| Description | Particular entries include details of Charlotte and Mary's daily activities in London. Charlotte spends most of her time attending church services, writing letters, visiting friends, helping with household chores, and going hospital visiting. She reports that 'work on electric light being tried in the ward' on 29 January. Mary is heavily involved in hospital and committee work. Cecil is accepted for a job as managing clerk at £300 per year on 26 June and returns to London, from Walsall, where he had been working.
Charlotte falls down the lower steps of Sloane Sq[uare] station staircase on 7 January and is picked up by a porter. She is thankful that no bones were broken. She suffers from ill health during the summer holiday to Newquay in August and on 26 August, Mary treats her by beating by an egg with hot milk and brandy. She complains of pain in her kidneys on 9 September and Mary and Bennett provide a poultice and hot water bottle. She also reports Mary's health problems. She reports suffering from jaundice on 23 May.
Charlotte records 'the sad news of the death of prince Henry of Battenburg' on 22 January and reads an account of his funeral on 6 February. She takes an omnibus to Sloane Sqaure and sees the Queen on21 July and 'a g[rea]t many beautiful carriages'. She, Mary and Sidney take a holiday in Brighton in April and Mary and Sidney visit Chichester and the cathedral on 11 April and see a cinematograph on 14 April. Mary and Sidney attend Henley Regatta, and have lunch at Fawley Court on 9 July. The summer holiday is at Newquay in August where Charlotte travels around in a bath chair. On 26 August, she records that 'the Newquay regatta could not take place but the athletic sports did' and they visit Penzance on 1 September and also visit Frome and Wells on the way home on 14 September.
Sidney's training at Wells College ends on 5 October. He hears from Chichester on 28 November that his examination was considered 'very satisfactory' and he has been chosen to be gospeller. He is ordained as a deacon at Chichester on 20 December and Charlotte notes that 'my own darling Sidney the Rev. Sidney Charles Bagot'. He goes to dine at the Bishops Palace, but is not feeling well, in g[rea]t pain all day in his stomach' .
Reading matter includes 'The Australian in China', 'Manning's Life', 'Thoughts for Lent', 'Life of Miss Buss', Liddon's 'Spiritual Consolations of Easter', '5 Years in India', 'The Makers of Rome', 'Historic Faith', 'The Philosophy of Belief' and 'England's Mission to India'.
There is a loose enclosure: a letter to Charlotte from William A Phillipps, 13 John Street, Mayfair.W. dated 15 December 1896, regarding Sidney's health. He suggests that Sidney's stomach problems are due to fasting and he suggests remedies. |