Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
- PETH/3/133
- Item
- 9 Oct. 1912
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Backset Town House, Henfield, Sussex.—Postpones a lunch engagement.
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Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Backset Town House, Henfield, Sussex.—Postpones a lunch engagement.
Carbon copy of a letter from F. W. Pethick-Lawrence to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Is still investigating her inquiry as to whether Gladstone made a certain remark about agricultural labourers.
Index-card in the name of Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Letter from Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Women’s Cosmopolitan Club, 133 East 40th Street (New York).—Has given a speech at Miss Wald’s settlement and prepared her speech for Friday. Christabel Pankhurst’s meeting was not a success. Discusses plans for her tour.
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Transcript
Women’s Cosmopolitan Club, 133 East 40th Street
Oct 29 {1}
Dearest. I’ll begin a letter now, as it will have to be posted tomorrow to go by the Saturday Mail. I shall send you a week-end letter by cable after the Meeting: so you will have that news before you get this letter. I have made a very rapid recovery & everybody has been angelic[.] I havent missed anything important[.] I was bundled out of bed into my clothes & into a taxi to attend a Dinner & Reception afterwards at Miss Wald’s Settlement on Tuesday night—put on a bed in a dark room between the events—made my speech with which everybody expressed themselves delighted & bundled back into a taxi before the people left their chairs. Yesterday Mrs Blatch’s Dinner in my honour was postponed till next week—& I had a quiet day in my room to save my throat for Friday. My temp: was still nearly 100 yesterday. This morning I felt much better & got up & went downstairs to breakfast. For I must harden up a bit for Friday. My temperature is now normal & I feel I need fresh air & exercise. I have been so frightfully much drugged with aspirin & pyramidon to bring down temperature, that I feel dazed & numbed—& I must get back to more normal conditions[.] I have written out my speech & a typist is making 20 copies of it—& I shall send you one. If you like to abridge it or publish it as it stands, you can (but I dont see any occasion)[.] “Votes” is too small now for the reproduction of speeches—& for a pamphlet we have no audience unless one develops in the meanwhile. The Harbens might like to see it—and some of my friends including Mary Neal & Doctor Chapman & Elizabeth Robins. I have not at present had any new light upon the war from the American Papers. All the opinion I have read, or encountered is on the side of the Allies. If there is any German sympathy it is lying low[.] Nothing illuminating! But remember all I have seen of New York is three days inside my bedroom.
The weather has been perfectly lovely the whole time—clear & blue with brightest sunshine.
My friends here are very warmly reminiscent of you. Miss Wald (the Jane Addams of New York) in introducing me on Tuesday night spoke your name saying you were honoured & admired over here with deepest recognition of the stand you have taken & the work you have done.
Have just been out for a short walk up along 5th Avenue to Broadway & back. The Club gives on Lexington Avenue on one side, the entrance being in East 40th St. Its the nicest place, (barring Clements Inn & The Mascot) in which I have ever stayed. Both S. & I have a bathroom & dressing room as well as a bed-sitting room to ourselves—& the appointments, & facilities are absolutely perfect.
I am booked up with a delightful programme ahead—though a very easy one. But I will tell you of these events as they come off. I am not able to tell you of any fixtures outside New York yet—there have been many “nibbles”—but I think things are hanging fire until after Friday. Everybody of course wants to get me for nothing & our previous correspondence in connection with our tour is rather embarrassing. People write & say “you said you would be willing to help a Suffrage Society”[.] November is a frightfully awkward month as I told you—& C.P. & A.K are a complication because they are ready to go anywhere for their expenses & hospitality. Feakins still thinks if I could give him time, he could get me a fine tour—but he is being cut into every way by the present concatenation of circumstances—& I have not promised him December. I do want to know if you would be very grieved if I did send you a cable later, to say I should like to stay on over Christmas. I may never feel the least inclined to do it but you cant say anything in a cable when you do send it—that is why I want to know before the possibility crops up, what your feelings on the matter are. Its much too early to form any judgment yet—but if my speech does catch on—& I think you will consider it a speech that might catch on—opportunity might occur to go further & further West—possibly to the Coast even. Friends & hospitality I should find everywhere[.] People are overwhelmingly hospitable & warm. Dont say anything about this to anybody else please[,] as the suggestion might not crop up at all.
If you want to know what I feel—well—frankly I should like it immensely. I find that you need not work any harder than you choose[—]you have only to say what you want & what you dont want. Its “play” to me after the W.S.P.U & compared to Emergency Corps. And I want to know much more of the people who interest me enormously.
There is nothing to bring me back to England except you. So if you will either join me or be happy & content without me, I shall feel free if it ever comes to a choice!
Susan had her letters brought on in the Franconia by arranging with the Purser, she hasnt got them yet, & I dont think the boat has arrived. I have not yet received any English mail. Love to all friends. A hug for my old Sweetheart. Ever your own
Patz
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{1} This day was a Thursday.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
(Steyning Police Station, and) Backset, Henfield, Sussex.—Describes her visit to the police station to register as an American. Recalls her stay with the Pethick-Lawrences in London.
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Transcript
Oct. 30. ’14
Backset, Henfield, Sussex
My dear Mr Lawrence:
You have been wondering—or no, you will have realized why I have not written more than that line of thanks for the cabled news.
I wont† go into any boring details, but I haven’t been up to much. I must put off making any further plans for a few days longer. I had to turn out today—grey & drizzling—for what do you think? To take the train to Steyning & to register myself as an American. Here I sit in the Steyning Police Station waiting for the return of Supt. Airs from Lancing—tho why he is in Lancing after saying in reply to my letter that I was to come with as little delay as possible, I leave you to —
Later
At that moment he came in but has again gone out to see to some one else. I have often won-dered how your book is prospering. Dont you find it very difficult in these days to concentrate yr. thought? I do ‥ & yet the imaginary world is a refuge at times from the real. We are lucky, you & I, to have two.
Oh these Jacks in office! ‥ this creature with the waxed mustachios & the air of being Ruler & Guide to the Universe … has been somewhat impertinent & I am ruffled. I wd have said these were more German than English manners. I wait now for a cab for the rain is heavier now.
Home again
This letter was to be more than anything my warm & never forgetting thanks for those days in that magical island of peace & comfort in the midst of Babylon—tho’ Babylon wasn’t a sea as I seem to be making out. There is something special about 119—I like to remember what you told me of its history . . . & quite sure am I, that the spirit that went to the gift has taken up its abode there, to rest & make glad not only the woman it was dressed for but her friends. And yours, may I say? I am too exhausted to write Miss Start tonight as I intended. But tomorrow.
Yours most sincerely,
Elizabeth Robins.
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† Sic.
Carbon copy of a letter from — (secretary to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence) to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Mrs Lawrence has cabled the results of the suffrage referenda in the United States (see 8/14), which contradict the reports in the English papers. Gives details of Mrs Lawrence’s itinerary.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Ladies’ Athenaeum Club, 31 & 32 Dover Street, W.—Her departure for Florida has been postponed because she is unwell.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Rounton Grange, Northallerton.—Thanks him for copies of his speeches. Is consulting an American lawyer about some business requiring a knowledge of American law in the far South. Is disappointed that her English lawyer, Frost, has transferred her business to his son.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Rounton Grange, Northallerton.—Thanks him for his letter. Will ask the elder Mr Frost to take charge of the small quantity of legal business she has in England.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
6 Palace Gate, Kensington, W.8.—Is sorry to have missed the opportunity of dining with them. She was away from home when the invitation was delivered.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton.—Invites her and Mr Lawrence to lunch.
Carbon copy of a letter from Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Confirms her acceptance of an invitation (3/139).
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Has not yet received a copy of the book. ‘I hope I shall get it soon as I am a slow reader and eyes not as serviceable as hitherto.’
Carbon copy of a letter from Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
‘Please do not trouble about my book if it is bad for your eyesight to read.’
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Thanks her for her helpful letter. She will know the date of her arrival at Braunwald within the next twenty-four hours. Is looking forward to her first flight.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Hotel Alpenblich, Braunwald, Switzerland.—Has been received kindly by Marie Jenny-Streiff, who has praised Mrs Pethick-Lawrence’s book (My Part in a Changing World).
Carbon copy of a letter from Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Is pleased to hear of her arrival at Braunwald (see 3/141).
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Elizabeth Robins is applying for permission for Marie Jenny-Streiff of Braunwald, Switzerland, to visit her in England in order to help her with a book. Asks him to grant the application.
Letter from Ian Roy to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Home Office.—Marie Jenny-Streiff (see 3/152) should apply in the first instance to the British Passport Control Officer for Brussels.
(Signed as Private Secretary.)
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Discusses the measures taken to obtain a visa for Marie Jenny-Streiff.
Carbon copy of a letter from Esther E. Knowles to Elizabeth Robins
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Mrs Pethick-Lawrence advises that, if the Home Office give permission for Marie Jenny-Streiff to visit Elizabeth Robins in England, it will still be necessary for her to obtain a British exit visa (see 3/142).
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to F. W. and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Discusses Marie Jenny-Streiff’s unsuccessful attempts to obtain a visa to visit England.
Letter from Marie Jenny-Streiff to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Sparrenhof, Heide-Calmpthout, (Belgium).—Thanks him for his efforts to obtain a visa for her. Unfortunately it will not be possible to obtain one in time to make her intended visit to England.
Letter from Elizabeth Robins to Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Valour House, Southwest Harbor, Maine.—Refers to her hurried departure from England and her delay at Lisbon. Asks how she might best assist the cause of persuading America to join the war.
Carbon copy of a letter from F. W. Pethick-Lawrence to Herbert Morrison
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Writes in support of Elizabeth Robins’s application to return to England (see 3/283–4), enclosing relevant correspondence. Suggests that a broadcast by her might be used to promote Anglo-American relations.
Carbon copy of a letter from F. W. Pethick-Lawrence to Ernest Thurtle
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Supports the suggestion that, if Elizabeth Robins were given permission to come to England, she might speak and broadcast on Anglo-American understanding.
Letter from Octavia Wilberforce to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Elizabeth Robins has advised that she would consider naturalisation, if considered ‘usable’ for speaking or writing (cf. 3/155, etc.).
Letter from Ernest Thurtle to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Ministry of Information.—The proposal that Elizabeth Robins should be brought to England to speak and broadcast on Anglo-American understanding has been rejected on the grounds that she is ‘rather old for as full a programme of meetings as would justify an Atlantic passage at this time’.
Letter from Octavia Wilberforce to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Acknowledges that Miss Robins would be unable to undertake a full programme of meetings for the Ministry of Information. Suggests that the US Government might be persuaded to help.
Letter from Herbert Morrison to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence
Part of Pethick-Lawrence Papers
Whitehall, London, S.W.1.—Explains why he has rejected Elizabeth Robins’s application to return to England.