Reference
X955/1/53
Title
To Mrs Sarah Colenutt
Date free text
4 Dec 1888
Production date
From: 1888 To: 1888
Scope and Content
Park Hill, Carshalton Surrey
My dear friend
I suppose you saw the announcement of Maccall.s death.(1) I went to his funeral. I shrank very much from the duty, but it was clearly a duty, and now I am glad I was there, for I was the sole representative of his
elder friends. His sufferings towards the end were terrible, and he prayed for release. I could perhaps, if I had the time and audience, say something useful about him, but I have neither one nor the other (2).
We are in perplexities manifold just now. Ernest's (3) works are burnt down, and I must remove him somewhere – where I cannot tell. My house is sold, and whither we shall go I know not. It was necessary to
get rid of it because of official uncertainties, which, however, no sooner had I parted with it, seemed, instead of getting clearer, to curdle themselves into a darker confusion than ever.
The problem with me is very complicated partly because of the great and continued expense of Ernest’s Education, partly because of the difficulty of finding house or lodging which suit Mrs White but mainly through the old trouble, lack of health. I am now writing to you, as a relief in the early morning, having struggled at 1.45 a.m. out of a nightmare with no sleep since. However, the rider must call on his horse, as they say in racing, and do his best not to lose disgracefully if he cannot win.
Give my best love to father and the children
Faithfully yours
W. Hale White
(1) Maccall, William (1812–1888), writer and public lecturer.
(2)On page 40/41 in LTF there is a long footnote quoting from a letter to another friend
(3) His third son.
Level of description
item