Showing 6 results

[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Thanks his mother for her letter, which he got this morning. Is 'getting on very well' in his form, taken by Mr Glazebrook; thinks there is a 'very good set in it'. Is still with Mr S- for science. Thinks 'the pond is alright now'. They [he and Charlie] both much enjoyed the fruit. Is glad 'Grandpapa is so nearly all right now' and has been able to return to the Park [his house]. Is enjoying 'footer very much' and usually plays every day. Is now doing drawing and has so far had one lesson; thinks he may perhaps 'be able to learn something'. The weather is still fine, hopes it will stay that way. They will be having fires soon. Will find a Shakespear[e] 'very useful', as he will read it when he has 'nothing to do'.

Adds a postscript saying they had 'house-singing yesterday, which was great fun'. Is starting to play 'squash-racket'.

[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Was 4th this fortnight; thinks Charlie was 11th. Expects she has heard that Charlie got his fez 'at a second eleven [match]; Davison got his at the same time. Thinks Charlie 'quite deserved it', as he would 'certainly have got it if he had played in the match' [but was recovering from illness so could not]. Went to tea with Houson the Sunday before last, and with [Main Swete?] Walrond, 'a Weldonite in the sixth form', this Sunday; Hicks, who is in Walrond's house, was also there. Walrond is 'very nice indeed' and they had 'great fun'. Is going to tea with Glazer [M. G. Glazebrook?] next Sunday which will be the fourth one in a row he has been out to tea since he went to [J.W.?] Cunningham before.

They are soon going to have a 'trial on Pope's Iliad; this 'counts into the fortnight' and makes a great difference to the marks, so he has 'read it up carefully' and found it 'very interesting'. Around four boys in his form 'have been caught cribbing'. There was a 'concert in speecher [the Speech Room]' last Friday by the band of the Coldstream Guards. Weldon's [house] beat Bozy's [Bosworth Smith's?] today 5-0. His own house 'nearly beat Weldon's' in their match, so they 'cannot be very bad this year'. Hopes his father is 'quite well'.

[On mourning paper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S. W.]:- They had their Homer paper this morning; thinks he 'did a pretty good one', and that he will not come out low in the form. Mr [Frederic?] Myers gave a lecture about Nelson in 'speecher' yesterday evening; does 'not think it was a success, though some of it was rather interesting'. Asked Bowen if there would be a holiday on Thursday, but he said it would be on Saturday.

Went to 'tea with Glazer [Mr Glazebrook] on Sunday'; he 'talked a great deal about Darwin' and was interesting. [Nugent] Hicks is doing very well and 'comes out top of Shipper's'. The boy who beat Robert last fortnight [in the marks] was [Frank Staverton?] Beeching; Robert does not think he will do so again. Is glad his father has 'refused to stand for Brighton [in the General Election?]', as he supposes he would not get in.

[On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S. W.]:- They arrived all right on Wednesday, though hears that Charlie lost his bag; doesn't know yet whether he has got it back. Robert got his 'remove', and is now in Mr Glazebrook's form; Howson takes Glazebrook's old form, the 3rd Fifth. Mr Holmes's funeral was last Thursday [28 Apr]: they all 'sat in church for a long time, and it was great rot [struck through] very dull'. Mr Graham is taking Holmes's house for now; Mr Griffith will probably take it next term

Had a 'very good game yesterday'; thinks he will probably be able to get a game in the second eleven every half-holiday. Hopes his father is well. There are several new boys in his house, including [Gerald] du Maurier. Robert is 'getting on very well'.

[On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.]:- Apologises for being 'so long' in writing to his mother this week. Has just got a copy of the Latin prose, which has 'to be shown up in about a month's time, so there is no hurry'. Has not yet got the verse, but it will be given out in a few days. Got his spectacles, which he likes very much, and thinks 'the spring wires a great improvement'. Went to tea with Charlie last Sunday; had 'a very good tea, eggs and bacon', and Charlie looks 'very well'. Robert got a game [of cricket] yesterday, and scored four runs. Hopes his father is well; would like to see his speech on literature and supposes that it will be in the newspapers so will try to find it.

Is 'getting on all right in Glazer's form', but does not know where he will be placed. Is working hard at gymnastics, and hopes to 'get [his] B before the end of the term'. Has given up thinking about his epigram, as he could not write a 'really good one', and will concentrate on the fifth-form verse and prose. Will enter the reading prize, as it 'takes no time, and does not want any preparing'.

[On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.:]- Thanks his mother for her letter, which he received yesterday, and for the cod-liver oil. Did not 'come out well [placed in his form] this fortnight': was only eleventh. Had not had time to 'act up' to his father's advice in order to make any difference in last fortnight's place, but now all the prize exercises are done, he ought to 'make a distinct improvement'.

Mr Bowen spoke to Robert on Thursday night, and 'seemed as convinced of ever of [Robert's] dishonesty' [see 45/189], but Robert 'thought it best to agree with him' as advised. Bowen said he was very glad about Robert's success but 'thought his accusations more important'; he also stopped Robert's absit, and though Robert thought this unfair he said nothing 'for fear of making a quarrel'. Hopes that 'in time [Bowen] will find out he is wrong', and in the meantime Robert will follow his father's advice.

Went to tea with Mr Glazebrook yesterday. Has to choose his prize soon; has not decided yet, but will get 'some book that will be useful... now, such as the conquest of Mexicoe [sic], or something that [he] could read in the holidays'. Does not think he has much chance of the prose [prize], as he 'finished it rather in a hurry], but 'got the verse done all right'. Their house match started on Saturday; they are beating 'Stoggies [Stogdon's house], while Watson's are beating Bozzies.