| Description | Particular entries concern the education of the Charlotte's children. Cecil continues his studies at Oxford, and attains a 2nd class in Mods Honours, 13 July. Harold leaves Haileybury on 9 April and on 21 May leaves for Downton, where he spends much of the rest of the year. It is not clear whether this is an education establishment or not. Sidney and Mary continue to be taught at home. Charlotte is particularly busy with Mary's lessons in early June, and on 13 June Mary goes to Lady Margaret Hall for a week. Charlotte writes 'may it please God to give our darling girl success', and it seems that she is being examined for something. The remark that 'Mary took her pupil' on 20 September suggests that she is now teaching.
Charlotte suffers from bad health at various points during the year. She is confined to her bed with fever and a cold on 6 January and Fred writes entries for her. She is ill again on 24 April with inflammation in her left eye. The doctor visits and diagnoses a sharp attack of opthalmia in both eyes the following day and Fred writes entries in her diary from this point until 8 May. He also reads to her, helps with her chores, and writes letters for her. She manages to do some knitting however. Fred also writes later occasional entries on Charlotte's behalf, for unidentified reasons. Other family members also suffer ill health: Mary undergoes dental treatment in London, with the aid of laughing gas, 3 June and both Mary and Sidney suffer from inflammation of the eyes in December. Fred's bad side is mentioned on 30 January.
Charlotte's involvement in parish work continues. She visits a parishioner in the Workhouse Infirmary on 3 February, takes her class at school, and helps Fred at the church. She also attends a lecture on the Early English Church on 7 March.
The Bagots take a family holiday to Folkestone August-September, with Cecil staying in separate lodgings. Activities include sailing, walking on the pier, going to the beach, swimming, attending a cricket match, and going to Cliff Gardens 'to see Capt. Dale go up in the Balloon, (it came down in the sea near Deal safe'), 4 September. They also cross the Channel to Boulogne for a few days on 15 September. and visit the cathedral, the old church, and market place, and go for Benediction at the old church on 16 September. Charlotte comments: 'the music utterly inharmonious'.
Reading matter includes 'The Prodigal Son, Pusey', 'Isiah's Heaviness and Consolation', 'The Life Beyond', 'A Danish Parsonage', Cutt's 'Devotional Life of our Lord and,'Freeman's pamphlet on 'Disendowment and Disestablishment'. |