NAWSA General Correspondence Titterton, Frances 1929-40 Please return Feb - 10-1929 - My dear Alice Thank you for your always welcome letter. You give me so much news I only wish I could do the same, but our life is so very quiet and contrary to the French proverbe - Our days follow and are always the same. The winter is passing and the weather although dull is not so cold. For several mercies we are most thankful - It is nice of Kitty to remember my Father. He was really a good man but many people did not remember him nor understand him. He was unhappy in Holland. All his old friends were dead or scattered over the world and he was too American to ever settle again in his native land. I remember a lady saying to him "How perfect your Dutch is, if it were not for a slight accent I should have thought you were Dutch"! but Holland was so stiff in those days that it was difficult for Americans to get accustomed to its ways. Harry has coughed, has suffered from the cold, and would be glad to leave England altogether, but we are too old. I shall be 77 in July and although I am really rather 3/ wonderful for so many years, still it is a great age, and useless it seems to me to commence a new life entirely. I am just now very worried about Leon and family. He wrote me Mary, my grand daughter had had bad influenza with high temperature and although better she was still in bed and very weak. I received that letter on Jan. 14, and since then nothing. My life has been one worry for years, over one thing or another and I suppose we remain so until the end. Thanks for the copy of the letter to Miss MacKenly. My maid Aimee was very 4/ pleased to be remembered in your Xmas greeting and she and our four-footed children send their respectful thanks. Our cats Bogie and Dinky only need speech - they make you understand just what they want and not one in the house has the courage to refuse them no matter how unreasonable the demand. I have not been well all this winter, arms and stomach, the last is easier but the arms are still painful. Our love dear Alice to you and Kitty. Your affectionate and attached old friend. Frances Feb. 27, 1929 My dear Alice Thank you for your letter, but I am very sorry to hear you have trouble with your eyes, and do hope it is nothing serious. Another cold spell is upon us and what we spend in [*My maid is ill with influenza, it is raging in England.*] trying to keep warm is ruinous. We are never really warm until we are in bed. When I first came to [?] I wondered what sort of a country I had come to. No country, at least where I have been has been so badly warmed, and to get warm I took my She will be 11 on the 5th of March. She is a very sweet child I am told, and bright. She has taken the Dutch neat- ness.Her letters are as neat as it is possible to be and Leon tells me she always reminds him of me. She is always putting things in order for every body. The boy Leon will be 18 on the 13th of March and is very anxious to help his Father. He gives up most of his holiday to work at his college, where under those circumstances he is paid and he buys his clothes with the money earned, and he and Mary always bank any money we are able to send them. How I do wish I could see them. It is a great grief to me to be so far away and in all probability I shall never see any of them again. The voyage is too expensive for either of us. Thank Kitty for thinking of Harry. Our love to you both. Your attached old friend, Frances bath at night as hot as I could bear it and have continued every since. Still we are better off than a good many people so we must not grouse. What a dreadful thing to have bugs in your house. I had no idea one was so pestered. I do not remember that there were any in my Fathers house. That makes me think of a riddle "When is a bed like a small carriage? When it is a little "buggy"! I enclose a snap-shot of my grand daughter Mary. She was 10 and a half when it was taken. Frances Titterton Sep. 28, 1930 My dear Alice Thank you and Kitty for your very kind letter of Sep 17. The loving affection of life-long friends is very dear to me and above all in my sorrow and continued anxiety. And all my thanks for the Pioneer of [*We have our black cat who weighs 16 pound and 7 ounces.*] Woman's Rights. The souvenirs of your dear Mother and Father are many indeed and I feel that it is and was a great privelidge to have known so intimately people of such worth and help to mankind. I am very flattered for the kind words that I shall put in the [Denniss's?] was peaceful and very pleasant. The whole family did all they could to make me happy, and I was in away, but my mind was with my poor Harry, who neither gets better nor worse, only takes no interest in anything and worries over [*friend Frances] much that is quite unnecessary. It is certainly a very hard case not only for himself, but for all who surround him. I did not know that Ethel had lost any children but I knew there was mental trouble. I knew the mother of her husband but never knew there was any thing mental in his family. I think it is one of the worst trials that can be sent to any one. What is the weakness of Florence's son and the trouble of her daughter-in-law? My daughter-in-law tells me nothing of the state of her money matters, but complains. I cannot help. It is quite as much as I can do to make the two ends meet. I have had to sell once and only hope it will not happen again. Life is hard dearest friend, hard to bear without a murmur. Our love to you both. Your ever attached old the first page of the Biography. There is so much red type about the grave that I am not sure it will ever be set right. It does not stand in Kitty's name and they want a copy of Dr's will, however I have seen the people in authority and the question is to be put before the committee some time in Oct. and I will tell you the results. Thank you for all the trouble and I am afraid expense you have had. It never entered my mind there would be any trouble, or of course I should never have even mentioned the question. My stay with Oct. 31, 1930 T My dear Alice Your letter and Kitty's of Oct. 22 just arrived and in haste I answer to say all has been arranged, and the double lot in the Hasting cemetery now stands in my name. Please thank Kitty again for me and say I will answer her letter very shortly. My life is full of anxiety and sorrow for it is pitiful to see my poor Harry so helpless, not entirely, but he can hardly walk, and is so nervous, and depressed. What of the kind since we lived here and what is strange they are in one part of a road and not in the other. I hear occasionally from my grand children but not often. I can do nothing for them. We can not always make the two ends meet. The want of money when there is illness is dreadful. Our love to you both. Your ever attached old friend Frances [*Frances Tillerton*] a horrible many that Estcourt is, wehn I was engaged to Harry he wrote to Miss Marian that Harry had such a small position that he would never get a pension. What business had the man (beast) to meddle in my affairs and [slow?] to write an anonymous letter. It seems to me horrid for if you have some thing to say why not say it openly. The weather has been warm, is now turning colder but we have had and are having a plague of flies, the first time I have seen any thing Frances Tillerton Feb. 27, 1931 My dear Alice I am always so glad to hear your news but sorry to think Kitty has been ill. At our age we cannot expect to be any too well, it is even wonderful we are still here. I always want to answer at once, but I am a very busy woman [*Our love to you both. Your attached old friend Frances. Florence is as [jolly?] as ever I see.*] as well as a very sad one. My poor Harry does not get any better, is always so depressed and has now a great deal of difficulty in getting up and moving. I feel sure he will never get well, and am obliged to have a night nurse it was too much for me to be on duty day and night. My not bring in any thing at present makes things very hard for my daughter- in-law and the children and alas! I am quite unable to give them help of any kind. My life at it's best has been full of sorrow and trouble, thank Heaven I am still strong and well really wonderful for very great age. I will be 79 in July, and really do not feel even 50. How I wish I could see you but that will never be in this world. I wish I could write some thing bright but . . . Harry has great joy in our two really beautiful black cats, but he takes no interest in anything else, wishes to read to all day. good brother-in-law has been with us for two months, he is such a great moral help to me and helps me to understand my money matters, of course I shall have to do some thing as with the expenses of all the extra help. I need our income is not large enough, and I would think at least [?]2000 in an annuity I am very sad to have to do it on account of my poor grand children, but we must live, and life is very expensive. The news from Australia is bad all is in a dreadful state there as you will have seen from the news papers. My sister in law will was so unjust and investments that do. July - 17 - 1932 My dear Alice Thank you and Kitty for your good wishes for my 80th birthday. I am going to my friend Mrs. [Denniss?] for that day, and shall be with her for 5 weeks, and then go to stay Love to you both dear Alice Your attached old friend Frances with Lieutenant Commander Titterton to make the acquaintance of his four yound daughters, and his mother-in-law Lady [????ford], he has always had his mother-in-law living with him and they never quarrel rather I admire Anna Beldon my love to her wonderful I think. Things are sad with my grand children in Australia, and I am unable to help them in any way, more than ever I wish economise now that the conversion of the War Loan has come to 3 1/2% instead of 5% and almost [*Frances Titterton*] every penny I possess is in the War Loan of course I now need very little for myself, and I hope to remain where I am as long as I live. Fortunately my sight is good, and I am fond of reading and needlework. I enclose pho: of my poor Harry's grave. Oct. 29. 1933. My dear Alice Thank you for all your letters and the news of you also interesting to me and your photograph with your hood on. How I should love to see you in your Island home, but that can not be, not that I could not travel for even with my 81 years I could well go, as I am perfectly well and strong, only money does not allow me more than just to live very quietly in my tion this next time, she works very hard, so there is every chance for her. I send a little [?] which may amuse Kitty. I also sent you yesterday a photograph with my short hair. I wonder what you will think of it. Love to you both. Yours affte Frances Oct.5.1933 THE MORNING Post S O S for "Albert the Ratcatcher" SEQUEL TO A CAT'S "TRAIN-JUMPING" Where is Albert, the terror of rats in the West Riding? For tow years official rat-catcher to the L.N.E.R. at the great marshalling yard of Wrenthorpe, in Yorkshire, Albert on duty took a double shift by day in searching every wagon that was opened for rats and mice. At night he roved the miles of siding so effectively that now not even the smallest mouse remains, and only when all his official engagements had been fulfilled would he venture into the town on private pleasure. Unfortunately, Albert had one fault, or maybe it comes from his excessive devotion to duty. He was always train jumping, and turning up after weeks of absence from depots at the other end of Yorkshire with the highest references and expressions of gratitude for his activities. on August 12 he went off once too often on a train without a ticket, and nothing since has been heard of him in Wrenthorpe. An S.O.S. has accordingly been issued for him by his official superior, Mr. R. A. Daws, Yardmaster of Wrenthorpe, in the newest number of the L.N.E. R. Magazine. Albert, he states, is a tom-cat, white, with light and dark grey markings, slim build, aggressive, especially towards strangers, good at tricks, and always first in a wagon when opened. Will anyone who finds him, from King's Cross to Aberdeen, restore him to his sorrowing mate and bereaved marshalling yard? do the train conductors as I never walk if I can do other wise. Things are looking a little better in Australia, and I only hope for my grandchildren also. Mary will be given a position in a Bank if she gets through her [?]. english home. I work a great deal mostly for the babies of the poor and then I read a good deal and go to the Pictures while there yesterday. My pocket was picked for the first time in my long life. October 5, 1933. Hotel Loud Speakers Licensees to Pay Royalties Music Copyright Infringement Judges' Ruling in Test Case The test case brought to decide whether reproduction of music by means of loud- speakers in hotels and public-houses for the entertainment of customers or guests is an infringement of copyright was decided by the Court of Appeal yesterday in the affirmative. The decision must have a widespread effect throughout the country. The appeal came before the Master of the Rolls (Lord Hanworth) and Lords Justices Lawrence and Romer. Hammond's Bradford Brewery Company, as proprietors of the George Hotel, Brighouse, had appealed from the decision of Mr. Justice Maugham in favour of the Performing Right Society of George-street, Hanover-square, W., for alleged infringement of copyright. I am furious, as the purse taken was a dear souvenir, but there “there is no use crying over spilt milk". One of the attendance of the Cinema lent me a 1/- to get home with, they all know me, as May-24-1934 Dear Alice, Will you give Kitty my sympathy with my love. I can understand how she feels, the lose of a Pet is like loosing a child and if I outlive my cats, I will never have any more. Kitty remembers [*not take. Love to you both Affectionately, Frances*] members much about our youth, so do I, it is all much clearer than the things of the present day. On the 19th of this month was the 3rd anniversary of my poor Harry's death; I went to the cemetary, and had flowers put upon the grave, it is when finished is to have a position in the Comercial Bank of Adelaide. She was 16 in Mar: My grand son has two rooms and cooks and looks after him self. I help a little, but it is only a little for I have only enough to keep myself in the most simple way, and nothing under the sun would make me live above my income. My ife is a very quiet one with my maid who has been with me for 19 years. I work, read, and go to the Pictures when there is any thing worth seeing The Weather is very very fine for the moment. They have made a covered promenade on the front where you can sit protected from all weathers, and have full view of the sea. Opinions are very divided on the subject. I like it although we poor rate payers much bear the [?] costs, but I suppose it is good for the Town. I am delighted you have the award of for preeminent services of human welfare - it is only natural you should get it my dear. Don't worry about me. I am wonderfully well for my 82 years, and do not need much sleep nothing would make me sleep but drugs, and drugs I will a lovely place, and so peaceful. I think of the 40 years we were together, the happiest of my life, but I could not wish my dear man back again, his sufferings in the last two years of his life were too great, he was a good man, most honourable, so I Will send permanent address of my grand children when hope his place on the other side is pleasant one. I often wonder how much longer I shall be here. The House of my grandchildren is broken up the - the Bungalow is let, my daughter- in-law boarding near Adelaid, she works very hard at her studies, and I get one, have asked to have one in case of my deaths July - 9 - 1934 Dear Alice I wish I could give any sort of an address which I should feel sure would be permanent for my grandchildren, but just at present the family is separated and I am not sure how all letters will be forwarded from here letters would reach them, but here are the present ones. Miss Mary Gerken - c/o Mrs. A. E. Peterson 165 Wattle Street Malvern - Adelaide South Australia Leon Gerken, Esq. R. D. A. No. 8 Pasquin Street St. Leonards Genely stated they should return thanks. The weather is beautiful, never in my 43 years of life in England have I seen such a year, but the question of water is becoming very serious, and [?] some parts of the country water is being sold. Hastings at this time of the year is very disagreable we get trippers from the East End of London, a wild disorderly lot, so smelly, and although we do not suffer so much in St Leonards, I shall be glad to get away to my friend Mrs. Denniss in their pretty little country seat near Southampton. I go on the 20th of this month to be with them for my 82nd birthday, and hope to remain until 1st Sep. When I return home to receive my brother in law Sidney who spends some weeks with me and sets my money matters in order, my income has been greatly reduced as the War bonds now only pay 3 1/2 % instead of 5%. I am always afraid of spending too much, but try not to worry too much. Kitty flatters me when she says 3/ I was "a dear little thing", it seems to me I was very willful and selfish. I work and read --am now making scarfs for the Life-Boat men there are needed 1 thousand and forty for the country, then I also make little vests for the new born, and so my days pass; I have three cats, one weighing over 25 pounds who is to go in a show for his size my maid will sit with him half of the day and I the other half as he is very [t??ned]. Love to you both Frances South Australia How long the children will remain at those addresses I do not know. Their house has been let for some time and my daughter-in-law has gone to Melbourne to see her mother, so the family is completely separated for the moment. Of course my Leon knew all about the Blackwells, but I doubt if the children do, and although I appreciate very much Kitty's kind thoughts of them I am afraid with my son no longer with them whether they would under- Feb 7-1940 My dear Alice I was so glad to get your good wishes bringing back to me the many happy days we had together in our young days. All goes on very quietly here, my granddaughter cannot stand the English climate - She is not strong, and has had cold upon cold, so is returning to Australia on the 15th of this month. I am nervous about the voyage but she is determined to go and her Fiancé is going with her I shall be glad when they feel they can marry as I do not you know I feel to think you are blind and never knew you had been told to take care of your eyes - I am so well and strong only my memory for the present day is a nuisance. I do all the shopping for my small house. and live very quietly with my maid I have had since 1914. We get all we need but this the 4th War I am living in seems far worse than the others. I knit for the "boys" for that is what they really only are. In the last war I knit 619 prs. of socks but that was in four years but I hope this War will not last long enough for me to knit so may. Some times I am rather sad. I am much alone and do not make friends easily, but I have so much to be thankful for that it is very wrong to complain I think I would to go back for a few months. I am quite capable to travel alone, but here people would think I had become raving mad. With love- I am dear Alice always your attached old friend Frances like her to live with her Mother. I have read that Irene Dunne intends to make a Film of Dr. Elizabeth called "The First Woman Doctor". It would be rather, I think [rather] interesting for her to know that the first baby Dr. helped into the world in her private practice was myself. The Blackwells, Alofsens and Dummers were always so much together and My Grand Father Dummer considered the Blackwell girls always as his own. Dr. always told me that Miss Dunne is sure to go to you for details, and I send just who I am in case you liked to mention about me- I cannot tell. [*Frances Titterton*] My dear Alice Thank you so much for all the trouble you take for me and I only wish before I die I might see you once more, but that cannot be. I try hard to bear all that is sent to me but there are times that I feel all is impossible - Kitty speaks of the American voices, indeed for the English they are not pleasant but I remember the beautiful voice of your mother as if it were only yesterday that I heard it. Oh! the happy times of childhood that never come again. Your loving and attached old friend Frances June-18-1936 Dear Alice I have just received your card, Poor Kitty is at rest at last and had she not had the great and loving care you I shall be 84 in one month. gave her, she would have gone long ago. She was, or would have been 89. She was always a sufferer from blindness, and trembled so, it has always been A wonder to me how she clung to life, but she seemed to get enjoyment when others would have wished them selves dead. I hope you will go to Martha’s Vineyard and with rest feel stronger and better for Kitty must have been a great anxiety to you In haste Ever your affectionate old Frances Frances Alofsen born July 22nd 1852 in Jersey City, state of New Jersey, U.S.A. I wish I may live to see the Film. F.T. P.T.O First marriage - 1841 - to Yohan adolpe Gerken. Second marriage to Harry Titterton, in 1891 - Widow in 1931 - It all may or may not be interesting F.T. (picture) Mary Frances Catherina Gerken Age 10 and a half Australia Nov. 1948 Harry going to town bad Tuterton Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.