Reference
AU10/102/4/7
Title
Handwritten Letter
Date free text
8 February 1951
Production date
From: 1951 To: 1951
Scope and Content
"113 Queens Road, Richmond, Surrey.
Dear Miss Ira-Smith,
Thank you for your note about Emily Barton enclosed with the papers. The announcement appeared in the "Times" and "Telegraph" the same day as yours arrived. She has not outlasted Gertrude very long. So that is the end of the Bartons! A tragic family! I think I have told you that both the Barton boys, who were educated at Cambridge at the same time as Pierre du Sautoy, came to bad ends. George married a daughter of Sir William Pink, and became a clergyman but died of delirious tremors (the wife also!) The other brother Willie was also an inebriate, and eventually drifted to Australia where he died about 15 years ago in a home for the destitute. The sister Isabel went off her head, and now Emily and Gertrude have gone. I only knew Emily and Gertrude but Florence and Di knew them all from childhood and have told me a great deal their history. They all seem to have had an abnormal streak in them. Emily lived in a world of fancy and imagination: Gertrude presented to the world a facade of gentle simplicity: but underneath there was cunning and a grasping meanness which only those who had dealings with her experienced. However, they have gone now, and our verdicts on them are of no account. I wonder who will take over the Old Gates? We always understood that Katie McAndrew was the "heiress", but there was no mention of her at Gertrude's funeral. We wonder what has happened to her. There will be no money, as they had both bought incomes with their capital which cease at their death.
We also have been having our troubles! Two weeks ago, Diana went to bed with the 'flu, and Florence followed her two days later. Fortunately, with the help of a nurse coming in every evening, and an excellent woman every morning, I have been able to cope with the situation. For the first week, Florence was the more sick of the two: and the Dr. said she must be moved to a nursing home where she could be nursed day and night. He rang up six or seven homes, but there is not a bed to be had anywhere. Fortunately, she took a turn for the better, and now is making great strides. She has been up in a chair by the fire today for tea and walked (with assistance) into Di's room to have a look at her. I am afraid there are signs of senile decay in Florence. Sometimes her mind becomes quite vague, and we cannot make head or tail of what she says. Other times she seems more sensible, and can talk intelligently. But I don't think she will be able to write a letter again, and she does not read her papers now. But if she can get moving about again, it will be something: for otherwise she will be a bed-ridden invalid, and that means a Home of some kind eventually, as Di could never nurse her. But all the signs are favourable at the moment.
But poor Di is very poorly still. Her mind is quite normal and clear, but she simply cannot get rid of her cough, and it quite wears her out, poor dear! The doctor keeps giving her stuff, as well as penicillin injections, but she is having a very tough time. If she could get rid of the cough, i think she would soon pull round.
But for their age they have both put up a remarkable fight, as they have both been very ill. I never thought of them both being down together! There has been a lot of 'flu about - I wonder how you and your mother have been getting on. My father has also had it, but he seems to be pulling through.
What a cold miserable winter it has been, but there is a hint of spring in the air, thank goodness! The bulbs are springing up in the garden. I look each day to see if the crocuses are out.
As soon as our trials are over, I hope to come up to see Sir Anthony again: so we shall meet probably before very long.
We all send our love and best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
John Hillam"
Level of description
item