| Description | Particular entries include details about the preparations for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Charlotte and Mary both help to collect money for the parish Jubilee Fund on 28 January and 3 February. The celebrations take place in June and Charlotte goes with the servants to see the Henley Illuminations, while Fred and Mary go to watch the Queen's Procession to Westminster Abbey on 21 June. Charlotte spends time giving out Jubilee mugs and medals to the schoolchildren on 2 August.
Mary begins to spend more time helping Charlotte with parish work, but also continues her education, with her mother's supervision: Charlotte 'went over Mary's Divinity paper with her', 18 July. She also helps Sidney with his holiday homework from Radley College, particularly in history, for which he came top of the lower school, noted on 9 February. However, his failure to win a scholarship is reported on 15 June. Details are scarce about the careers of Cecil and Harold. Cecil leaves Oxford in the summer, and from 10 September Charlotte gives his new address as North Kensington, but it is not clear what he is doing there. Harold arrives home with certificates and prizes on 7 April and goes to live in Shrewsbury on 25 April. Some plans do seem to be in progress at the beginning of the year; on 18 January Charlotte writes: 'with darling Fred spent some time discussing the childrens' future & fortunes'.
In addition to her usual parish work and teaching, Charlotte attends a lecture on the 11th century church on 5 March and visits Hampton Court on 15 February. Other events include a holiday to Brighton in August and September with leisure activities including visits to the beach, pier, swimming baths, and Aquarium, and walks towards Hove. Cecil goes to Normandy on 29 August and joins the rest of the family on 10 September. Charlotte visits the 'American Exhibition' with children from the parish on 27 September and sees Buffalo Bill, and she and Fred celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on 29 October. The children give them 'a very pretty butter dish'.
Reading matter includes 'Studies on Italian Literature', 'Study on Petrarco', 'Dover's book', 'Hook's Life of St Anselm', 'Il Paradiso', '1st Address from the Wilderness Way', 'Sir Percival' and 'Westcott's Social Aspects of Christianity'.
There are notes at back of volume, in 'Reminders for Next Year'; on Harpsden choir practices 1887. A prayer card is enclosed, with additions in Charlotte's writing, dated 12 October 1883. |