Showing 57 results

Backset Town House, Henfield, Sussex.—Postpones a lunch engagement.

Ladies’ Athenaeum Club, 31 & 32 Dover Street, W.—Her departure for Florida has been postponed because she is unwell.

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton.—Invites her and Mr Lawrence to lunch.

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.

Whitehall, London, S.W.1.—Explains why he has rejected Elizabeth Robins’s application to return to England.

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’.

Asks him to give sympathetic attention to Elizabeth Robins’s application for a British visa.

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Thanks him for his efforts to help Elizabeth Robins return to Britain.

Discusses travel arrangements (in connection with the unveiling of a plaque to Elizabeth Robins; see 3/289). Will invite Helen when she returns from Montreal.

Discusses travel arrangements (in connection with the unveiling of a plaque to Elizabeth Robins; see 3/291). Helen cannot come, as she is going to California to see her son. ‘She says you knew a friend of hers—Mrs Gretel Kettle (née Pain).’

Pethick-Lawrence greatly enjoyed the function (the unveiling of a plaque to Elizabeth Robins). Encloses a report of it from the Manchester Guardian.

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.’

‘Please do not trouble about my book if it is bad for your eyesight to read.’

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Discusses the measures taken to obtain a visa for Marie Jenny-Streiff.

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton 1.—Their last letter came when she was unwell. Is about to travel to New York, Pittsburgh, and Florida. Dr Martindale is flying to America at the same time.

Is still investigating her inquiry as to whether Gladstone made a certain remark about agricultural labourers.

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.

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.)

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.).

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.

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton, Sussex.—Encloses copies of the notes she gave to Lord Cecil, whom Elizabeth Robins had named as a referee in her application for an British visa, and asks for help in expediting the business.

24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton, Sussex.—Urges him to help Elizabeth Robins obtain a British visa (see 3/294).

Backsettown Farmstead, Henfield, Sussex.—Discusses travel arrangements (in connection with the unveiling of a plaque to Elizabeth Robins).

Backsettown Farmstead, Henfield, Sussex.—Discusses travel arrangements (in connection with the unveiling of a plaque to Elizabeth Robins; see 3/301). Refers to their mutual acquaintance, Mrs Kettle.

(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.

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.