Item 147 - Letter from Anne Thackeray Ritchie to Henry Sidgwick

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Declares that she is 'feebly going about begging for a few ideas'. Refers to some old proofs from about fifteen years ago, and to a little volume of old essays, one of which is called Toilers and Spinsters. Her father gave the name to the latter, and she has decided to call the book after it. Reports that the previous day she went to call upon 'a few Spinsters and Toilers', and that 'a rather nice one in spectacles' told her that she thought 'the Camb'ge Exs had done a very great deal for their Schoolmistresses [ ] and ask for certificated spinsters to teach in their schools'. Intends to rewrite the essay, and recounts that the previous day [Blanchie] Cornish had unconsciously given her 'a little theme in [ ] about wanting emphatic life', and this made her 'travel off to Cambridge and wonder whether there wasn't something to say about the girls who have grown up since the little essay was first written'. States that they arrived there a fortnight previously and will be going home very soon. Hopes to see Sidgwick before long, and hopes that he had a pleasant holiday. Reports that she saw '[their] bride' the previous day for a minute, but hasn't yet seen the Cornishes.