| Description | Charlotte spends the majority of her time reading. She occasionally goes out for walks with Miss Parker, but generally prefers to stay at home and receive visits from Cecil and his family, and from friends. Miss Parker runs various errands for her, and she also receives communion at home. When she does leave the house, it is usually to go for short walks with friends or with Miss Parker, or to sit in the garden. On some evenings Miss Parker plays the piano and sings for Charlotte.
Charlotte reports various minor health problems. She suffers from pain in her knee, 28 March, and often writes that she feels 'ailing'. She has trouble with her eyes, 12 May, and Dr Bland visits to syringe her ears on 16 May. The doctor also visits about her cough on 4 November. Sidney's illness appears to be long-term and on 14 January, Cecil reads to her 'a letter from the sup[erintenden]t of Barnsley Hall about my very dear Sidney'.
Charlotte reports on the progress of her grandchildren. Helen goes for the first time to Malvern College on 21 September and she writes that Milicent has 'distinguished herself and also won a prize' on 8 July. When the children visit at Christmas, on 23 December, Helen plays the violin, and Charlie plays the piano.
Charlotte also records national events, including the shooting of Henry Wilson on 22 June and the military procession for his funeral on 26 June. She mentions the death of Michael Collins on 23 August, the resignation of Lloyd George on 20 October and reports 'Bonar Law's appointment as the Prime Minister in the paper' on 24 October. Social change is also acknowledged: on 14 November, she writes 'The first time that women are to vote in the Parliamentary Election' and on 30 November 'The band of the unemployed came past, or near here both today and yesterday'.
Reading matter includes 'book on Normandy', 'book on Somersetshire', 'Sir F. Treve's book on India', 'Rural Nooks round London', 'book on Gainsborough', 'Rambles in Norway', 'book on Greece', '36 years in India', 'Home Life in Japan', 'Conway's book on the Maritime Alps', 'In the Cradle of the Deep', 'Thirty Years in Australia', 'A Fortnight's Tour in France', 'book on Wales', 'book on Russia', 'The Life of King Edward the VII', 'book on Germany', 'book on the Antipodes', 'Turkey & the Turks', 'Across Central America', 'book on Central Europe', 'The Lake Country, by Rev. Rawnsley', 'Anecdotes of a Naval Officer' and 'Provincial France'. |