Scope and Content
9 High Wickham, Hastings
My dear friend
You will perhaps care for a line just to say we are now nearly settled , and I am beginning to ask myself how I can accommodate myself to this tremendous change.
We live in a curious little colony, quite separate from the rest of the town although a part if it, and apparently much inclined to be sociable. On of our first visitors was a Mrs. Dannreuther (1), who also has a house in London. Her husband is a musician, gives concerts, writes music, was a friend of Wagner. She was Greek, a Miss Ionides, friend of Willim Morris, Burne Jones, Rossetti, &c., and it was through that set that she heard of us and we became acquainted. Another caller was Miss Betham-Edwards (3), novelist, &c. A third was a wild kind of creature, a traveller and ornithologist. Then a Miss Blackwell(2), poetess, says she is coming with her sister Dr Blackwell, both about 70. Do you remember a Dr. Blackwell, first of the women doctors who flourished in the profession about 30 years ago?
All this may turn out to be amusing, but as for friendship, that is another tune. People don’t make friends after they are 60. However, so far what we purposed to do we have done. We have secured a very cheap, although very small house, dry, decently built, bathed in sunshine and air beyond any house I ever saw. The weather we see and hear up on this hill is rather surprising. From my bedroom I can just discern Eastbourne, and you may imagine what the south westerly wind means in such a situation. Oh, how I wish you and your dear husband were here. I think you ought to write up Hastings in your bedroom as a constant reminder. It is not so far. From St. Catherine.s I should think you could see Beachy Head, and Beachy Head seems to us here in clear weather. You would find the place very amusing, and to sit on the parade gives you more variety even than that celebrated window in Union Street. We have a very, very small garden, but I think plants will grow in it as it has so much sunshine and air. Will you ask Charlie to remember me if he has any roots or cuttings of flowers to spare? Just now is a bad time, of course, but perhaps he will not forget me a little later on. Anything will be most welcome, for as the space is so limited we must make as much of it as we can. At present it is absolutely empty.
At odd moments I have been reading Les Miserables again. What a wonderful book it is; how daring and yet how loyal! With all its audacity it stands on the firm rock.
Best love to Richard & the dear children. Molly sends her best love to.
Ever Yours
W. Hale White
(1) Mrs Sophie Dannreuther – husband Dannreuther, Edward George (1844–1905), her name Sophie.
(2) Dr. Blackwell - Blackwell, Elizabeth (1821–1910), physician
(3) Miss Betham-Edwards - Edwards, Matilda Barbara Betham (1836–1919), writer. Still mentally alert, Matilda Betham Edwards died at 1 High Wickham, Hastings, on 4 January 1919, aged eighty-two, after suffering a stroke. Her body was cremated at Ilford crematorium five days later. She made bequests to the Ipswich and Hastings museums(from ODNB)