, & Mr Hale White says he uses it, when in town, as a Club. You see, with my ears, I need books, and I have noWe have no end of rain. Very bad for the harvest. Paul will get no shooting in France at this rate for there shooting can't begin, till the fields are reaped. He will have plenty of fishing at any rate as he has the Loire close at hand. Aunt B. goes next week for four days to visit Mrs. Woolcott Browne at Haslemere --the following week we have Miss Jebb for four or five days. All well here, except that I have a cold: I must take to being on the hills every morning in all weathers or I may get liable to colds again! You see we are trying to train a girl as housemaid & Aunt B. wants her to take the dogs out to spare me, but I miss the morning round of the hill so much I do not think I can would have been content to take the last volume "as read", but she is wishing to finish it, your review is a wholesome forerunner and guide. Punch had a very good parody on Lord Q. But I have neither time nor ability to write anything worthy to add to yours, even had I the wish, for this is only an inspiration of sympathy with your healthy mind. Long may you keep up such an intercourse and friendship with my Jessie. Always affectionately yours. H. H. Newcombe. I mean to send this note to Paul, he will be relieved, for it will allow him as it does me that now at least Mrs N. is awake to her daughter's character and also shew him that neither he nor I are blamed. Had P. been in serious disgrace with Mrs N. I must have been too, for he is regarded as 'my boy' completely. Mabel tells me, of the lovely old house they are inat Ensmere, which belonged in old days to Clarkson the Antislavery fighter. Jessie tells me how greatly her Mother liked my onslaught on Meredith. She says, among other things. "It amuses me not a little that the subject nearest your heart seems tabooed! I suppose you think I have forgotten it (no you don't, you said it was not easy to forget)." I did not in my last, of course, in the slightest refer to Paul, and this is what I get in answer! I have never said anything about it & be easy or not to forget. What queer devopments in a family do come! Luckily Mrs N. suggests nothing. She would probably be unjust to Paul, as he "dislikes his own sex," so said Mrs N. once. Did he but know he owes thanks to that boy for having sense and principle. ROCK HOUSE, ST. CLEMENT'S, HASTINGS. Sep: 29th 1894 My dear Alice, Very little goes on to report, I have not been anywhere except for house errands. Aunt B. pegs away at her 'life', Ethel Simmons came to make a fair copy thereof. I help by copying all letters of Aunt B's before the days of envelopes ascheap postage. Goodness me! What lengthy letters people did write then! And Aunt B's writing so minute - like this, in close lines, often on thin paper! My near- sightedness is useful in reading the minute writing. Ethel S. is greatly interested in the work - wishes she could have known Aunt B. in those days. Today I send off to London by parcels post, so timed that it cannot arrive till Monday morning, a box with a Smoking cap for Paul's birthday. Lily Rogers had done the embroidery nicely. As the cap came here from Italy in a solid wooden box, I think it must have been regarded with suspicion - perhaps of being an anarchist bomb - for the box was opened at Modane, the Italian side of the Mont Cenis tunnel, and again in London, of which facts I was only informed by remarks in Italian and English scored all over the wrapper! Very funny, for a poor innocent piece of embroidery to go through all that. I have not heard of[**Kitty Barry**] Paul, though he must be at the War Office - his leave expired a fortnight ago. I never ask him to come here, - if he wants to come, he knows he is welcome. Towards the end of October, or, in the early part of November, I go up to see Mary Lamb at Northampton. I must pass through London, but I do not now think, that I shall let the Newcombes know till I am safe returned here. They would want me to stay there going or returning, would want to ask Paul to meet me, and the last does not strike me wd be just the thing to do, under the circumstances. We shall see. How you have been speechifying! Love to all K.B. Private Rock House, St. Clement's, Hastings. Oct 17th 1894 My dear Alice, I send on Frances' note. She has moved one station nearer London. I sent Leon a telegram on his birthday (his 22nd) which happily he spent with his Mother. He is now off on a long voyage to bring up I suppose at the Dutch Indies, where, at one end of Sumatra, the Dutch have had a chronic war, the last 24 years! Just now there is an extra bad time amongsome of the Islands - the Dutch do decently in Java, but in the other Indies, are always in trouble with natives. Floy will like to see F's note. I sent you a card last week. J.N. came down here to nurse her eldest sister convalescent from her with rheumatic fever. So soon as she arrived I found she had been and was in active correspondence with Paul. I sometimes think J. is really almost idiotic, again she has gleams of sense I disapprove of her; I pity her; I like her - and again I can't trust her! There is such a mixture in her! I do believe she is a great flirt, perhaps is not troubled by P. but I do not think, love goes very deep. She avows to me now, that she told me about that sailor, to put me off the scent! It was effectual both with Paul and myself. Paul came down the 13th; J.N. made every arrangement (she was nursing Ada N.!) to walk with P. on Sunday to Winchelsea, not to be done under 7 or 8 hours - 9 miles there - going and returning by the Cliffs a twenty mile walk. I strongly objected to Paul as he begged me to meet J. at the Hastings Station (she is at St Leonards) Sunday and tell her. I did - she declared her sister "infinitely better," and that her mother knew of the proposed walk - what could I say then? J sent a note, from the stationto Ada saying "Kitty allows the walk with her friend Mr Harvey."! J. calls me St Kitty, & Sunday said I was a very "sober Saint." Paul is a dear good, honourable fellow. He likes J, never wants to marry her, but he is so lonely he does wish he cd have her as a friend. Of course, this walking business caused Aunt B. to open her eyes, and she spoke seriously to Paul - which he took very nicely. Just now Aunt B. is discoursing to Mrs Newcombe. J. poor girl, wrote me a frantic note this morning - she is as much in love (for the time) as she can be ; thinks it for life &c. I am sorry for her , for Paul, for myself - it is a miserable business, choose how it ends. Very shortly I go to Northampton, where a very warm welcome awaits me from Mary Lamb and Alan. Isn't this a stupidly worrying letter. All well here. Quite an outburst of American bright October days. Love to all K. B.Rock House Hastings New Years Eve! 94 My Dear Alice; Xmas past and gone and here is the eve of 1895! It seemed hard to believe it Xmastide, it was so mild, the grass so green and even monthly roses out on the wall of the house next to Miss Edwards. We took fruit to Aunts A. & M. and the books we had chosen to fulfill Aunt Emily's commission. Then we camehome and spread forth our gifts. Rock House library received the following from Aunt Bessie - a vol of Punch Pictures - Gulliver's Travels beautifully illustrated, - Mrs Gaskell's "Ruth" - a highly recommended vol of Sermons by the Vicar of Bexhill - 4 V. of Leslie Stephen's Hours in a Library - Deep Sea Fauna - Life of St Francis of Assisi, by Paul Sabatier - Whittaker's Almanack, this is a yearly purchase. Mrs Browne sent Aunt B. the Life of Miss Cobbe - good! I received Where is My Dog least like winter. Paul, who was to reach London from Paris yesterday, must have again encountered a fierce gale, for Friday, Saturday, & yesterday, again came furious gales. You should see the gorse on the East Hill & violets and primroses from our woods are so plentiful! We shall all pay for it by and by I suppose. Aunts A and M. about as usual. We are well. Old Don perfectly blind and Deaf, but so loving to his friends. He even tries to frisk[*Kitty Barry*] when he discovers both friends, as yesterday, were to walk with him. He trots over familiar ground, I giving his a gentle pat with a cane, now and then, to let him know where I am, or, speaking close to his ear, say, "here I am Dog!" 'No news' is quite true of these parts! With wishes to Papa & yourself for 'A Happy New Year' Yours affy, Kitty. from A.S.B. for which thanks; of course I know I shall see Don again, dear, faithful old friend that he is. Gertrude Collins sent me A Kentucky Cardinal - Jessie N. Lang's Essays in Little on various themes, she credited the book to "Katharine" and wrote, so she meant to call me for "many a mournful year", Mrs O'Brian a Selection of poetry, and Paul, Rossetti's poems. I think Rossetti most surely have been an opium eater! The sky was dull, but indoors we were cheerful. Sarah hadhad four young girls to Dinner, our Lilly, 2 Aunts A and M's maids, and had two of her nieces to tea &, quiet as we were, had an amazing rush of things to do before Xmas, all shops, except provision shops Closing Saturday 22 to Friday 28th. Of course, after sixteen years we have many poor people to whom we send gifts and visit, at Xmastide. We had fearful hurricane gales the five days before Xmas - Paul crossed to France the 22nd in a really terrific gale - I felt glad we had a new roof, our old one would certainly have gone in that gale! Today it is frosty, really our first day the