Reference
X928/1/4/1/1
Title
Large cloth-bound Boots Scribbling Diary
Date free text
1901
Production date
From: 1901 To: 1901
Scope and Content
Describes the day-to-day activities of 10 year old Marigo. She describes her lessons at home with 'Mademoiselle' and Miss Vipan (later replaced by Miss Quin), the governesses who come to the house to teach. She and the other children have the responsibility of keeping chickens and collecting their eggs, and she compares the number of eggs produced by their hens with those of their father. She describes putting eggs under hens to hatch chicks. She also describes planting and looking after her garden, picking wild flowers and birds nesting in spring. She often goes riding and sometimes fox hunting. Marigo often comments on the servants, especially Biddy, who looks after them. She refers to her brother Nicholas as 'Boy' and her sister Virginia as 'Baby'. She refers to 'the night nursery' and 'the day nursery' where meals are often taken. A new pianola is played regularly throughout the year. Long walks were almost a daily occurance, and always enjoyed by Marigo. Father often plays with the children and when he is away overnight Marigo often sleeps with the mother. Of particular interest:
3rd Jan, Marigo writes '(Lord) Earl Roberts arrived in London on his return from South Africa. We went to Uncle Alex's house at 83 Piccadilly to see the procession pass.'
7th Feb, An example of charity from rich too poor: 'I went for a long walk to give a poor old man that fell off a tree and hurt himself a rabbit he was very pleased with it.'
7th Feb 'Minna our nursery maid went away today. I was rather sorry...... Biddy cried a lot today.'
12th Feb 'Biddy was very sad today too. She said she did not like going downstairs with the others for dinner and tea but after she said it was nice to go down because she had nobody to worrie (sic) about.'
14th Feb 'Biddy is alright today and I hope she always will be.'
21st Feb 'Biddy is sad and has cried a lot. I think she has got the intention of going away because she says to me would you miss me if I went away and then I ancer (sic) yes and then she says I think you would soon get used to someone else.'
22nd Feb Marigo is unwell. 'Biddy is very sad.'
23rd Feb Marigo still unwell. 'Biddy is quite all right today.'
7th March Marigo goes fox hunting
8th -11th March Marigo describes efforts by her Father and herself to save a cockerel which had been injured fighting. They took considerable care of it but it died. She describes on other days that they attempt to hatch eggs under one of father's hens.
15th March Another example of charity when Marigo meets 'a poor old woman about 60 years old and with rumatisem (sic)' who was selling lace. They gave her some food and ninepence.
16th March Marigo describes how Madamoiselle had to tie Gina's elbows together because she stuch them out when playing the piano.
23rd March Marigo tells how she and her siblings planted seeds in their own gardens
27th-28th March Marigo is given household responsibilities in her mother's absence, but she did not like giving orders to servants and cried. She enlisted Biddy's help when Madamoiselle refused, but found the responsibility too stressful
1st April 'We are having spring cleaning and everything is upside down.'
18th April 'We went to see Father after his operation. The doctors cut more than 50 boils and there are still some more.'
18th April Marigo describes a visit to London Zoo.
3rd May Marigo and family go to the Tower of London 'We took the 2 penny tube and 2 handsomes to go.'
10th May Returned home from London after a month long holiday visiting relatives. Eggs have hatched and gardens have grown. Madomoiselle has left and Mother is taking the children's lessons.
21st May Marigo is ill with a temperature of 104. The doctor was called and Mother sat up with her all night. Despite being ill Marigo continues to write her diary. Mother and Father both entertain her.
23rd Marigo still ill and Virginia also. It might be 'Misels' (sic. measles). The doctor visits daily until 28th. She records their temperatures every day until they are normal on 4th June.
13th June 'Mother and Father went to Bedford to see the polo. Uncle George Sechiari and cousin Paul were playing against Bedford.'
19th June 'On Monday or Tuesday we are going to a hay-making partie (sic) to Mrs Wood.'
21st - 28th June Marigo describes how she and others played in the new-mown hay, rode on the hay cart and 'rolled over the little cocks' by which she means the hay stooks. They enjoyed several picnics in the hay field.
2nd July A new Madamoiselle becomes the children's new French governess alongside Mis Vipan
8th July Biddy goes on holiday (until 31st July), waved off on the train by Marigo and the children. Marigo writes 'I hope Biddy will enjoy her holiday.' While Biddy is away Marigo writes to her.
14th July While out walking with Mother and Father 'We saw a poor old man and so we got him something to eat.'
25th July 'We went to see the old people of the alms house we stopped with them all afternoon' then the following day 'We went to see one of the old people of the alms houses which was very (underlined) interesting because she had lots of old stories to tell us.'
26th July Miss Vipan leaves and is waved off at the station.'I am very sorry that Miss Vipan has left us but I am sure she will be happy because she has no more lessons to give.'
1st - 22nd August the family go on holiday to Cromer. Marigo enjoyed playing on the sand and paddling, as well as shopping with Mother. Marigo, Boy and Biddy hired a boat for two shillings for half an hour. Marigo sheltered from the rain in a bathing machine. She attended a concert on the pier and a regatta, sailed on the Norfolk Broads and went to the circus.
24th October Dr Bull comes to the house to vaccinate the children and adults but Marigo does not say for what.
29th Oct 'We went to see the reformatory boys working.' This refers to Turvey Reformatory which later became Carlton Approved School
2nd November Mother takes the children with Biddy to London to see the Duke and Duchess of York and the King and Queen
9th Nov 'After tea we played at blow the feather and I never laughet (sic) so much in my life.'
21st Nov Mother took the children to a pantomime about Mary Queen of Scots in Bedford, which was very funny
21st Dec In London 'we went to the party and had marionettes... and after tea there were performing dogs .... they did all kinds of things. Then there was a (lucky) dip and we got presents.'
22nd This morning we went chopping (sic) and got all our things for the servants and some beautiful stuff for a dress for Biddy.'
25th Dec 'This morning we woke up early and found such a lot of beautiful presents. We emptied our stockings first and found in them a lovely frame from Mrs Garette, a nicer one from Biddy, a knife from Gina, a frame from Boy and 5 shillings from Father. Then we got dressed and opened the pillowslip. Oh! how we did laugh and scream and stamp. We found 5 pictures from ??? a lovely book and sachet and ??? from M'elle a book from ??? and Aunty Go a potato for Mina and all kinds of other things.'
31st Dec The family go to the Hippodrome to see Aladin the pantomime, which Margo enjoyed.
Level of description
item