Reference
X928/1/4/1/13
Title
Blue bound Lett's personal diary 1913
Date free text
1913
Production date
From: 1913 To: 1913
Scope and Content
The diary begins on 7th Jan when the family return to Picts Hill from Christmas with family in London. Usual entries include general daily activities and recreational pursuits, such as card games, hunting and ferreting, playing musical instruments,charades, gymnastics; social engagements; comments on the weather and fashion; health concerns. Marigo and Gina still have some lessons but she seldom specifies what they are, although music is mentioned. Marigo is given a horse, gets a new riding habit and spends a lot of time riding. She keeps a tally of the number of times she rides in the year (81). She also goes fox hunting and 'cubbing', describing the many meets in detail. This year Marigo buys, or is bought a lot of new clothes. She also attends numerous dances and tends to meet the same circle of people, giving many names for each occasion.
13th Jan. 'Went to the cinema in High Street 'Under Two Flags' by Onida was frightfully exciting.'
25th Jan 'Went to the cinema and saw 'In the Den of Lions' frightfully sensational, and other pieces.'
29th Jan 'Betty and I went to the cinema and saw The Merry Widow - quite good.'
4th Feb. Marigo sees Nellie Melba in concert
11th Feb. Marigo is in London visiting family. 'Gran took us to the Holborn cinema to see Payne's 'Wild Animal Pictures' in Liberty near Nairobi , West Africa. She also notes the deaths of Captain Scott and his companions at the South Pole.
20th Feb. Still in London and having seen several shows, Marigo goes with 'Gran and Toby to Oh! Oh! Delphine!!! perfectly splendid - outcry on 1st night made them cut out a lot. Very good and a lot of 'go'. Welchman nice. Iris Hoy too and Ethel Jardon (American) most fascinating, lovely figure and voice and beautiful red dress in last scene. Very amusing 'Everything's at Home Except my Wife' good song. Much enjoyed.' On the following days she goes to see 'Hullo Ragtime', To the Argentine', Macbeth, The Piper, Anthony and Cleopatra and Nell Gwynne, all of which she enjoyed.
1st Mar. Ambrose gives Marigo and Gina a horse, for which they have bought riding clothes while in London. She names the horse 'Ragtime'.
5th Mar. The family go to London by train to attend the agricultural show at Hackney.
7th Mar. Marigo writes 'Great Greek victory. Jauima (?) fell and 35,000 Turks taken prisoner.'
9th Mar. Marigo is given two baby badgers to look after 'We put them in the pumproom and fed them with a spoon. They have not got their eyes open yet.' The next day she goes to town to buy a bottle and remarks that they feed very well. The following day one died, despite being brought into the house by 'Ma and Pa' to warm them up. The second badger died on the following day.
12th Mar. The family go to London to try on riding habits and hats.
13th Mar. 'Oxford and Camb Boat Race. Oxford wins.'
17th & 18th Mar. Marigo tries to find a parlour maid to help the temporary one they have, but is unsuccessful.
19th Mar. 'The King of Greece has been shot dead by a madman at Salonica.'
22nd Mar. 'Fearful gale, Worthing pier destroyed.'
26th Mar 'Adrianople has fallen after 155 days.'
2nd Apr. In London 'Met father at Richards and went to see some gas which he is thinking of having in the house - very nice I must say.'
5th Apr. 'Changed the schoolroom into a bedroom.' This is evidence of Marigo and Gina growing up into young women.
11th Apr. It snowed. 'Went to the Empire in Midland Road to see the Grand National. We saw a lot of exciting stories and a variety artist (!!) then the race which was jolly good.'
28th Apr. Marigo is given another horse, roan 16.31/2, good looking.
7th May. Marigo and Gina go to Lady Ralli's dance in London. She lists the people she danced with.
25th May. 'Dad began painting the staircases....... We 2 and Dad washed and painted till dinner time and even after by candle light.'
4th June. 'Suffragette outrage. Miss Davison ran out and stopped Anmer (King's horse) at Tattenham Corner injuring herself seriously and rather badly Jones (jockey).'
24th Jun. Marigo and Gina attend Rodocanadie's dance and includes her dance card.
17th Jul. The Argentis host the sunday school treat. Marigo writes '... about 60 children. Played then had tea and began the races..... Teachers, about 12, came in to tea! How deadly. They left about 8.'
12th Sept. Marigo turns 22 years old. Her mother gives her £2.10.00, Her father has already given her a riding crop.
18th Sept. Boy and Marigo go to see 'the manoevers .... Got passed (sic) Wolverton where we saw all the troops and transports moving off towards London.'
19th Sept. '... in the afternoon we did out duty and went on bikes to see Mrs Gardener and to the Alms Houses. Saw Mrs Tweed, Mercer No I -No II saw Mrs Edmunds and Freemans.'
24 25th Sept. Marigo and unspecified others go to see the 'manoevers'. 'We motored to Weedon then got out and walked miles all round Featherstone and nearly to the top of the hill where they were firing big guns, when a man advised us to go towards Newnham where we saw nothing. You really must have a 'permit' for the car, or start very early on bikes. Seemed to be having a tremendous battle.'
11th Oct. 'At 10.30 I went to the Almshouses and decorated with Mrs Fulford. We took vegetables and apples, grapes also michaelmas daisies dahlias and asparagus fern.' Lloyd George in Bedford. Big land tax scheme opened by this speech.'
Level of description
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