Showing 13 results

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Luckily his time in London this holidays coincides with the Trevelyans' return: he will be able to come to the Admiralty on the 18th [April] and try to be there for 11 am. Miss Bartlett (the matron) will be glad to have instructions about health, and asks what infectious diseases Bobbie has had. Thinks he mentioned that the school will 'meet after Easter on April 21st'; a master will always travel on the 2.05 train from Wixenford to escort boys whose parents wish it, but expects she will be able to bring Bobbie herself this first time. His wife joins him in 'kind regards'.

Wixenford, Eversley. - Glad that Bobby's report [originally enclosed] is again 'a satisfactory one': he has done 'well all round' and would have done very well with a 'little more briskness'. Feels his 'continued rapid growth' may be slowing progress, so has suggested to the Matron [Elizabeth Bartlett?] she should ask Mrs Trevelyan if he can take the tonic he took last year for a few weeks. His conduct has been excellent, and 'with the approval of all the masters' he has been given the senior boys' 'little privileges of walking alone etc'; thinks he has 'just the kind of character that grows with increasing responsibilities'. Thinks Bobbie intends to work hard and be higher in class by the end of term; he 'did decidedly best' in the Greek exercises they are just beginning.

Robert's place in class, with masters' comments, for Latin, French, Divinity, History, Geography and Arithmetic, with comments on English, Music, Drawing and General Conduct. Date for the beginning of next term given.

Robert's place in class, with masters' comments, for Latin, French, English, Divinity, History, Geography and Arithmetic, with comments on Music, Drawing and General Conduct. Date for the beginning of the holidays given.

[on mourning notepaper]:- Is glad to hear from her last letter that Aunt Annie is better; hopes they will soon come back to England. At school, they have 'done about half of [their] trials [exams], and most of the difficult ones'.

Hopes his father's 'tour in Cornwall was successful'. It has been raining very heavily, including one thunderstorm which made 'the greatest downpour [he has] ever seen'. Is 'sorry to say' that Hughy Butler has been caught smoking, and is 'now in the Lower Sixth'; his father is 'very unhappy, and talks of taking him away'. Is afraid Hughy 'will be in a worse row by the end of the term'. A subscription is being got up for Miss Bartlett [the school matron at Wixenford?] and he wants to get photographs of the boys who are leaving, so will need some more money. Hopes she 'will not think [him] expensive', but he had not factored in these expense and thought he would have enough.

Georgie is well; Robert does not think he has had his 'quarter-marks' yet. They 'forgot to take back the story of Benyon the substitute'.

Thanks his mother for her letter. Bramwell 'fell down the stairs this morning, and he looked so pale' that Robert 'fainted in prayers... and fell down', and Mr Arnold carried him to Miss Bartlett [the matron]'s room; a lot of other boys almost fainted too; Robert recovered in five minutes. Thinks he can manage without his 'buterflie thing [sic] and bat till then', though cricket has started. The new boys are Clive, Mete mi[nor], Holt mi[nor], Davenport and Jameson. Asks his mother if she can send his 'breeding cage', as he has a small Tiger [moth] caterpillar. His cold has almost gone, and he is going out.

Forgot to mention in his last letter that Miss Bartlett says his coat does not fit him but that the tailor says it does. The editors of the paper [the school newspaper] are Leveson and Hicks, but 'Mr Evans really does everything'. The Eton match is on the 28th. Almost everyone, including Robert himself, was ill last night, but he was not bad. 'The answers of the riddles [in the school newspaper?] are in next number'. Adds a postscript hoping that Charlie is all right at Harrow.

Is sorry his mother is unwell; glad it is not serious. A boy called Weston wants to swap butterflies with him; asks if she thinks any would break if she brought his box from home when she comes. Is glad Charlie 'has got those eggs' [also a reference to butterfly collecting?]. The school began bathing on Thursday and the weather is 'beautifully fine'. Adds a postscript saying that he has not caught any butterflies yet, but has a 'Gold tail moth caterpillar'. Hopes his father, Aunt Margaret, and Georgie are well. Has got enough medicine, but Miss Bartlett said his mother might as well bring another 'bottle of Pancraticus, not the milky stuff'.

Hopes they will begin football in a few days. Miss Bartlett says Georgie's boots fit him; both Georgie and Robert are 'getting on very well'. Mr A[rnold] lent Robert a book called The Myths of Hellas which is 'very interesting'. Georgie is still going to bed late and 'seems very well'. They have finished Iphigenia [by Euripides?]; does not know what they will study next but perhaps Homer. The weather has been 'very fine and pretty hot' today. Does not much matter about his shoes now as football will start soon, but they ought to be found for next year. The [general] 'election will be exciting'; hopes 'we [the Liberals] will get in'. Work with Mr Arnold is 'rather harder', but not as bad as Robert thought it would be; Arnold is 'not always so baity as he used to be'.

Mrs Barlett [the matron at Wixenford] wants to know whether Robert should continue taking his medicine. There is a boy 'who is a landleager here called Hugo Montgomerie' [Hugh Montgomery]. He goes 'up the backboard' twice a day. The 'fourth class has been destroyed by measels [sic]'.'Gest' [Guest] is the head of the school, who is going to be a mid[shipman]; Borne is at the bottom. Asks her to ask 'Boar' ['Booa': Mary Prestwich] and Miss Martin for his seeds.

Thanks his mother for her letter. Has read [his father's] "Holiday among some old friends" and "Horace at Athens", which are 'very interesting'; does not think he can understand the others yet. Thinks they will have a match with Mortimer next Saturday week. Hopes Grandpapa [Sir Charles Trevelyan or Robert Philips] and Sophie [Wicksteed?] are better, and that Georgie is well now. Thinks that everyone has recovered from the chicken pox now. Glad that Charlie is getting on well. Has given the note to Mrs Bartlett [the school matron].

Thanks his parents for their letters. The [cricket] match began yesterday and will go on until Tuesday. Thinks the picnic will be on Friday. Will send his mother four roses he has got in his garden. Mrs Bartlett [the matron] says the medicine has 'put some colour' into his face and he should go on taking it. Has caught three caterpillars; 'Levson' [Granville Leveson-Gower ?] says he thinks they are peacocks, so Robert has given them away since they are common and small. His other caterpillars seems to be doing well; people think it will turn into a moth. Mr Arnold says the back board has made Robert's back straighter already, that he is fourth out of five in arithmetic and was bottom in French last week but is now second. Is working alone in Latin to 'get up' his grammar. Goes to bed late now, and gets up late.

Thinks he would 'rather go to Buxton', as he will perhaps 'never go there again' and he does not know 'where or what Castle Howard is, or anything about it'. The school were 'licked' by Farnbrook [at cricket], but 'not quite as badly as by Hartley Row', who forced Wixenford to follow on; Robert was out for a duck in his first innings, as he hit his wicket, and got three runs in his second. They played the Eton boys last Monday, and would have beaten them if a couple of Wixenford boys had not had to make up the Eton side, one getting about eighty runs; Robert scored six or seven. The 'hols are close'. He and G[eorgie] are 'quite well'. Has given Miss Bartlett the letter.