| Description | Particular entries include details about Charlotte's health, and that of her son Sidney. Charlotte is ill in bed with bronchitis, headache and a high temperature in the first half of January. Mary, who is very concerned about her mother's health, sleeps on the sofa in her room. Charlotte also records a recurrence of her heart problems in June. Sidney's recovery from the breakdown he suffered in 1899 seems complete. He visits his mother on 20 January and then goes on to Hastings. He returns to stay with Charlotte on 19 February, after stopping at the vicarage at Haywards Heath where he had been a curate before he became ill. He goes to Keble College to take his MA degree on 28 February and then travels to Weston super Mare on 10 March. There he resumes his work as a priest, taking services and giving sermons when Charlotte and Mary go to visit him on 21 April. He travels to Horningsham, Warminster on 29 September where he takes up a position as a curate. A copy of a letter from Mr Bayley, the Medical Superintendent at St Andrew's, Northampton, where Sidney was treated after his breakdown, is stored at the front of the volume. Dated 20 December 1900, it assures Charlotte that Sidney's mental state was due to overwork and neglect of his health, expresses pleasure that he has been able to go back to work, and considers that if he takes care of himself, there should be no re-occurence of the problem. Charlotte reports the death of her 'sister' Minnie 14 April.
Charlotte and Mary both continue to help with hospital visiting and Mary continues to be busy with her committee work. Leisure activities include a visit to Wells and Clevedon on their return from staying with Sidney at Weston super Mare between 26 and 28 April. Mary goes with her uncle Brice to see 'The Scottish Volunteers' on 9 June and goes with Bennett to Shiplake and Harpsden. This visit includes an outing to the flower show on 1 August. Charlotte sees the Queen on 9 March at Exhibition road: 'g[rea]t crowds everywhere'. She also attends the 'Womens Exhibition' on 12 June.
Charlotte and Mary take a holiday in Whitby in August and September. Mary and Bennett visit Rievaulx Abbey on 25 August and Scarborough on 3 September where they took luncheon at Rowntree's cafe. Charlotte visits Fred's grave in Harpsden on 2 October, finding it well tended.
Charlotte gives details of major events in the Boer war, including the Relief of Kimberley on 16 February, and of Ladysmith, 1 March. At the Relief of Mafeking on 19 May, she writes: 'my balcony & all houses decorated with flags', and there is 'a torchlight procession by the Brompton Road', 23 May.
Reading matter includes 'Comfort of the Low' by K. Little, 'Diplomatist's wife in Japan', 'Character & Circumstance', 'Elements of Religion', 'Revelation of the Risen Lord', 'Lectures on the Old Testament', 'Popular History of the Church of England', 'Human Life & its Conditions and' 'Footprints of the Son of Man'.
There are lists of letters sent and received throughout the year at the back of the volume |